Music and basketball go hand in hand. It is common practice for artists to reference NBA players in their songs. Among such artists, one with hard work and dedication just recently went pro in the Basketball African League. The $60 million worth rapper has been a part of the Slam Dunk contest once and recently invested in an NBA team as well. Nevertheless, he is in the news this time for name-dropping Los Angeles Lakers icons Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal in a recent verse.

Whether it’s the artists getting inspired by the athletes or the athletes sinking themselves into music while training or during games, they are always interlinked with each other.

An iconic duo just like Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal?

Grammy-winning rapper J. Cole recently dropped a song with Nigerian sensation Burna Boy titled ‘Thanks’. In J. Cole’s verse, he says, “Cole and Burna, Shaq and Kobe/ Winnin’ a ring, then we gon’ repeat and three-peat/ Them nerds hate, they seat geeks/ They peepin’ us on the low, we like the cheat sheet.”

This came as a surprise considering this is the first song the two of them made together, whereas Shaq and Kobe are an iconic duo that played together for years on the Lakers. And the success they both had together over those years is why people consider them a legendary duo.

Trending

“Gonna Be On LinkedIn”: Charles Barkley Begins Job Hunt, Shaq Goes AWOL as NBC Takes ‘Inside The NBA’, TNT to Deep Waters

May 20, 2024 12:20 PM EDT

30 Days Before Second Marriage, Shaquille O’Neal’s Heartfelt Confession Won the Respect of Ex-Wife Shaunie Henderson

May 18, 2024 01:00 PM EDT

Replaced by Shaquille O’Neal and $14 Million Worth TNT Deal, Here Are the Former “Inside the NBA” Analysts

May 20, 2024 12:35 PM EDT

Shaquille O’Neal Reveals Retirement Plans as Inside the NBA Crew Prepare for Uncertain Future With TNT

May 20, 2024 01:00 PM EDT

Shaquille O’Neal, Tempted by Elon Musk’s Tesla Creation, Offers $159,999 Worth Trade to 30YO Comedian

May 19, 2024 06:38 AM EDT

Get instantly notified of the hottest NBA stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

Watch This Story: Im Heartbroken: Devastated By Bray Wyatts Untimely Demise, Dwayne Johnson Drops An Emotional Tribute For His Ex-Colleague

Kobe and Shaq are widely regarded as the greatest guard-big man combo in league history. While Shaq was the primary star among the two, winning 3 Finals MVPs, Kobe was on the rise. So who is Shaq between Cole and Burna Boy? That’s an answer only they would know. Nonetheless, this wasn’t the first time J. Cole displayed his affection for the NBA and its stars.

J. Cole’s influence on basketball

The NBA and the 38-year-old have a great relationship. The North Carolina native performed in the Spectrum Arena, home to the Charlotte Hornets, during the 2019 NBA All-Star Game. He even assisted then-Mavericks guard, Dennis Smith Jr. during the Dunk Contest that weekend.

Recently, J. Cole even bought a small stake in the Hornets, a team that was then primarily owned by NBA icon Michael Jordan. His Airness sold his majority stake in the team a few weeks ago, which confirmed Cole’s ownership. Since his high school years, Cole has played basketball. He eventually signed with the Rwanda Patriots in Africa. The BAL received a lot of press as a result in 2021.

Basketball was always a major passion of the rapper. He stated, “I was always in love with basketball as a kid, but I thought I was way better than I really was,” in an interview with Sports Illustrated.

“Sh**ting in Pampers”: Famous for Electric Practice Rant, NBA Legend Gloats About His 1997 Triumph to 14,400,000 People

Cole has yet again shown his love of basketball by referencing Shaq and Kobe in his verse. What are your thoughts on the song? Let us know in the comments below.