If you’ve followed rap and hip hop long enough, you’ve seen the crossover: rappers want to be athletes and athletes want to be rappers. But what’s behind this fascination? Why do stars from two very different worlds keep switching lanes?
In the latest episode of It Is What It Is, Harlem rap icons Cam’ron and Mase gave fans a deeper look into this cultural connection. Alongside NFL legend Michael Irvin, the duo unpacked the reasons why this crossover keeps happening, and it’s more than just a trend.
From the grind to the glory, both athletes and rappers admire the lifestyle, fame, and influence that the other side holds. And as Cam and Mase explain, there’s something powerful about being respected in both lanes.
Hip Hop and Sports Share the Same Hustle:
Michael Irvin put it plainly:
“Everybody always says it's green on the other side. We're looking for money and fame and all those things are attainable in those two fields … and then we would like to interchange.”
This mindset helps explain why rappers often dream of being athletes, and why stars like Deion Sanders, Allen Iverson, and Shaquille O’Neal have stepped into the rap game.
Mase even named Deion and Shaq as standout success stories when it comes to athletes-turned-artists.
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Cam’ron took it a step further, reminding viewers that Shaq didn’t just dabble in rap, he moved units.
“Shaq sold more records than rappers, man ... That's what it's about, taking advantage of the opportunity.”
His collaborations with rap crews like Fu-Schnickens and Mobb Deep turned heads and moved millions.
More Than Fame: Music Is the Fuel for Athletes
But this connection isn’t only about money or fame. It’s emotional. It’s motivational.
Cam’ron shared a personal moment that highlights how deep the bond runs. During Allen Iverson’s 2016 Hall of Fame speech, the NBA icon shouted out Cam and Mase alongside his coaches and teammates.
“Think about that. We're in the Basketball Hall of Fame,” Cam said.
Music powers athletes. It’s what they train to, what they win to, and the reason so many of them dream of stepping into the booth after stepping off the court.