Playboi Carti is giving Frank Ocean a run for his money. The rapper has made an art out of album delays. Whether it be in the form of social media teases or an album announcement for an album we have known about since 2021. It seemed like things were going in a positive direction in September, when he dropped “All Red.” Radio silence followed. Until, that is, Playboi Carti performed on November 16. He not only hyped up the album, but revealed that Kanye West is going to be playing a crucial role in its sound.
Playboi Carti grabbed the mic and showed love to Kanye West amidst all the nightclub chaos. “Shout out to my n**ga Kanye, you know what I’m saying,” he announced. The audio gets a little tough to hear after, thanks to a particularly hyped fan, but Carti seemingly confirms West’s involvement in his upcoming third album, I AM MUSIC. “He over here making beats and sh*t,” Playboi Carti explained. “That album gonna be crazy, I can’t wait to show y’all n**gas.” The glass half full read of this is pretty easy to pull out. Carti and Kanye West is a match made in hip hop heaven, especially if the latter is focused. West is reportedly hard at work on his next album, Bully, so it makes sense that he would be locking in with other artists.
This isn’t the first time Playboi Carti has hinted at West playing a role in I AM MUSIC. The rapper got on Instagram Stories in September to show love to the controversial figure and tease future collabs. “@Ye KANT WAIT 2 SHOW THE WORLD WHAT WE BEEN WORKIN ON WIT DIS ALBUM,” Carti wrote. “WE DA REAL 5L NO DOUBT.” West showed love to the rapper in return, commenting: “Love this” under the post. Carti has repeatedly cited Kanye West as an influence on his work. West has returned the favor by citing Playboi Carti as one of the most important artists of his generation. “It’s always two, two at a time,” West said, when discussing influence. “It’s really Carti and [Lil] Uzi [Vert].”
Playboi Carti has seemingly kicked the album rollout into hire gear since confirming West’s involvement. He took to Instagram on November 18 to announce that he will be dropping new music on November 22. The IG highlight featured a text exchange in which the release date was confirmed. Interestingly enough, the highlight was taken down by Instagram hours later. Carti did clarify that new music is coming, despite the IG complications.
The duo of Cipha Sounds and Peter Rosenberg sat down with the New York City legend Ghostface Killah on the latest episode of the Juan Ep Is Life Podcast. The episode starts off with Peter praising Ghostface for the great quality of his latest album, Set The Tone (Guns & Roses). Rosenberg tells Ghostface, “Thank you for never putting me in a situation where I have to interview one of my heroes and pretend that their album is good.”
Ghostface revealed how he worked with Kanye West on the song “No Face” from the album. He said he got the feature shortly before the album’s release. Rosenberg noticed how the song sampled Ghostface’s chorus from the “New God Flow.1” collaboration with Kanye West and Pusha T and Ghostface said it’s an inescapable beat and that he loves it. He praised Kanye for his musical genius and how he works with other artists.
As they discussed his catalog, Ghostface reflected on how he didn’t like some of his projects, especially Ironman. “Coming off Cuban Linx, going into Ironman, it was down for me. Even for the beats, it was dark-ish, but I didn’t have the chance to really write because I only had two months to really get it done. And I think that’s why I don’t really deal well with deadlines now.”
They reflected on the song “Nutmeg” from the Supreme Clientele album. Cipha Sounds described the song as artful and should be labeled as more than rap. The interview closes with Ghostface, Rosenberg, and Cipha reflecting on Ghostface’s Hip Hop 50 performance at Yankees Stadium. The trio discussed the backstory on how a past Biz performance helped Ghostface figure out his set.
According to Rolling Stone, Kanye West along with his Yeezy brand and Donda Academy is being sued by a former staffer. In the documents obtained by the outlet, a supposed ex-employee, Murphy Aficionado, is accusing West of fostering a hostile work environment, discrimination, wrongful termination, labor code violations, and failure to pay wages.
Within the filing submitted to the Los Angeles County Superior Court by lawyers Carney R. Shegerian and William Reed, Aficionado claimed West went on “antisemitic tirades” on a “daily occurrence.”
The document transcribed one of the alleged encounters retold by Aficionado as: “The Jews are out to get me. They froze my bank account. The Jews got Kim [Kardashian] and my kids. The Jews convinced Kim [Kardashian]. She has Jewish masters.”
Aficionado continued, saying: “Ye’s antisemitic tirades and conspiracies were a daily occurrence. Often, these outbursts involved how Jews controlled the Kardashians. Other times, Ye recounted how Jews were going after him and his money.”
He also accused Kanye West of subjecting him to flashes of his wife Bianca Censori’s exposed body and a loud intimate moment between Censori and West in the middle of a meeting.
Kanye West has not issued a public response to this lawsuit.
Of the last 25 years, there are few figures in the world of sports that had a larger impact on their sport and pop culture than Kobe Bryant. As a five-time champion and 2008 MVP with the Lakers, Bryant was, along with Shaq and Allen Iverson early and LeBron James later in his career, the face of the NBA. Being on the Lakers certainly didn’t hurt his cultural impact, as he is an L.A. icon, but his reach goes far beyond Los Angeles.
In the world of hip-hop, Bryant has been heavily referenced in song lyrics for the last two decades plus, eventually becoming the avatar for competing and championships. Here we are looking at 24 (plus a couple bonus tracks) times Bryant’s name came up in rap songs, as his legendary status is cemented by his impact not just on basketball but the culture as a whole. Even after his tragic death in 2020, Bryant’s legacy is still felt and artists continue to point to the Lakers great as one of the great examples of a winner and hooper.
“Overnight Celebrity” — Twista ft. Kanye West (2004)
Kanye: Give you ice like Kobe wife/We sorta like Goldie, right?/The way we mold ’em right
Twista: I could make you a celebrity overnight
The hook to Twista’s smash hit with Kanye features West referencing the massive diamond ring worn by Vanessa Bryant at a press conference after Kobe was charged with sexual assault in Colorado in 2003.
“Swagga Like Us” — T.I. ft. Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and M.I.A (2008)
Tryna get that Kobe number, one over Jordan
This is another Kobe reference from Kanye, this time using Kobe as a stand-in for 24 (and Jordan for 23), which happens frequently, as Bryant became the most iconic No. 24 in sports.
“I Wanna Rock” — Snoop Dogg (2009)
Smokin’ on that Kobe, f**kin’ wit’ that purp
Unsurprisingly, Kobe is frequently referenced in L.A. rap. Here one of Los Angeles’ finest, Snoop Dogg, drops a Kobe reference in this 2009 track, which is far from the last time someone used Kobe and the Lakers as a metaphor for purple (and gold) strands in their weed.
Kobe Bryant” — Lil Wayne (2009)
Lil Wayne took the Kobe love to a whole new level in 2009 when he released a track titled and entirely about the Lakers star, so there’s not one bar to highlight here, but just the entire song.
“Beamer Benz or Bentley” — Lloyd Banks ft. Juelz Santana (2010)
Where my ring and my confetti? I’m Kobe Bryant-ready
By 2010, after winning his fifth title with the Lakers, there was no one more synonymous with winning than Bryant, with Lloyd Banks making that evident from his hit single from that year.
“See Me Now” — Kanye West ft. Beyonce, Big Sean, and Charlie Wilson (2010)
They say G.O.O.D. Music like the new Miami Heat, s**t/Comparin’ them to us, man they gotta add Kobe
After Bryant’s 2010 championship, LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined Dwyane Wade to create the Big 3 in Miami. However, as Big Sean boasted on “See Me Now,” comparisons to Kanye’s budding G.O.O.D. Music label and the Heat wasn’t good enough, as they’d need another legend in Bryant to be on their level.
“The City” — The Game ft. Kendrick Lamar (2011)
I’m Kobe on the Lakers floor, except I give you eighty-four
Bryant’s greatest individual performance was scoring 81 points against the Raptors in 2006, and that night gets pretty regularly referenced in hip-hop, with L.A.’s The Game providing one of the more notable ones on “The City.”
“Stay Schemin’” — Rick Ross ft. Drake and French Montana (2012)
Kobe ’bout to lose a hundred fifty Ms/Kobe my n****, I hate it had to be him
Rick Ross has a number of Kobe mentions in his songs (and, really, any NBA star); on 2012’s “Stay Schemin’” guest rapper Drake makes a reference to Bryant’s on-going divorce at the time — which Kobe and Vanessa eventually resolved and stayed together.
