Shaquille O’Neal did something extraordinary when he expanded into rap music alongside his rising career in the NBA. He created a playbook for balancing diverse business interests. The folks on the other side of the coin now took his example and are running with it. One of his friends in the hip-hop business revealed how he looks up to the big man and other NBA stars for inspiration.

“It’s no different than Isaiah Thomas, Shaquille O’Neal. These are legends in the basketball game, and now we watch them on TNT every day,” Rolling Stone quoted Fat Joe, Shaq’s longtime friend and collaborator. Besides producing and recording music, Fat Joe has gotten into the media business.

He’s hosting talk shows, narrating for a true-crime show, and even turned his love for basketball with appearances on Streetball for ClashTV. The rapper saw the necessity of diversifying his business during a difficult time in life. He drew inspiration from NBA stars like Shaq transitioning into multi-faceted media careers after retiring from playing. “It’s a natural progression of hip-hop to get the guys that have been doing it, and the girls that have been doing it to cover it now.”

O’Neal is, of course, one of the backbones of TNT alongside another NBA star-turned-analyst, Charles Barkley. Many NBA pros have tried but few have found the formula for success to make sportscasting entertaining the way Chuck and Shaq have.

WATCH THIS STORY | Shaquille O’Neal Surprises “Dummy” Charles Barkley on New Show Premiere With Mystery Call

Isiah Thomas also has varied businesses in his portfolio. His connection to basketball remains through his work as an analyst on NBA on NBC and NBATV. Zeke and Shaq are great benchmarks to go by in the media business. But one NBA pro has outranked them.

Charles Barkley blows Fat Joe’s fave out of the water

Shaq and Fat Joe go way back. So it’s understandable why they’d be each other’s sounding boards in their shared interests. O’Neal might have to go to his friend for comfort now since his TNT frenemy, Charles Barkley, beat him on Complex’s list of ’25 Most Entertaining Sports Media Personalities Right Now.’

Shaq did make it too. He’s at No. 5, two spots below the No. 3 extraordinaire, Sir Charles. Both have rightfully become bigger than the brand as media personalities. Shaq is a producer, podcaster, and reality star. Barkley is now a talk show host on CNN and someone Shannon Sharpe looks up to.

No wonder basketball-loving Fat Joe is looking at the best in the biz. What are your thoughts on hip-hop stars following the retired NBA pro’s path?

READ MORE: Shaquille O’Neal’s Eldest Daughter Pens Heartwarming Message For Mom’s Special Day

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