Starting Five, Dead or Alive – If Rap Was a Sport Who’d Be MVP?

 •  Bloggers  •  by XXL Staff  •  29 Comments

SMALL FORWARD: Andre 3000
(Larry Bird’s versatility/Jamal Wilkes effortlessness)
Amidst a cluttered sea of rappers who compete for the shiniest chain, Andre 3000 turns heads verse for verse. It seems to come natural for the man. I mean, go listen to “Da Art of Storytellin’, Pt. 2” or “A Day In The Life of Benjamin Andre” if you need examples. Forget the pudding and the vodka, the proof is in the message. His thought process is a damn near deconstruction of what the genre sounds. Every team needs an in-game thinker and strategist in real time—something LeBron lacked in Cleveland.

POWER FORWARD: Ghostface Killah
(Clyde Frazier’s flair/Rasheed Wallace’s temperament)
Looking for the cagey veteran? Ghost is your man. Strong-arm attitude with the presence to provide what the team needs in crunch time. Listen to any Wu-related track and try to tell me it doesn’t sound better once Ghost spits a verse. He’s the perfect team player. The one who will take a charge, jump into the stands for a loose ball, rally the troops or be in the referee’s ear all game—or flip him the bird after picking up his sixth foul.

Tags:

  • ThatDude

    C – Rakim
    PF – Notorious B.I.G.
    SF – Big Daddy Kane
    SG – Joe Budden
    PG – Jay-Z

    • Aiyowei

      Life is so lonely. Maybe you want to check out ==== HotBlackwhite ( c o/m) ====. It’s the largest and best club for seeking CEOs, b-lack athletes, doctors, lawyers, investors, entrepreneurs, white beauty queens, fitness models, and Hollywood celebrities. It also features photo certified men and verified beautiful women. What’s the most important is: you are more likely to meet your soul mate therer. I believe you will success there since thousands of singles, include me, have found true love there ;-) Do not remove since Im serious

    • Aiyowei

      Wanna know where people go to snag an i-nter-racial rel-ations-hip, say, Just for future reference? “i-nterr-acial Central”? “San Carlos” ? or “San Francisco”?*** BlackWhite Cupid C 0/om *** is the real place that is packed with them. ;)

  • http://Pierzy11@gmail.com Pierzy

    PG – Nas
    SG – Jay-Z
    SF – Eminem
    PF – Ice Cube
    C – Jadakiss
    6th Man – Black Thought
    Coach – RZA

  • ff1one@yahoo.com

    how many ways can you ask this question?????

    pg-Nas

    because he is very visual lyrical knows the game and is humble.

    sg. jay-z

    he has MJs killer instincts. I’m talking jordan jackson tyson pick one. he sells, he delivers and has all around game.

    sf-cosgin andre 3000.

    he can ball fo real, plus he is a great swing man (no pun) but he is very versitle and delivers. we just gotta keep him inspired.

    pf biggie/method man

    the nod goes to biggie. biggie fills a stat sheet and does all the dirty work. he is a grinder and grimy.

    C-common/talib/mos def.

    its a three way tie. each can go hard in the paint and put up big numbers.

    sixth man. j. cole.

    gotta go with a rookie who can come off the bench and inspire these old school cats.

    head coach.
    kanye. he see’s things and can get the best out of this group.

  • og bobby j

    first of all, this is the most retarded correlation ever. But, for no other reason than sheer boredom, here it is:

    1- big pun
    2- eminem
    3- jay
    4- big
    5- pac

    6- nas off the bench….

    it would be far more entertaining to try and figure out 2 rappers to rep on a track that needed 2 verses from the east, west, south, south central midwest…

    say…
    east – jay & nas
    west – Snoop & Too Short
    south – Luda and Tip
    Mid west – Eminem & Royce
    South Central – Scarface & Bun

    that could be a fire track

  • swype-matic

    I’m gonna go in a different direction, puttin’ the shittiest team on a Clippers/Knicks level…

    1)Soulja Boy
    2)OJ Da Juiceman
    3)Waka Flocka Flame
    4)Chingy [Did everybody 4get he sucks?]
    5)Gucci Mane

    *6 Shawty Lo

    Coach
    Lil’ Wayne

  • Anonymous

    1-RZA
    2-MF Doom
    3-Eminem
    4-Jay-Z
    5-Dilla
    6th-Nas
    Coach-Biggie
    Mascot-Gucci Mane in a clown suit

  • Tiiz

    ^ Am I the only one who finds it scary how much thought you guys put into this??

  • Sha

    1-Nas
    2-Jay-Z
    3-Dilla
    4-DJ Premier
    5-Eminem

    Coach…. Russel Simmons

    Assistant Coach….. Big Daddy Kane

  • Casey

    WU-TANG FOREVER

    PG: Inspectah Deck
    –>He knows how to get shit started and set up his teammates, but he can do it himself if he needs to.
    SG: Method Man
    –>He has the smooth style and flashiness, almost finesse with words.
    SF: GZA
    –>The guy on the team who takes the beautiful pull-up jumper and never misses. He’s always in the right place on the court at the right time.
    PF: Ghostface Killah
    –>Just a big force. He’ll probly dunk it real flashy in your face, or block your shit. As you guys said, he’s like Sheed.
    C: Raekwon
    –>Just that dude that you don’t wanna step to, holding it down real heavy in the paint. Dunking with two hands all day.
    Coach: The RZA. He’d probly run crazy plays that make the Triangle Offense look shitty.

