9 Athletes Who Became Struggle Rappers [Photos]

Many of the pioneers of struggle rap also happen to be athletes, and it’s high time we salute them. 

photo: WENN

Be it the NBA, NFL, the WWE, or other athletic leagues, anyone is welcome. The only real requirement is that you have to be terrible at delivering bars, but still willing to pursue a career in music no matter how many people beg you to stop.

Check out the athletes who practiced the art of struggle rap.

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Photo: youtube

photo: WENN

Kobe Bryant

For whatever reason, Kobe Bryant seemed pretty serious about his career as a struggle rapper. He signed to Steve Stoute’s label in the late ’90s, and recorded some terrible music to boot. Thankfully his album never came out, and he got dropped. Basketball is more his speed.

photo: WENN

Shaq 

The public let Shaq Diesel get away with not one, not two, but four “rap” albums. What is wrong with humanity?

Roy Jones Jr.

Boxer Roy Jones Jr. is a struggle rapper with tenure. He refuses to stop rapping no matter what it does to your ears.

photo: WENN

Allen Iverson

Allen Iverson gave rapping a shot but it didn’t go well. Between the controversial lyrics, and putrid rhymes, The Answer got washed out of the rap game before he got a real start.

photo: WENN

Metta World Peace

The Struggle Artist Formally Known as Ron Artest now goes by Metta World Peace, and he still can’t rap. Just being honest.

Jason Kidd

Jason Kidd’s rap career was short lived (as it should have been). He released a song called “What the Kidd Didd” over 20 years ago and it’s obviously, trash. Nice try bro.

photo: WENN

Floyd Mayweather

As a rapper, Pretty Boy Floyd is trash. That shouldn’t stop him from making music and starting a record label right?

John Cena

John Cena’s rap career is just above the struggle meter from a commercially, but from a lyrical standpoint he’s in the gutter. That said, this guy is pretty entertaining, and he released new music last year.

Tony Parker

It doesn’t matter if he’s spitting in the language of love, or in English, rapping isn’t Tony Parker’s strong point.

photo: WENN

**BONUS**

Manny Pacquiao

The PacMan is a retired singer with the voice of a tiny boxing angel. He’s not trying to rap, we just wanted to shout him out.