Shaq’s Bad Rap
By Stephane Dunn | TheRoot.com
Was The Big Man's Youtube rant against Kobe so wrong?
June 27, 2008--Truthfully, when one considers the art of the rap diss and remembers some legendary signifying, say, between Tupac andBiggie, Jay-Z and Nas, and more recent I-am-the-best-you-can't-touch-me rap bragging (Ne-Yo and Chris Brown, for example), Shaq's recent attack on his rival and former Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant, was, well, pretty amateurish.
And yet, the fall-out over his recent performance at a New York nightclub, captured on YouTube for all to see, continues. Shaq unhurled a few choice words that have probably been simmering since his controversial Kobe fall-out and exit from the Lakers. He sent a shout out to his ex-teammate, "Kobe can't do without me," and instigated a little call and response chant: "Kobe, tell me how my ass tastes."
Instead of verbal whippings for the weak rap (sorry Shaq), the Big Man's being skewered for ego-tripping and speaking a bit too much truth. ESPN commentators actually put him on blast for so-called racialized comments that dissed poor Kobe—the same guy who helped facilitate Shaq's departure. It derailed a potential dynasty and forced me to suspend my long-time Lakers love.
Nevermind that Kobe actually hasn't come up with a ring since Shaq left for the Heat where he won ring No. 4 and recently went off to the Phoenix Suns. The gleeful debate and condemnation over Shaq's rap completely overlooks the nuances of hip-hop and rap-music culture.
Read the Full Essay @
Was The Big Man's Youtube rant against Kobe so wrong?
June 27, 2008--Truthfully, when one considers the art of the rap diss and remembers some legendary signifying, say, between Tupac andBiggie, Jay-Z and Nas, and more recent I-am-the-best-you-can't-touch-me rap bragging (Ne-Yo and Chris Brown, for example), Shaq's recent attack on his rival and former Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant, was, well, pretty amateurish.
And yet, the fall-out over his recent performance at a New York nightclub, captured on YouTube for all to see, continues. Shaq unhurled a few choice words that have probably been simmering since his controversial Kobe fall-out and exit from the Lakers. He sent a shout out to his ex-teammate, "Kobe can't do without me," and instigated a little call and response chant: "Kobe, tell me how my ass tastes."
Instead of verbal whippings for the weak rap (sorry Shaq), the Big Man's being skewered for ego-tripping and speaking a bit too much truth. ESPN commentators actually put him on blast for so-called racialized comments that dissed poor Kobe—the same guy who helped facilitate Shaq's departure. It derailed a potential dynasty and forced me to suspend my long-time Lakers love.
Nevermind that Kobe actually hasn't come up with a ring since Shaq left for the Heat where he won ring No. 4 and recently went off to the Phoenix Suns. The gleeful debate and condemnation over Shaq's rap completely overlooks the nuances of hip-hop and rap-music culture.
Read the Full Essay @
Stephane Dunn is a writer and author of (gulp) "Baad Bitches & Sassy Supermamas: Black Power Action Films" (August 2008). She is also an assistant professor at Morehouse College.
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