In the third installment of ‘Trust The Grind Athletes in The Culture’, I’ve decided to handpick my favorite music lyrics involving the players. For many, heeding to tunes is a diurnal act, so it is quite natural to map out the best bars in which an athlete from the book was referenced in some capacity.
To my surprise, there were far more rhymes to pluck from than I had imagined. Then again, these are the best of the best, so it makes sense that artists would shoutout these stars on numerous tracks.
I should note that the task was to choose five different athletes, not just the five best lyrics that incorporated a player from the project. If my job was the latter, then Jason Kidd, having been name dropped by artists like Jay-Z and Nelly, would have taken up the bulk of the limited spots. In addition, the chosen runes had to be positive in spirit. I made this a rule because numerous song recorders have used Terrell Owens’ infamous, ‘That’s My Quarterback’ press conference as inspiration. Hip hop artist Lil Wayne had a song dedicated to this very moment, titled T.O., where the rapper talks about Owens crying in the chorus.
With that, I give you the list.
5. Ryan Sheckler in ‘Demon High’ by Lil Uzi Vert (2021)
This portion of the song aligns well with the energy from Trust The Grind. Work hard, believe in yourself, and strive to be abnormal. The use of the word ‘grind’ serves as a nice double entendre, as the rapper talks about his hustle, while also referencing a skateboard trick in a condensed bar.
4. Terrell Owens in ‘Blood Sport’ by Kendrick Lamar (2005)
Penned by a rap prodigy, this tune is off of Kendrick Lamar’s 2005 mixtape, titled Training Day. Over a Just Blaze produced beat ( Lamar raps over JAY-Z’s “Show Me What You Got,”), the aspiring lyrical trailblazer, who was then rapping under the pseudonym ‘K Dot’, fused sports and pop culture references, and did so by shouting out athletes at the peak of their powers. Outside of ’97 Terrell Owens, the Compton composer cites 1984 Walter Payton, 1994 Ken Griffey Jr., 1995 Deion Sanders, and 1996 Mike Piazza, among many others.
3. Devin Hester in ‘Pressure’ by Busta Rhymes (Feat. Lil Wayne) (2012)
In the 5th track off his ninth studio album, Year of the Dragon, Busta Rhymes tossed the mic over to Lil Wayne, and, in typical Wayne fashion, received a strong lyrical performance. At the top of his verse, Wayne, known for his exotic wordplay, references his iconic record label while shouting out the greatest return man in NFL history. With name’s like Drake and Nicki Minaj on his heralded roster, Lil Wayne’s Young Money squad was, without a doubt, as special as Hester on special teams.
2. Chipper Jones in ‘Used to Wish I Was’ by Luke Combs (2020)
A ‘People’s Champ’ prototype, Luke Combs provides his enthusiasts with an inspirational peek into his childhood on this record. Dwelling in a reflective state, Combs talks about how the misses he had as a kid set up his hits as an adult. In other words, he spent time during his adolescent years aspiring to be a star running back, a standout bass fisherman, an acclaimed NASCAR driver, and of course, a ballplayer who could swing it like Chipper. Yet, given how music aligns with his spirit, Combs, in a humble manner, realizes that he’s just a good ol’ North Carolina boy,’ who ‘picks a little guitar in the evening’. Even though he once used to wish he was a virtuoso in one of the above fields, given how recording songs has turned out, he knows he’s right where he is supposed to be. This song rocks, and is important for many people to not just hear, but adhere to.
1. Jason Kidd in ‘Fame’ by GZA (2002)
Hallowed wordsmith from the Wu Tang Clan, the GZA, on the 10th track off his “Legend of the Liquid Sword” LP, delivers one of the most creative performances you’ll ever hear in hip hop. Throughout the entire song, the man who penned ‘Liquid Swords’ uniquely uses the names of celebrities to express his top-tier ingenious abilities. As found in the above photo, Bill Gates is referenced to say ‘gates’, while Jason Kidd is cited to say ‘kid’. Other witty, household name-based lines in the track include ‘Paul Pierced’, ‘Satchel’s Paige’, ‘Larry’s Bird’, and ‘Tom Cruised’ amongst countless others. It’s a very clever song from the one of the game’s most precocious penners.
