NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal was not just a basketball player but a consummate entertainer as well. The four-time NBA champion continues to entertain fans using his skills as a certified polymath, through his music, jokes, DJ gigs and a hundred other things. The Big Diesel was a successful rapper and his venture in the music industry prompted his association with some of the biggest names in the industry, like Biggie Smalls, Jay-Z and Nas, among others. Recently, O’Neal opened up on how everything started for him during a time when he was only focused on basketball.

During his playing career, many criticized the 2000 NBA MVP for not sticking to basketball and juggling a lot of different things. But that did not stop the Big Diesel from pursuing the things he wanted. However, some of these opportunities were presented to him out of the blue, as Shaq recently revealed.

Shaquille O’Neal on the accidental start of his rap career

Shaquille O’Neal recently made an appearance on the Win Big with Clinton Sparks podcast. Shaq and the popular DJ discussed a variety of interesting things during the 30-minute-long show. In one instance Sparks asked O’Neal whether the Los Angeles Lakers legend always wanted to branch out to other domains after making the NBA or if it was something he realized later on.

Shaq replied that he was only focused on playing basketball initially. He added he had been that way from high school to college, because he had to make a name for himself and prove the doubters wrong. However, the four-time NBA champion noted that he shared a deep love for hip-hop music and and a sense of reverence for iconic rappers like Biggie.

Subsequently, Shaq revealed that an opportunity presented itself out of nowhere after he joined the NBA. “And then my guy, Alvin Romano, called me and he said, ‘Bro you’re not gonna believe this, somebody just offered you a $10 million dollar three album deal.’ I was like ‘What? I’m not that gonna turn that down.’“

The host was shocked to know that O’Neal was not even trying to get himself a deal. The towering center reiterated he was not looking for one. However, he was not ready to let that opportunity slip up.

So he started composing rap music and released his first album Shaq Diesel in 1993. Even though it was not well received by critics, the fans loved it and it received platinum certification. This was just the beginning of the Lakers legend’s iconic rap career, which would see fascinating collabs with the Notorious B.I.G, Jay-Z, Nas, and other greats of the game.

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Friend Biggie Smalls’ murder devastated Shaq

Shaquille O’Neal was a close friend of legendary rapper Biggie Smalls and the two collaborated on Shaq’s third album, You Can’t Stop the Reign. O’Neal once revealed that he was supposed to be with The Notorious BIG the night he was murdered. “I was in my condo. I had on a cold white suit, white hat, and all that. I was on my way. Ready to go.”

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However, the 15-time NBA All-Star fell asleep and missed the party. Shaq recounted the incident and noted that he is happy to have had a friendship with Biggie Smalls. “I’m blessed enough to say that he knew me and I knew him. So I really don’t think about the bad times just think about the good times. Even when I hear his verses on different beats it still sounds like he’s still here,” he once said.