We rank the top 5 songs by athletes.
5. Y’all Must’ve Forgot (2002)
How can you forget “Y’all Must’ve Forgot?”
Aside from the bad grammar and excessive self-praise, “Y’all Must’ve Forgot” was a damn hit! Personally, I love the catchy hook and applaud Roy for reminding us all about the ass-whippings he gave out in the past. I also love how angry he sounds throughout, almost as if he recorded the track after getting into an argument at a barbershop.
4. Victor Oladipo – Lights On (2018)
Fast forward seven years, and Tory Lanez is in jail while Victor Oladipo is out of the league. Damn, life comes at you fast.
Victor Oladipo is a pretty good singer. In fact, he made it quite far on The Masked Singer. That said, “Lights On” is an excellent track. It features a smooth club beat that I love, spicy lyrics, infectious melodies, and a very catchy hook. The song also includes a perfect verse from Tory Lanez. My only wish? That VO sounded a bit more confident in his vocals—I can hear a hint of shakiness.
3. Twism (The Way It’s Goin’ Down) (1998)
This song is in my rotation—no bulls**t.
“The Way It’s Goin’ Down” features Shaquille O’Neal and Peter Gunz going back and forth on some flossy, high-profile celebrity s**t. To me, Shaq flows extremely well and shows great command of the mic throughout, while Peter infuses sly, cocky rap energy. But let’s be real: the combination of the old-school California beat, perfect for riding with hydraulics, and the AI hook is amazing.
2. Dame D.O.L.L.A. – Reign Reign Go Away & “I Rest My Case” (2019)
Lowkey, these are some of the greatest diss records ever.
We all laughed at the beef between Shaquille O’Neal and Damian Lillard (aka Dame D.O.L.L.A), but let’s be real—Dame was spitting tough af during their back-and-forth. Over two cold, hard-hitting beats, the Milwaukee Buck delivered nonstop clever punchlines, sharp flows, and plenty of bars aimed at everything from Shaq’s “trickin’” ways to his petty moments and questionable pen game. Listening to these tracks, I said just as many “ouches” as I did when I first heard “Not Like Us.”
Let me make this very clear: Damian Lillard is the best athlete-turned-rapper ever.
1. Shaquille O’Neal & The Notorious B.I.G. – You Can’t Stop The Reign (1996)
This is one of the greatest collaborations in hip-hop history.
If you really think about it, The Notorious B.I.G. didn’t collaborate with many people. While part of that might be because his time on this earth was tragically short, I also believe it’s because he was highly selective about who he worked with. That said, it’s incredibly impressive that Shaquille O’Neal managed to secure a feature from him. Even more impressive is that Shaq held his own, delivering raps that some might argue outshine Biggie’s raps. Without question, this song takes the number one spot by a mile.
Honorable Mention. “Tweaker,” “Super Bowl Shuffle,” “Came Out A Beast,” and “Must Be The Money.”
Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.