  • Casey

    ***6th Man is Masta Killa. Dirty woulda got in some time at SF too RIP

  • Pingback: Starting Five, Dead or Alive – If Rap Was a Sport Who’d Be MVP? | Hip-Hop Feed News

  • El Tico Loco

    PG – Eminem
    SG – Jay Z
    SF – Ghostface
    PF – Busta
    C – Sean Price

    6th man – Nas
    rest of the bench – Slaughterhouse

    Head Coach – DJ Premier
    Assistant coach – RZA

    Head Cheerleader – Trina
    Mascot – Wacka Flocka
    General Manager – Kevin Liles
    Owner – Me

  • NoBull

    This is a crazy topic but ill play:

    PG- Lil Wayne and thats based on my SG cuz whenever theyre on a track together my SG has an out of body exp

    SG-Eminem with assist from Weezy he will hit every shot.My fav rapper is a beast

    SF- Jay-Z,HOV,Jigga,IceBerg Slim nuff said

    PF-50 cent.UR power forward gotta be an enforcer and who u knw starts more shit than 50 lol

    C-T.I. cmon son after goin to jail for machine guns Tip will “block shots”lol

    Head Coach-Nas, commands respect from all of these dudes

  • ILLWILL

    PG PAC
    SG JAY
    SF NAS
    PF BIG
    C SCARFACE
    6TH MAN EM
    HEAD COACH MASTER P

  • LEO

    PG-Eminem (who else can run the team?)
    SG-Nas (Clutch…see Ether*)
    SF-Jay-Z (Most Versitile)
    PF-DMX (Who gonna do the dirty work?)
    C-Big Pun (Dirty Work, plus points)

    SIXTH MAN-JOE BUDDEN (Versatility off the bench)

    COACH- BIGGIE (KEEP THE TEAM FOCUSED ON STREET, RAW, GUTTA SHIT)
    ASSITANT COACH- WILL SMITH & LL COOL J (MAKE THAT MONEY AND GET THE LADIES TO FOLLOW)

  • http://screwjams.tumblr.com cramzy

    pg-weezy->if hot features=assists he’s Stockton
    sg-jayz->air hova
    sf-pac->can do it all
    pf–50>dirty work,enforcer
    c-BIG->cant have a squad without poppa
    coah: Master P->see no limit records
    assistants:Bun B,Pimp C->motivational speakers->”Fiddy, get off the boo boo!

    yeah, im bored as fuck at work lol

  • http://overmanent.com C. Hop

    PG – Andre 3000 Sees the whole floor makes players better. (Big Boi)
    SG – Jay-Z Deadly finisher 11 #1 Albums
    SF – Eminem Triple double threat intense defender
    PF – T.I. Powerful inside scoring and rebounding presence
    C – Game Size in the middle good midrange jumper for big man

    6th man – Kanye, can play all 5 positions

    Coach – J. Prince

  • K mac

    PG-Big L (puts his team on and also kills solo)
    SG- Canibus (Crazy raw talent but does it on his own)
    Sf- Nas/Guru/mos def (nice addition that holds team together)
    Pf- Pac (no one questions him)
    C-Biggie/Pun (Big inside presence people scared to step to them)

    Coach-Rakim (everyone listens to the old school)

    Owner-Jay Z (knows how to run a buisness)

  • Black Benji

    Coach: Jeru the Damaja – “Your nine spray, my mind spray.”

    Point Guard: El-P – All about great production.

    Shooting Guard: Pharoahe Monch – Whether Stray Bullet or Gun Draws, he is well versed in the art of shooting.

    Strong Forward: Kool Keith – You running ball games? “I don’t believe you.”

    Power Forward: Thirstin Howl III – You are going to get a lot stolen.

    Center: Cam’Ron – Not as “big” as others, but I can’t think of anyone else with more swag to get the center of attention.

    Sixth Man: Del the Funkee Homosapien – “That little nigga tried to cut, I caught him. – We sap the strength and lap the length around the whole course of time and still got the time to unwind.”

  • Massy 8ball

    grimy team benji easily my fav

    • The Southern Comfort

      Co-sign, some people approaching this like it’s a typical “favourite five rappers” thing, benji went a different way. Nice team man (and they’d record one crazy ass song too)

  • alderman j

    COACHES
    KRS ONE, DR DRE, SCARFACE

    POINT GUARD
    SNOOP DOG
    SHOOTING GUARD
    TUPAC
    SMALL FORWARD
    TI
    POWER FORWARD
    KANYE WEST
    CENTER
    JAY Z
    SIXTH MAN
    CAM’RON
    1 DRAFT PICK
    JAY ELECTRONICA

  • http://www.xxlmag.com 615banga

    Luda
    Bun B
    T.I.
    Nas
    The Game

  • http://goldenrain.wetpaint.com/ Terry Bamba

    Well written site, well researched and useful for me in the future.I am so happy you took the time and effort to make this. Kind regards

  • don ron

    pg – em
    sg – pac
    sf – Jay
    pf – cube
    c – Face

    Coach – Dre
    asst coach – short

  • http://www.pissingfetish.org piss fetish

    Hi, often good to see other individuals through the hole world in my looking, I seriously appreciate the time it must have taken to place together this cool article.friendly regards

  • http://automotiverepair.tk Deborah Magwire

    Great stuff ici.