Drake's Best Sports Rap References

Since hip-hop began, rappers have been referencing sports and athletes in their rhymes. Still, it just feels different when Drake does it.

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Drake address the audience at the NBA Awards Show on June 26, 2017 at Basketball City at Pier 36 in New York City, New York

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When Drake drops something new, everyone pays attention. Including the sports world, because, well, he raps about it often. It's become an intergal part of his lyrics and life in general. We've all seen him courtside at Raptors game and rocking jerseys at every turn. So much so that there's jokes about him actually cursing guys when he rocks their gear.

“Damn, I swear sports and music are so synonymous/Cause we want to be them, and they want to be us.”

Those lyrics come from “Thank Me Now,” the final track on Drake’s 2010 debut album, Thank Me Later, and they’ve set the tone for the Champagne Papi’s relationship with sports since we first heard them. From the moment he’s entered the public eye, Drake has embraced the Venn diagram that exists between music and sports by doing everything he can to be a part of both, so much so that his fandom has become a meme.

Drake finagles his way into sports whenever the opportunity has presents itself. He began a close relationship with the University of Kentucky, most famously taking the opportunity to airball a three-pointer during the Wildcat’s Big Blue Madness season-opening event in 2014 and eventually getting the university an NCAA violation

In addition to literally inserting himself into any and all sports happenings he finds himself around, Drake has taken an only slightly less invasive approach when slipping sports references into his lyrics. At the drop of a hat, he’ll mention his weekends at Steph Curry’s house or his friendship with Beckham Jr., and even pay homage to some of Canada’s greats. Though his affinity for sports can get annoying, you’ve gotta hand it to Drizzy: he’s a dedicated fan who shows love to the players who make each game so great.

With his new project, Dark Lane Demo Tapes out now, here are Drake’s best sports rap references.

"Demons"

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Year: 2020

Lyric: “Ball in the summer like Drew League” / "Sosa (Sosa), Fivi (Fivi), lookin' like KD and Kyrie (I am)"

Drake's new project, Dark Lane Demo Tapes, dropped as a total surprise to most. The project consists mostly of songs hat had either leaked or were just loosies, but that doesn't mean they aren't hitting. And of course Drake had to get some hoop bars off, spitting "Ball in the Summer like Drew League" and "Sosa, Fivi, looking like KD and Kyrie." Drake must have some real faith in next years Brooklyn Nets team. 

"Draft Day"

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Year: 2014

Lyric: “Draft day, Johnny Manziel/Five years later how am I the man still/Draft day, A. Wiggins/Fuck that other side bitch, we stay winnin'”

It was cool to hear Drake name-dropping two of the hottest up-and-coming athletes in sports when this first dropped. Four years later, though, it’s pretty fair to say that Johnny Manziel is no longer the man (though he is headed to Drake’s native land), and Andrew Wiggins isn’t exactly doing too much winning lately. Absolute slapper of a chorus, though.

"Sandra's Rose"

Drake and LeBron during an 'Uninterrupted' interview.

"Landed"

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Year: 2020

Lyric: “I be in and out arenas like I'm Scottie Pippen”

Drake has clearly been watching The Last Dance. That's not a shot, we all are, but it's probably not a coincidence that Drizzy is out here namedropping Scottie Pippen in songs on his new project. On the track "Landed," Drake pays tribute to Pippen with the line, "I be in and out of arenas like I'm Scottie Pippen." 

"Nonstop"

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Year: 2018

Lyric: "Catch me ‘cause I’m going, outta there, I’m gone / How I go from 6 to 23 like I’m LeBron?"

Another LeBron line from Drake and this one is quite simple, but still great. Drake is ready to go full speed on the drop of a hat. 

"Tim Westwood Freestyle"

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Year: 2010

Lyric: "I ain't lyin' to the kids, like the dentist ain't scary/I'm what LeBron was to St. Vincent—St. Mary"

Drake and LeBron’s relationship is a long one, dating way further back than the repeated evisceration of the rapper’s beloved Raptors over the last few seasons. “Forever” was created for LeBron’s More Than a Game documentary, and months before More Life came out, the future Hall of Famer was tweeting out lyrics from the album. But Drizzy first name-checked LeBron eight years ago in one of his first freestyles in the aftermath of his reading-off-a-Blackberry freestyle incident on Hot 97.

"Can’t Have Everything"

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Year: 2017

Lyric: “Two-faced n****s back around with the three face/Damn, ol' triple double, Russ face, watch with the bust face”

While Drake most definitely rides for Kevin Durant in the beef between him and his former Oklahoma City teammate (in contrast to rap rival Kendrick Lamar, who name-checked Russ on “The Heart Pt. 4”), he pays Brodie some respect on this cut from More Life. Russell Westbrook set the single-season triple-double record in 2017 while also becoming the only player in NBA history to average a triple-double the whole season. Plus, the Russ face became the perfect way to respond to something incomprehensibly dumb.

"Pain 1993"

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Year: 2020

Lyric: "When I shoot my shot, It’s the Kawhi way, it’s goin in"

You knew Drake was going to get a Raptors bar off on this new project at some point. And what better way to do it than an ode to Kawhi Leonard's immpotal game-winning shot against the 76ers with the line, "when I shoot my shot, it's the Kawhi way, it's going in." Look away, Philly fans. 

"Back to Back"

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Year: 2015

Lyric: “Back to back like I’m Jordan ‘96, ‘97”

A quick but effective reference, Drake employed Jordan’s back-to-back championship years to allude to the fact that he was going up 2-0 on Meek Mill during their infamous squabble in 2015.

