Hip-hop and professional sports are more similar than you might think. Both fields are competitive, exciting, and allow for great debates. Rappers are often seen interacting with world class athletes, such as Lil Wayne hanging out with Cristiano Ronaldo, 50 Cent breaking bread with Floyd “Money” Mayweather, or Drake taking pictures with whoever won that evening. Either way, sports and hip-hop have always been intertwined.
In hip-hop, it’s not only about the artist. As any hip-hop head knows, DJs play an essential role in the culture. The presence, or lack thereof, of a DJ can often make or break a potential hit record. Whether hosting a live event or promoting a project on social media, getting the audience involved and excited is always critical. Likewise in sportscasting, it’s important to break the news in intriguing, clever ways. ESPN’s SportsCenter anchors do this extremely well, all while incorporating crafty hip-hop references in their everyday sets. Urban entertainment at its finest.
Hop through the list to discover eleven ESPN anchors and analysts who love hip-hop. You’ll be surprised at how rap-savvy most of these broadcasters are. Some, like Bomani Jones, may take the genre more seriously than others, but they all share a passion for the music. Duh-nuh-NUH, duh-nuh-NUH!