HIP HOP AND IT’S NBA COUNTERPARTS

Jay-Z/Michael Jordan: Jay donned himself the MJ of rap and everybody rolled with it. Both are considered by many to be the greatest to ever do it in their fields.. although Jay and MJ came out of retirement with performances that made us wish they had stayed away. Whether its Tupac/Biggie/Rakim or Magic/Bird/Wilt, somebody will use one of those names in an argument against Sean Carter or Michael Jordan. They’re similar all the way down to their work ethic and figure head positions.

Dr. Dre/Phil Jackson: If you’re having a problem getting your project or your team to the next level these are the guys you want to call. Phil Jax has the rings, Dre has the plaques. Lately, neither has shown a sense of urgency about current projects, and will let cats sit on the bench for no given reason.

 Eminem/Larry Bird: White guys that dominated the “Brothas Game”. If Bird was a teenager today he’d be listening to Em’s “Lose Yourself” on his mp3 player while warming up before some AAU tournament.. Their forays into the front office have brought mixed results. Both lost a close teammate recently.

Young Buck/Stephen Jackson: Neither are superstars but they’re valuable parts on a team.. Opponents get nervous just thinking about ’em. They will both have your back in a scrap no questions asked, and both show glimpses of greatness that they can’t reach consistently.

Ice Cube/Doctor J: They took an element of their fields and raised it to new heights.. Gangsta rap and the dunk contest are boring now, but their contributions will always be remembered. They get mentioned in top ten lists and occasionally somebody will call them the greatest ever. Does a parallel between the ABA and the late 80s West Coast rap scene work?

Dame Dash/Isiah Thomas: They were critical parts of great teams in the past. Their independent ventures are unsuccessful whether it’s a league or a record label.. Both would get 85 cents back on change for a dollar, but somehow always land on their feet.

50 Cent/Kobe Bryant: Kobe’s balling skills are 100 times better than 50’s rapping skills, but that’s not the comparison I’m making. They’re the two most polarizing people in their professions. Hate ’em or Love ’em you can’t deny Kobe’s hoop game or 50’s business game. You never have to wait long to hear their names in the news, and they both go for 50 every night.

Here’s a few outside of the NBA…

Ras Kass/Ken Griffey Jr: Two dudes that seemed like mortal locks to be in the greatest of all time argument. Both are still decent but neither was able to maximize their potential. You have to worry if they’ll get hurt or hurt themselves when they walk outside.

DMX/Mike Tyson: Drugs, jail and wildin out. Check, check and check. Both exploded onto the scene. Both imploded when they reached the top and eventually went to Arizona to chill out. You shouldn’t let either of the two borrow your car.

LL Cool J/Brett Favre: Their contributions to the game have to be recognized but LL and Brett are currently over staying their welcome. Aside from padding their numbers, neither has any business performing anymore.

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DOCTOR J

Jason does not despise Hip Hop, he said so himself  “I don’t hate hip hop. I hate what it has become. I hate what it has done to the minds and values of young people.”  See.. So that leaves the door open for him to start a career as a Hip Hop producer. The website  www.chapmanrecording.com states:

“Some of the biggest names in KC rap gathered recently to record a new game day song for the Kansas City Chiefs. The Track, “It’s On Now ’07”, was created by Seven and produced by KC Star sports writer Jason Whitlock with the assistance of Strange Music headman Travis O’Guin.”

I’m assuming since J-Dub made the following comments about Hip Hop,

Prison culture swallowed hip-hop culture, turning party music into a celebration of violence, hostility, disrespect and drug-dealing. Prison culture created the Black KKK and negated much of the progress won by the civil-rights movement.

Prison culture is winning. It has corrupted a form of music that once gave us great joy and/or offered inspiration. Prison culture — with its BET and MTV videos, popular movies, acceptance in the mainstream media and false gods — Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg — has perverted the American dream for black youth.

Hip-hop/prison culture must be destroyed and remade. In its present, N-word-reliant, violence-promoting form, nothing good can come from hip hop.

he wouldn’t have any rapper that could be considered a “hip hop hoodlum” on a track that he’s producing. Right?!? Let’s take a look..

Rich The Factor, author of such classics as Bitch, Drug Team, and Pull Dope out.

 Tech N9ne, the same Tech N9ne that Whitlock shouted out to lead off this column, has penned Civil Rights anthems My Wife, My Bitch, My Girl… Real Killer…and Trapped In A Psycho’s Body.

I couldn’t find too much more information about the other guys on the track but I think this line from Tech N9ne’s hymn, Absolute Power, says it best..

we Kansas City players
and we bout sold game,
we make it so that Tech N9ne is a household name
How many points you got? I got 50
here’s a question to the censorship committee
who’s the biggest gangs of niggas in the city,
my villains are Gritty,
Big Scoob, Txx Will, Bakarii,
rest in peace Short Nitty

Yep..These are his readers.

Don’t get me wrong..I love Hip Hop..I need Hip Hop as much as I need sports. I’m not trying to bash the rappers for their lyrics. I’m not trying to blame rappers for every problem plaguing the black community… But Doctor J is.. I wonder if the suits at Disney told Ja-Lock that he could have his old job back, but first he REALLY has to prove that he won’t step out of line again.

Jason Whitlock produces KC Chiefs song via ChapmanRecording.com

Hip Hop is ruining the world, Jason Whitlock via AOL Sports

Tech N9ne interview via Murder Dog

Rich The Factor discography via Music Match

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