在 Michael Jordan 之後，Kobe Bryant 是新世代的超級明星，而目前也僅只有 LeBron James 才能與之匹敵。Kobe Bryant 曾獲得 5 個 NBA 總冠軍、兩枚奧運金牌，和 17 次入選全明星陣容，這是他 20 年 NBA 職業場上生涯的成功和名望的象徵；但在場外，Kobe 的名字仍被從 Kanye West 到 Jay-Z 再到 Lil Wayne 等人的口中，透過嘻哈歌曲中歌詞向他致敬。底下我們回顧到 16 首曾引用到 Kobe Bryant 的嘻哈歌曲。
Lil Wayne – “Kobe Bryant” (2009)
致敬歌詞: “MVP, MVP, Kobe Bryant AKA Envy Me, In knee-deep, smash any D, Whoever he is, he can’t guard me.”
Chief Keef – “Kobe” (2012)
致敬歌詞: “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.”
Kendrick Lamar – “The Heart Part 2” (2010)
致敬歌詞: “One hood with 20 four-four’s like a cloned Kobe Bryant.”
M.I.A. – “Bad Girls (N.A.R.S. Remix)” Feat. Missy Elliot & Azealia Banks (2012)
致敬歌詞: “He ain’t stylin’ enough to be ballin’/Kobe Bryant, Odom, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce.” (Azealia Banks)
Rick Ross – “Stay Schemin’” feat. Drake & French Montana (2012)
致敬歌詞: “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)
Kanye West – “See Me Now” Feat. Beyoncé, Big Sean & Charlie Wilson (2010)
致敬歌詞:“They say G.O.O.D. Music like the new Miami Heat, Shit comparin’ them to us, man, they gotta add Kobe.” (Big Sean)
The Game – “Remedy” (2006)
致敬歌詞: “I’m hard as a mothafuckin’ ounce of raw, Dribble rock like Kobe Bryant bounce the ball.”
JAY-Z – “Some People Hate” (2002)
Notable Line: “With a splash of Monster Kody, Shoot faster than Kobe.”
Lil B – “The Best” (2010)
致敬歌詞:“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.”
Beyoncé – “Ego (Remix)” feat. Kanye West (2009)
致敬歌詞:“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)
Juicy J – “Who Da Neighbors” (2011)
致敬歌詞:“My mansion sittin’ on 40 acres, Who da neighbors? Kobe Bryant from the Lakers, Now that’s paper.”
TI – “Swagger Like Us” feat. Kanye West, Jay Z & Lil Wayne (2008)
致敬歌詞: “Tryna get that Kobe number, one over Jordan.” (Kanye West)
Lil Wayne – “Young Playa” (1999)
致敬歌詞: “I might be in a Lex watching the game tonight, I got a hundred on Kobe, hope he playing it right.”
Ghostface Killah – “Back Like That” feat. Kanye West & Ne-Yo (2006)
致敬歌詞:“We hit the spot to chill with the Fuji Grill, She ordered the Kobe beef like Shaquille O’Neal.” (Kanye West)
Lil Wayne – “Dough Is What I Got” (2007)
致敬歌詞: “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.”
Cassie – “Numb” ft. Rick Ross (2013)
致敬歌詞: “I’m tryin’ to see a hundred of ’em, Kobe Bryant money, nigga you ain’t gotta love him.” (Rick Ross)
