Basketball
Lil Bow Wow Feat. Jermain Dupri Fabolous & Fundisha Lyrics


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They're playing basketball
We love that basketball

They're playing basketball
We love that basketball

They're playing basketball
We love that basketball

They're playing basketball
We love that basketball

Yeah, now basketball is my favorite sport
I love the way they dribble up and down the court
I keep it so fresh on the microphone
I like no interruption when the game is on
I like slam dunk, to take me to the hoop
My favorite play is the alley-oop
I like the pick-and-roll
I like the give-and-go
In this basketball, Bow Wow, let's go

I got the rock in my hands
ain't no telling what I'm gonna do with it
When I come position I'ma act a fool with it
I might cross you up fake one way
Turn around and hit you with you with the MJ fadeaway
I'm throwing dime passes like J. Kidd
Taking cats to the rack
And I'm dunking on them like T. Mac
When I'm in the paint I play with that Alonzo style
I'm like Darius cause I can shoot two miles

Don't too many players get offers like me
Back and forth, I'll likely
Shake the checks off your Nikes
They almost had me in a suit at the draft
And it look like a free throw when I be shooting from half
The first step like Iverson - blow past you
Usually nothing but net, but I can go blast too
When I'm in the paint the defense so shook
They don't know if I'ma put up a slow hook, or dish off a no-look
See my game consist of a whole lotta
Moves you would think I learned from the Harlem Globetrotters
J.D. gon lead us to a ring
Fab and Bow Wow the only players that make cheerleaders want to sing

I got the rock in my hands
ain't no telling what I'm gonna do with it
When I come position I'ma act a fool with it
I might cross you up fake one way
Turn around and hit you with you with the MJ fadeaway
I'm throwing dime passes like J. Kidd
Taking cats to the rack
And I'm dunking on them like T. Mac
When I'm in the paint I play with that Alonzo style
I'm like Darius cause I can shoot two miles

Now tell me were you in the joint
The night MJ scored sixty three points
When the Lakers won titles back to back
didn't give nobody, no kind of slack
When Vince Carter gave and stuck his arm in the rim
Everybody went crazy in the whole damn gym
Dikembe Mutombo standing tall
Playing D with desire, it's basketball

I got the rock in my hands
ain't no telling what I'm gonna do with it
When I come position I'ma act a fool with it
I might cross you up fake one way
Turn around and hit you with you with the MJ fadeaway
I'm throwing dime passes like J. Kidd
Taking cats to the rack
And I'm dunking on them like T. Mac




When I'm in the paint I play with that Alonzo style
I'm like Darius cause I can shoot two miles

Overall Meaning

The song "Basketball" by Lil Bow Wow was released in 2002 as a part of the soundtrack of the movie Like Mike. The lyrics of the song revolve around the love of basketball and the passion for playing it. The song starts with the repetition of the phrase "they're playing basketball, we love that basketball" which sets the mood for the rest of the lyrics. Bow Wow (previously known as Lil Bow Wow) takes us on a journey of his love for the game, the way he likes to play it, and some famous players whose moves he admires.


The chorus of the song 'They're playing basketball, we love that basketball' expresses the love for the game and how it is loved by everyone who plays or watches it. In the next verse, Bow Wow tells us how basketball is his favorite sport, and he loves the way the players dribble up and down the court. He further talks about his love for the game and how he enjoys slam dunking, alley-oops, pick-and-roll, and give-and-go plays.


In the next verse, Bow Wow talks about his skills on the basketball court. He can cross over, fake one way and hit you with the MJ fadeaway. He's good at throwing dime passes and taking his opponents to the rack, and sometimes he can shoot two miles. His passion for the game is evident in his desire to act a fool with the ball in his possession. The song ends with Bow Wow talking about some iconic moments in basketball history, such as MJ scoring sixty-three points, the Lakers winning titles back to back, Vince Carter's famous dunk, and Dikembe Mutombo's defensive prowess.