“Believe It” — Meek Mill ft. Rick Ross (2012)
Spend Iguodala on my Rolly/Young n**** ball like Kobe
Meek Mill gives us a double NBA reference here, with the Philly native shouting out then-Sixer Andre Iguodala and his 6-year, $80 million deal before noting he’s balling like Kobe.
“Kobe” — Chief Keef (2012)
While Lil Wayne’s 2009 track was very literally about Kobe Bryant, Chief Keef’s “Kobe” is more about the mindset of thinking he’s Kobe in various ways. But, like Wayne’s track, there are too many Kobe lines in it to just pull one out.
“Bugatti” — Ace Hood ft. Rick Ross and Future (2013)
Ballin’ on n***** like Kobe/F**k all you haters, you bore me
Ace Hood’s boastful hit from 2013 wouldn’t be complete without a reference to ballin’ like Kobe.
“Juice” — Chance the Rapper (2013)
I just faced a Veg-er/And you love being Kobe when you make the lay-er/Til you realize everybody in the world f**kin’ hates the Lakers
However, there was certainly some Lakers fatigue felt by fans outside of L.A., which Chance the Rapper makes mention of in this line from 2013’s “Juice”.
This the first time I confess/Me and Top is like a Kobe and Phil/A father figure f**k with him, you get killed/F**k with me and he will kill you himself
Another L.A. connection here, as Kendrick Lamar compares himself and Top Dawg ENT founder Anthony Tiffith to Kobe and Phil.
“Still Think About You” — A Boogie wit da Hoodie (2016)
I shoot up and lean back on some Kobe s**t/They don’t know how to pass on some Kobe s**t
One of the funniest Kobe lyrics comes from A Boogie wit da Hoodie on his 2016 track where he highlights Bryant’s reputation as a premier bucket-getter and not a facilitator.
“Views” — Drake (2016)
Me and Niko used to plot on how to make a change/Now me and Kobe doin’ shots the night before the game
Sometimes a reference is just a status check, as is the case here with Drake boasting about hanging out with Kobe.
“Shake It Fast” — Rae Sremmurd ft. Juicy J (2016)
I get to ballin’ like Kobe in the fourth quarter/So much money on me I can’t even get it sorted
Kobe has long been the go-to for references to being clutch, as is the case here on Swae Lee’s verse from Rae Sremmurd’s 2016 hit.
“THat Part” — ScHoolboy Q ft. Kanye West (2016)
Walkin’, livin’ legend, man, I feel like Kobe/I just dropped sixty, man, I feel like Kobe/Lamar was with me, man, I feel like Kobe
More than a decade from his “Overnight Celebrity” chorus, Kanye West was back at it with the Kobe references, this time shouting out Kobe as a living legend as well as his iconic final game performance when he scored 60 against the Jazz.
“Stargazing” — Travis Scott (2018)
I’m way too gold for this beef, feel like I’m Kobe, yeah
Surprisingly one of the few references we could find that played off Kobe Bryant and Kobe beef, but Travis Scott made it happen in his 2018 track.
“Shotta FLow” — NLE Choppa (2019)
Feelin’ like I’m Kobe, can’t nan’ n**** hold me/If he wanna run up on me, shoot him like Ginobili
Another double NBA reference, this time from NLE Choppa, who is not the only one to pair Kobe and Ginobili — a match made in rap lyric heaven for the ability to rhyme together.
“Commercial” — Lil Baby ft. Lil Uzi Vert
I turned eight million right until I’m a quarterback/Spent a million like I’m tryna bring Kobe back
“Commercial” came out just a few weeks after Kobe’s death, and clearly Lil Uzi Vert’s verse was recorded at some point in that window as he became one of the first in hip-hop to mourn the loss of the legend on a track.
“Bean (Kobe)” — Lil Uzi Vert ft. Chief Keef (2020)
You know I’m ballin’, usual like Kobe
Not long after his verse on “Commercial”, Lil Uzi Vert again referenced Kobe, this time on a track with his name in the title. However, unlike Lil Wayne or Chief Keef’s songs, this one does not feature constant references to the Lakers legend, just at the start of the opening verse.
