RAPPER + ATHLETE = RAPLETE
Since the days of MTV’s Rock N’ Jock, rappers have wanted to be athletes and athletes have wanted to be rappers. A rapper may have a difficult time gaining the physical tools to compete in pro sports, but an athlete has the celebrity and the means to actually get their music heard by the masses. That isn’t necessarily a good thing. In most cases, it is a total embarrassment, but that doesn’t make it any less fun to listen to. That’s why I decided to rank 10 of the best or worst athlete rappers. This is a living/ongoing ranking that will be adjusted based on your comments and expanded based on your suggestions. As this evolves I will be adding links to in-depth posts reviewing each raplete’s music as well as adding more raplete’s to the rankings. Don’t worry, we know the train wreck that is Steve Francis “Finer Things”, it’ll come in due time.
Without further adieu, Bacon Sports presents the first Raplete Power Rankings.
Shaq is the only raplete with a platinum album with 1993’s Shaq Diesel. He can write hits and freestyle as evidenced by his Tell Me How My Ass Tastes Freestyle dissing Kobe.
Rapper Comparison: Notorious B.I.G.
Best Lyric: Forget Tony Danza, I’m the boss/When it comes to money I’m like Dick DeVos
You can check out our breakdown of Shaq’s flow here.
2. 1986 Los Angeles Rams
Their ensemble performance of Ram It is the Rapper’s Delight of athlete rap. Key and Peele even made a sketch heavily influenced by the Ram It music video.
Rapper Comparison: Sugar Hill Gang
Best Lyric: All of them
You can check out our breakdown of the Rams flow here.
I thought dunking blindfolded was his only skill until I heard his emcee skills in his Flow On video. Westside!
Rapper Comparison: Snoop Dogg
Best Lyric: Ya start to wonder, I know your name is Stevie
/Don’t think about it fool, cuz you know you can’t see me
4. John Cena
Believe it or not, wrestler John Cena can actually rap. He’s got decent lyrics, catchy hooks, and battle rap freestyles.
Rapper Comparison: Eminem
Best Lyric: We all over the streets like your favorite sneaker/Breakin’ up your sound like a drive-through speaker
5. Chris Webber aka C. Webb
Sure his flow and lyrics are mediocre, but his single Gangsta, Gangsta (How U Do It) featuring Kurupt was a borderline hit. He has also produced two beats that were used on Nas albums.
Rapper Comparison: Dr. Dre
Best Lyric: You can’t forget us, fetish for lettuce/From the home of J. Rose and Jerome Bettis
You can check our breakdown of C.Webb’s rap flow here
6. Allen Iverson aka Jewelz
The lyrics of Iverson’s planned album were so controversial that David Stern pressured him to shelve the album. That’s gangsta. I figure most of his raps are freestyles, because I can’t imagine he would practice them.
Rapper Comparison: Tupac
Best Lyric: Show me a man that never suffered a scar/And I’ll show you a man that’s never given his all
7. Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant is an up and coming raplete quietly releasing solid tracks.
Rapper Comparison: J. Cole
Best Lyric: I keep it chill, yeah I keep it chill/Man, I’m lookin’ like a prince while I’m thinkin’ I’m Uncle Phil/Cuz I, bought the house and everything I got I know is mine/Rollie on my wrist and I ain’t even gotta know the time
8. Tony Parker
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JMYU_GPMvE
Tony raps in French, so who knows what he’s saying. I’ll choose to believe he is the French Jay-Z.
Rapper Comparison: MC Solaar
Best Lyric: Parlez-vous Francais?
You can check out our breakdown of Tony Parker’s rap flow here.
9. Deion Sanders
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEEPVGtwsO8
Deion was known to pal around with MC Hammer and this shows in his music. I can’t decide if his Must Be The Money video is the greatest thing I’ve ever seen or the worst thing I’ve ever seen.
Rapper Comparison: MC Hammer
Best Lyric: The place is packed, nowhere to find a seat/But Prime don’t worry cuz I sits in VIP
10. Kobe Bryant
Kobe’s raps are corny as hell. He flows like he is reading the lyrics off a paper for the first time.
Rapper Comparison: Will Smith
Best Lyric: I don’t know, yo, these women come and go/Like the wind they blow, how do I know it’s you for sure?
You can check out our breakdown of Kobe’s rap flow here.
We want to hear from you. Who needs to be on this list? Who are your favorite rapletes? Holla at us in the comments or on Twitter @BaconSports.
Bacon Sports is a sports content & social media marketing agency that turns your audience into raving fans by creating fun and engaging videos, podcasts, and social media content.
