The 24 Best Kobe Bryant References in Rap History
Rappers show their love for Kobe all the time. But who did it best?
Image via Getty/Christian Petersen/Staff
This weekend, Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant turns 36. It's hard to believe, isn't it? Kobe has been a stalwart presence in the NBA for nearly 18 years now, defining superstardom in the post-Jordan era in a way that only LeBron James has been able to match. Bryant is a dogged worker on an almost inhuman level. But whether it was his81 point game, his five NBA championships, or his 16 All-Star appearances, Bryant has found multiple ways to impress his fans and pacify his critics since entering the league.
In the process of becoming an NBA legend, Bryant has also gained the attention of rappers all across hip-hop, from Jay Z to Kanye West to Juicy J. Kobe is a metaphor for greatness; he's an emblem for success. If a rapper brings up Bryant's name in a song, you can almost be sure that it's being used to discuss balling, making money, or essentially just being a boss.
In celebration of Kobe's birthday, we want to remember all the greatest moments in hip-hop when Kobe's name was immortalized in a verse. And in honor of his number, we chose the 24 Best Kobe Bryant References in Rap History, from worst to first. He'll always have one over Jordan in our book.
“He ain't stylin' enough to be ballin' / Kobe Bryant, Odom, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce” —Azealia Banks
Song: “Bad Girls (N.A.R.S. Remix)”
Album: N/A
Year: 2012
M.I.A.'s 2012 track “Bad Girls” was a low-key banger for both its attitude and grinding worldbeat hook. To boost its female-centric message, Azealia Banks and Missy Elliott hopped on a remix of the track to infuse the beat with some more girl power. Banks' verse was recorded just a few months after her debut hit “212” surfaced on the Internet. She seemed like a star on the rise, ready to carry the torch for female rappers like Missy Elliott. Unfortunately, since then, after album delays and a split from her label, Banks' career has been more like Lamar Odom's than Kobe's.
“I'm hard as a mothafuckin' ounce of raw/Dribble rock like Kobe Bryant bounce the ball” —Game
Song: “Remedy”
Album: Doctor's Advocate
Year: 2006
Doing his best impression of West Coast idols like Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, Game ripped apart a beat from Just Blaze on his 2006 track, “Remedy”. While rapping about flipping drugs, Game slides in a small double entendre about crack and basketball, using Kobe Bryant as a reference point for the line's second meaning. Unfortunately for Game, his career never quite took off the way Kobe's did. The former G-Unit member has always been solid, but is he a future Hall of Famer like Kobe? Nah.
“Kobe in my two cups, two fours got me too stuck” —King Louie
Song: “Michael Jordan”
Album: N/A
Year: 2013
It feels like the world is still sleeping on King Louie. Look at the rappers on this list. Now look at King Louie's bars here. “Two fours got me too stuck” is an excellent bit of wordplay to describe his current situation: two 4 oz cups of lean have him too fucked up to move, and he's using Kobe's No. 24 to put it all together (on a song called “Michael Jordan,” no less). The line isn't as flashy as some other references to Kobe's jersey number (Beanie Siegel's and Kanye's lines stand out more in their respective songs), but in terms of lyricism and brevity, King Louie is right there.
“When I roll up on niggas I tell them to move slowly/Or get 8 to their chest like a Kobe jersey” —Beanie Sigel
Song: “Philly's Finest”
Album: N/A
Year: N/A
Man, Beanie Sigel really had the Roc Boys on lock for a finite period of time. The weight and nastiness of Beans's bars here are heavy-handed and merciless. If you don't follow his instructions, dude has no problem putting one of these right on your heart.
