“Athlete wanna be rappers, rappers wanna be athletes.” - Lil Wayne
For most people it’s a little off-putting to see music and sports mix, they’re almost like oil and water. But the reality is they both go hand in hand. From the flashy lifestyle to the go-getter mentality, music and sports have a lot more in common than you think.
Often times we recognize musicians and athletes as only having one lane and staying in it. However, there are some professional athletes who have attempted to break down that barrier and prove that they have something to offer on and off the court (or field). For a lot of athletes, music is the motivating source they need to get pumped up, so it’s natural that many of them gravitate towards it for self-expression. Besides seeing how they play, some of them want to let us know what else they can do and that’s how music becomes an outlet for their creativity.
The unique connection that exists between music and sports is quite fascinating. For one thing the two intertwine for many aspiring rappers and athletes because they’re the number one ways to make it out of poverty. It’s almost like the common denominator for people who come from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Ask any young dude growing up in the hood and his dream is to either be a baller or a rapper. For them you have to be good at either or in order to provide a better life for your family. Music and sports are also very much self-starting professions that don’t require much - just the tools you need and the motivation to keep going. It’s not just the fame and fortune that link the two together, it’s the passion that’s connected to each entity.
“I swear sports and music are so synonymous. ‘Cause we wanna be them, and they wanna be us.” – Drake
Music grants people the creative freedom they crave to do what they want, say what they want, and be who they are. All athletes aren’t granted the same freedom of expression in their own professions so the few who are brave enough to take that step have gone on to shoot their shot at making music. Music is all about self-expression, creating something special, and getting lost in another world. Several athletes who have followed this philosophy have been able to pursue ventures outside of sports.
For instance, take Sacramento Kings guard Iman Shumpert. Aside from having a successful career in the NBA, he’s putting in a lot of work to prove he can find success in other lanes too. He turned to rapping as a way to express himself in a way that can only translate through his music.
“I do not just “spit.” To me, rapping is an art.”
Making music gave Shumpert an escape from the court and out of a lot of his peers he’s actually pretty solid. He has two complete projects under his belt and has been dropping music since 2012. Unlike Shaq and Kobe Bryant, who’s “musical careers” are more like long-running jokes, Shumpert is determined to go legitimate.
Along his side is Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo, who surprisingly has the pipes to keep up with the best of them. What’s unique about Oladipo is, unlike many of his counterparts, he’s adopted singing versus rapping as his alternate talent.
Just to name a few recent athletes who have explored their musical talents - Lonzo Ball, Damian Lillard, Le’Veon Bell - it’s not abnormal to see more athletes dive into music. With the good there’s been a lot of bad from those who’ve dared to enter the booth. Everything from Chris Webber’s “2 Much Drama” to Deion Sanders’ “Must Be the Money” video was all too cringy. There have been a lot of musical flops from players in the NBA and NFL, but the few who have found some success certainly have the talent to make a side career out of it.
The labels we put on people who shine in different industries puts a cap on their overall potential. Music and sports overlap so much to the point where one can’t exist without the other. Not everybody is the next R&B or rap sensation, but that doesn’t mean we have to stereotype every athlete as a “wanna-be” musician (But thank God Master P switched lanes). If we can break down the wall between athletes and music then maybe the idea of our favorite NFL and NBA players crossing over won’t seem so far-fetched.
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