10 Songs That Reference Ballers 🏀 | Playlist

1. Lil Wayne, “Kobe Bryant (2020 Version)”

💿 No Ceilings • 🏷 Young Money Entertainment / Cash Money • 📅 2020

“Okay, Ko-Kobe doin’ work, two-four on my shirt / He the greatest on the court, and I’m the greatest on the verse.” One of the worst tragedies of 2020 was the death of “Black Mamba,” NBA superstar 🏀 Kobe Bryant. Bryant had retired from the NBA, won an 🏆 Academy Award, and honestly, had the world intrigued to see what his future held beyond the basketball court.  Sadly, however, he only lived to be 41 years old following a tragic helicopter crash that also took the life of his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others.  January 26, 2020 was definitely a sad day.

“Watch me get ‘em like Kobe, yeah
Sick with it, no COVID, yeah
Black clouds break open, yeah
Rian down black roses, yeah.”

Backtrack to 2009 and 🏆 Grammy-winning rapper 🎙 Lil Wayne recorded a song about the iconic basketball player, while still in the midst of his prodigious career, fittingly named 🎵 “Kobe Bryant.”  Following his death, and the commercial release of his decade-old mixtape, 💿 No Ceilings, Weezy recorded a remixed version, which, as you can see above, makes a reference to COVID-19.  Besides referencing the devastating pandemic, he gives his condolences to “Vanessa and the whole Black Mamba family,” saluting the Lakers icon asserting “Rest in power and hope for peace.”

2. Jack Harlow, “Tyler Herro”

💿 Thats What They All Say • 🏷 Generation Now / Atlantic • 🗓 2020

“I brought a gang to the party with me / Five white boys, but they not NSYNC.” 🎙 Jack Harlow is ‘instant offense’… at least when it comes to rap.  2020 saw the rapper’s star rise exponentially, and for good reason.  Keeping his game in tip-top shape, Harlow dropped an instant hit, 🎵 “Tyler Herro” (💿 Thats What They All Say), named after Kentucky Wildcat standout and NBA baller, 🏀 Tyler Herro.

“Tyler Herro” may be short (not the player, who is 6’5”), but it’s definitely a sweet banger from Jack.  “My homeboy Tyler, he play in South Beach,” Harlow asserts on the verse, continuing, “He told me this summer he gon’ fix my jumper.” Herro would definitely be the one to do so given his skills from beyond the arc.  Additionally, Harlow shouts out producer 🎙 Boi-1da, who, alongside a list of producers, stitches up the track nicely.  #BANGER

Also appears on 🔽:

🔗 🎧 Ballers 🏀: 5ive Songs No. 52

🔗 🎧 Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: October 2020

🔗 🎧 100 BEST SONGS OF 2020: 75– 51

🔗 🎧 100 BEST SONGS OF 2020

3. Aaron Carter, “That’s How I Beat Shaq”

💿 Aaron’s Party (Come Get It) • 🏷 Zomba • 🗓 2000

“It’s like boom (boom) / I put it in the hoop / Like slam (slam) / I heard the crowd screaming / Out jam (jam) / I swear that I’m telling you the facts / ‘Cause that’s how I beat Shaq.” FLASHBACK! Back in 2017, Aaron Carter made a comeback, which I actually reviewed (💿 LøVë (EP)).  In the review, I questioned Mr. Carter’s ability to reclaim his previous superstar status – not in a malicious or overly critical way, mind you. Well, when I tweeted the link to the review, apparently, Carter read it and let’s just say he didn’t care for my prognostication of his comeback, hehe. Regardless, I ended up being correct, as LøVë, nor the expanded 💿 LØVË (2018) made much noise.  You know what did make noise? Well, the likes of his baller anthem from 2000 as a teen, 🎵 “That’s How I Beat Shaq” (💿 Aaron’s Party (Come Get It)).

“So, check it out, I thought I had the lead
But then he started scoring mad points on me
I was scorin’ the bricks (was he hitting all the shots?)
I knew that there was a way that I could make it stop.” 

