The NBA and hip-hop have shared a close relationship for years, with players and rappers often crossing paths through collaborations, endorsements, and sometimes feuds. From Shaquille O’Neal’s successful music career to Damian Lillard’s rap alter ego Dame D.O.L.L.A., the blending of basketball and music is well-established. However, not all collaborations go smoothly. Notable moments include Jay-Z and DeShawn Stevenson’s feud that involved LeBron James and Kobe Bryant’s brief rap rivalry with Shaq. Now, Fat Joe has revealed a story involving basketball legend Michael Jordan.
In an interview with Shannon Sharpe on the ‘Club Shay Shay’ podcast, Fat Joe shared a surprising story about a deal that fell through with Air Jordan. The Bronx rapper was set to land a $20 million deal with the iconic brand. He explained that he had worked directly with Jordan, traveling to different places, including Vegas, to finalize the deal. However, things went awry after an altercation between Fat Joe and 50 Cent at the MTV Awards. According to Joe, the beef made Jordan uncomfortable with moving forward. “Michael Jordan called me Big Joe… He said, Big Joe, I don’t like the controversy,” Joe said, explaining how the deal collapsed. This incident cost Fat Joe a major payday and, in his words, rap beef has “messed up a lot” of his money.
The rapper went on to explain the MTV Awards altercation in his memoir, *The Book of Jose.* He described how 50 Cent was provoking him throughout the event, eventually leading to a confrontation on stage. As Joe prepared to present an award to Missy Elliott, 50 Cent’s behavior escalated, pushing Joe to his breaking point. The altercation damaged Joe’s relationship with Jordan, leading to the missed opportunity to become the first artist with a signature Air Jordan shoe, predating Travis Scott’s collaboration with the brand.
This revelation highlights how the blurred lines between music and sports can have real financial consequences. Fat Joe’s involvement with the NBA and hip-hop didn’t stop there. In 2003, Fat Joe and Jay-Z were set to take their rivalry from the studio to the basketball court. The two rappers planned to play a game at the Holcombe Rucker Playground in Harlem, each backed by powerful teams. Jay-Z’s team included stars like LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal, and Lamar Odom, while Fat Joe’s ‘Team Terror Squad’ featured Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony, and Yao Ming. The game was highly anticipated, but it was never played due to a massive blackout that hit New York. Despite efforts to continue the game by using car lights, the police intervened, ending the spectacle.
This intersection of basketball and hip-hop, as shown through these events, underscores the unique cultural connections and the unpredictable outcomes of such high-profile collaborations. As the relationship between these worlds evolves, stories like Fat Joe’s serve as a reminder of both the opportunities and challenges that arise.
Leave a Reply