“Woodlawn” — Aminé (2020)
Look, RIP Kobe/N****, RIP Kobe/You was like a dad to a n****, so I’m sad, my n****/Had to get you tatted on me
After his death, there were tons of tributes to Bryant from all over the basketball, music, and entertainment worlds, showing how far-reaching his impact was, and on his 2020 song “Woodlawn”, Aminé pays heartfelt homage to his idol.
“Rich Flex” — Drake and 21 Savage (2022)
Ayy, I’m livin’ every twenty-four like Kobe did/Shoutout to the 6, R.I.P. to 8
Drake often plays with numbers in his lyrics, and here he pays tribute to Bryant with both his numbers, 24 and 8.
“2024” — Playboi Carti (2023)
Ooh, two fours in the Sprite, got me feelin’ like Kobe, R.I.P., uh
One of the most recent Kobe references, Playboi Carti showed once again how Bryant remains synonymous with the number 24.
BONUS TRACKS
“K.O.B.E.” — Kobe Bryant ft. Tyra Banks (2000)
This has all-but been scrubbed from the internet, but back in 2000 Kobe Bryant made a brief foray into the rap game with a debut single alongside Tyra Banks (???). It did not go over particularly well and Bryant made the wise choice to focus his efforts on the court — but he was better on the mic than he gets credit for.
“Freestyle” — Shaq (2008)
The most legendary NBA beef of the 2000s was that of Shaq and Kobe, with the peak coming when Shaq hopped on the mic for a freestyle at a club and infamously asked Kobe “tell me how my ass tastes.”
Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign cannot seem to escape the mess that is VULTURES 1. The album suffered through numerous delays and controversies. Most stemmed from West’s controversial antics and public statements. Upon its release, however, VULTURES 1 was subject to a lawsuit by the estate of disco icon Donna Summer for an uncleared sample. The lawsuit was settled in June, but now it seems another one has taken its place. Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign are being sued over yet another uncleared sample.
The sample in question is on the song “Fuk Sumn.” The copyright infringement lawsuit has been filed by a trio of artists: Criminal Manne, DJ Squeeky and Kilo G. Per TMZ, the lawsuit claims the song sampled at the beginning of “Fuk Sumn” was taken from from the DJ Squeeky track “Drank a Yak (Part 2).” Criminal Manne is the rapper who spits the lyrics “Smokin’ on a junt, with my n**gas drinkin’ O.E.” Kilo G then gets sampled later on the track. The trio claim that they tried to negotiate with Alien Music when “Fuk Sumn” was first released.
Unfortunately, Kanye West fired a large portion of his staff in May, and the negotiations never got off the ground. Criminal Manne, DJ Squeeky and Kilo G claim that they have yet to be paid royalties, despite the fact that their work was clearly sampled. They also claim that Kanye West’s reps have not been in touch with them for several months. The trio are seeking damages for the runaround they feel they have been given since February 2024. This is merely the latest lawsuit that has been leveled against West in recent months.
The rapper was accused of sexual assault in a lawsuit filed by his ex-assistant, Lauren Pisciotta. He’s also facing lawsuits from other former employees, many of which are stemming from his defunct school, Donda Academy. It gets worse. Kanye West is in the midst of finding new legal representation, and Ron Zambrano, an opposing attorney, derided the rapper for having “the attention span of a goldfish.” The rapper will be forced into a default judgement unless he finds new representation soon.
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian were one of the most famous celebrity couples of all time. They were everywhere during the 2010s, be it music videos, fashion shows, or on television. Things came to a halt in 2022, however, when the two celebs divorced. Kanye West and Kim Kardashian have not had a very smooth transition in terms of co-parenting, however. Kardashian discussed the difficult process during an appearance on the podcast What In the Winkler?. She went as far as to claim that she is raising their four children by herself.
