By Syed Tiham

When analyzing a basketball player’s arrival as a marquee influence to the sport’s culture,  one question has typically served as a primary measure: Have they been mentioned in a rap song? If so, it means that the player has “arrived.”

         If we are to measure impact of Hip Hop in sports, namely basketball, we must look at the origins of the connection between the genre and the sport.

         In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, Hip Hop went from being a niche genre that was largely underground, to a mainstream one headlined by MCs and influencers such as Grandmaster Flash and DJ Kool Herc. However, due to the raw state of Hip Hop, cultural references were obscure within the lyrics of the songs.

While there is no single figure credited with introducing socio-cultural references into Rap, some of the popular artists of the time, including Rakim, Run-DMC, and LL Cool J,  referenced influential figures as the punchlines within their songs.

         One of the pioneers of the use of sports figures in lyrics was Kurtis Blow, who grew up in the basketball hotbed of Harlem, New York. In his 1984 single Basketball, Blow uses various NBA and ABA players in his punchlines, alluding to the Los Angeles Lakers’ players Magic Johnson and Kareem-Abdul Jabbar, and the Boston Celtics’ Bill Russell.

As Hip Hop became immensely popular throughout the 1990’s, some of the most influential rappers began incorporating sports references in their music. Among them was the Notorious B.I.G, who’s 1995 track Jam Sessions, included references to New York Knicks center Patrick Ewing and Chicago Bulls superstar Michael Jordan.

Players rapping in their spare time also became more common, as Lakers’ guard Kobe Bryant appeared in a song with singer Brian McKnight. Bryant’s teammate, Shaquille O’neal, with whom he had  contemporary relationship, pursued a solo rap career himself. At one point, O’neal was recorded rapping a “diss track” regarding his relationship with Bryant.

Today, the use of basketball references in rap has become canon. Artists such as Drake and Kendrick Lamar have continued to include basketball players in their lyrics; players such as Damian Lillard and Iman Shumpert have also pursed secondary careers as rappers.

         While there is no question about the impact of Hip Hop on basketball culture, some believe that the genre of music has had a negative influence. When a player signs an NBA or NFL contract, they are not only placing themselves on the world’s largest platform, but they are agreeing to represent a franchise. When players associate themselves with the culture of Hip Hop, they are adopting a genre that has been deemed “violent,” “misogynistic,” “homophobic,” and one that seems to heavily promote the use of drug paraphernalia.

         Additionally,inner city children often view Hip Hop and Basketball as their only mechanism for social mobility. One of the Notorious B.I.G.’s most famous lines is, “The streets is a short stop, either you’re slinging crack rock or you got a wicked jump shot.” Although these lyrics may hold merit, , many are critical of athletes when they  associate themselves with artists who spread this message, Most athletes recognize their prominence, but not all of them have embraced their position as role models.

This begs the question, do athletes have a responsibility to distance themselves from influences that can be perceived as negative? On one hand it can be argued that being paid to represent an organization places athletes’ conduct on a much higher standard. In turn, the crowds with which players spend time should be those that place themselves and their teams in the best light.

On the other end of the spectrum, many firmly believe that players shouldn’t be limited to the extent that their circles and groups are bounded by the organization that employs them. In recent years, the NBA has granted players far more freedom.

The Toronto Raptors, for example, have hired Drake as their ambassador, who widely represents the organization. He is constantly around players, and has even designed the team’s alternate jerseys. The NBA and teams have begun to fully embrace   Hip Hop’s influence on basketball culture. The Atlanta Hawks have had rappers such as 21 Savage and Lil Yachty perform at their halftime shows in recent years. While the criticism of these artists’ is a different discussion, one thing is certain: Hip Hop and Basketball go hand in hand, regardless of whether the music is seen as having a negative impact on the game and its athletes.