The most bizarre being Kool Keith and The Ultramagnetic MCsвЂ™ rapping the playersвЂ™ introductions at the 1989 NBA All Star Game. The turn of the decade saw rappers re-writing their own signature songs to get some playing time on the court.

Hip-hop and modern basketball both grew-up very quickly in the вЂ™80s with the occasional moments of intersecting like Chuck DвЂ™s Charles Barkley reference in вЂњRebel Without a PauseвЂќ and the Chris Webber and Jalen Rose lead University of Michigan Wolverines basketball team allegedly ending their huddles not by yelling вЂњDefense!вЂќ but quoting Geto BoysвЂ™ Scarface with вЂњLet Your Nuts Hang.вЂќ While thereвЂ™s been basketball references in rap going back to a New York Knicks shout-out in вЂњRapperвЂ™s Delight,вЂќ the second rap song ever released, the first time the subject took center stage court was in Kurtis BlowвЂ™s 1984 classic вЂњBasketball.вЂќ You can tell Blow had a blast recording the track, utilizing the litany of untapped rhymes for basketball plays, and the sheer zeal he brings to rapping about dribbling. See also: The 10 Best Male Rappers of All Time With that in mind, hereвЂ™s our history of Rap and Basketball. With the three performing in a venue that a rap artist help build, itвЂ™s a reminder of the long and storied history rap and basketball have had together - hip-hop and hoops have proven to be quite the slam dunk of a dynasty.

On Sunday, Wale, Fabolous, and Big Sean performed at the Barclays Center as part of the celebrity basketball challenge. Doctor, Shaq would like to know if he can Roc.

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