“Biological Didn’t Bother”: Shaquille O’Neal Once Released a Rap Song to Diss His Biological Dad and Honor His Army Man Stepfather

Published 12/11/2021, 6:30 AM EST

Shaquille O’Neal does not hold back from taking shots at his critics and detractors. The Los Angeles Lakers legend is quite an outspoken personality in the media. During his illustrious playing career, O’Neal dominated media headlines as well as his rivals on the court.

In fact, he once expressed his honest dissatisfaction with his biological father while honoring his stepfather.

Who was Shaquille O’Neal’s Biological Father?

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In Newark, New Jersey on March 6, 1972, Shaquille O’Neal was born to parents Lucille O’Neal and Joseph Toney. The 72-year-old Toney played high school basketball and received the All-State guard title. During O’Neal’s infanthood, his father Toney got arrested for drug possession and once went to federal prison for forging checks.

By his own admission, Toney lost contact with his son due to drug addiction and his prison sentences. Toney never returned home to his wife and six-month-old son O’Neal and never attempted to make contact with them. Toney began work at Goodwill where he delivered bread to homeless shelters.

Why does Shaquille O’Neal respect his stepfather so much?

After Toney abandoned his family, he consented to hand over O’Neal’s parental rights to his mother, Lucille O’Neal. She, in turn, handed these rights to her new husband and O’Neal’s stepfather, Philip A. Harrison. Harrison, a Jamaican national, was a career sergeant in the United States Army. He moved his family, along with O’Neal, to a military base in Germany for a short period of time.

O’Neal’s affinity with his stepfather arises from the fact that Harrison raised him from the tender age of two. In a 1994 rap song called ‘Biological Didn’t Bother,’ O’Neal expressed his love for Harrison.

In the introduction of the song, O’Neal says, “I Want To Dedicate This Song To Phillip Arthur Harrison. Because He Was The One That Took Me From A Boy To A Man. So As Far As I’m Concerned, He’s My Father.”

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Does Shaquille O’Neal have kids?

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O’Neal has fathered four children along with his ex-wife, Shaunie Nelson: Shareef, Amirah, Shaqir, and Me’arah. He has a daughter, Taahirah, through his previous relationship with ex-girlfriend Arnetta Yardbourgh.

Additionally, he has a stepson named Myles from Shaunie Nelson’s former relationship.

The 7 ft 1 in center won four NBA titles in his 19 year NBA career. This included a three-peat with the Lakers between the 2000-2002 NBA seasons. O’Neal retired in 2011 while with the Boston Celtics.

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Shalom Saldanha is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. Currently pursuing his journalism degree, he has previously worked as a sports corresspondent for India Shorts/Business Upturn. A Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bucks fan, Shalom primarily got into the sport after discovering that he shared a mutual love for Arsenal with the 'Greek Freak'.

“Biological Didn’t Bother”: Shaquille O’Neal Once Released a Rap Song to Diss His Biological Dad and Honor His Army Man Stepfather

Who was Shaquille O’Neal’s Biological Father?

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Why does Shaquille O’Neal respect his stepfather so much?

Does Shaquille O’Neal have kids?