Now Reading: 13 rappers and their sports ties for hip-hop’s birthday
- 01
13 rappers and their sports ties for hip-hop’s birthday
13 rappers and their sports ties for hip-hop’s birthday
Aug. 11, 2026, 8:10 p.m. ET
Hip-hop is a genre that has transcended boundaries with its authenticity.
It all started on Aug. 11, 1973 when brother and sister duo DJ Kool Herc and Cindy Campbell threw a back-to-school party at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx. They had deejays performing the groundbreaking skill of turntablism and all the good vibes to initiate not only a music genre, but a cultural movement of music, art and fashion.
Hip-hop has had close ties to sports since its inception. For several kids from the inner city, the “way out” was either be a rapper or a ball player. But the intersection of the two has expanded to include collaborations and partnerships that goes beyond any one player, team or artist. Hip-hop is all about the hustle and sports has provided an avenue for artists to show they are multi-faceted entrepreneurs.
Here is a sampling of hip-hop stars that have close ties to the world of sports:
Tech N9ne is as integral to Kansas City culture as Jason Sudeikis and Ted Lasso is. The independent rap titan is a big supporter of all of Kansas City’s teams, but is probably known most for his affiliation with the Kansas City Chiefs. He created the “Red Kingdom” anthem, followed the team to multiple Super Bowls and performed at the Super Bowl 57 championship parade.
21 Savage, Little Simz – Arsenal
Arsenal has a large celebrity fanbase that also includes Anne Hathaway and Daniel Kaluuya. Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage, who was born in England, has been a lifelong Arsenal fan and attended matches this past season en route to their Premier League championship win. British MC Little Simz is also a Gooner and frequently wears the club’s kits.
Back in the Raiders‘ Los Angeles heyday, their bad boy image aligned perfectly with the gangsta rap movement led by N.W.A. Ice Cube directed the “30 for 30” documentary “Straight Outta L.A.” chronicling the NFL team’s rise alongside the music movement, which he was a pioneer of. The Raiders’ bark is now worse than its bite as they haven’t had a winning season since 2021 and Ice Cube has utilized an acting career to become a family friendly figure, but the team and rap icon will forever be linked as greats in football and hip-hop history.
All eyes were on the New York Knicks this summer when they won their first NBA championship in 53 years. There are countless celebrities who consider the Knicks their team, but Fat Joe is one of the fans who has been around for the good and bad. The Bronx legend performed “Lean Back” with Remy Ma at the Knicks’ championship parade.
Eminem – Detroit Lions
Eminem supports all of his hometown teams, but his affiliation with the NFL franchise is probably the most prominent. He’s attended several Detroit Lions games, helped with promotional content and made a surprise appearance at the 2024 NFL Draft in the Motor City.
Archie Eversole – Atlanta United
Atlanta is another city whose rich sports and music histories are tightly knit. The many teams all have strong music connections with countless artists. But perhaps the team that embraced the music DNA of the city the best is the MLS club Atlanta United. Their Golden Spike ritual has become one of the best gameday traditions in the league. When they were building their profile as a club, they worked closely with “We Ready” rapper Archie Eversole, who was a proud ambassador for the team. His death in 2022 was a heavy loss to the city’s soccer community.
Saweetie’s loyalty to the Bay Area runs deep. She is a fan of the San Francisco 49ers not only because she grew up in the region, but because her grandfather was an NFL standout. Willie Harper was a linebacker for the team in the 1970s and 1980s and won Super Bowl 16 with the 49ers. In 2024, Sweetie teamed up with P-Lo to release “Do It For The Bay,” a 49ers anthem.
Jack Harlow – Racing Louisville
Jack Harlow is friends with, and made a song about, NBA star Tyler Herro, but the “What’s Poppin” rapper is a big supporter of the soccer scene in his home state of Kentucky. His biggest contribution to sports is as an investor in the NWSL team Racing Louisville and USL club Louisville City as part of the Soccer Holdings ownership group.
Wiz Khalifa – Pittsburgh teams
Wiz Khalifa made an enormous splash on the sports world with his 2011 hit “Black and Yellow,” a tribute to his hometown of Pittsburgh and the colors of its sports teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Pirates and Pittsburgh Penguins. There were many attempts at copying “Black and Yellow” with the sports colors of various cities and teams, but the original will always have its own place in sports and hip-hop history.
Big Sean bleeds red and blue. Not only is he a fan of his hometown NBA team, the Detroit Pistons, but he’s been a collaborator with them for several years on jersey designs, community events and more. In December, he was named Creative Director of Global Experience.
Central Cee – Chelsea
Central Cee has been loud and proud about being a Chelsea supporter. He filmed the video for his 2022 song “Straight Back To It” at Stamford Bridge and went full force with the club for the release of his debut album, “Can’t Rush Greatness.” The week leading up to the release of the project, he attended a match in a custom goalkeeper kit and took some time for a photo with Cole Palmer. When he shared the album tracklist on X, the club reposted it, saying “The Blues will be locked in!”
Houston is a city where the sports and hip-hop cultures are tightly interwoven. We could have rattled off a whole list of hip-hop artists who have embraced the football, basketball, baseball and soccer teams in Space City. But Slim Thug and Paul Wall are dedicated Houston Texans fans and even released an anthem for the team called “Houston” with fellow H-Town great ZRo. They also performed Mike Jones’ classic song “Still Tippin'” with him at halftime of a Texans playoff game in 2024.
Jay Z – Brooklyn Nets
It’s one thing to support a sports team or collaborate with them, but Jay Z raised the bar when he became a minority owner in the New Jersey Nets in 2004. He made his small percentage in the franchise count by spearheading the move to Brooklyn and changing the colors from red, white and blue to classic black and white. He knew that the bold neutral palette would help create a universal brand. Hov sold his share in the Nets in 2013 to focus on his Roc Nation Sports agency, but his impact remains.
