Finally, Joe Smith’s rap response to Donald Sterling

There really is a conversation about which NBA player is the best rapper, and when Joe Smith was in the NBA, he was in that conversation, alongside peers like Stephen Jackson and Elton Brand and Marquis Daniels. Daniels has the Gucci Mane collaborations and Dat Piff footprint to prove it. Jackson and Brand have their reputations, and Brand also still has a NBA career. And “Joe Beast” has... well, presumably other, better bars than the ones featured above.

There is, of course, a sky-high built-in wince factor on a capella freestyle raps made into iPhone cameras, but even by those standards, this is kind of tough watch. Smith gets points for his sunny outlook and throwback-y flow, and for being Joe Smith. But in the highly competitive field of Ex-NBA Players Responding To Disgraced Melting Butterscotch Donald Sterling, it’s hard not to give the edge to Stephen Jackson and his considerably darker vision. Stack Jack at least has a drum track.

You’re on the clock, Elton Brand. The Notorious K.O.B.E. should by all means feel free to sit this one out.