The 50 Greatest NBA References in Rap

Hot lines and rhymes about your favorite NBA players and teams.

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Image via Getty/Scott Dudelson/Contributor

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The NBA and rap have crossed paths many times throughout the years. We always hear the classic adage that NBA players want to be rappers and rappers want to be NBA players, so there are bound to be rappers that use some NBA references in their lyrics. These dedications, references, and shout-outs to the NBA come in different forms. There are entire songs dedicated to the NBA like Kurtis Blow's "Basketball" and there are quick and witty references like Drake's memorable line about Kobe Bryant's marital issues on "Stay Schemin'." From The Notorious B.I.G. to Kanye West, here are the 50 Greatest NBA References in Rap.

 

Sugar Hill Gang, "Rapper's Delight"

sugarhill gang

Fabolous f/ Red Cafe, "I'm The Man"

famolous atl

Public Enemy, "Rebel Without a Pause"

public enemy

Big K.R.I.T., "Sky Club"

big krit

Ghostface Killah f/ Cappadonna, Method Man & Redman, "Buck 50"

ghostface killah

Ice Cube, "When Will They Shoot?"

ice cube

Pharoahe Monch f/ Showtyme, Mela Machinko & Tower of Power, "Push"

pharoahe monch

Black and Brown, "LOL"

danny brown primavera sound

Kanye West, "Can't Tell Me Nothing"

kanye west

Beastie Boys f/ Q-Tip, "Get It Together"

beastie boys

Wale, "Mama Told Me"

wale rolling loud

Roc Marciano, "Tek to A Mack"

roc marciano

Beastie Boys, "B-Boys Makin With The Freak Freak"

beastie boys

The Cool Kids, "Pennies"

complex image not available

Rick Ross f/ Andre 3000, "Sixteen"

rick ross

Too $hort, "Just Another Day"

too short

Young Jeezy, "24-23"

jeezy

Wale, "Barry Sanders"

wale

Joe Budden, “Something to Ride To”

joe budden

Jay Z, "Open Letter"

jay z

Jay Z, "Excuse Me Miss Again (La La La)"

jay z

N.O.R.E. f/ Nature, Jadakiss, Styles P & Big Pun, "Banned From TV"

nore

Big L, "Let 'Em Have It L"

big l

Danny Brown, "S.O.S."

danny brown

French Montana f/ Drake, Lil Wayne & Rick Ross, "Pop That"

french montana

Wiz Khalifa f/ Juicy J, "Errday"

wiz khalifa

Action Bronson, "Set It Off"

action bronson fib festival

The Notorious B.I.G., "Gimme The Loot"

biggie

Kurtis Blow, "Basketball"

kurtis blow

A Tribe Called Quest, "The Infamous Date Rape"

a tribe called quest

Lloyd Banks, "It Blows My Mind"

lloyd banks

J. Cole, "Return of Simba"

j cole

Diddy f/ The Notorious B.I.G. and Busta Rhymes, "Victory"

diddy

Kanye West f/ Pusha T & Ghostface Killah, "New God Flow"

kanye west pusha t

Jay Z, "Hola Hovito"

jay z

Beastie Boys, "Tough Guy"

beastie boys

Lil Wayne, "Show Me What You Got (Remix)"

wayne

J. Cole, "I Got It"

cole

Beanie Sigel f/ Jay Z, "Raw and Uncut"

beanie sigel

Jay Z & Kanye West, "N****s in Paris"

kanye jay

Big Pun, "The Dream Shatterer"

big pun

Heavy D, Biggie, & Tru Kula, "Jam Session"

heavy d

A Tribe Called Quest, "Baby Phife's Return"

a tribe called quest

Drake, "Thank Me Now"

drake

The Notorious B.I.G., "I Got A Story To Tell"

biggie

Kanye West, "Cold"

Kanye West

Jay Z, "Encore"

Jay Z

Jay Z, "Pump It Up (Remix)"

Jay Z

Rick Ross f/ Drake & French Montana, "Stay Schemin'"

Rick Ross 50 Cent

Ice Cube "It Was a Good Day"

ice cube

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