“One hood with 20 four-four's like a cloned Kobe Bryant” —Kendrick Lamar
Song: “The Heart Pt. 2”
Album: Overly Dedicated
Year: 2010
As the current king of Los Angeles rap (and, if you believe him, New York) Kendrick Lamar is practically obligated to give Kobe a shout-out. And he hasn't disappointed. In 2010, when Kendrick was still grinding on the mixtape circuit, his Overly Dedicated tape featured a reference to the Lakers legend on the very first track, “The Heart Pt. 2”. Kendrick doesn't take the obvious route of comparing himself to Kobe Bryant, but instead flips Bryant's number into a metaphor for gun violence during his larger discussion of poverty and racism in America.
“You fuckin' with the Kobe Bryant of rap/With a MAC-11 cocked back, ready for sure, ready for war” —Kurupt
Song: “Dogg Pound Gangstaville”
Album: G-Funk Classics, Vol. 1 & 2
Year: 1998
Saying that you're the “[Insert famous athlete here] of rap” isn't the most creative or original way to utilize Kobe Bryant's name, but we give credit to Kurupt for this reference because he was so far ahead of everyone else in terms of Kobe shout-outs. The West Coast rapper gave Bryant a nod in 1998, the same year that the Lakers guard made his first NBA All-Star team. Clearly, Kurupt knew that bigger and better things were on the horizon.
“I might be in a Lex watching the game tonight/I got a hundred on Kobe, hope he playing it right” —Lil Wayne
Song: “Young Playa”
Album: Tha Block Is Hot
Year: 1999
1999 wasn't a bad time for Wayne to be betting on Kobe and the Lakers. That 1999 season saw Kobe eclipse the 20 PPG mark for the first time in his career, and the Lakers rode a 67-15 season all the way to their first of three consecutive NBA titles. While throwing 100 grand on the Lakers is impressive, what might be even crazier is that Wayne watched the whole game in his luxury vehicle. Back in '99, having a TV in your car was the ultimate stunt move.
“With a splash of Monster Kody/Shoot faster than Kobe” —Jay Z
Song: “Some People Hate”
Album: The Blueprint 2
Year: 2002
Solid gang reference here from Hov. Pairing Kobe with one of the most notorious members of L.A.'s Eight Tray crips was a slick move, although he could've played on the Eight Tray name with Kobe's No. 8. And if we're trying to be wholly accurate, Kobe's shot hasn't been known as one of the NBA's quicker releases. Perhaps a nod to Kobe's shooting volume would've been just as adpt, cause you know, gangsters like to shoot their guns a lot.
“Went by any means, who said it best?/Kobe Bryant mind state, I'm shootin' til I'm accurate” —Jay Rock
Song: “Numbers On The Board (Freestyle)”
Album: N/A
Year: 2013
“Shooters gotta keep shooting” —Anonymous. While many Kobe rap references tackle his propensity to not pass or his overall greatness, few actually call him out for shooting, and shooting, and shooting until either he gets it right or the game ends. Some may call it greed, but Jay Rock sees that playing trait as one of determination and perseverance for someone who knows their worth. Jay Rock has yet to really take off like some of his TDE comrades have, so it's safe to say that he's still out here shooting.
“Came up didn't think I'd pass shit, underrated slam dunk, nigga never passed it/Come around my way boy, you'd never last it, Kobe Bryant of the rap game, nigga never pass it” —Lil B
Song: “The Best”
Album: Red Flame
Year: 2010
In summation, Lil B is telling everyone how terrible of a teammate he'd be in pick-up. The #based #honesty is v appreciated, because if I picked up a scrub to run full court and all he did was throw up bricks, I'd probably spit on his sneakers and tell him to go home. At least Lil B is giving us fair warning. For anyone interested in an in-depth scouting tape of Lil B on the court, look no further than his music video for “Fuck Kevin Durant”.
“Your boy Sandy Brock was ill, like Kobe Bryant with the ball/It's no exceptions, even the biggest giants gotta fall” —Trife Da God
Song: “Grew Up Hard”
Album: More Fish
Year: 2006
There's no way that someone named “Trife Da God” could ever reasonably compare themselves to Kobe Bryant and, thankfully, the little-known rapper chose not to on his 2006 track with Ghostface Killah. Instead, Trife uses Bryant as a metaphor to describe Sandy Brock, a young Staten Island basketball star who was shot down in his prime in 1997 by area police. Could Brock have been the next Kobe like Trife claims? Tragically, we never had the chance to find out.
