NBA All-Stars and their Hip Hop Counterparts
These celebs have more in common than you think.
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Basketball Rapper Comparisons - This weekend, the NBA All-Star Game is set to go down in New Orleans. There's always a heavy hip hop presence there, and it makes sense: hoopers and rappers often seem like two of a kind. With that in mind, we put together a list of which rappers have the most in common with this year's NBA All-Stars. (Photos: Courtesy of the NBA; Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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Joakim Noah and Future - Both Future and Joakim Noah are glue guys for their peers. On the court, Noah is scrappy, brings great energy and makes momentum-shifting plays. On record, Future brings a song together with a perfect hook like few can. Plus, each is polarizing: fans seem to either love or hate Noah's antics and attitude, and the same goes for Future's Auto-Tuning.(Photos: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images; Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BET)
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Kobe Bryant and Lil Wayne - Lil Wayne and Kobe Bryant are each living legends. The vets have the numbers to back up their revered statuses, but haven't been doing it on quite the same level of late —with Kobe's injury-plagued season and Weezy's tepidly-received I Am Not a Human Being II. (Photos: AP Photo/Danny Johnston, File; Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Clear Channel)
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John Wall and Meek Mill - If you want that raw energy, look no further than Meek Mill and John Wall. The Philly rapper gets on the mic and lets loose with a fiery flow that doesn't disappoint. Meanwhile, his hooping counterpart is one of the fastest players in the NBA and is proving to be a vocal leader on the court, too. (Photos: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images; Jerritt Clark/FilmMagic/Getty Images)
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Chris Bosh and Wale - Wale and Chris Bosh have plenty of haters, but that doesn't stop them. After doing it solo, both joined winning teams within the last couple years and have continued putting their skills on display in the time since.(Photos: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images; C Flanigan/FilmMagic/Getty Images)
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LeBron James and Kanye West - Theres's no denying talent, and that's something Kanye West and LeBron James have endless amounts of. Sure, some of their moves in the media have created some haters — but just as many, if not more, love these guys. And with good cause. It's hard to argue that either isn't the best at what they do.(Photos: AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File; Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
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Kevin Durant and Drake - Drake and Kevin Durant got next and now. They understand that others still have claims to the throne, but that doesn't mean they're not doing everything they can to secure that top spot themselves. The numbers and the talent are hard to dispute.(Photos: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images; Patrick R. Murphy/Getty Images)
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Dwight Howard and Rick Ross - Few would dispute that both Rick Ross and Dwight Howard are at the tops of their professions, but each is still chasing that elusive solidifier. For Howard, it's a championship; for Ross — despite the critical acclaim of Teflon Don — it's an undeniable classic album. People question their past, but you can't take away from their performance.(Photos: Bob Levey/Getty Images; Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BET)
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Anthony Davis and Chance the Rapper - Both Chance the Rapper and Anthony Davis are coming off of their rookie years, but have already launched themselves into the conversation as elite talents. They're each a little goofy, too, which doesn't hurt. (Photos: Andy Lyons/Getty Images; Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images)
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Chris Paul and Pharrell - Pharrell and Chris Paul have made careers out of assisting others. They've got immense individual capabilities themselves, but these two have helped average guys become good, good guys become great and great guys become astonishing. (Photos: Andy Lyons/Getty Images; Kevin Winter/Getty Images for NARAS)
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Paul Millsap and ScHoolboy Q - After years playing second fiddle, ScHoolboy Q and Paul Millsap have shown that they're ready to step out on their own. Q has had stellar releases over the last few years, but has been overshadowed by Kendrick Lamar; now, he's ready to release his major-label debut. Meanwhile, Millsap stepped outside the shadows of Al Jefferson and Al Horford to make himself an All-Star this year. (Photos: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images; John Ricard/BET/Getty Images for BET)
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Paul George and Kendrick Lamar - Versatility is the name of the game for Kendrick Lamar and Paul George. K. Dot has shown that he can be a critical darling and a mainstream favorite; he's got dizzying lyrical album cuts and joints that work on radio. George is a lockdown defender and killer offensive talent, too, which is how he's become one of the best players in the NBA this year. (Photos: Andy Lyons/Getty Images; Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images)
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Joe Johnson and Fabolous - Consistency is key for Fabolous and Joe Johnson. No, neither are as prolific nor celebrated as they were early in their careers, but they just keep getting it done, year after year. Plus...Brook-lyn!(Photos: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images; Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images)
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Dwyane Wade and 50 Cent - Sure, you can take shots at 50 Cent and Dwyane Wade, saying that they've fallen off from their spots at the top of their respective industries in the mid-2000s. But do you want to be the one to bet against these guys? Don't count them out just yet. (Photos: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images; Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
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Tony Parker and Macklemore - Despite their many successes, neither Macklemore nor Tony Parker ever find themselves in the discussions of the best at their respective positions. Plus, each are viewed as foreigners—but that hasn't stopped their achievements. (Photos: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images; Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Rolling Stone)
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Carmelo Anthony and Pusha T - Pusha T and Carmelo Anthony each have put up plenty "Numbers on the Board," but there's still something missing. As Melo chases a ring to go with those stats, Push is chasing hit records to go with those celebrated projects.(Photos: REUTERS/Adam Hunger; Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
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Damian Lillard and Big Sean - It's about attitude for Big Sean and Damian Lillard. Both young guns have plenty of it, and let it come through in their songs and games, respectively. On top of that, they've each got a srong supporting cast but still manage to stand out—with scene-stealing verses or game-winning shots. (Photos: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images; Christie Goodwin/Redferns)
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Demar Derozan and YG - Is Compton in the house? Without a doubt. YG and Demar Derozan are both making their home city proud this year, fully coming into their own after years of being tapped with the "potential" tag. (Photos: Mike McGinnis/Getty Images; John Ricard/BET)
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Steph Curry and J. Cole - Everyone is aware of the most obviously impressive things J. Cole and Steph Curry can do: rapping and scoring (specifically, shooting), respectively. But they've got special talents beyond that, too. Curry's passing is often overlooked, but he's one of the best distributors in the NBA and is among the league leaders in assists. Cole, in addition to his prowess on the mic, is an accomplished producer whose beat-making skills rarely garner much shine. (Photos: Christian Petersen/Getty Images; Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
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Blake Griffin and Action Bronson - Action Bronson and Blake Griffin each thrive on putting on a great live show. Whether it's in the Dunk Contest or just in a regular game, Blake has fans out of their seats. Similarly, Bam Bam wins many over with his performances. Not to mention they've each got a comedic flair unrivaled by peers. (Photos: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images; Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella)
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