Kim Kardashian told host Zoe Winkler that parenting has been one of the biggest challenges of her life. She admits to struggling behind closed doors, despite her wealth and the assistance of her family. “It’s not something that I talk about a lot,” she admitted. “Because I feel like there is always a lot of judgment or people always will jump to the ‘Oh but you have the resources.’” Kim Kardashian did not mention her ex-husband by name, but she made it very clear that Ye is not co-parenting up to her standards. “I just think that no matter what kind of help I have, I’m basically raising four kids by myself,” she asserted.
Kim Kardashian claimed that driving her four children to school is a crucial part of her day in terms of building a rapport. “It’s really important to me. That’s just, like, my bonding time,” she noted. “That’s when I can get them up, get ready, but it’s madness.” Kardashian’s openness about her co-parenting situation is new, but this is not the first time the public has heard these accusations made against Ye. People Magazine reported that the rapper is “sadly not around very much” as recently as October. A source told the outlet that Kardashian is pretty much a “single mom.”
Kanye West’s hectic lifestyle over the last few years supports this accusation. The rapper has been traveling the globe and touring, in addition to working on different albums. Ye’s oldest child, North West, did appear alongside him during a February performance in Paris. She also rapped on the song “Talking” from VULTURES 1. Ye is currently working on his upcoming release, tentatively titled Bully. Kardashian, meanwhile, is slated to appear in the 2025 drama series All’s Fair.
The lawsuits stemming from Kanye West’s Donda Academy continue to lay at his feet. According to a new report from AllHipHop, things could wind up getting worse for the rapper, as a default judgment is seriously on the table. In particular, this relates to the more recent suit filed by Isaiah Meadows. The former assistant principal at the Academy has been seeking a default one anyway, but this seems like more a possibility. That’s all thanks to Kanye West severely struggling to find a lawyer to represent him in court.
Judge Christopher Lui, who’s presiding over this case, stated in a hearing yesterday, “This can’t continue forever. If a substitute counsel is going to come in, it has to be done quickly.” This came after Manoj Shah, Ye’s attorney, said, “We are trying in vain to retain counsel. We are interviewing several firms. For one reason or another, it has failed to work out. Our goal is to have counsel and participate in the defense.”
February 20, 2011; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Kanye West performs during the half time show at the 2011 NBA All Star game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro via USA TODAY NETWORK
Rumblings within this ongoing court battle are that Kanye continues to fire or not pay the people attempting to make his case. If the VULTURES MC cannot settle on one, then Judge Lui says he will enter default judgment. Ron Zambrano, who’s been fighting for other former Donda Academy employees as well as Meadows, feels that he knows what the final result will be. “It’s an odd situation. This is the first time we’ve heard there’s an attorney representing [West’s] interests,” Zambrano told Courthouse News.
“Whoever the next attorney is, there’s a long history of people not getting paid by Kanye West, which is part of the problem. But we’re gonna move forward. He’s going to have to pay attention to this case somehow.” However, his critique didn’t stop there as Zambrano made a quip as to why it’s difficult for Ye to secure a lawyer. “I just think that sometimes he has the attention span of a goldfish.” As it stands, there’s no concrete timetable for how much longer he has, but it sounds like patience is running thin.
Cordae is not messing around. The rapper has a solid resume thanks to albums like The Lost Boy and From a Bird’s Eye View, but he seems poised for a breakthrough. He’s been dropping some of his best music to date in 2024 in preparation for his upcoming album, Crossroads. The rapper has been hard at work on the album since 2022, which is set to be a direct sequel to From a Bird’s Eye View. It’s been a long wait, but Cordae has finally dropped the tracklist and guest features for Crossroads. And one look proves this thing will be worth the wait.
Crossroads boasts 16 tracks, which will make it his longest album to date. The rapper has hinted at a nostalgic theme running through the album, based on buzz singles like “Summer Drop” and “Saturday Mornings.” Both of these songs are present on the tracklist, and boast stunner guest appearances from Anderson .Paak and Lil Wayne. The latter has heaped praise upon Cordae in the past, and been cited as one of Cordae’s biggest influences. As a result, Weezy will also be featured on the song “Back on the Road.”