Back in the day, girls were in love with Aaron.  The boys either rolled their eyes because he was incredibly corny, or they envied the attention he got from the girls.  Anyways, his music was very much in line with the bubblegum pop that dominated radio right around the new millennium.  Obviously, this skinny white boy was not really going to beat one of the hottest and best ballers in the NBA in 🏀 Shaquille O’Neal.  But, hey, a boy can dream.  Furthermore, a boy making big bucks can also secure some vocals to provide some semblance of authenticity… authenticity doesn’t feel like the right word – LMAO!

4. Lil Wayne, “Harden”

💿 Funeral • 🏷 Young Money • 🗓 2020

“She love me or leave me / I gave her a reason, she don’t want a reason / She don’t wanna see me, she don’t wan’ believe me…” 🎙 Lil Wayne dropped a surprise album in 2020, 💿 Funeral. One of the best moments, 🎵 “Harden,” references NBA player, 🏀 James Harden.

On “Harden,” Weezy hearkens back to his classic days, backed by a soulful sample (🎙 Band of Thieves’, 🎵 “Love Me or Leave Me”).  Besides the killer sample, “Harden” is also pretty rad because (1) the song is named after NBA star James Harden and (2) talks about the Ls the rapper has taken regarding L-O-V-E.  “I feel like James Harden, you blocked my jumper, goddamn, Funeral.”

Also appears on 🔽:

🔗 🎧 13 Songs That Feature Names in Their Title

🔗 🎧 Ballers 🏀: 5ive Songs No. 52

5. Sheck Wes, “Mo Bamba”

💿 MUDBOY • 🏷 Interscope • 🗓 2018

“I be ballin’ like a motherfuckin’ pro / I be ballin’ like my nigga Mo (Bamba, bitch)!” Rapper 🎙 Sheck Wes is referencing his friend and NBA basketball player, 🏀 Mo Bamba.  Before being drafted in the 2018 NBA draft as the sixth overall pick to the Orlando Magic, notably, Bamba played at the University of Texas under coach Shaka Smart.  Bamba, a former five-star high school recruit, was heavily recruited due to his size (he’s a center) and his skill set. Wes, hence, dedicates a couple of lines of the chorus of 🎵 “Mo Bamba” (💿 MUDBOY) to his friend.

That said, the majority of the record isn’t about Bamba but Sheck Wes himself – you had to know that was going to be the case, right? There are, of course, some likely parallels. This anthem is filled with clout, drip, and sex.  The substance – well – it’s lacking.  On the chorus, Wes asserts, “‘Cause I got hoes (So many fuckin’ hoes) / Callin’ a young nigga phone.”  That is likely one of those parallel with Mo. He does drop quite the bars on the verse when he asserts, “I’m the best drug dealer, nigga, come and cop it (Got it) / Young Sheck Wes, I’m a fuckin’ Green Goblin.” Woo! Providing Wes with the banging beat: 🎛 Take A Daytrip and 🎛 16yrold.

6. Lil Pump, “D Rose”

💿 Lil Pump • 🏷 Warner • 🗓 2017

“I just broke my wrist, ‘cause I’m whippin’ in the kitchen / Pass a brick to my mom, and I told her whip it / 4 bands in the kitchen… / I just fucked your bitch / I just broke my wrist.” Wow… that’s about all you can say about that. Teen rapper 🎙 Lil Pump experienced his fair share of success with his first official project, 💿 Lil Pump, released in 2017.

🎵 “D Rose,” as in 🏀 Derrick Rose, is among the songs appearing on the album. “D Rose” is actually less about the pro basketball player than it is about flexing.  Over and over, “D Rose” is repeated, when Lil Pump isn’t rapping, “100 on my wrist, 80 on my wrist.” His cockiness continues at an all-time high as he asserts, “Lil Pump never spendin’ money on a bitch.” Classy to the nth degree… said no one ever.

Also appears on 🔽:

🔗 🎧 10 Sports-Related Songs From 2017

🔗 🎧 13 Basketball Songs to Celebrate March Madness

🔗 🎧 18 Songs That Encompass Various Sports

7. Anderson .Paak, “King James”

💿 Ventura • 🏷 Aftermath Entertainment • 🗓 2019

“And we salute King James for using his change / To create some equal opportunities.” 🏆 Grammy-winning rapper, singer, and producer 🎙 Anderson .Paak released his fourth studio 💿 Ventura, less than a year after releasing his third, 💿 Oxnard. The promo single for Ventura was 🎵 “King James”, which finds Paak delivering a respectable message and flaunting his superb musicianship. “King James” is a heavy-grooving, mid-tempo gem that thrives off a blend of the West Coast sound (G-Funk included) and of course, a soulful, funky breed of R&B.

