Hip-hop and basketball go hand-in-hand, so much so that we’ve seen more athletes and rappers crossover to the booth and court, respectively. Over time, the lines between the two worlds became blurred. Artists like J. Cole and Master P entered professional basketball leagues in their careers while Dame Lillard and Shaq have proven to be formidable MCs on the mic. While Rick Ross isn’t necessarily a top draft pick in the NBA, he undoubtedly has an appreciation for the sport.
In partnership with Draft Kings, Ross teamed up with The Lox and Fat Joe for a new single titled, “The Game.” Buda & Grandsz, Mike Kuz, and Setfree handle the elegant production, equipped with looming 808s and orchestral violins. Jadakiss, Styles P, Rick Ross, and Fat Joe draw parallels from graduating the streets to the music industry to athletes striving for a trophy with bars filled with excellent basketball wordplay.
The new single from Rick Ross, The LOX, and Fat Joe arrives during the 2023 NBA Play-In Tournament, which began earlier this week. “The Game” will be heard throughout the tournament’s commercial breaks on ESPN’s Play-In broadcast. It’s not only a great look but an excellent combination of iconic talents who continuously show out whenever they step to the mic.
The new single from Rick Ross marks one of his first releases of the year, outside the string of features he delivered. He hopped on records with Richie Evans, Playboy Rated-R, and most recently, Drei. However, he’s yet to announce a follow-up to Richer Than I Ever Been, which arrived in late 2021. He has since announced that he’s gone independent. Meanwhile, The LOX continue their excellent run. While Styles P released his second to last album before retirement, Jadakiss recently appeared alongside Swizz Beatz on “Hustle, Repeat” and joined forces with Millyz on “Moon Roof.”
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