Cordae tapped some of his generational peers for Crossroads. Jordan Ward and Ravyn Lenae both appear on the song “Don’t Walk Away,” which is poised to be an R&B stunner given the talent on hand. Joey Badass will also drop by for inevitable bar-fest that will be “Syrup Sandwiches.” The rest of the album, however, will feature rappers that Cordae grew up listening to. In addition to two Weezy guest spots, Crossroads will boast appearances from Juicy J and Kanye West. Juicy J will drop by for “Neva Seen It,” while West is set to rap on “No Bad News.”
Cordae has never worked with Kanye West before. He has, however, praised West several times in the past. Cordae rapped over West’s 2005 classic “Gone” during a viral concert clip in 2021. He also cited the Chicago rapper as his “biggest musical influence” during a 2022 interview with All the Smoke. He’s worked with Juicy J, however, appearing on the veteran emcee’s 2024 album Ravenite Social Club. We can’t wait to hear what Cordae has in mind for these collabs.
LeBron James is in his 22nd season in the NBA, and has been part of the national basketball consciousness since he was, at least, a junior in high school. His presence as one of the most prominent figures in basketball hasn’t just meant he’s been part of the sports conversation for the last quarter century, but he also became the reference point for basketball in the music world as well.
Similar to Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and Allen Iverson, LeBron has been regularly mentioned by artists in the hip-hop world and beyond. You can find hundreds if not thousands of songs that name-drop LeBron, both positively and negatively, and here we wanted to look at 23 notable examples of LeBron’s impact on the music world by way of the lyrics that shout him out, starting from 2003 all the way to 2024.
“Gangsta Sh*t” — G-Unit (2003)
I keep a holster on my shoulder like I’m John Wayne/Shooting these n****s lights out like LeBron James
One of the first LeBron mentions on a track came early in his rookie year in 2003, when Young Buck says he’s shooting like LeBron, which I have to note is a little funny given shooting was the one thing LeBron rather famously wasn’t very good at as a rookie.
“Gettin It In” — Jadakiss ft. Kanye West (2004)
N****s tryna figure out, since Kan’ came/Who the rookie of the year, me or LeBron James?
Kanye West, fresh off the release of “College Dropout” earlier that year, boasts his rookie season is as strong as LeBron’s in his verse on this Jadakiss track.
“Dough Is What I Got” — Lil Wayne (2006)
When it comes down to this recording/I must be LeBron James if he’s Jordan/No, I won rings with my performance/I’m more Kobe Bryant of an artist
Lil Wayne wouldn’t release “Best Rapper Alive” until 2008 on Tha Carter II, but his remix of Jay-Z’s “Show Me What You Got” two years prior asserted that position in the midst of his iconic mixtape run. To illustrate that fact, he made a reference to LeBron but became one of the first artists to use that as a bit of a jab, saying he’s more Kobe than LeBron because he “won rings with my performance.” I’m not sure what the first RINGZ argument was to be used against LeBron, but I have to imagine Lil Wayne doing so three years into James’ career was one of the earliest.
“Make Tha Trap Say Aye” — OJ Da Juiceman ft. Gucci Mane (2008)
Banana donk Chevy interior like the Lakers/LeBron James wrist when I’m f**kin’ with that caper
What did OJ Da Juiceman know in 2008 when he referenced the Lakers and LeBron James in back-to-back lines??? An aside, OJ Da Juiceman is an underrated Atlanta artist, and this isn’t even his best NBA reference off this album (“Nah Ming” is a classic).
“Empire State of Mind” — Jay-Z ft. Alicia Keys (2009)
Me? I gotta plug Special Ed, “I Got It Made”/If Jeezy’s payin’ LeBron, I’m payin’ Dwyane Wade
Probably the LeBron reference that pops into most people’s heads first when it comes to a rap lyric. By this point, LeBron had passed Michael Jordan in terms of being synonymous with the number 23 in pop culture. The reference is to Jeezy’s “23, 24” in which he says “I used to pay Kobe (24), but now I pay LeBron (23)” in the chorus, with Jay-Z noting that if Jeezy’s paying 23, he’s just paying Dwyane Wade (3). I have to say, there’s no way this was a profitable venture for Jay-Z’s plug if he was getting bricks for $3,000. Also, in hindsight, it’s kind of wild Jay-Z put this bar down a full year before LeBron left Cleveland for Miami to play with Wade.
