Kanye West has a new album out. We think!
All the sports references in Kanye West’s ‘The Life of Pablo’
Following a surprise guerrilla release after performing on Saturday Night Live, The Life of Pablo was later taken down after apparent server errors rendered fans unable to purchase it online. While it was briefly made available again, the album is presently streaming only with Kanye saying the album won’t be for sale for another week, as well as hinting he’s not done with it.
Though the album is equal parts visionary production and wildly inconsistent word smithing, in a surprise to no one, there are scattered sports references sprinkled throughout it’s 58:02 run time.
Here they are:
“Feedback”
“If Hov J then every Jordan need a Rodman”
The album’s first sports reference is pretty straight forward. Jay Z branded himself the “Mike Jordan of recording” on “Show Me What You Got.” Kanye, who in-part got his start in music producing for Jay Z and maintains a business and personal relationship with him through a number of ventures (including Tidal), subsequently paints himself as the eccentric sidekick of his mentor.
“Highlights”
“I’ma bust a coach’s head open on some Diddy shit / If he ever talk to my son like an idiot”
Entertainer Puff Daddy (late Diddy) was arrested after getting into a fight with UCLA football strength and conditioning coaches and swinging a kettlebell at an intern. Diddy later professed the move was in retaliation to perceived disrespect towards his son Justin, then a member of the team. An ex-UCLA coach later admitted the younger Combs was essentially only on the team in the first place because of his celebrity. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
“30 Hours”
“Now I’m ‘bout to drive 90 miles like Matt Barnes to kill ... / 30 hours”
The Grizzlies' Matt Barnes drove over 90 miles to attack former Knicks coach Derek Fisher after it came to light Fisher was romantically involved with Barnes' estranged wife.
“No More Parties In L.A.”
*NBA Jam net swish and crowd cheer sound effects*
The album’s second of four titles was SWISH and toward the end of “No More Parties ...”, one of several leaked-in-advance TLOP tracks, you’re able to hear some of the trademark sounds from the original NBA Jam video game.
“Facts (Charlie Heat Version)”
“Yeezy, Yeezy, Yeezy just jumped over Jumpman”
Drake & Future made a song called “Jumpman” on their seminal mixtape “What A Time To Be Alive.” Whether you know it or not, you’ve almost assuredly heard it. The song’s chorus references the iconic Nike logo of Michael Jordan’s silhouette. Kanye’s created a shoe empire in his own right with own in-demand Yeezy sneakers for rival Adidas.
“On the field I’m over-reckless, on my Odell Beckham”
The Giants wide receiver (and Madden 16 cover boy) Beckham was inexplicably not ejected after a violent helmet-to-helmet shot on Panthers cornerback Josh Norman. The Panthers would go on to win the game and Beckham would miss the Giants’ next after being suspended by the NFL for his actions on the play.
“Nike, Nike treat employees just like slaves / Gave LeBron a billi’ not to run away””
This hot button lyric appears to be both reference Nike's ties to underpaid foreign labor in their shoe manufacturing processes, as well as Nike's record lifetime endorsement contract with LeBron James.
In a later deleted tweet, Kanye apologized to LeBron for the perceived insinuation that the line was intended as a diss towards him:
“James Harden, Swaggy P runnin’ up the budget”
Rockets all-star James Harden signed a lucrative endorsement deal with Adidas this past offseason. Esoteric in his own right Lakers player Nick Young also has a deal with the shoe manufacturer, wearing Kanye's shoes in-game. Young admitted to being thrilled with the reference when the original version of "Facts" was released in January.
If you happen to possess a Tidal subscription (or trial), you can listen to The Life of Pablo below:
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