“Class back in session, so I upped it a grade / In two years Dwayne Wayne, became Dwyane Wade.” If Jay Z is claiming he only spent $3K for a kilo, then he’s winning at a lot more than being an ambassador for the state of New York. Who doesn’t love a song that reps their hometown? But in this line, Jay Z is seemingly responding to a Jeezy track titled “23, 24,” where Jeezy uses the numbers of LeBron James and Kobe Bryant as a reference to his spending amounts in a coke deal. Whether a listener is from New York or not, this track is an anthem standout in Hov’s discography. “If Jeezy’s payin’ LeBron, I’m payin’ Dwyane Wade.” As Wade journeys on through his final NBA season dubbed his “One Last Dance,” let’s look back at some of the most iconic songs to reference the essence of one of the most dynamic guards in NBA history: 1. Sure, winning an NBA championship is a dream that players hope to accomplish, but there could also be a “Mama, I made it!” type of mentality when athletes hear their favorite rapper give them a shout-out.ĭwyane Wade first came into the NBA back in 2003 and since then fans have heard his name placed in songs from the some the biggest MCs. It’s a certain respect that ballers and MCs have for each other, for not only possessing similar lifestyles, but for being competitors in their respective industries.Ī common trait in the music industry is rappers who name-drop their favorite athletes on a verse.
But more so, fans see athletes in the mosh pits at concerts, while rappers are sitting courtside rooting for their favorite team. Some rappers are former athletes, while some athletes have ventured into the rap game. However, it’s Drake’s 2010 song “Thank Me Now” that perfectly sums up the understanding and camaraderie between rappers and ballers as he says, “Damn, I swear sports and music are so synonymous / ‘Cause we want to be them, and they want to be us.”īut what Drake says is true. rocking Raiders gear at any given moment, sports has always had a certain influence in the hip-hop community. From Kurtis Blow releasing his hit song "Basketball" in 1984 to N.W.A. The bond between the worlds of sports and music has gone hand-in-hand for decades. The Sports Fan Journal Presents: Flash Week. In his final season, a few of us at TSFJ wanted to share our perspectives on what makes Wade special. This year, we acknowledge Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade, who has been a remarkable player for 16 years. In the days leading up to the NBA All-Star Break, The Sports Fan Journal has highlighted a player for a week as a way to appreciate the greatness of him as a player and person.