Off the court, the only thing greater than LeBron James’ love affair with wine is his obsession with all things hip-hop. With all due respect to LeBron the Wine Connoisseur, LeBron the Hip-Hop Ambassador is far more powerful, as he’s spent his NBA career running in the same circles as the rap game’s elite.
While transforming into one of the greatest basketball players of all time over the past two decades, King James has cemented his status as the NBA’s leading tastemaster for rap music. Making friends with the best rappers alive, appearing in music videos, gracing the covers of hip-hop magazines, and previewing unreleased tracks or co-signing new artists on his Instagram story, LeBron has displayed his potential as a future hip-hop mogul.
In light of the recent announcement that LeBron A&R’d 2 Chainz new album Rap or Go to the League, it’s time to look back at James’ history with rap, from 2003 until now. This is LeBron's road to becoming an A&R.
July 2003: LeBron gets interviewed on JAY-Z’s tour bus during Roc the Mic tour
April 2008: JAY-Z records diss track in defense of LeBron
February 2009: LeBron attends Drake’s 'So Far Gone' release party
August 2009: LeBron makes cameo in “Forever” music video
April 2014: LeBron freestyles over JAY-Z’s “FuckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt”
March 2016: LeBron prompts TDE to release Kendrick Lamar’s 'untitled unmastered.'
How is this not mentioned in the LeBron vs. Jordan GOAT debate? You think it would be, given that MJ stans pull the Space Jam card like it’s actually a good movie—I already can’t wait for the internet to passionately debate Space Jam vs. Space Jam 2 like it’s The Godfather and The Godfather Part II.
Possessing the power to convince the greatest rapper of his generation’s label to release a new album from said rapper, is a pure flex. Of course, that’s what LeBron did three years ago. After Kendrick began performing unreleased tracks at shows—specifically, the Grammys—King James tweeted at the CEO of Top Dawg Entertainment, asking the record label to officially release Kendrick Lamar’s “untitled” tracks. Less than two weeks later, TDE granted his request, releasing untitled unmastered, on March 3, 2016.