May 23, 2007 @ 12:03 pm

In the Zone

by: Keith Murphy

Shaquille O'Neal. Kobe Bryant. Chris Webber. Ron Artest. Allen Iverson. They're just a few of the National Basketball Association stars that have dabbled in the world of rap music and, for the record, have done so unsuccessfully. Sure, in his defense, O'Neal did sell 2 million copies of his Shaq Fu album, and "C Webb" - after releasing the single, "Gangsta Gangsta (How U Do It)" in 1999 to little fanfare — rebounded nicely to land a production credit on Nas's "Blunt Ashes" off last year's Hip Hop Is Dead. But for whatever reason, hoops stars doing the rap thing hasn't produced anyone with much staying power. Enter Troy "T-Hud" Hudson, 31, the dreadlocked point guard for the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves. After going undrafted in the 1998 NBA Draft, the Southern Illinois grad journeyed around the League, playing with the Los Angeles Clippers and Orlando Magic before finally landing with the T-Wolves and helping them land several successful campaigns, including a run to the 2004 Western Conference Finals alongside Kevin Garnett. Now, the Illinois native is branching out to form his own record label Nutty Boyz Entertainment and planning to release his debut rap album Undrafted this July. And while he's certainly not entering unchartered territory for an athlete, when we visited him in Minneapolis last March, T-Hud assured us that he might actually be better equipped for a career off the court than on it. After all the troubles other athletes have encountered, why would you want to get involved in the music industry?
Well, I've been doing this for 15 years now. I've got over 3,500 songs written and recorded. I got the chance to play in the NBA, but it has always been a dream of mine to be an entertainer. Rapping was just something that was introduced to me through our culture and the ghetto. Gangs around my way were rapping. I was playing a lot of basketball [back in the day], but after a certain time, you gotta fit in. I got into it that way. Growing up in Carbondale, Illinois, what was the music scene like there?
My city was behind. We knew about all the hip hop and we bumped N.W.A. and all that stuff. But as far as people in my hometown becoming rap artists, that didn't come until the mid-'90s. Your dreads definitely make you stand out in the NBA, but some people might not look at a guy from the Midwest with dreads and say, That guy is going to be a dope rapper.
I used to rock braids and cornrows when I first came into the League. But I was out in [Washington] D.C. one time and went to get my hair braided. This lady was doing locks and I wanted to see how it would look on me. I kept it in for awhile and one of my ministers back home called me said, 'You know, locks look nice on you. They're a sign of dedication.' And you know what? I am a dedicated person. I'm dedicated to my music, sports, my family and to God, so if this is a sign of that dedication, I'm gonna keep rolling with it. I'm going to name a bunch of NBA players-turned-rappers. Tell me the first thing that comes to your mind. Shaq...
Two-times platinum. Kobe...
He could have been a big success if certain things didn't happen. He has a nice flow and if he really put 100% into it, he could have been a success.
Artest...
Love and dedication. That's my guy. Every city he's at, he's trying to throw a party, up at radio stations. . . He's going in the right direction. Anybody in the NBA that people might surprised can rap?
[Timberwolves forward] Joe Smith. He used to come to my studio and we would cipher. Also, [T-Wolves guard] Rashad McCants. I think this is where the game is going. You're gonna start to see young guys. Get involved in rapping because they grew up with it?
Yeah! I'm trying to make the blueprint for them. I'm putting all the pressure on my back. What does the title of your album, Undrafted, mean to you?
I wasn't drafted [into the NBA] coming out of college. But my grandmother always told me, 'Don't put all your eggs into one basket.' So I said, 'Okay, if I can't make it in basketball, I'll try this rapping thing. I'ma put 100% into both basketball and rap.' I sometimes wonder if God blessed me in basketball just to support my rapping. You never know what God has for you. That's what really drove me to pursue this rap career. And what do you hope people get out of this album?
I want people to feel my movement. The Midwest is an essence in the hip hop game to a certain degree. Of course. Common, Kanye.
Nelly and Eminem. But you never hear the silent label. You never hear Roc-A-Fella or No Limit or Death Row out of the Midwest. You never hear the movement. That's what I'm trying to do.

Article tags: Zone 

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