XXL Selects Our NBA Rapper All-Star Team [360]

It’s a very, very small list of good NBA ball players who picked up the mic and gave a respectable performance as an MC. In fact, the list is so small, they don’t even have a bench. There’s only five, and we have them listed here.

Together, these are the ball players who have the best chance of making the rap/basketball two-sport athlete hall of fame wing if ever one existed. This is not to say any of them are good, this is just to say they didn’t completely stink the joint out when they performed. And remember, there are others who attempted to rhyme and aren’t on the list.

In preparation for NBA All-Star weekend, here are the five NBA All-Stars with a sampling of their musical endeavors. At the bottom of each one we ask you the reader to rate their efforts using the XXL Ratings scale.

Chris Webber ft. Kurupt — "Gangsta"

Player: Chris Webber
Position: Forward
Rap Name: C-Webb
Project: 2 Much Drama
Rap Game Breakdown: At least the man had Kurupt on a record, thus demonstrating his good taste.

id="174"]

Jewelz (a.k.a Allen Iverson) — "40 Barz"

Player: Allen Iverson
Position: Guard
Rap Name: Jewelz
Project: “40 Bars”
Rap Game Breakdown: Though his brief rap career was stewed in controversy because of it’s lyrical content, heads who heard the song never had a bad word to say about him.

id="175"]

Ron Artest — "Champions

Player: Ron Artest
Position: Guard/Forward
Rap Name: Ron Artest
Project: My World (2006) “Champions” (2010)
Rap Game Breakdown: Much like his game, Ron Artest’s contributions to hip-hop have been respectable.

id="176"]

Kobe Bryant ft. Tyra Banks — "K.O.B.E."

Player: Kobe Bryant
Position: Guard
Rap Name: Kobe Bryant
Project: “K.O.B.E.” ft. Tyra Banks
Rap Game Breakdown: Think of it like this, there are rappers with hits who are just as bad as Kobe was, and none of them had the very fine Tyra Banks on the song.

id="177"]

Shaquille O'Neal ft. The Notorious B.I.G. — "Can't Stop the Reign"

Player: Shaquille O'Neal
Position: Center
Rap Name: Shaquille O’Neal
Project(s): Shaq Diesel (1993); Shaq-Fu: Da Return (1994);You Can’t Stop The Reign (1996); Respect (1998)
Rap Game Breakdown: We’re not afraid to say this, but Shaquille O’Neal is probably the greatest rapper who played in the NBA. Ever

id="178"]