“Dead Presidents II” — J. Cole (2009)
I’m nothing like these ho-like rappers, my whole life practice/To be the one, what’s it like to be LeBron
Another artist who has frequently made mention of LeBron (and plenty of other NBA stars), J. Cole compares himself to LeBron with shouldering expectations to be the greatest in this track off 2009’s “The Warm Up”.
“Popular Demand” — Clipse ft. Pharrell and Cam’Ron (2009)
Used to have this white b**ch, she looked like Madonna though/Heard that she f**king LeBron, but s**t, I don’t know/Like that, Bron-Bron? I had that long time ago
As mentioned in the intro, not every LeBron reference was the most positive and this was the time where LeBron fatigue had set in a bit. This one, however, had nothing to do with James’ failures to land a ring by 2009, but instead Pusha T offered up some allegations of impropriety in what I have to imagine is one of LeBron’s least favorite mentions he’s ever gotten.
“Gotta Have It” — Jay-Z and Kanye West (2011)
West: Sorry I’m in pajamas, but I just got off the PJ/And last party we had, they shut down Prive
Jay-Z: Ain’t that where the Heat play? (Yup)/N****s hate ballers these days (Yup)
West: Ain’t that like LeBron James?
Jay-Z: Ain’t that just like D-Wade? Wait
We probably could’ve pulled 23 references about LeBron just by these two, but in their triumphant track off “Watch The Throne”, Jay-Z and West go back-and-forth with a shoutout to the two stars of the Miami Heat at the time.
“Martians vs. Goblins” — The Game ft. Tyler, the Creator and Lil Wayne (2011)
Fall back like LeBron’s hairline against the Mavericks…he lost
Leave it to Tyler, the Creator to have one of the funnier bars about LeBron James, making both a hairline joke and a Heat losing to the Mavs in the Finals joke all in one line on this track with The Game.
“Believe It” — Meek Mill ft. Rick Ross (2012)
I ball hard like LeBron James/And Rozay D-Wade n****
The LeBron/Wade pairing made for a lot of song references in their time in Miami, this time with Meek Mill comparing he and Rick Ross to the Heat duo — these two also are frequent LeBron name-droppers.
“Timber” — Pitbull ft. Kesha (2013)
Club jumpin’ like LeBron now, Voli/Order me another round, homie
One of the biggest songs in terms of popularity to feature a LeBron reference, courtesy of Mr. Worldwide (formerly Mr. 305), who shouts out the then Heat star in one of his biggest hits.
“LeBron James” — Yo Gotti (2013)
I’m LeBron James, you a f**kin rookie
There are a lot of songs that name-check LeBron but Yo Gotti was one of the first major artists to release a song with James’ name as the title, using his name as a main part of the chorus.
“Bitch Better Have My Money” — Rihanna (2015)
Pay me what you owe me/Ballin’ bigger than LeBron
Rihanna was once a regular courtside at NBA games and a noted LeBron fan, so it came as little surprise when she mentioned James in the opening verse of her 2015 hit single.
“Sleep Walking” — Migos (2015)
I’m a fool with the rock like LeBron James
For a time there were few groups that were more prevalent at NBA games and All-Star Weekends than the Migos, and Offset led off their 2015 track with a LeBron mention in the opening verse.
“Trap Trap Trap” — Rick Ross ft. Young Thug and Wale (2017)
Renzel got me all day, I’m Kyrie, he LeBron James
By 2017, the references to James and a fellow star teammate had flipped from Dwyane Wade and LeBron to Kyrie and LeBron, which pops up in another Rick Ross track, this time in Wale’s verse.
“Nonstop” — Drake (2018)
Catch me cause I’m gone (Outta there, I’m gone)/How I go from 6 to 23 like I’m LeBron?
Another artist with plenty of references to LeBron in songs through the years, Drake’s 2018 hit is probably the biggest with a LeBron mention, as he plays off both of LeBron’s numbers from Miami and Cleveland (and L.A.).
“RNP” — Cordae ft. Anderson Paak (2019)
Cordae: I bought a Moncler coat for the times we were broke
Paak: I’ma wear it in the summer on LeBron James’ boat
This might be one of my favorites because it has nothing to do with basketball, it’s just Paak flaunting that his life is dope enough he might get invited to hang out on a yacht with LeBron.
