Many of us have probably heard the old adage, “Rappers want to be athletes, and athletes want to be rappers.” However, moving from the booth to the field or arena is no easy task. Still, some people have actually traded for Spalding basketballs in the studio. For example, Master P, real name is Percy Miller. The New Orleans trailblazer found himself not one but two on NBA training camp rosters. After joining the CBA’s Fort Wayne Fury in 1998, he joined the Charlotte Hornets’ training camp roster for 10 days in early 1999, appearing in two exhibition games before being released. Mr. Miller’s attendance brought the audience, which was expected to be only 8,000, to over 15,000. Some might argue that the Hornets “took advantage” of Miller as the league tried to win back fans after the lockout. He scored nine points on 3-for-6 shooting and added four assists and two rebounds while only making one turnover.
According to Miller, his lyrics cut short his tenure with the Hornets. “GM Bob Bass called me up and said, ‘You can play.’ You’re a hell of a basketball player, [but] You your music is pure filth and this is the city of the Bible Belt. And they set me free,” he previously explained. The No Limit Records mogul joined the Toronto Raptors’ training camp roster that fall to showcase his newfound talent. He scored eight goals in one preseason game but didn’t make the final roster. Disappointed and feeling under-appreciated, he became a NOLA living legend and signed with the San Diego Stingrays of the short-lived International Basketball League in November of the same year. After playing less than a season, he decided to put his dream aside for a bit. He returned to Hardwood in 2004 to play for the Las Vegas Rattlers and Long Beach Jam of the United States Basketball Association.
Though short-lived, Miller’s ability to even make an NBA team inspired North Carolina-raised rapper J. Cole two decades later. In August 2020, Miller revealed that the Dreamville lyricist was training to play in the NBA. “When I spoke to J. Cole, he said, ‘Look, big dog, you did it. What do you think I have to do to make that happen? ” Miller revealed. He advises Cole to go to a team that really believes in him, and that just being famous doesn’t get him a pass. Just a month ago, the Grammy-winning rapper released his RS-Dreamer, his signature shoe in collaboration with PUMA. The following year, Cole signed a three- to six-game contract with the Rwanda Patriots of the African Basketball League. After completing his contract, he left Rwanda for unspecified “family obligations.”
Rapping is his bread and butter, but Cole’s brief foray into professional basketball shouldn’t be quickly dismissed as a marketing stunt or just a pastime. After playing on the high school team, Cole tried out at St. John’s University. It wasn’t until he wasn’t on the team that he decided to focus on rap.he said sports illustrated His love of basketball dates back to his childhood ten years ago. “Ever since he was a kid, he loved basketball, but he thought he was much better than he was,” he explained. Hoop’s dream was put on hold until his basketball prowess was known to the public by playing in celebrity games.
In fact, the relationship between hip-hop and hoops, or the sport in general, goes back decades. There are many more athletes who have tried their hand at music, much like Miller and Cole were rappers tiptoeing into the sports pool. If you’re old enough, you probably remember NFL/MLB legend Deion Sanders’ iconic “must be the money.” Most recently, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and Dame Lillard have put their sneakers aside for studio time. These days, more and more artists are able to seamlessly combine music and sport without breaking a sweat.
One of the musicians who has made a name for themselves in sports apparel, if not the biggest, is Kanye West. Now working under the name Ye. This partnership is now defunct, but his decade-long collaboration with Adidas has changed the culture. The sponsorship deal was announced at the end of 2013, and by 2019, Yeezy brand sales exceeded $1 billion on an annual basis. Ye’s First Adidas As anticipation grew for his sneakers, Nike capitalized on it by releasing “Red October,” his last collaboration with the “college dropout” rapper. According to Business Insider, the $245 shoes sold out within 15 minutes of him, and resale values skyrocketed him to over $15,000 per pair. As the Yeezy brand continued its rapid growth, in 2016 he signed a new deal between Ye and his Adidas, billed at the time as “the most important partnership with a non-athlete and sports brand.” Despite the results, relations began to deteriorate towards the end of 2022, with the imminent dissolution of both parties continuing to move through the court system. The Chicago-born rapper, designer, and producer isn’t the only musician on the Adidas roster.
Known for his skateboard style, Pharrell Williams signed a deal with the sneaker and apparel company in 2014 through Bionic Yarn, a textile business that recycles plastic into wearable clothing. In a written statement shared by complicatedWilliams spoke of her affection for the brand, which dates back to her childhood in Virginia. “Working with an iconic brand like Adidas is such an amazing opportunity. From the classic tracksuits to the days of growing up in Virginia wearing Stan Smiths, Adidas has been a staple in my life. The work is timeless and this is an exciting partnership for me and for Bionic Yarn,” he said. Adidas was also home to Beyonce’s Ivy Park collection from 2018 to 2023. During the announcement, the 32-time Grammy Award winner Beyoncé said: And I am grateful and proud. From accessories to clothing to footwear, I wanted to design and reimagine pieces that recognize the strength of my style and become the favorite armor for those who live freely and daringly. In March of this year, the two mutually agreed to end their creative partnership.
Of course, no discussion of hip-hop and adidas would be complete without paying homage to Run-DMC, which made the brand a household name in the 80s. Some even name songs after it. “My Adidas” was his 1986 release and helped the trio win the Three Stripes. After performing the song at Madison Square Garden and urging the crowd to hold up their Adidas, the momentum picked up. The group went on to film a video of them performing the song a cappella and shouting, “Give me a million dollars.” It landed an unprecedented $1 million endorsement deal, and shell-toe Adidas became a staple of hip-hop for decades to come.
However, the brand doesn’t always get its own rep. Drake announced a sponsorship deal with his October’s Very Own Line and Jordan Brand in 2013. And I’m officially on the team, he’s Jordan, he’s part of the family…I feel like I’m home now,” Drizzy said. Years later, he reaffirmed his loyalty to the brand when rumors surfaced that he was switching to Adidas. He referenced this decision when he rapped “Checks Over Stripes” on Travis Scott’s “Sicco Mode.” Scott has also been spotted collaborating with Air Force 1 designs and Cactus with Jordan Brand on his Jack Air Jordan collection. Earlier this month, Teyana Taylor released her first original sneaker, Air Her Jordan 1 Zoom Her CMFT 2, named “A Rose From Harlem.” The shoes sold out within minutes of their release. Nike also tapped rising star Megan Thee Stallion and made her the face of its “Play New” campaign to engage her fans and encourage her to “sport in her own way.” defined.
When gears change, everything Cardi B touches turns to gold, and the same goes for her sneaker deal with Reebok. It started with brand advertising in 2018. From 2020 to 2022, the Bronx rapper released shoes and apparel, earning over $10 million. Cardi B told Footwear News: They welcomed me when I went to their headquarters in Boston. It was freezing cold that day, but it was such a good experience that I thought, “Why don’t we try it?” I didn’t want to team up with someone who didn’t just care about my vision or my product. [but Reebok did]”
The association between hip-hop and sports has been around for many years and is undeniable. As more and more multifaceted stars emerge, expect more seamless collaborations and projects as the two industries continue to coexist and remain separate.
