Real Rad Magazine : Spring Quarterly 2015

EMINEM - JERRY WEST
The immediate thought on comparing Marshall
Mathers to any NBA player is always Larry Bird
and sometimes, Dirk Nowitzki. But we really need
to review who Eminem really is. He is the best
selling rapper of all-time. If platinum plaques
are NBA Championships than what is a Diamond
worth? 10 million records? 10 fucking million
records sold on one project. Eminem has done it
twice. Eminem has released 13 albums with eight
of them being solo studio albums and five of them
compilations. Out of all 13 albums, 10 have gone platinum with most of them selling
three million copies or more. Shady has sold over 155 million records worldwide to date.
Nas famously dissed the MJ of rap with, “Eminem murdered you on your song.” If Jay-Z
is Jumpman then Eminem is the NBA Logo. As cliché as it sounds, Em is the epitome of
what every Caucasian rapper models themselves after. He represents hip hop culture
as the logo for white people. Although, by sheer skill, character and vulnerability he is
beyond these labels. Slim Shady is the Jerry West of rap.
DRAKE - LEBRON JAMES
When Lebron James told the world he was leaving
the Cleveland Cavaliers and taking his talents to
South Beach it was like the rumored bidding war
for Drake when he eventually left Toronto to go
south and follow Lil Wayne with Cash Money /
Young Money Records. Lebron James dominates
with his power which is complemented by his
surprising finesse. Drake is no question the leader
of the new school with songs that have emotional
power and he utilizes finesse to create big time
hits. Lebron is a two time NBA Champion and has been to the finals three times. Drake
has three albums and one mixtape that have sold over one million copies to date.
Lebron has been MVP of the league four times. Drake has four number one albums
considering his latest mixtape. As far as who is “it” right now, they both are in their
respective disciplines and they are both each other’s counterparts.
LIL WAYNE - DWAYNE WADE
12
First off, they share the same first name. Also,
Wade has three NBA Championships and Wayne
has 4 platinum albums. Dwayne Wade was Lebron
James’ mentor when James came to the Miami
Heat after his first stint with the Cavs. Lil Wayne
was Drake’s mentor at Cash Money / Young Money
Records. I guess if this logic was followed and
Drake played Lebron and Lil Wayne played Wade,
I guess that would leave Nicki Minaj as Chris Bosh.
Yikes! They were certainly a championship squad
that spawned multiple platinum plaques. Now, with Lebron going back to Cleveland,
Drake creates OVO Sound. Lil Wayne sued Cash Money and quite possibly got a huge
multi-million settlement after a nasty mudslinging bout. Wade, had an infamous twoyear
$42 million dollar contract with the Heat during the time of Miami’s back to back
Championship wins. Chris Bosh piled up more internet memes, as did Nicki.