Our 25 Favorite Michael Jordan Rap References

Michael Jordan in 1988. Image via Getty

Lyric: "I’m Michael Jordan, my bitches so excited."

Complex Says: MJ joins a hallowed group that includes Miley Cyrus, Paris Hilton, Ellen DeGeneres, Bill Clinton, and Mel Gibson.

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."

Complex Says: The more you think about this rhyme, the more pause-worthy it starts to sound. So, don't think too hard.

Lyric: "So pull out the Chicago and the script to wear on Soul Train/The Bulls, when Mike had hair and a gold chain."

Complex Says: Not only did Hov end throwbacks, but he also ended raps about throwbacks. R.I.P., throwbacks.

Lyric: "Don't worry about gettin' gassed, I push the pedal to the metal/Always wanted this 'cause it surely beats a scramble/I'm Jordan with the mic, huh, wanna gamble?"

Complex Says: Phife is one of the O.G. sports-lovin' rappers, and he proves it here by rhyming about Mike as a baller and a notorious gambler. 

Lyric: "Me and Jay same track? You gotta be kiddin'/It's like that nigga Jordan, I'm Scottie Pippen"

Complex Says: That makes Bleek Toni Kukoc...and Amil Bill Wennington.

Lyric: "Tryna get that Kobe number, one over Jordan."

Comples Says: Kobe listened to this song over and over and over and over again, giddy as shit.

Lyrics: "And, when it comes down to this recording/I must be LeBron James if he's Jordan/No! I won rings for my performance/I'm more Kobe Bryant of an artist/Same coach, same game been startin'/Same triangle offense."

Complex Says: Weezy took Hov's rhyme and twisted it into a not-so-subliminal shot at his elder. 

Lyrics: "Steppin to me, thinkin' I can be touched? Huh/Not even Michael Jordan’ll gamble that much."

Complex Says: Like Phife, BDK brings up MJ's predilection for BMF in Vegas. Jordan was trying to hit baseballs in ’94, so he was fair game.

Lyric: "It's not even close, just leave it alone/I'm Michael Jordan, I play for the team I own."

Complex Says: Nine years later, and Hov owns a piece of the Nets and MJ has moved on to own the Bobcats. These dudes really are alike. Get used to Hov on this list.

Lyric: "What if hate ran through me?/And what if Portland would've drafted Jordan, instead of Sam Bowie?"

Complex Says: 2011 remix: "What if we still watched porn on a modem?/And what if Portand would've drafted KD, instead of Greg Oden?"

Lyric: "Don’t be mad cause you can’t do what I can/Like when Jordan went up, took that shot and switched hands."

Complex Says: That's a SPECTACULAR Jordan reference by the Chocolate Boy Wonder.

Lyric: "Like Jordan, I'm goin' coast to coast/Dribblin' the funk/Here comes the nigga with the motherfuckin' monster dunk/Get off me punk!"

Complex Says: In between the Showtime era and the Kobe era, L.A. rappers were forced to rap about Jordan, too.

Lyric: "Jordan couldn't dunk it any harder/Pump it any farther/I'm funky that's word to the father."

Complex Says: ’Pac delivers a relatively early MJ ref, and like most of his rhymes, we fux with the form over the content.

Lyric: "Losers lose/So when we does what we do/We win then win again like deja vu/Then we win again, like MJ/Three-Peat, then we retreat to waters that's blue/Young scrappy, that's what grown men do."

Complex Says: More often than not, the god MC references Jordan when he's throwing shots. This time around, it was an anti-anti-chancleta jab.

Lyric: "Let me hear your man say that I'm the Jordan of rappin'/He's gettin' fatigued, girlie, and his scorin' is lackin'/Legacy is gettin' ruined, and you don't want that/So, pretty much learn from him/Don't come back."

Complex Says: Joey held his own against Jigga and some even thought he won the battle. Hova won the war, though. Respect the Jux!

Lyric: "Yeah, you know my flava/Rip this whole jam apart/Fuck around and have your heart/Like Jordan had Starks"

Complex Says: Don't cry, Knicks fans.

Lyric: "I'm goin' off on the mic/Insane, out of sight/When I take flight/'Like who, kid?'/Like Mike."

Complex Says: Even Melachi the Nutcracker wanted to be like Mike.

Lyric: "Rebounding, outstanding, no one surrounding/I'm screwing and doing like I was Ewing/The only one soaring and scoring is Jordan/He must of had his Wheaties this morning."

Complex Says: A pre-Ready to Die B.I.G. is in full Walt Frazier mode ("rebounding, outstanding, soaring, scoring") on this song, on which he flips a ton of basketball names. The above is dope, but we like "one in the chamber like Chambers" even better. Tom'll have to wait for the Top 1 Tom Chambers Rap References post, we guess.

Lyric: "Mike Jordan of rap, outside J workin'/Now watch how quickly I drop 50/I don't like playin'/Can't stick me."

Complex Says: The first of his not-so-subliminal shots at 50 Cent on Vol. 3.

Lyric: "Facts on tracks, I recite well/Everybody wanna be like Mike, but Mike wanna be like L."

Complex Says: L mastered the art of talking shit on his first album. Listen and learn.

Lyric: "Get me on the court and I'm trouble/Last week fucked around and got a triple double/Freakin' niggas every way like MJ/I can't believe today was a good day."

Complex Says: SportsCenter probably owes Cube royalties for how many times they've borrowed this memorable line. It's kind of pause-worthy though, isn't it?

Lyric: "Real sick, brawl nights/I perform like Mike, anyone/Tyson, Jordan/Jackson, action/Pack guns, ridiculous."

Complex Says: Hmmm, one's now a chubby comedic actor, one's an old-fogey owner, and one's dead. Yeah, it's a little dated, but the rhyme is still incredible.

Lyric: "Hoop Dreamin', hanging up pictures of my idols/Jordan was like Jesus, SLAM was like the Bible/I used to read it twice and cut the pictures out/Had the Jordan free-throw dunk, tongue stickin' out."

Complex Says: Yup, we're giving #3 to MJ's fellow Carolina boy, JC. This wasn't a name-drop, this was truly paying homage.

Lyric: "Jay's status appears to be at an all-time high/Perfect time to say goodbye/When I come back like Jordan/Wearin' the 4-5/It ain't to play games witchu/It's to aim at you."

Complex Says: The Jiggaman and His Airness are heir apparents. Gracefully bow out, then return to win championships. #nowizards

Lyric: "Ayo, I shatter dreams like Jordan/Assault and batter your team/Your squadron will be barred from rap/Like Adam and Eve from the garden."

Complex Says: Yeah, it's just a quick shout-out, but we're putting Air Pun at #1 because (1) "shatter dreams like Jordan" is an epic phrase; (2) the rhyme scheme is impeccable; and (3) it's part of one of the most devastating opening verses ever. Salute, C. Rios...and R.I.P.