The rapping career of Shaquille O’Neal dates back to 1992, the year he got drafted into the NBA. He made a debut with the single “What’s Up Doc? (Can We Rock),” performed alongside the hip-hop trio Fu-Schnickens. While the rest is history with ‘The Big Diesel’ getting a $10 million/ 3-album deal with Jive Records and getting to spit his bar at a Michael Jackson Album, the current Shaq seems reluctant to agree with retirement from music. This is evident as he collaborates with $3 million worth Z-Ro after a brilliant Inside the NBA move which the rapper himself disclosed. 

On the No Jumper Clips podcast, the American rapper, Z-Ro, was asked about his single ‘Stop the Rain,‘ featuring the ‘Big O’Neal‘ while inspired by his 1996 title track of the album ‘You Can’t Stop The Rain‘. At this point, Z-Ro had to unveil a backstory. 

As Z-Ro puts it, he was attending a Houston Rockets game where the Inside the NBA crew, including Shaq and Kenny Smith, was giving a commentary while playing his ‘Mo City Don‘ in the background: “Kenny Smith was saying some s—, they were trying to talk to Shaq, but Shaq was over there just like, hold on, he rapping my lyrics, he was doing my s— on the interview thing right.“

Flabbergasted by this experience, the ‘Mo City Don’ texted Shaq, sharing this instance while expressing his interest in remixing his album: “Man I want to remix your Can’t Stand the Rain.“ says Joseph Wayne McVey IV AKA Z-Ro about the way he approached O’Neal. 

The music video which has garnered nearly 5 million views till now. It shows Z-Ro alongside Big Shamrock riding an all-white drop-top Rolls Royce and wearing diamond chains. Even though the song is an old Mohammad Ali record from Z-Ro’s 2020 album, many may agree that the two spitting bars on their unique style, especially with O’Neal taking it on a laid-over style, have made it worth it. 

In the later part of the podcast, as he goes on to reflect the ‘Big Fella’s’ immense interest in the feature, every NBA fan might want a look at his rapping career. 

The Big Diesel raps off the hard floor

“I’m the hooper, the hyper, protected by Viper,” the days of tuning into these bars on a Walkman back in the early 90s are long gone for many, yet it might be stubbornly holding on to your memories. This Arsenio Hall appearance of Shaquille O’Neal has also taught him the flow and delivery of bars which goes on to make him the only NBA star to hold a Platinum and Gold certification on rap albums. 

The first of such accomplishments is marked by the album Shaq Diesel with a couple of songs entering the Billboard Hot 100, and going Platinum the very next year. In the second of its kind, Shaq-Fu: Da Return Shaq is found to have a very personal take with tracks such as ‘Biological didn’t bother‘ where O’Neal shares about his biological father.

With the Jive deal, Shaq Daddy collaborated with The Notorious B.I.G. to create ‘You Can’t Stop the Rain,‘ which will occupy 82nd position on the Billboard 200. O’Neal’s contribution to MJ’s album HIStory and Jackson reusing ‘Big Poppas‘ lines from ‘You Can’t Stop the Rain’ are all significant milestones upon looking back at ‘The Big Aristotle’s’ music history.

With the latest work with Z-Ro through strategic moves, O’Neal is making statements on his irrefutable place in the rapping genre.