13 Reasons Rap and Sports Can't Quit Each Other

Sports and rap converge more than the New England Patriots and controversy, and each time it happens, it reminds us why the two should never be apart.

Here are 13 reasons rap and sports just can't quit each other. And no, it's not just because Drake exists—although that's a big one.

Never break up, rap and sports. You're perfect for each other.

Sports Figures as Fans

Rappers are fans of sports, and sports figures are fans of rap. Check out reigning NBA MVP Steph Curry dancing on stage with Lecrae.

Or what about this tweet by Jim Harbaugh? Apparently, the Michigan football coach is a big rap fan. For real.

Lil B and the D-League

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Athletes try to become rappers all the time, but rappers becoming athletes? 

Lil B actually tried out for the Santa Cruz Warriors, the D-League affiliate of the Golden State Warriors, in 2012. Spoiler: He didn't make it.

Now, he's at it again. This time, the Philadelphia 76ers invited Lil B back for a second go-around. He accepted an invitation to try out for the Delaware 87ers. Stay tuned.

All in the Family

Talent often runs in the family, but in the case of rap and sports, there is occasionally crossover.

Until recently, Snoop Dogg's son Cordell Broadus played wide receiver for the UCLA football team. Diddy's son Justin Combs is still a member of the Bruins squad. The junior plays defensive back.

Goofing Around

Over the years, goofing around with rap has proved to be a great way for athletes to blow off steam.

Exhibit A: Steph Curry's cafeteria remix from his days at Davidson College.

Exhibit B: Big East basketball teams christen "Tricky" by Run-D.M.C. as their tournament anthem.

Athlete Rappers Who Are Not Bad

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Some athletes are actually not terrible at rapping. Two recent examples include Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard, aka Dame DOLLA, and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpert.

Lillard told Chris Haynes of Comcast SportsNet, "If my profile continues to increase, I think I can go platinum with my music. Not to knock anybody else who has done it, but I can actually rap. I have a story to tell."

Reviews have been mixed on Shumpert's recent contributions, but it says something that the reception hasn't been wholly bad.

Athlete Rappers Who Are All Kinds of Bad

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In terms of bad athlete rappers, there are virtually infinite examples to choose from.

Recently, U.S. soccer star Clint Dempsey has fallen into this category, as has the New York Knicks' top draft pick for 2015, Kristaps Porzingis, and the New England Patriots' Rob Gronkowski.

Luckily, Porzingis and Gronk were just messing around. Dempsey, on the other hand—well, let's just hope he decides to stick to soccer.

Straight Outta Cooperstown Tumblr

Can we talk about this epic Tumblr blog, in and of itself a delightful representation of the perfect marriage that is rap and sports?

Straight Outta Cooperstown mashes up rappers and baseball cards, and it's perfect.

[h/t Extra Mustard]

Rap Battles

John Cena is definitely an athlete in the "bad rapper" category. He recently had a good laugh about it, though, challenging Live with Kelly and Michael host Michael Strahan to a rap battle on the show.

Also worth noting is the not fully terrible battle between Nick Young and Nick Cannon.

Athlete-Rapper Friendships

Rap and sports can't quit each other because rappers and athletes can't quit each other.

They hang out all the time. Snoop Dogg and Steve Nash spent some time shooting hoops together in August, per by SB Nation.

TMZ reported Kim Kardashian rented out the Staples Center for Kanye West's birthday in June and invited his pals Russell Westbrook, John Wall and 2 Chainz to attend.

Kevin Durant and Wale share the Washington connection: Both men helped the Redskins recruit DeSean Jackson, as told to ESPN 980 (h/t the Washington Post), and Wale attended Durant's 25th birthday party.

Hype Videos

An underrated convergence of rap and sports occurs semi-regularly in the form of hype videos. For instance, former Ohio State walk-on and current rapper Mekka Don released a video to support Buckeyes running back Ezekiel Elliott's Heisman campaign.

It's awesome.

Also awesome is this tribute video for Kristaps Porzingis made by some Latvian rappers (although for very different reasons).

Drake and Beefs

It all started when Meek Mill alleged via Twitter that Drake uses a ghostwriter for his lyrics.

Yes, it's true Drake and Meek Mill are both rappers. However, their recent beef spilled way over in the sports world, as athletes took sides and weighed in on new developments. 

It should be noted that rap-sports beefs aren't just Drake's territory. Remember Lil B? He famously beefed with Kevin Durant and cursed James Harden.

Drake and Dating Rumors

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According to South African publication Times Now (h/t USA Today), Drake might be dating tennis star Serena Williams, who used to date Common.

In fact, rap and sports often pave the way for love connections—take Iggy Azalea and Nick Young or Da Real Lambo and LeBron James' mom, Gloria.

Just Drake

Above all, Drake is just a mega sports fan. As a native Canadian, Drake is a big-time supporter of the Toronto Raptors. In 2010, he told Matthew Glenesk of ESPN, "I am Raptors fan to the death. ... I'm very patriotic about my city."

But let's be honest, here. Drake outwardly supports a lot more teams than just those in Toronto. He has been seen sporting the gear of every team from the Kentucky Wildcats to Manchester United to the Houston Astros. Drake is the quintessential rapper sports fan.

No disrespect to guys such as Lil Wayne, Macklemore and Jay Z, though. A lot of rappers, just like a lot of people in general, are into sports.