“Disco S**t” — 03 Greedo and Kenny Beats ft. Freddie Gibbs (2019)
Dope game, brought the kilos on the plane/23, LeBron James, got my package on the airline, yeah, now
A decade after Jeezy’s “23, 24” and Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind”, LeBron remained the go-to reference for the number 23 in rap, as Freddie Gibbs proved again on his verse here.
“Está Cabrón Ser Yo” — Bad Bunny and Anuel AA (2020)
LeBron James, cabrón, yo juego toa’ la’ posicione’/Michael Phelps tirao’ pa’ atrá’, nadando en mi’ millone’
LeBron’s influence in the music world isn’t stateside, as he has been regularly mentioned by Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, including in this 2020 track (along with Michael Phelps).
“All In” — Lil Baby (2020)
I go LeBron when it’s crunch time, it ain’t no holdin’ me
One thing you notice when you lay these lyrics out chronologically is how the narrative around LeBron changed constantly. If someone had rapped “I go LeBron when it’s crunch time” in a song in, say, 2009 it would’ve had a wildly different meaning than in 2020 when Lil Baby said it boastfully.
“Dynamite” — BTS (2020)
Sing-song when I’m walkin’ home/Jump up to the top, LeBron
Further cementing LeBron’s status as a global superstar, he found his way into one of the biggest K-Pop hits with a reference in the opening verse of BTS’ massive 2020 hit.
“The Scenic Route” — Dr. Dre ft. Rick Ross and Anderson Paak (2021)
Ross: In them funny pants, I had a gun in mine
Dre: LeBron James numbers, go ‘head, analyze ’em
By 2021, LeBron had climbed to the top of most pages in the NBA’s record books which Dr. Dre referenced in his boastful track going back-and-forth with Rick Ross.
“Meet The Grahams” — Kendrick Lamar (2024)
Hey, LeBron, keep the family away, hey, Curry, keep the family away
The most sinister of the LeBron mentions comes on Kendrick Lamar’s scathing diss track on Drake from this year, in which he leaves no doubt his feelings on the Toronto star and warns LeBron, Stephen Curry, and others to “keep the family away.”
Kanye West is one of the most polarizing celebrities of the 21st century. He’s also one of the most fascinating. He has been through so many artistic iterations and controversies that it can difficult to keep track. Fortunately, a new documentary titled In Whose Name? will do it for us. The documentary is set for release sometime in 2025, and follows teenager Nico Ballesteros as he accompanies Kanye West on his various business ventures.
Ballesteros directed the documentary, which is produced by the production companies Goodfellas and Utopia. The press release for In Whose Name? promises to explore “overlapping influences of corporate exploitation, racial complexities and psychological struggles inherent in the American dream.” It’s a lot to deliver upon, but Kanye West’s response to the doc leads us to believe it delivered. Ballesteros posted a screenshot of a text exchange with West when the rapper watched the final cut. His response was, in the classic Ye sense, dramatic. “The doc was deep,” he asserted. “It was like being dead and looking back on my life.”
Ballesteros took the weighty statement to heart. “This is the most profound text message I have ever received,” the director wrote back. “I love you brother.” Kanye West has seemingly played a much bigger role in the making of In Whose Name? than the previous documentary about him. Netflix released a three part saga titled Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye West Trilogy in 2022. The series was released without West getting a chance to see the final cut, which he revealed in a since-deleted IG post. Clarence ‘Coodie’ Simmons and Chike Ozah, the Jeen-Yus creators, told Digital Spy that they refused for fear of compromising their artistic vision.
“It’s not an autobiography of Kanye, you know,” Ozah stated. “It’s not a type of documentary where it would serve the doc best for him to have ultimate control.” Kanye West attended the Jeen-Yus premiere, but it’s clear from his text exchange with Ballesteros that he’s a much bigger fan of the upcoming doc, In Whose Name? The documentary is reported to have been shot over the last six years, and the budget is alleged to have been $1 billion. We can’t wait to see what West himself saw when the doc is released.
