Giannis and hip-hop: Bucks star represents city in lyrics and culture – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The City of Milwaukee held Hip-Hop Week MKE for the first time in three years this week, shortly after the 50th birthday of the genre in New York City. Along with the Milwaukee’s own artists and their contributions to the culture, a big part of the city’s connection to hip-hop is none other than Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Journal Sentinel compiled a list of nearly three dozen songs that feature the Milwaukee Bucks’ superstar as a lyric, an honorific that represents more than just a line over a beat: It represents the city and its place in Hip-Hop.
“The relationship and hip-hop and basketball is a long-standing thing. The players want to be artists, the artists want to be players,” said Darian “Big Tigger” Morgan, former host of BET’s “Rap City” and current drive time host on of WVEE-FM (103.3) in Atlanta.
“Giannis is, I mean, two-time MVP, he’s a champion. Mentioning him because he’s prominent, he’s relatable, he’s cool, like he doesn’t do too much. So, him being mentioned by some of the biggest names in hop-hop definitely makes him cooler, definitely brings a cool factor to the city. It’s kind of a good look.”
Can you recall a Bucks player being used in lyrics so prominently?
Andre “Bizness Boi” Robertson, Milwaukee producer: “It’s fire to me. It’s crazy because I feel like the Bucks have been in the popular culture because everyone want to rap about money, so whoever play with the Bucks they will compare it to a player. First it was like ‘I get Bucks like Milwaukee’ in the 90s and early 2000s. Then Sam Cassell, “Big Dog” (Glenn Robinson), Ray Allen. Now it’s like Giannis. Even with the name Bucks, it’s just easier to rap. It’s super dope being part of the culture.”
Wesley Matthews, Madison Memorial and Marquette University alumnus: “Not that I can think of honestly. Maybe a Ray Allen. Maybe a ‘Big Dog.’ Maybe…I remember Sam Cassell. But yeah, Giannis. Hot! Hot!”
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Do hip-hop artists relate to Giannis?
Jerome “Romey” Hunt, Milwaukee and Madison rapper: “The thing about it is Giannis’ story and where he came from and what he was able to achieve is always going to transcend and crossover over to hip-hop ‘cause he came from the bottom, metaphorically speaking. He got it out the mud. Him and his family was posted on the corner selling goods. Like you see the translation from somebody from the streets like me, we can relate. It’s just like “Scarface.” You get the translation of the story. And the reference of starting from the bottom and making it to the top and people seeing the most improved player, two-time MVP, defensive player of the year, All-Star game MVP, Final MVP. The accolades are just mounting up. “
Big Tigger: “That is a direct link to the hop-hop story. Lots of people come from nothing and make it to something. He’s definitely come from nothing to made it to something something. The movie, all of this stuff, is kind of a testament to his life, his success. Social media also make it way bigger. Back then you had to be a fan-fan to get it. Now you can just open social media and see anybody doing anything whether you knew about basketball or not. It’s definitely a relatable thing. I get a ‘salute Giannis’ thing. It’s definitely kind of cool.”
Bizness Boi: “He’s a likeable person I feel like. He’s just good energy. You don’t really hear nothing bad about him. People gravitate to him. One of the best players in the league. Everybody love him. And then being part of the culture, like even though he’s from overseas he’s still part of the culture. It’s a blessing to have a player like that at the top.”
What does it say if you are referenced like that?
Wesley Matthews: “Yeah it’s cool. It’s cool hearing your name shout out in a lyric that’s in rap, in music, is art and poetry. Your name and likeness and what you do, to be recognized on that stage, is always dope.”
The lyrics are about Giannis and not necessarily about Milwaukee – but yet they are connected. What does that mean for the city?
Big Tigger: “It definitely brings some, for Milwaukee, I believe it brings cool factor, clearly, It also bring some notoriety to a city that’s not necessary on the top destinations other than to see basketball. Lots of people say Giannis or the Bucks. You think Milwaukee. You used to usually think packers. Now, ‘Fear the Deer’ and all of that, Giannis being mentioned in all these hip-hop arenas definitely makes it like ‘oh, what’s happening up in Milwaukee?’ And particularly the way y’all showed out during the playoffs that year outside the stadium had people like oh, we might have to go to Milwaukee. Anytime people of prominence or stature gives something a shout-out influences whatever it is. I mean, he’s definitely put the world on notice that Milwaukee is the place.”
Bizness Boi: “It was rough for a lot of years as far as like people really didn’t know where Milwaukee was. Like, post-Ray Allen, people still don’t know – not nationwide – but now it’s crazy like, oh, I’m going to Milwaukee. Some people still get confused but a lot of people go for shows.”
Along those lines, Chance the Rapper, Gucci Mane andKeyshia Ka’oir have come to watch Bucks games – it’s cool to pull up.
Bizness Boi: “I feel like Giannis being there it’s more high profile. But there are some genuine fans. I feel like a lot of people like Giannis and there are Bucks fans. They may have their own team that they support but they like him. It’s kind of how it was with Kobe (Bryant).”
Romey: “Man, the “Greek Freak” is a real show you know what I’m saying? His draw and his mass appeal is growing by the second. And so, that’s just going to be something. And then out of all the NBA superstars out there, Giannis is probably the most easiest to root for. It’s hard not to like him. It’s hard not to root for him. So, like, even if you are a mega-star, every mega-star has to start from somewhere. The abilty to relate to somebody else’s story, it’s always going to go back to that for me.”
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For his part, Antetokounmpo said he was unaware to be featured in such a way from artists such as Milwaukee’s own Lakeyah, Kanye West, Drake, Lil Wayne and Moneybagg Yo, who capped Hip-Hop Week MKE with a performance Sunday at Fiserv Forum.
But he was curious to hear who had used his name in a lyric, and he smiled.
“Lil Wayne?!,” he said. “Wow! Wow, man. Unbelievable. It doesn’t really matter, but I hope by the end of my career I’ll be in a 100 songs!”
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