Vocally, Paak impresses with his distinct, one-of-a-kind pipes. Thematically, he sings about the hard work and hustle it takes to succeed, patterned after the one and only 🏀 Lebron James. In addition to the hustle, Paak highlights working beyond barriers, particularly racial barriers on the way to attaining success.

Also appears on 🔽:

🔗 🎧 11 Awesome Songs that Tickled My Fancy in March 2019

🔗 🎧 Ballers 🏀: 5ive Songs No. 52

8. Andy Mineo & Wordsplayed, “Dunk Contest (Magic Bird)”

💿 Magic & Bird • 🏷 Reach • 🗓 2017

“Yeah, this that, this that, this that Penny with the Shaq / Yeah, if he’s passin’ me the rock, they might not get it back.” Christian rappers 🎙 Andy Mineo and 🎙 Wordsplayed successfully created an enjoyable rap album (mixtape) with 💿 Magic & Bird.  One of the best songs from Magic & Bird is 🎵 “Dunk Contest (Magic Bird),” which alludes to 🏀 Magic Johnson and 🏀 Larry Bird. The crème de la crème, the production is superb, both rappers drop strong rhymes, and the hook is infectious.

“I just threw it off the backboard
Game winner, I’m the one they ask for
Magic Bird, Magic Bird, Magic Bird...”

Also appears on 🔽:

🔗 🎧 10 Sports-Related Songs From 2017

🔗 🎧 13 Basketball Songs to Celebrate March Madness

🔗 🎧 18 Songs That Encompass Various Sports

🔗 🎧 Ballers 🏀: 5ive Songs No. 52

9. Mansionz, “Dennis Rodman”

Ft. Dennis Rodman

💿 Mansionz • 🏷 Interscope • 📅 2017

“…I’ma talk about myself / Because a lot of people don’t wanna talk about 🏀 Dennis Rodman anymore because they think he’s a has been / … ‘I don’t give a fuck, man, I’m go do Dennis Rodman / Let’s say it again, Dennis fucking Rodman.” Okay then… Unfortunately, the 🎙 blackbear and 🎙 Mike Posner collaboration 💿 mansionz didn’t get the attention (or commercial sales) it deserved.  Nonetheless, the album has a number of intriguing moments, including 🎵 “Dennis Rodman.” Appropriately, the song features 🎙 Dennis Rodman on the outro (aforementioned).

“Dennis Rodman” embodies spirit of the flamboyant former NBA star.  The bigger picture is that it embraces free-spiritedness.  The final verse offers a perfect moment of this free-spiritedness:

“Yeah, I’ma wear a dress if I want to
Green hair, fishnets if I want to
Smoke, drink, do drugs if I want to
I ain’t really trying to impress you
I’ma be as bad as I wanna be
You can be as mad as you wanna be.”

Also appears on 🔽:

🔗 🎧 10 Sports-Related Songs From 2017

🔗 🎧 13 Basketball Songs to Celebrate March Madness

🔗 🎧 18 Songs That Encompass Various Sports

10.Lil Wayne, “Bing James”

Ft. Jay Rock

💿 Funeral • 🏷 Young Money • 🗓 2020

🎵 “Bing James” marks the third entry from 🎙 Lil Wayne on this BALLERS 🏀 list (and from the same album, 💿 Funeral). He gets the assist from 🎙 Jay Rock and a super sick backdrop from 🎙 Bijan Amir.  The synths are enigmatic, with a disturbed sensibility – perfect for Tunechi and Jay to spit over.

Notably, this record references 🏀 Lebron James and pays ode to the deceased, legendary Los Angeles Lakers guard, 🏀 Kobe Bryant. Not only are we to’ up with “Yellow pill, purple drank,” but there’s an intentional 24 seconds of silence to close out the track, in memory of Black Mamba.

Also appears on 🔽:

🔗 🎧 Ballers 🏀: 5ive Songs No. 52