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The impact of Serena Williams, an American tennis legend, extends far beyond what she accomplished on the court. Every tennis fan who has ever watched her play acknowledges how she has influenced them in some manner. But there are a lot of people who have seen it the other way around and looked upon her in a slightly distressing manner. Indeed, there was a time when a popular rapper literally spoke the bitter truth on her behalf regarding injustice amid Maria Sharapova‘s popularity.

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The American rapper Common discussed the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s genuine value in his 2016 song Black America Again. And now, years later, as hip-hop celebrates its 50th anniversary, Williams’ ex-boyfriend’s rebellious act came to light again.

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Common incorporated Serena Williams’ name into his rap

2016 was the year when the 23-time Grand Slam champion was not only a dominant force on the tennis court but was also one of the most well-known athletes in the whole world. That same year, Williams’ ex-boyfriend depicted a part of Williams’ story in his song – truly amazing for Serena as a black woman from Compton who was not supposed to play at Wimbledon but won 23 majors when she entered the scene!

As the music world celebrates 50 years of hip-hop, Common’s words on how Sharapova was paid more just for her looks, even though the 41-year-old was more dominant on the court, recently resurfaced.

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In an interview with Rolling Stone that was taken during the time of his song’s release, he talked about how even after all her achievements, she was criticized for not being the beauty throughout her career, bringing in the example of Maria Sharapova into his song.

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He said, “I’m talking about things like, ‘Maria Sharapova making more than Serena.’ C’mon… Now that’s changed recently, but is that where we should be? I know we’re talking about millionaires, but it’s still like – that doesn’t seem fair.”

READ MORE – Scathing Example Highlights the Brutal Impact of Doping Ban on Maria Sharapova As WTA Legend Once Lashed Out at US Open’s Inherent Bias

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According to ESPN, the rapper, who was once her boyfriend and was on the verge of marrying her, pointed out the problems in the system, which he said disregarded black people and undervalued the 41-year-old American tennis legend, which was unjust.

But he is not the only singer who brought the American tennis legend into his song.

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Beyonce’s ‘Sorry’ featured Serena Williams

The same year, there was another song that got a lot of headlines in the Tennis world, and that was Beyonce’s Sorry. In the music video, the 23-time Grand Slam champion made an appearance but didn’t say a word. She just paraded across the screen, dancing to the lyrics – that she ain’t sorry for anything while hinting at everything that needs to be said!

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WATCH THIS STORY – Serena Williams pays tribute to Roger Federer

Although she has both good and bad projections of her personality, she is not even a bit sorry for who she is in real life. Throughout her tennis career, Williams has been a part of a lot of music videos, but only a few came out to stand with her and share the sporting reality with the public.

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Pratishtha Prakash

2,948 Articles

Pratishtha Prakash, senior tennis writer and resident analyst at EssentiallySports isn't just a sports journalist; she's a storyteller who found her true calling in tennis content. It is something she seamlessly integrates into both her professional and personal realms. At ES, she has curated more than 2400 articles, and each write-up reflects that fans are here to stay! Having professional certifications in content and digital marketing, Pratishtha has made it a habit to hone her skills as a quality journalist. Her sweet spot lies in articles exploring fan reactions and off-court tales. As an analyst, she elevates her storytelling with technical finesse. Beyond the pixels, Pratishtha trades her keyboard for the dance floor and loves to explore new places during her time off from work.

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Aayush Kapoor

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