S. Samuel
NBA champion Juwan Howard has reportedly snagged fellow basketball stars Baron Davis, Trevor Ariza, Carlos Boozer, Josh Smith plus hip-hop artists Rick Ross, Game, Soulja Boy Tell Em and more for an upcoming new rap album.
Details on the unexpected basketball-meets-rap LP hit the Internet Sunday (September 2).
A hip-hop album entitled “Full Court Press Vol. 1” will feature guys from the league, including Juwan Howard, Baron Davis, Trevor Ariza, Lamar Odom, Carlos Boozer, Glen Davis, Shawn Marion, Josh Smith and more. In addition, the album is rumored to have artists like Rick Ross, Trina, Snoop Dogg, Birdman, The Game, T-Pain, Bun B, Twista and Soulja Boy on it, as well. (Complex)
Howard has already stepped up to defend the project and its motivation.
Nevertheless, NBCMiami.com reports that Howard is teaming with rap star Rick Ross to release a single called “It’s Time to Ball.” The song will headline a forthcoming album entitled, “Full Court Press Volume 1.” “I started to have fun with it,” Howard, who has more than $151 million of NBA earnings to his name, says of the rapping. “I was like, you know what? I’ve done this before at home in the shower. But now it’s real in the studio. But then I started getting the beat, I’ve got a little rhythm now.” (CBS Sports)
The forthcoming LP’s producer has also confirmed its validity.
The album’s producer, Shannon Lawrence, adds that he is eyeing Heat All-Stars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade for a future posse cut. “To do some good, clean inspiring music with NBA athletes and a major recording artist in the industry is really the whole thing behind it,” Lawrence says of Howard’s album. “I would love to get LeBron and D-Wade to be with Juwan.” (CBS Sports)
Recently, Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant hinted at dropping his own rap album in the future.
“I enjoy doing a lot of different things. I’m a basketball player. That’s what I do and what I love but that’s just not all who I am. I’m talented in a lot of different areas. Rapping is one of those things I just enjoy doing. I have fun doing. [Basketball player] Stephen Jackson is pretty good. He’s a nice rapper. It’s a privilege to be on a song with him. It’s not one of those songs where you’re just talking about how much money you got. It’s one of those inspirational kind of deals. … I think I’m going to do something. I have some resources and some nice people that’s going to help me out. I have a studio in my house already. Maybe I might put out a little something and have a little something.” (Washington Post)
Check out footage of the LP trailer below:
