16 years later, ‘B-Ball’s Best Kept Secret’ has remained a secret

Back when I was in seventh grade, a kid in one of my classes told me of an album called B-Ball’s Best Kept Secret. Obviously, the best kept secret in the NBA is players’ ability to rap, considering we haven’t seen many that can actually do it, or at least do it well. When he told me of this CD, he knew that he was going to get eight bucks out of me, and that he did. I bought it off of him the next day when he brought it into school.

Since that moment in 1995, the album has been a part of my life. The songs have been a part of my iPod, but unfortunately most of my friends and most people in the world don’t know that this gem exists.

The album contains 16 tracks, 11 of which have NBA players rapping. This 1994 disc has songs by former NBAers like Dana Barros, Cedric Ceballos and even the late Malik Sealy, along with a cast of others. Even the league’s current old men, Jason Kidd and Shaquille O’Neal drop some rhymes. It’s only fitting that Shaq has a joint on this, he’s the best NBA rapper ever.

The most notable tracks on the album are Chris Mills’ ”Sumptin to Groove To,” Brian Shaw’s ”Anything Can Happen” and Ceballos’ “Flow On.” If I was going to tell you to avoid a track, it’d be JR Rider’s “Funk in the Trunk.” All in all, it’s not that bad of an album and more importantly if you’re a hoops fan, it’s a must listen. The songs have that mid-90′s hip-hop feel to them and most of these songs are better than the crap they play on the radio today.

Want the tracklisting along with YouTube links to each song? Check the jump.

Shaq, Justin Bieber have a dance-off

Shaquille O’Neal loves to dance. He’s probably one of the best dancing big men of all-time, easily the best in NBA history. As far as people who are rather larger, I can honestly say Squeegee Lo is the only one who can top Shaq, and he’s not nearly as tall.

Most recently, O’Neal has developed a surprising close relationship with teen pop-star Justin Bieber. The two most recently linked up to have a dance-off on O’Neal’s ABC show Shaq Vs.

I didn’t know Bieber was that good of a dancer to be honest, but I guess it’s expected — it’s his job. That said, I have to give the prize to The Big Shamrock, Shaq’s finishing move did Bieber in.

Can’t get enough of Shaq and Bieber? Here’s footage of O’Neal joining Bieber on stage at his concert in Orlando and handling Ludacris’ verse to “Baby.”

Shaq sings to Justin Bieber

For one reason or another, Shaquille O’Neal was at an arena when singer Justin Bieber was prepping his performance in front of his crazy fans. Shaq decided to get on the mic and sing to the teen phenomenon, proclaiming that he hopes Bieber loves him and that he’s Bieber’s biggest fan.

At 7-foot-1, that’s probably true, unless Shawn Bradley gets down to The Biebs.

Props, SLAM

Shaq stars as “The Karate Big Kid”

Words need not describe how ridiculous and awesome Shaquille O’Neal is. Don’t forget big Shaq is a free-agent too. Will he come back for one more year? He planned on it, but where will he be playing? Will Shaq move on from Cleveland and play for his sixth different NBA team in search of one last title?

As we await more news from the free-agent madness, enjoy a silly video that Shaq posted on his Vimeo account.

Ron Artest – “Champions”

One of the first things we heard Ron Artest talking about after Game 7 was his single “Champions.” He said in his interview with Doris Burke that he recorded the song last June, if that’s the case, maybe Artest should look into being a psychic after his basketball and rap careers are over.

I love the fourth-quarter, I love the ninth-inning, I love Game 7, bring on the competition.

Here’s the official video for “Champions,” which is also expected to drop on iTunes in the very near future. I have a feeling that this song will blow away the numbers that Artest’s debut album “My World” put up back in 2006. That probably won’t be too difficult, considering the album only sold a reported 343 albums in it’s first week (William Hung’s first album sold nearly 38,000, just for comparison).

As for the song itself, it’s actually pretty good. It’s easily the best song that Artest has released in my opinion, it’s a damn good anthem type of track — but he still has a long way to go before he can check Shaq Diesel.

So here’s to Artest not only a winning a title last week, but for his rap career finally taking off.

Shaq/Pepsi ad from 1993

I want to say that this commercial was on a movie tape of some sorts, maybe Home Alone 2? I can’t remember to be honest with you, but for some reason, I think it was. Remember how on tapes they used to have previews and ads before hand? I guess DVD’s do the same, but I think it’s easier to skip through now.

Regardless I don’t even know if “movie tape” is the correct term, and this commercial might not even be on one, I just might be a little crazy, so don’t even pay attention to me.

This ad is from 1993, and it features a young Shaquille O’Neal, wearing his Reebok Shaq Attack I shoe in the black colorway, I had those — in a boy’s size 5 1/2. Now, I need them in a 13. Anyways, this commercial is a classic for Shaq fans. If you don’t remember it, then you haven’t been down with Diesel from the beginning.

UPDATE: Come to thinking of it, it may have been on the tape to either “The Sandlot” or “Rookie of the Year.” I’m almost sure of it!

Shaq making fun of Marbury on UStream?

Maybe Shaquille O’Neal wasn’t clowning Stephon Marbury tonight on UStream, but it surely seemed like it. For the sake of all that is good in the world, I hope Shaq continues to put videos on UStream and even go live, it would definitely be entertaining.

Of course, when it comes to entertaining, Shaq might have to compete with Ron Artest in the very near future — not that Artest hasn’t been entertaining us for years as well.

Roll your windows down, turn up the Diesel

If you’ve been reading this blog for awhile, you probably know I’m a big of a fan of Shaquille O’Neal‘s work in the booth. Shaq has dropped some classic heat, better than the crap on today’s radiowaves.

Before T-Pain was rocking auto-tune, Shaq was rapping over some vocoder tracks.

“Straigt Playin’” is the jam. The East Cost keeps heating up, so roll your windows down and put this on blast.

The 2010 All-Star Game preview

Thanks to injuries, everyone that deserves to be in the game is there. Of course, in the East, my only exceptions would be Josh Smith and Stephen Jackson. Out West, you have both Aaron Brooks and Carlos Boozer. Other than that, it finally all worked out.

Iverson stepped away from the game and his “personal matters,” actually seem legit. Granted I’ve given him hell the past year on this blog, I wish him and his family nothing but the best. He’s obviously going through a lot emotionally. That said, it worked out for David Lee, who never should have been left off the roster in the first place.

Thanks to Kobe taking a seat back, unfortunately, Dirk is going to find his way in the starting lineup — where he should have been. It also got Jason Kidd in the game, which was a little outlandish, that’s a reputation and a respect vote by Commissioner Stern. That spot should have went to Brooks or Boozer, no doubt. Kidd’s numbers are down, granted he’s still solid — he’s not an All-Star. If you’re going to put a veteran there for being a veteran, then just give Shaq a spot on the Western Conference Team, because he should always be there.

In addition, Chris Kaman found his way out to Dallas, thanks to Brandon Roy‘s injury.

It really has worked out perfect for so many players, and I’m glad that a bunch of the guys that deserved recognition, got it — even if it took a couple of injuries.

Game starts at 8pm.

PREDICTION: West, 147-139. Kevin Durant is gonna take the MVP.