These rappers's skills go beyond just writing verses!
The allure of crossing over from athletics to the rap scene and vice versa is undeniable. Yet, while some athletes attempt to master the mic, the results often fall short, leaving us inundated with lacklustre CD releases. From Ron Artest to Kobe, Tony Parker, and Shaq, the list is rife with examples. However, amidst the mediocrity, some successfully transition, opting to demonstrate their skills in the rap arena over the playing field.
"The Game," also going by Jayceon Taylor, was a Compton High School player in the late 1990s who was accepted to Washington State University on a basketball scholarship. Sadly, things didn't work out for the 6'4" small forward, and he was out of the game after only one semester. He "averaged 14.9 points a game, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists" in high school, playing with Tayshaun Prince, Gilbert Arenas, Tyson Chandler, and Baron Davis, all of whom would go on to become NBA players. Not too awful.
"Master P" Percy Miller truly did wish he had become a professional. Miller briefly signed contracts in the late 1990s with the Toronto Raptors and the Charlotte Hornets. Master P is still a talented player, even if he never played in an NBA regular season. In 2004, he averaged 24 points per game while playing for the ABA's Las Vegas Rattlers.
Nelly was raised in baseball-mad St. Louis, where he developed an early love for the game. Nelly played baseball for his high school team and used the sport to keep himself out of trouble. The only trouble he created for opposing pitchers was winning MVP honours in the St. Louis Amateur Baseball Association, which attracted the attention of the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals.
Back in the day, Killa Cam was a great basketball player. In 1994, Cam, a Manhattan Centre High School player, was ranked among the top 25 recruits and had interest from USC, Georgetown, and the University of Miami. After the State playoffs ended in defeat and the coaches stopped calling, Cam left school and obtained his GED. Remaining true to his aim, Cam'ron enrolled in Texas' Navarro Junior College with the intention of attending Miami a year later. Regretfully, it never happened, but rapping became a career.
Growing up in Queens, 50 Cent started boxing at the age of eleven, participating in the Junior Olympics when his neighbour let local kids use his gym to practise boxing. Regretfully, Fiddy made the decision to veer from his original job path and pursue rapping.
50 Cent caught training, punching a boxing bag
Quavo, the most well-known member of the rap group Migos' , is renowned for getting to the basket. A few years ago, he demonstrated his abilities in the NBA Celebrity Game that they hosted during the All-Star break. He shocked everyone in 2019 by scoring an incredible 27 points.
Known for his basketball skills, J Cole briefly pursued a professional career in the Basketball Africa League. Though his stint was short-lived, Cole remains celebrated as one of the most skilled players in the rap game.
The classic song "Mo Bamba," which pays homage to the Orlando Magic Centre, made this person famous. Sheck Wes did declare for the NBA Draft, but sadly, none of the 30 teams selected him. But like J Cole, Wes even had a period of time where he played professional basketball abroad in Paris.
The history of these rappers makes one scratch their head, thinking, What if they didn't rap? We would have many great classics to listen to! But they would instead be cheered on from the stands.