Line by Line Meaning

They're playing basketball
The game of basketball is currently being played


We love that basketball
We have strong affection for the game of basketball


Yeah, now basketball is my favorite sport
Basketball is my preferred athletic activity


I love the way they dribble up and down the court
I admire how the players move with the ball around the court


I keep it so fresh on the microphone
I am talented in rap music and provide a new perspective


I like no interruption when the game is on
I prefer to have an uninterrupted time while the basketball game is happening


I like slam dunk, to take me to the hoop
I appreciate a high jump with the ball to score points


My favorite play is the alley-oop
I enjoy the gameplay known as the alley-oop


I like the pick-and-roll
I have interest in the basketball playing strategy referred to as the pick-and-roll


I like the give-and-go
I have a liking for the play called the give-and-go


In this basketball, Bow Wow, let's go
The singer is requesting Bow Wow to participate in this game of basketball


I got the rock in my hands
I have the basketball in my position


Ain't no telling what I'm gonna do with it
The singer indicates that there is no telling what actions they will take with the ball


When I come position I'ma act a fool with it
The singer is saying that they will act foolishly when they have possession of the ball


I might cross you up fake one way
The singer might perform a cross-over move to deceive the opponent


Turn around and hit you with you with the MJ fadeaway
The artist could execute a jump-shoot known as the MJ fadeaway


I'm throwing dime passes like J. Kidd
The artist is throwing accurate passes similar to that of J. Kidd


Taking cats to the rack
The singer is taking the ball to the basket to score points


And I'm dunking on them like T. Mac
The singer is jumping high and scoring points with a slam dunk, similar to T. Mac


When I'm in the paint I play with that Alonzo style
The artist plays in a style similar to that of Alonzo


I'm like Darius cause I can shoot two miles
The artist has a talent for shooting long-distance from a distance of two miles, similar to Darius


Don't too many players get offers like me
The artist feels that not many people have the same opportunities in basketball as they do


Back and forth, I'll likely shake the checks off your Nikes
The singer indicates that they will perform movements causing the opponent's shoes to shake


They almost had me in a suit at the draft
The artist was almost selected at the draft to play basketball professionally


And it looks like a free throw when I be shooting from half
The singer scores from a distance of half the court which looks like a free throw shot


The first step like Iverson - blow past you
The singer refers to their quick movements similar to Iverson to move past the opponent


Usually nothing but net, but I can go blast too
The singer commonly scores by sinking the ball through the net, but they are also capable of powerful shots


When I'm in the paint the defense so shook
The opponent's defense is fearful when the artist is close to the basket


They don't know if I'ma put up a slow hook, or dish off a no-look
The defense doesn't know when the artist will score or pass the ball to a teammate


See my game consist of a whole lotta moves
The singer has a lot of tricks to deceive and confuse the opponent


You would think I learned from the Harlem Globetrotters
The singer learned basketball-playing techniques from the Harlem Globetrotters


J.D. gon lead us to a ring
J.D. will lead the team to win a championship trophy


Fab and Bow Wow the only players that make cheerleaders want to sing
The artist and Fab are the only players that can make cheerleaders sing


Now tell me where you in the joint the night MJ scored sixty-three points
The artist is inquiring if the listener was present when Michael Jordan scored sixty-three points in a game


When the Lakers won titles back to back
The singer refers to the Los Angeles Lakers team winning consecutive championship titles


Didn't give nobody, no kind of slack
The Lakers team played deadly and gave no chance to the opponent to win


When Vince Carter gave you his arm in the rim
When Vince Carter dunked the ball and held onto the rim with his arm in the basket


Everybody went crazy in the whole damn gym
The spectators in the entire gymnasium became overly excited by Vince's dunk shot


Dikembe Mutombo standing tall
Dikembe Mutombo, a tall basketball player, was standing on the court


Playing D with desire, it's basketball
The artist appreciates the way Dikembe Mutombo plays basketball with a strong passion




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHAD HUGO, PHARRELL WILLIAMS, PHARRELL L WILLIAMS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@NoahTheAdultGuy2K561

I heard on WQEW 1560 AM in New York City

@user-sn2lc6ne6t

Sports are gun ho! Athletes have shared memories! Does it perhaps build a good character?!
Are they an elite club?

@user-mi6wl9hl3o

This song came out when I was high school last year

@clintonmeyers7267

This song came out in 2002 and the movie came out in July 3, 2002. This came out a year and two months before Michael Jordan's third and final retirement in April 16, 2003. Michael Jordan played for the Washington Wizards at that time.

@noahtabor517

I heard from WHKT 1650 AM in Norfolk

@darnellmason4084

Faboulous verse was the rawest

@jadenmuniz8817

What was changed?

@onlycleanedits4204

In Jermaine Dupri's verse, "Everybody went crazy in the whole d*mn gym" has the word "d*mn" blanked.

@onlycleanedits4204

@@hurricanejeremy9917 This was an in-house edit they did so maybe they just left it alone versus making an awkward cut. I also know they kept “I’ll walk right up to you and put one finger in the air” in Demi Lovato’s “Really Don’t Care” (albeit many years later).

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