On January 26, 2020, we lost NBA Legend Kobe Bryant. On that day, it felt as though the world stopped while reports kept coming out with all sorts of unconfirmed information. Once the tragic news was eventually confirmed, many from all over the world have been celebrating and looking back on all of the great memories that he left us with. Although he was a basketball player, Kobe’s reach spanned far beyond the court. In Hip-Hop, his greatness influenced much of the music that was released in the 2000’s. This post takes a look back on the best Kobe Bryant references in Hip-Hop.
10. “Venus vs. Mars” – JAY-Z
“…Thought shorty was the truth, found out she was a cheater
We were supposed to take over, I caught her bumping “Ether”
I thought shorty liked Mike, found out she liked Prince
Thought she was Adrian, it’s been rocky ever since
My dollars was down, she left me for some Euros
Took my whole flavor, I call her Coke Zero
We were co-MVP’s like Kobe and Shaq
Left me for the Heat, we were winning back to back
Said I party too much, shorty got fed up
Shorty got Britney, shaved her whole head up
We used to make out, kissing each other’s face off
Fell for the Ponzi scheme, damn shorty just made off” – JAY-Z
Analysis:
“Venus vs. Mars”, produced by Timbaland, was released in 2009 on Jay-Z’s The Blueprint 3 album. The song delves into how JAY-Z compares and contrasts to an unnamed love interest. The 1st verse discusses the ways in which JAY-Z and this woman are complete opposites. The 2nd verse is about the ways in which they similar. The 3rd verse details how their relationship eventually broke down. It is in this verse in which JAY-Z compares their relationship to the turbulent relationship of Kobe and Shaq. The very successful duo won 3 NBA Championships but eventually broke up after the 2004 season. The Lakers then chose to go all-in on the younger Kobe Bryant and trade Shaq to the Miami Heat. 5 years later the duo played in the NBA All-Star Game and won co-MVPs which was a very cool moment.
9. “Beamer, Benz, or Bentley” – Lloyd Banks
“Get in my Beamer, Benz, or Bentley, Beamer, Benz, or Bentley
Beat it I bet she let me, she been fiending since she met me
I’m the coolest sh*t especially when I throw on all my Gretzky
Got my Smith and Wessie to protect me so respect me
This is heavy new Bentley, color vanilla and cherry
Andretti-O Pirelli make a movie out the getty
Where my ring and my confetti, I’m Kobe Bryant ready
Pink Rose and chronic smelly while stumbling out the telly
I’m so fly, I’m so ferry and the way I flow is very” – Lloyd Banks
Analysis:
“Beamer, Benz, or Bentley” was released in 2010 which was during the Los Angeles Lakers 3 straight NBA Finals appearances (2008, 2009, 2010). This line really is just Lloyd Banks likening his celebratory mood to Kobe Bryant after winning an NBA Championship.
8. “Juice” – Chance the Rapper
“Jugo, you never tasted paper
Tripped, racing yaself tryna’ chase the paper
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*ckin’ hates the Lakers…” – Chance the Rapper
Analysis:
Chance pays homage to Kobe with this line by saying being the best often times comes with a lot of haters.
7. “The Heart (Part 2)” – Kendrick Lamar
“…And this is Comp-ton, lions in the land of the triumph
Wrap-Saran our defiance, ban our alliance
Put burners in the hands of the black man
One hood with 20 four-fours like a cloned Kobe Bryant
You probably heard I wanna be heard and wonder who I am
You probably even listened to “Faith,” and think I know Zion
But really I’m just caught in the loop, of understanding the truth
Because it seem like it’s always clashing with science...” – Kendrick Lamar
Analysis:
Kendrick Lamar eloquently uses Kobe Bryant’s jersey number (24) to express the plethora of weapons in many neighborhoods in Los Angeles. More specifically, the “20 four-fours” are .44 caliber guns.
6. “Overnight Celebrity” – Twista
“Why don’t we play something these h*es’ll like?
Drive whips I know they like
Twista, you told her, right
I could make you a celebrity overnight
Give you ice like Kobe wife
We sorta like Goldie, right
The way we mold ’em right
I could make you a celebrity overnight” – Twista and Kanye West
Analysis:
“Overnight Celebrity”, produced by Kanye West, was released in 2004 and was a largely successful single by Twista. The entire song is just Twista telling a woman all the ways he can make her instantly famous by being with him. Twista compares the jewelry he can gift her to the jewelry Kobe gifted his wife.
