5 reasons why baseball and hip hop should collaborate more often
Some things just go together so seamlessly.
So when America's favorite pastime collides with America's favorite music to listen to with the windows down in the car*, amazing things are bound to happen.
(*not an official poll)
Treat yourself and hop to what's hip. Here are five of the best baseball references in hip hop, and naturally, they're NSFW.
5. Beastie Boys - Sure Shot
"I got mad hits like I was Rod Carew."
The Beastie Boys gave a tip of the hat to 18-time All-Star Rod Carew, who finished his career batting .328 over 19 seasons. In his 1977 MVP campaign, Carew recorded 239 hits and slashed .388/.449/.570.
4. Lil' Bow Wow feat. Lil' Wayne, Lil' Zane & Sammie - Hardball
"So many back to back hits they call me little Sammy Sosa; Bubble gum, cards and all the posters."
When Bow Wow was still Lil', he teamed up with Wayne and Zane (also Lil') on Hardball to drop every big name in baseball (Griffey, Rodriguez, Ryan, McGuire).
Also, probably the cleanest you'll ever hear Weezy. Ever.
3. Jay Z & Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind
"Catch me at the X with OG at a Yankee game; S--t, I made the Yankee hat more famous then a Yankee can."
New York Yankees shortstop (and you know, legend) Derek Jeter used this song as his walk-up music for quite some time. He's maybe the only person who wears the hat better than Jay.
2. Nelly - Batter Up
"I said but now we're up in the big leagues; My dirty it's our turn at bat."
This is the craziest baseball game in history - you can't take a dog up to the plate with you and you most certainly can't drive around the bases, but who cares?
Shout out to the lady with the glove in her hair. It's incredible.
1. Jermain Dupri feat. P.Diddy, Snoop Dogg & Murphy Lee - Welcome to Atlanta remix
"I'm the M.B.P., Most Ballin-ist Player; Make my own moves, call me the mayor."
The Welcome to Atlanta remix version takes the No. 1 spot because how many times do the St. Lunatics recruit former big-leaguer and Mitchell Report-named Fernando Vina to Busch Stadium?
How many times does P. Diddy/Puff Daddy/Sean Combs stand atop Madison Square Garden with a crew wearing Yankees apparel head-to-toe?
Actually, that probably happens all the time. Embrace the magic.