J. Cole’s new album, The Off-Season, dropped on Friday, and it’s already getting some rave reviews.
It’s also chock full of NBA shout-outs, with lines about some of the biggest stars in hoops sprinkled into a few of the tracks, and some those stars in turn have responded on Twitter, excited to hear the rapper, singer, songwriter, and hoops star featured them on here.
There may be more than we’ve listed here, but thus far, this is a look at some of the lyrics — and a sample of some lines from the NBA’s best rapper — that include shout-outs to NBA names.
Damian Lillard
Yep, that’s his “Ain’t nothing I want more” speech after last year’s 61-point performance against the Dallas Mavericks at the beginning of Punchin’ the Clock.
Lillard was excited:
💯 Cole a real one… album 🔥🔥 https://t.co/4ZBEfFVZtG
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) May 14, 2021
Ja Morant
The Memphis Grizzlies star gets named in My Life:
"Ja Morant, I'm on my Grizzly." @JColeNC 🐻 @JaMorant pic.twitter.com/fBnsIp2jFa
— ESPN (@espn) May 14, 2021
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) May 14, 2021
LeBron James
On 100 Mil, he said this (via Genius):
Burst through the ceiling, I’m feeling sublime
Can’t leave the game yet, I feel like LeBron
Russell Westbrook
On Amari, he referenced Russell Westbrook and the Wizards guard’s “rock the baby” celebration:
"Kill 'em on a song walk up out the booth, do the Westbrook rock-a-baby." pic.twitter.com/27X7RJmDIb
— ESPN (@espn) May 14, 2021
