Kobe Bryant
Song: The Ruler’s Back
Lyrical Message:
“Well in these times, well at least to me/There’s a lot of rappers out there trying to sound like Jay-Z/I’ll help you out, here’s what you do/You gonna need a wide lens ‘cause that’s a VERY big shoe”
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-6_WMgmphs
From 1998 to 2001, there were a lot of rappers who thought they could take control of Hip Hop. Needless to say, this didn’t sit well with Jay-Z. In Jay’s mind, he was sitting by idly while members of the media were crowing other rappers “King” of hip hop. When he decided to return, Jay-Z had to come out with something big, and he did. When he released The Blueprint in 2001, he opened the record with a simple message: I’m Back and I’m the Man.
It’s been a tough year for Kobe Bryant. He has battled through paralyzing back spasms, a severely sprained ankle, tendinitis in his knee, numbness in his elbow, and a broken index finger on his shooting hand. At the same time, LeBron James has ascended to absurd levels of dominance with one eye popping game after another. The verdict is in: LeBron James is officially the best player in the league, not Kobe Bryant. In a childish, insult laden rant published in Rolling Stone magazine, one “writer” even had the gall to claim Kevin Durant was the 2nd best player in the league, pushing Kobe down to 3rd or 4th.
While this was clearly an attempt to take a shot at Kobe, he just shrugged it off. Kobe knew that the regular season will come and go, but the Playoffs will live forever. A part of me thinks Kobe has played possum the last few months, giving everyone else in the league the idea that they have a chance to usurp the Lakers. This is not outside the realm of possibility. Remember, Kobe is the same guy who allegedly let his opponents creep back into blowouts during high school games just so he could have the satisfaction of beating them again. The dude is wired differently than you and me, I honestly believe Kobe relishes in crushing your spirit more than he enjoys basking in his own victory. He’s so cold blooded that he wants you to lose, and know that you lost to him.
Taking things a step further, no one is more acutely aware of where they stand in terms of legacy, and no one wants to ascend to the top of the NBA more than Kobe Bryant. Now that the Playoffs are here, I expect that we will see a different Kobe. A more focused Kobe. A Kobe you will fear. Now is his time to remind you, me, and everyone else out there that until someone knocks him off his throne, he is the King.
Now is the time that he announces, The Ruler’s Back.
[phpbay]Zoom Kobe V, 6, “”, “”[/phpbay]