Shaquille O'Neal knows a good beat when he hears one.With over 200,000 songs in his truck thundering through 18-inch woofers, the only issue he has is narrowing down the selection. Thankfully, the TNT/NBA TV analyst recently got on the phone, picking out his perfect songs to listen to while driving around, or clubbing, or playing ball, or just plain living in Houston for NBA's All-Star Weekend, February 14th-17th.
Trinidad James: "All Gold Everything"
I'm a type of guy that likes a good beat. If the beat is rocking, I'll ride with the beat. Sometimes, I listen to the words. Believe it or not, the only words I memorized him saying are, "Popped a molly I'm sweating, woo!" Those are the words I like to recite. Love that song, man.
Kendrick Lamar: "Swimming Pools (Drank)"
I still haven't gotten the chance to meet Kendrick, but he seems very intelligent. He brings a lot of swag to the music game. A lot of people try to put a coast to where they're from, but even though he's from California, he doesn't really sound like he's from the West Coast. He sounds bigger than that.
Video: Nicki Minaj at the NBA All-Star Game
Meek Mill feat. Rick Ross: "I'ma Boss (Remix)"
Love these guys. You know, I know Rick very well. He's a big guy, sort of like myself, and he's got the beard, sort of like myself. I've known Rick forever, for years, and he's a hustler. I just like his music, I just like his beats.
Master P: "Bout It Bout It"
I was in the video with the tank, "Make Em Say Ughh!" I've been knowing Master P since I was in college, the Louisiana days. He's a great guy, he's a great family man. He put out a lot of great music – he left for a while, but he's coming back big in 2013. This song is just a reminder to people. [Laughs]
LL Cool J: "Rock the Bells"
That's my favorite song because that's the song I learned to become a DJ off of, and you always bring that first part back: "LL Cool J is hard as hell, LL Cool J is hard as hell . . . " My dad brought me to the pawn shop, got some speakers . . . that was the first song I mixed, and it still sounds great today.
Lost Boyz: "Jeeps, Lex Coups, Bimaz and Benz"
The Lex Coupes, Bimaz and the Benz! To all my peoples and my mens! Keep yo' head up, and live good, East Coast, West Coast and worldwide. Remember that one? That song could still tear up the clubs, New York to Houston.
Ice Cube: "Today Was a Good Day"
This song barely beats out Kurtis Blow for my favorite song about basketball, just because of that line, "Put me on the court and I'm trouble/ Last week fucked around and got a triple-double." That's a dope verse.
Fu Schnickens: "La Schmoove"
Perfect song for the ride back to the hotel. "Yo, when I was small they used to tease me/ because my hair was peasy, hard and greasy . . . " I've got a house in Houston, so I don't need to worry about a song back to the hotel, but if I did . . .
R. Kelly and Keri Hilson: "Number One"
This list can't just be for the guys down at All-Star Weekend. This song's for the ladies.
Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg: "The Next Episode"
Ah, man, this song always worked to get me pumped up on the court. "La da da da da, it's the motherfuckin' D-O-double-G." Matter fact, that whole album, especially tracks one through three. That whole album. The Chronic 2001? That's what I was rocking.
Ludacris: "Move (Bitch)"
Man, I love Ludacris' verse. You know, I'm a big guy. I hear that song, and I'm coming to bust your ass.
Bun B, Slim Thug and T.I.: "Three Kings"
Gotta have a song for Houston on there. Bun B's a personal friend of mine. Slim Thug, too. He's not on this song, but I saw Scarface a few weeks ago. Really, I like all of the artists in Houston.
Drake feat. Lil Wayne: "The Motto"
You can't forget Drake and Lil Wayne in that mix. They've been holding it down for a while. I think music's in a good place right now, and YMCMB gets a lot of credit for that.
