The decades-long relationship between rap and basketball could be personified by Drake, who has taken music-sports synergy to new levels with his role as the Toronto Raptors' global ambassador. Back in 2010, though, before his Raptors-pay-my-bills shit, he rapped: Damn, I swear sports and music are so synonymous / 'Cause we want to be them, and they want to be us.
The Raptors' James Johnson, a 6'9" power forward known for his in-the-paint ball style and galvanizing defensive playing, knows all about that. When he's not posting self-help-y aphorisms, choice bible verses, and adorable pictures of his kid, Johnson uses his Instagram account to catalogue his game day music choices. In short pre-game video clips, he does the hard work of simultaneously smizing, mean-mugging, and rapping along to tracks by King Louie, Kevin Gates, Snootie Wild, and a rotation of rappers you've never heard of. Forget the typical post-career dabbling in broadcasting, someone get this man an A&R gig immediately.
1. For obvious reasons, Johnson listened to King L's "In Love Wit Canada" before a home game last week
Game day Musik #wetheNorth @_king_louie_
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2. Before a W against Orlando, it was Lil Herb's "Write Your Name"
Game day musik #new_era #herbo
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3. Back in November, he put his followers on to Fat P Dinero's "No Work"
Game Day Music S/O @fatp_dinero No Work
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4. Earlier that month, he was all about a rapper named Krook
Game day music #FreeKrooK
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5. Then there was the time a barber-turned-rapper named YP Hollywood got some shine
Part 1 headed to new era thX everyone who came out to be apart of something dope @yghollywood901 song
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6. But he always comes back to Kevin Gates, who's gotten a handful of pre-game spins
Game day music #WeTheNorth #KoldKoldWorld
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Lead photo credit: Mike Lawrie / Getty Images