5. “Ego (Remix)” – Beyonce (featuring Kanye West)
“…That’s good for my ego
Me and my ego
And it go wherever we go
My ego is my imaginary friend
He was with me when I was only imagining
I had dreams of the league
One day I play Kobe
I walk up to Puff and he already know me
Coulda let the dream killers, kill my self esteem
Or use the arrogance as a steam that power my dreams
And my ego” – Kanye West
Analysis:
Kanye West appeared on the remix of “Ego” by Beyonce in 2009. In this Kobe reference, Kanye likens the rap game to professional sports. Kanye discusses his early dreams of being a superstar in rap just like Kobe was a superstar in the NBA. He dreamed of becoming famous enough to where the icons in hip-hop would already know who he was upon meeting.
4. “Swagga Like Us” – Kanye West, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, and T.I.
“Mr. West is in the buildin’
Swagger on a hundred thousand trillion
Ayo I know I got it first
I’m Christopher Columbus, y’all just the Pilgrims
Thanksgiving, do we even got a question?
Hermès, Pastelle, I pass the dressin’
My attitude is tattooed, that mean it’s permanent
So I guess we should address it, huh?
My swagger is Mick Jagger
Every time I breathe on a track, I asthma attack it
“Why you so mad for? Why you gotta have it?”
‘Cause I slaved my whole life, now I’m the master
Naaaaa-na-naaaaa
How it feel to wake up and be the sh*t and the urine
Naaaaa-na-naaaaa
Tryin’ to get that Kobe number, one over Jordan” – Kanye West
Analysis:
In 2008, the Kanye West produced song, “Swagga Like Us” was released. It featured the biggest and most successful names in hip-hop at the time. The song ended up on T.I.’s Paper Trail album. In this Kobe Bryant reference, Kanye makes another rap / sports metaphor. Michael Jordan, who is widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all-time, wore the number 23 for the majority of his career. In 2006 Kobe Bryant changed his number from 8 to 24. Kanye is saying he wants to be even better than the greatest artists of all time.
3. “THat Part” – Schoolboy Q (featuring Kanye West)
Reference #1:
“Yeah! Okay, okay, okay, okay! (That part)
Beggars can’t be choosers, b*tch, this ain’t Chipotle (That part)
N*gga with an attitude, I feel like O’Shea (That part)
Walkin’, livin’ legend, man, I feel like Kobe (That part)” – Kanye West
Reference #2:
“Walkin’ livin’ legend, man, I feel like Kobe (That part)
I just dropped 60, man, I feel like Kobe
Lamar was with me, man, I feel like Kobe” – Kanye West
Analysis:
I hope it has become obvious by now. Kanye West really loves referencing Kobe Bryant in his rhymes. Kanye is in 4 out of the 10 references of this list. Kanye frequently comparing himself to Kobe really speaks to Kobe’s greatness. In this song from 2016, Kanye is simply calling himself a “living legend” just like Kobe. In Reference #2, Kanye furthered this comparison to Kobe by talking about being in attendance at Kobe’s last game ever when he scored 60 points. Lamar Odom was with Kanye that night just how Odom was with Kobe when they played together from 2004 to 2011.
2. “Errday” – Wiz Khalifa (featuring Juicy J)
“…My mansion sitting on forty acres — who the neighbors?
Kobe Bryant from the Lakers…now thats paper
And I still mob through the hood I don’t need no waivers
Cause if you n*ggas getting wrong, I’mma see you later” – Juicy J
Analysis:
Juicy J’s verse on “Errday” is the ultimate stunt. It features one of the most memorable Kobe Bryant references of all-time. Kobe has an estimated net worth of $600 Million. Juicy J is letting everyone know his money is long just by living in the same neighborhood as Kobe.
1. “Kobe Bryant” – Lil Wayne
The #1 reference on this list is “Kobe Bryant” by Lil Wayne. Released in 2009 and featured on his “Tear Drop Tune 2” mixtape, the song “Kobe Bryant” pays homage to the NBA legend’s greatness. It is a great song that features commentary from Stephen A. Smith and various reporters anointing Kobe as the best player in the league.
The world is still devastated by the news of Kobe Bryant’s passing on January 26, 2020. One way I have been reminiscing on his memory is through music. This article was intended to celebrate his life and the joy he has brought many of us over the years. Thank you for reading. Please leave a comment letting me know your thoughts. Also, vote in the poll below!