“You know how I be/Last week Kobe couldn’t do without me” —Shaquille O'Neal
Song: “Freestyle”
Album: N/A
Year: 2008
Shaq was on the right side of history when he spit this infamous freestyle, but let the record show: Post-Shaq, Kobe won two titles, while Shaq only managed one.
“My mansion sittin' on 40 acres/Who da neighbors?/Kobe Bryant from the Lakers/Now that's paper” —Juicy J
Song: “Who Da Neighbors”
Album: Rubba Band Business 2
Year: 2011
Kobe Bryant isn't just a basketball player, he's a status symbol as well. In Juicy J's track, “Who Da Neighbors” Kobe's name is used as a show of wealth. Juicy J lives in a mansion on forty acres, but what really establishes his white-collar cred is the fact that Kobe Bryant is his neighbor. Now that's paper.
“Kobe ’bout to lose a hundred fifty M’s/Kobe my nigga, I hate it had to be him/Bitch you wasn’t with me shooting in the gym” —Drake
Song: “Stay Schemin'”
Album: Rich Forever
Year: 2012
In 27 words, Drake laid out the exact reasons why divorce settlements are bullshit (in his mind). As a leader and educator for our generation, Drake's rap should be taken to heart, and should serve as fair warning to any and all aspiring ballers: Get a prenup or get your checks taken by your ex-wifey. Kobe didn't end up getting that divorce, but $150 million is probably a drop in a bucket for Kobe in the long-run. At age 35, he's worth a reported $260 million.
“I'm tryin' to see a hundred of 'em/Kobe Bryant money, nigga you ain't gotta love him” —Rick Ross
Song: “Numb”
Album: RockaByeBaby
Year: 2013
“Numb” is a bit of a yawn, but Rick Ross' verse gives Kobe Bryant a perfect shout-out, letting all of Kobe's haters know that whether they love him or hate him, he's still going to get his.
“I might come to baseline like Kobe Bryant did way back in '03 and then body y'all" —Montana of 3000
Song: “Chiraq (Remix)”
Album: N/A
Year: 2014
Kobe Bryant at his peak (remember that?) was an athletic animal. Given his current game of post-ups and midrange jumpers, it's difficult to recall those years when Kobe's movement allowed him to do as he pleased to opponents. In this line, Montana's checking Kobe's famous dunk over MVP-to-be Kevin Garnett in the 2003 playoffs.
“I had dreams of the league, one day I’d play Kobe/Or walk up to Puff and he would really know me” —Kanye West
Song: “Ego (Remix)”
Album: I Am… Sasha Fierce
Year: 2009
Little did Kanye know, three years later, he'd star in a commercial alongside Kobe. The Black Mamba has always been an inspiration for Kanye—he was even called in to help Kanye write his verses for the “Power (Remix),” something that the former Philly rapper was more than capable of helping out with. Much love to Beyonce for placing Kanye on the most aptly titled song of his entire career, while also opening the door for him to make clear-cut references about the size of his manhood. Easily one of the more enjoyable Ye verses in his post-808s sadness.
“Where my ring and my confetti, I'm Kobe Bryant ready/Pink Rose and chronic smelly while I'm stumbling out the telly” —Lloyd Banks
Song: “Beamer, Benz, or Bentley”
Album: H.F.M. 2 (The Hunger For More 2)
Year: 2010
When Lloyd Banks brings up Kobe Bryant in his 2010 smash “Beamer, Benz, or Bentley” he asks the same question that we all have in the back of our heads when we step into a club: Where the fuck is my celebration? Why isn't confetti falling from the ceiling right now? Where is my championship ring? We'll never get any of these things, but we can always hope, can't we?
