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Hip-Hop and Boxing have an undeniable link. There is something about the bravado of rapping and the daringness of hand-to-hand combat that draws artists and athletes together.
Throughout the years, some of the most well-known hip-hop stars have provided entrance music for boxer’s including Lil’ Wayne for Floyd Mayweather, Kendrick Lamar for Adrien Broner, and Big Pun & Fat Joe for Felix Trinidad.
But, the link doesn’t end with ring walks. Rappers love to drop boxing references in their songs and that’s what this list is all about.
While we didn’t include every last hip-hop-boxing reference in history, this list does include 10 of the best boxing related songs, freestyles and punchlines.
Some honorable mentions include Big Pun’s “Super Lyrical”, which includes a masterful sample from RockyIV, as well as Jadakiss’ “The Champ is Here”, which includes a great sample from the movie Ali.
Scroll through to check out the list and leave a comment letting us know what some of your favorite hip-hop-boxing references of all time are.
10. Foxy Brown – “Oh Yeah”
Back when “Sugar” Shane Mosley was at the top of his game, Foxy Brown was doing her thing in the hip-hop world.
On top of dropping Mosley’s name in the mix, this clever wordplay by Foxy may or may not be referring to Ruben “Hurricane” Carter as well as the weather effects of a Hurricane,
Either way, “Oh Yeah” is a catchy song with a vintage flow by Foxy.
[otw_shortcode_quote border=”bordered” border_style=”bordered”]Respect my name, Boogie ni*&a, stay in ya lane
Like The Hurricane, rains on bitches like Sugar Shane
And dare one of y’all rappin’ chicks to mention Fox name[/otw_shortcode_quote]
9. Vinnie Paz – “Nosebleed”
Vinnie Paz is a lyrical machine who is also a serious boxing aficionado.
Paz and Jedi Mind Tricks are known for giving their remixed songs the boxing treatment with names such as “Animal Rap” (Arturo Gatti Remix) and “On the Eve of War” (Meldrick Taylor Mix).
You can catch Paz with his group Jedi Mind Tricks as well as writing for MaxBoxing.com
From “Nosebleed”:
[otw_shortcode_quote border=”bordered” border_style=”bordered”]Tell Louie to stab them or to shoot them with two different Magnums
I’m usually packing, carry Hawks like I’m Julian Jackson[/otw_shortcode_quote]
8. Jay-Z – “Breathe Easy/Lyrical Exercise”
This rap reference takes me back to a time when Felix “Tito” Trinidad ran things in boxing.
You could catch Jay-Z ringside at many of his fights alongside Damon Dash.
As a boxing fan, Hov has made countless references to fighters, but this is one of my favorites.
[otw_shortcode_quote border=”bordered” border_style=”bordered”]Trinidad of the game know my way around your ring
No matter how many pounds you bring
It sounds like the same old thing R-O-C is the strongest team[/otw_shortcode_quote]
7. Immortal Technique – “Mistakes”
Backed by a dope beat cooked up by Scram Jones, the Bob Marley sampled “Mistakes” finds Immortal Technique speaking on past transgressions.
Aside from telling some worthwhile stories, Technique also drops a great boxing reference pertaining to Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s knockout victory over Ricky Hatton.
[otw_shortcode_quote border=”bordered” border_style=”bordered”]‘Cause I’m from Harlem, the north of Manhattan
We knock ni**as out and make ‘em bounce like Ricky Hatton[/otw_shortcode_quote]
6. O.C. & Apollo Brown – “Prove Me Wrong”
O.C. is an OG in hip-hop and in this song he proves he’s not ready to bid farewell quite yet.
On “Prove Me Wrong”, O.C. makes a great boxing reference following the crazy series of fights that involved Victor Ortiz–including his KO loss to Floyd Mayweather.
[otw_shortcode_quote border=”bordered” border_style=”bordered”]Me dumbin’ down would be a sign of weakness
Throwin’ in the towel as Victor Ortiz did
Protect yourselves at all times my guard’s up
Keepin’ the odds even with the flow and the bars up[/otw_shortcode_quote]
5. Gee Field – “Mayweather vs. Guerrero Rap”
Elie Seckbach caught up with some fans at the Floyd Mayweather vs. Robert Guerrero weigh in, including rapper Gee Field. Elie asks for some rhymes and Field delivers a dope boxing-laced freestyle.
Best lines include:
[otw_shortcode_quote border=”bordered” border_style=”bordered”]I’m more lethal than Margarito with illegal wraps and bricks in his hands
Throwin’ stone fists
I’m a hardhead like Marquez except I ain’t drinkin’ my own piss[/otw_shortcode_quote]
Skip the video to 2:55 to hear the rap.
4. Mos Def (Yasiin Bey) – “Blue Black Jack”
He goes by Yasiin Bey now, but when The New Danger dropped he was still The Mighty Mos Def. Either way, this is certainly one of his better songs.
Legendary Heavyweight champion, Jack Johnson gets the royal treatment on “Blue Black Jack” with a great assist from Shuggie Otis.
While this song is technically not hip-hop, it comes from one of the best hip-hop artists of his day and such a great homage to a world-class fighter can’t be overlooked.
[otw_shortcode_quote border=”bordered” border_style=”bordered”]Black Jack was a fighting man
Black Jack was a mighty man
You stand them up, he knock them out
Yeah, yeah that’s the real[/otw_shortcode_quote]
3. Canibus – “Second Round K.O.”
Canibus’ hard hitting “Second Round K.O.” was a response to LL Cool J’s verse on “4,3,2,1” and features Kid Dynamite himself, Mike Tyson.
Tyson starts off speaking over the track, letting the listener know things are about to get real.
[otw_shortcode_quote border=”bordered” border_style=”bordered”]Yo Canibus, your main objective out here is to do nothing but eat, eat, eat, eat, MC’s for lunch, breakfast… Hey man they been playing me all my life man. You know I won the title a couple of times, dig right?[/otw_shortcode_quote]
The video shows ‘Bus working out and rapping in a boxing ring, which provides great visuals for the track.
After the two-verse lyrical barrage, the referee proclaims Canibus the winner. A decision fans still argue to this day.
2. LL Cool J – “Mama Said Knock You Out”
Aside from being a ladies man, LL Cool J is known for recording some of the greatest beef tracks in hip-hop history. One of his best efforts to bury Kool Moe Dee in their long-standing drama came in the form of the classic track, “Mama Said Knock You Out.”
The boxing-themed video is classic as well, with Cool J rapping into a ring announcer style microphone.
Many folks are familiar with the beginning of this song, “Don’t call it a comeback!” But, here are some other classic lines:
[otw_shortcode_quote border=”bordered” border_style=”bordered”]I’m gonna take this itty bitty world by storm and I’m just getting warm
Just like Muhammad Ali they called him Cassius
Watch me bash this beat like a skull[/otw_shortcode_quote]
1. R.A. the Rugged Man – “Boxing Freestyle”
Easily the most comprehensive boxing-themed hip-hop song ever recorded, R.A. the Rugged Man’s “Boxing Freestyle” mixes pugilism and lyricism effortlessly.
Aside from being a hip-hop legend, Rugged Man is a boxing historian who can hold his own with any boxing head–including Floyd Mayweather
Some of the best lines in this freestyle include:
[otw_shortcode_quote border=”bordered” border_style=”bordered”]Mike Tyson, eat your kids for lunch
I’m like Willie Pep, I can win a round without throwing a punch
Julian Jackson crushed Terry Norris
Mayorga knocked out Forrest
Hearns-Hagler taught us what a war is![/otw_shortcode_quote]