For those that who forgot about Drake’s infamous squabble with Meek Mill, a refresher: Drake dropped the slower, less well-received “Charged Up” in initial response to Meek Mill’s Twitter revelation of his “R.I.C.O.” collaborator’s usage of ghostwriters. Before Meek could give a response to the first track, Drake dropped “Back to Back,” seizing the opportunity to not just get two punches in, but to perform the song five days later at his very own OVO Fest.

"Thank Me Now"

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Year: 2010

Lyric: “I can relate to kids going straight to the league/When they recognize that you got what it takes to succeed/And that's around the time/That your idols become your rivals/You make friends with Mike/But got to A.I. him for your survival/Damn, I swear sports and music are so synonymous/Cause we want to be them, and they want to be us”

Perhaps the most detailed and accurate of Drake’s sports references, the 6 God employed a reference to Allen Iverson’s through-the-legs move on Michael Jordan to allude to defeating your heroes and the overall similarities between the worlds of sports and music.

While Drake has chased sports stardom in his own ways, athletes from Shaq to Kobe to DeSean Jackson to Kevin Durant have tried their hand at rapping, to mostly disastrous results. To further solidify the levels of the verse, Drake himself now may be A.I-ing Jordan by potentially departing from Jumpman to Adidas.

"Weston Road Flows"

Drake smiles at a Lakers game.

"Fake Love"

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Year: 2016

Lyric: “No, you can't "son" me/You won't never get to run me/Just when shit look out of reach/I reach back like one, three/Like one, three, yeah”

Somehow, this is the only Odell Beckham Jr. reference in Drake’s discography, despite the pure and beautiful friendship that exists between the two. The lyrics allude to Beckham Jr.’s legendary one-handed catch in 2014 versus the Dallas Cowboys, as well as the receiver’s number (13).

Beckham, of course, has been spotted hanging out with Drake on multiple occasions, including getting a visit from him in the hospital. He also claims that when he listens to some Drake songs, “it's almost as if he wrote them and had me in mind." The aforementioned lyrics from “Thank Me Now” have never rang more true.

"6 Man"

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"Free Smoke"

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Year 2017

Lyric: “Now they like, ‘aren’t you adorable?”/I know the question rhetorical/I took the team plane from Oracle/Mama never used to cook much/Used to chef KD/Now me and Chef, KD/Bet on shots for twenty G's”

Drake’s primary basketball loyalties may lie with the Raptors, but he’s infamous for stanning athletes and teams of all different locations and cities. His love for Steph Curry and Kevin Durant is on full display here as he references hanging out on the Warriors’ plane and claims it’s a good idea to place money on the shooting of two of the top players in the National Basketball Association. Maybe that’s why he ended up possibly getting tattoos of the two players’ numbers, or at the very least why he got clowned by Durant and Draymond Green after a 2016 game.

"0-100"

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Year: 2014

Lyric: “Yeah, the 6 ain't friendly but that's where I lay up/This shit a mothafuckin' lay up/I been Steph Curry with the shot/Been cookin' with the sauce, Chef Curry with the pot, boy”

The prelude to Drake’s friendship with Curry, and the better of the two tracks released in the lead up to If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late (the other being “Draft Day”), laudes the two-time MVP and all-time three-point leader for his shooting ability while simultaneously hyping up his wife Ayesha’s cooking skills.

"Used To"

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"Enough Said"

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Year: 2012

Lyric: "Went from my nigga serving it by the tele to venues in Manchester/Just swerving with Balotelli, the fuck are you trying to tell me?"

Your favorite rapper chills with NBA players in different states while Drizzy is a bit more international when it comes to ballin' out with athlete friends. We can only imagine the shenanigans the City striker and Toronto MC got into.

"Pop That"

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Year: 2012

Lyric: "OVO that's major shit, Toronto with me that's mayor shit/Gettin' cheddar packs like KD, OKC that's player shit"

Good enough for Mr. Durant. Good enough for us. This slick reference was one of the better parts of the summer's biggest party anthem.

"Come Winter"

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Year: 2009

Lyric: "She love to play hurt like Carter did on the bizzench"

Drizzy still seems a little salty over VC forcing his way out of Toronto. Going from dropping 15 PPG one season to 27 PPG the very next is crazy though.

"You Know, You Know"

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Year: 2010

Lyric: "But I'm still playin' like I'm being scouted 'til I'm out it/Gametime bitch, I hope you're proud of us/King James shit watch me throw the powder up"

Maybe Drake should've followed his own advice. Throwing powder up > Throwing bottles in the club. Ask Tony Parker.

"To The Floor"

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"Made Men"

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Year: 2011

Lyric: "I'm at the condo just posted watching Miami kill/I might just walk to the arena and watch it for real"

While we scour the depths of StubHub in search of seats with views that allow us to distinguish Chris Bosh from LeBron James (besides the fact that one of them is obviously a dinosaur), Drake is posted up courtside right next to Gabby and Savannah. #lifeaintfair #basketballwivesshit

"Ignorant Sh*t"

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Year: 2009

Lyric: "On some southern drawl shit/Rookie of the Year, '06 Chris Paul shit"

Meanwhile, a ton of other rappers are on their one good year and fade to black 2004-05 Rookie of the Year Emeka Okafor ish. It's sad but true.

"Barry Bonds (Freestyle)"

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Year: 2008

Lyric: "Yeah, that’s the reason why he looking hard/'Cause I’ve done snatched the Chips Ahoy! out the cookie jar/He just mad ’cause his girl at the house/With her tongue sticking out like a Michael Jordan rookie card"

Say what you want about dude's emo ways but the thirst is real.

"Over My Dead Body"

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Year: 2011

Lyric: "Yeah, are these people really discussing my career again?/Asking if I’ll be going platinum in a year again?/Don’t I got the shit the world wanna hear again?/Don’t Michael Jordan still got his hoop earring in?"

Doesn't the GOAT still rock the most ridiculous jeans known to man over and over again?

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