“We hit the spot to chill with the Fuji Grill/She ordered the Kobe beef like Shaquille O’Neal” —Kanye West
Song: “Back Like That (Remix)”
Album: More Fish
Year: 2006
One of the most legendary Kanye lines of all-time. Like how did it take until 2006 for a rapper to make a Kobe beef-Shaq reference? They'd been squaring off for years by this point. It's so obvious and dumb and corny that it works perfectly. And to be honest, Kanye's Big Sean bars have always been an overlooked hallmark of his rap career. When lines like this one exist in his catalog, Kanye's 2013 raps like, “Don't judge em' Joe Brown” make so much sense.
“They say G.O.O.D. Music like the new Miami Heat/Shit comparin' them to us, man, they gotta add Kobe” —Big Sean
Song: “See Me Now”
Album: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Year: 2010
Okay Big Sean, who was the Kobe Bryant of G.O.O.D. Music circa 2010? Cause LeBron is obviously Kanye, D-Wade is prolly Common, Chris Bosh is most definitely you…. Actually, the direct comparisons sans Kanye=LeBron and CyHi=Udonis Haslem don't really work. Regardless of this writer's literal interpretation of a Big Sean line, G.O.O.D. Music in 2010 was definitely stocked with enough talent to body any other rap crew.
“And when it comes down to the recording/I must be LeBron James if he's Jordan/No, I won rings for my performance/I'm more Kobe Bryant of an artist” —Lil Wayne
Song: “Dough Is What I Got”
Album: Da Drought 3
Year: 2007
Da Drought 3 remains the standard of excellence for Lil Wayne's mixtape career, and “Dough Is What I Got” is arguably the collection's greatest moment. During the track, Wayne describes his career in terms of three of the NBA's all-time greats: LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and, of course, Kobe Bryant. That's a holy trinity of talent right there.
“Tryna get that Kobe number, one over Jordan” —Kanye West
Song: “Swagga Like Us”
Album: Paper Trail
Year: 2008
You could make the argument that Kanye and Kobe have a similar narrative running throughout their careers. The two are both phenomenal talents who have often dealt with the shadow of their equally-renowned influences, Michael Jordan and Jay Z. Obviously, Kanye has been able to establish a completely different lane in hip-hop than the one Jay Z currently occupies, but unfortunately for Bryant stardom is a sort of one-way street in the NBA. As for now, he's still in Jordan's rearview mirror.
“MVP, MVP/Kobe Bryant AKA Envy Me/In knee deep, smash any D/Whoever he is, he can't guard me” —Lil Wayne
Song: “Kobe Bryant”
Album: N/A
Year: 2009
Though he hails from New Orleans, Lil Wayne is an unabashed fan of the Los Angeles Lakers. He's passionate to the point that he even claimed he was once kicked out of a Miami Heat for cheering too heavily for Los Angeles. As a Lakers fan, though, Wayne has occasionally used his music to express his fandom, most notably when he released the song “Kobe Bryant” in 2009, in anticipation of the Lakers' forthcoming NBA Finals victory against the Orlando Magic. Maybe the song was a good luck charm because, as we all know, the Lakers had their way with the Magic in a brief, five-game series, earning Kobe his first title in the post-Shaq era.
“Hundred thousand in one pocket, I get paid like I'm Kobe/When these fuck boys play games, man I just play like I'm Kobe” —Chief Keef
Song: “Kobe”
Album: Finally Rich
Year: 2012
It's a toss-up between Lil Wayne's “Kobe Bryant” and Chief Keef's “Kobe” in terms of songs most passionately dedicated toward no. 24. The hammering repetition of Chief Keef's track may be what sets it apart from Wayne's effort though. Every single thing that Keef does makes him feel like Kobe, whether its balling, getting paid, or getting signed by Jimmy Iovine. Also, the fact that Keef turns Dirk Nowitzki's last name into a euphemism for cocaine is one of the most underrated rap moments of the 21st century.