NBA Star Mixtape: 15 Star Players and Hip Hop Tracks for Each of Them

Hip Hop and basketball just goes together. They always have and probably always will. If you polled the players in the NBA today, and asked them their favorite genre of music, it is my guess about 85 to 90 percent would say hip hop.

Even before hip hop became the mainstream phenomenon it is now, stars like Julius Erving and Wilt Chamberlain seem like they would have loved The Roots and Too Short, if the time frames aligned.

As it is, the marriage of the mic controllers and the ball-handlers exists today in a major way. Here are 15 NBA stars and the hip hop track that best describes them and/or their situation.

Derrick Rose: "About Mine" by LP Da Assassin

"

We don't look to lose, all we do is win

I'm from the Chi boy, where we get it in

We the real deal, yeah the bread makers

I got tunnel vision, I don't see you haters.

"

That seems to be the approach D-Rose is taking. He is all in for his current teammates and his hometown team. Could Chicago have a more appealing superstar?

He will not recruit, he seems ultimately confident he can lead the charge to an NBA title. You've got to love the loyalty and confidence.

Chris Paul: "California Love" by 2Pac

"

California knows how to party, California knows to party

In the city of LA.  ((((Huge needle scratch as it falls off the turntable.))))

"

CP3 is headed to the City of Angels. Or is he? Just when it seemed like another superstar had forced his way out of small market city into a larger one, the NBA stepped in and said no-go. What initially began as a "New York State of Mind," ultimately turned in to "California Love." Now it's just mass confusion.

CP3 and Kobe could be the best backcourt in history, but will we ever know?

Dwight Howard: "The Choice Is Yours" by Black Sheep

"

You can get with this, or you can get with that

This or that, this or that.

"

Dwight Howard really has his choice right now. He could choose LA, and the Lakers or Clippers would make it happen. The same could be said in New Jersey and Chicago. The choice is yours, Dwight.

Carlos Boozer: "Hate" by Jay-Z and Kanye West

Carlos Boozer is looking forward to quieting all of the haters. He said this about haters:

"

'It motivates me,' Boozer said. 'I don't look at criticism as a down thing or negative thing; I look at it as a challenge. That's what athletes do: We challenge ourselves. I look forward to quieting the haters and helping my team win. That's the most important thing.'

"

Booz showed up noticeably slimmer to the Berto Center as NBA training camps are about ready to begin. That is a great first step to silence them.

Brandon Roy: "Till I Collapse" by Eminem

"

Til the roof comes off, til the lights go out

Till my legs give out.

"

Despite playing with no cartilage in either knee, Brandon Roy presses on. It is sad, actually. Roy is one of my favorite players, but the body is being pushed to the edge.

Carmelo Anthony: "Empire State of Mind" by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys

"

You can tell by my attitude, I'm most definitely from New York.

"

Yes, you can. Melo was meant to play in his hometown, and now he is there. While CP3 tries to join him, Melo has to prove there's nothing he can't do. His city doesn't accept losers well.

P.S. Alicia Keys should be ashamed of herself, hogging all that beauty to herself. There are people out here in need of beauty, and she is keeping it all.

Monta Ellis: "Tats on My Arm" by Wale and Rick Ross

This could have been attributed to several players, but half of the Denver Nuggets team is stuck in China. So I settled on Monta Ellis, who has both arms filled as well as his chest.

What happens when you run out of skin?

Nene: "Ante Up" by M.O.P

Deservedly or not, Nene is about to get paid.

"Ante Up!!!"

New Jersey, Houston, Denver and any team that wants to secure the services of the Brazilian will throw down a lot of money for him. Nene is a good center that is about to get paid like a great one.

Dirk Nowitzki: "Award Tour" by Tribe Called Quest

"

I'm on an Award Tour

Houston, Delaware, DC , Dallas.

"

For at least one year, the Mavericks and Dirk will know what it feels like to travel to every NBA city as champions. Defense will be even harder than the first title was; the Mavericks need a youth injection.

Blake Griffin: "Whoa" by Black Rob

Right now, we are still in the "whoa" stage with Blake. Everything he does is like, "whoa." Dunks on Timofey Mozgov, like, "whoa," slams on Danilo Galinari, like, "whoa," etc.

Next up, Clippers make the playoffs, like, whoa!! Now that's "whoa!!"

Pau Gasol: "Pink Cookies in a Plastic Bag Getting Crushed" by Buildings

Sorry Pau, but when I watch how soft he plays in the post, this is the song I'm reminded of. Every time he flails with minimal low post contact:

"

Pink cookies in a plastic bag, getting crushed by buildings.

"

Dwyane Wade: "Who Gon Stop Me" by Kanye West and Jay-Z

"

Who gon stop me, huh?

"

From helping to engineer the Big 3's union, the Heat are in a great position to realize their dream of the first of what could be multiple titles. It was the ultimate power move in NBA history.

Who's gonna stop them?

Kevin Durant: "The 6th Sense" by Common

"

I'm the truth, across the table from corporate lies

Immortalized by the realness I bring to it

If revolution had a movie I'd be theme music.

"

KD is basic, no frills, not a lot of bling. He just loves the game and is very good at it. His "Basketball Never Stops" commercials are so genuine. He is one of the truest examples of a ballplayer in the spirit that the league has in its ranks.

Kobe Bryant: "It's Written on the Drums" by Skyzoo

"

It's already written on the drums, so I don't gotta talk to it

But if I should decide to, I'm the one to honor it

I'm the one they on it with, and know that they be on it til I'm gone.

"

The ultimate confidence that could only be carried by a player so talented that has accomplished as much as the Mamba.

We can scramble around tracking the potential greatness of others, but Kobe's is already written.

LeBron James: "Successful" by Drake and Trey Songz

"

I just wanna be successful.

"

This Drake and Trey Songz track embodies LeBron's journey through 2010-2011. His decision and subsequent hate belies one fact—James just wants to succeed.

He was completely oblivious to the fallout he would take from the television special and all that followed. Now he has matured, and I believe he is ready to blow up like Drizzy, one of the Heat's biggest fans.