Nas, who lyrically attacked basketball superstar Kobe Bryant among others in his song “These Are Our Heroes (Coon Picnic),” appeared on
ESPN’s Sportscenter to share his thoughts on the Los Angeles Lakers forward.
Nas addressed Bryant’s rape allegations, which were recently dismissed in court, as well as Bryant’s blemished character in “These Are Our
Heroes” a song off Nas’ latest double album Streets Disciple.
“That kind of action is what we call the action of a sellout,” Nas told Sportscenter. “My biggest disappointment with Kobe is the question of who is he.”
Ever since Bryant was accused of raping a 19-year-old Colorado hotel clerk, his image has remained tarnished in the media and amongst fans.
Comparing Bryant to former Lakers teammate Shaquille “Shaq” O’Neal, Nas said, “I can feel who Shaquille O’Neal is. I can feel his vibe,
he’s a star and he’s a hit. But Kobe Bryant, one minute he’s Michael Jordan, the next minute he’s Allen Iverson, and I think he’s just confused right now.”
In “These Are Our Heroes” Nas rhymes, “Now you lose sponsorships that you thought had your back/Yeah, you beat the rap j#######, fake n*gga
you/You turn around then you sh*t on Shaq.”
Bryant, a Philadelphia native who entered the NBA straight out of high school, was also reportedly booed when he appeared at rapper Jay-Z’s concert.
Bryant has acknowledged his part in the incident, placing the heat squarely on his own shoulders.
“I can’t sit up here and say I’m not at fault at all for anything that took place,” Bryant told Sportscenter in a previous interview. “If I could go back and do some things differently I would.”