Image via Complex Original
Earlier this week, Kobe Bean Bryant announced that he will be retiring from professional basketball at the end of this NBA season. This means that one of the greatest icons in sports is hanging it up for good. Kobe's legacy as a basketball player is nearly unmatched. However, the real magic surrounding the Laker legend was his bravado, notably in hip-hop. Throughout his career, Kobe was a favorite of rappers to name-drop in their songs, and he even dipped into the craft himself.
With Kobe officially calling it a career, we look back at five of his most memorable rap moments throughout the years, and appreciate a different side of "Bean" that isn't just about his MVPs and championship rings. So, for all you've done, we thank you, Kobe.
Chief Keef “Kobe”
Though he's a Chicago native, Chief Keef, delivered a stirring ode to the Laker legend on his debut album, Finally Rich. "These boys don't like me because I think that I'm Kobe," was a lyric immortalized by Sosa and shared by Kobe fans everywhere. It would be a travesty if this isn't played during Kobe's final game against the Bulls in Chicago.
Lil Wayne “Kobe Bryant”
Lil Wayne's love for sports is nothing close to a secret, and neither is his admiration for Kobe and the Lakers. Wayne is a die-hard Kobe fan, and he put it on wax back in 2009 with a song dedicated to the Black Mamba. Built with lyrics documenting Kobe's greatest moments on the court, prime Weezy floated over this haunting production for four minutes, which should remind you that at one time Wayne was the Kobe of the rap game.
Shaq “Tell Me How My A** Tastes” Freestyle
Kobe and Shaq's relationship over the years has been up and down to say the least. They won three NBA championships together on the Lakers, but their falling out was a huge public mess and led to years of shade between the two. While they traded public jabs, never did their feud get uglier than when Shaq decided to spit a freestyle dissing Kobe in the middle of a club. Now, Shaq can actually rap pretty well so this video will always be lowkey fire, and it especially peaks with the Big Diesel asking Kobe how his ass tastes. Not sure Kobe ever had an answer for that question, but at least they don't (publicly) hate each other anymore.
Young Jeezy “23-24 (Kobe, LeBron)”
Ever since LeBron James entered the NBA in 2003, his career has been judged against the greats: Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and many more. However, 'Bron and Kobe Bryant have always shared a special bond because they've played during the same era and have gone head-to-head countless times.
The debate of who is better between the two will no doubt rage on for years to come, and to some degree, Young Jeezy played a role in why. His 2009 track "23, 24 (Kobe, LeBron)," which many will remember as a Gucci Mane diss, drew a line in the sand and made fans pick sides between Kobe and LeBron. There may never be a right answer to the question, but as Jeezy points out, you have to choose.
Kobe Bryant f/ Tyra Banks “K.O.B.E.”
And here we are. Kobe's own venture into the rap game wasn't a success in any way. Unlike Shaq, Kobe just didn't really have the ability to make music that at least sounded decent. That's nothing against Kobe, either. He's a basketball player and not a rapper. But like Kobe on the court, he was never scared to take his shot, and though his music career wasn't a make, he still went at it in the only way that Kobe could. We salute the effort.
