With the warm weather here, almost everybody is obsessed with the NBA and the playoffs. This past NBA season ended with the San Antonio Spurs capturing their fifth championship. They got this title over the Miami Heat, who have won three championships.
Last season, the San Antonio Spurs came up short of the title to the Miami Heat and Stephen Jackson played on the team. A lot has changed since then. Jackson left the team and is now rapping under the Stak5 name. Recently, Stak5 dropped a single called “Gumbo” with Rocko, Young Jeezy, and T.I.
Hip Hop Vibe had the opportunity to talk to Stephen Jackson and he discussed the San Antonio Spurs winning the championship. He also spoke on his other former team, the Charlotte Bobcats, which became the Charlotte Hornets. Stephen Jackson also discussed his music career and his new album.
Read the entire interview below:
Earlier this week, your former team, the San Antonio Spurs won the NBA championship, are you proud of your former teammates? Yeah man. Those are my brothers and I have been through a lot with them, including last year’s loss. Then, to see Tim Duncan and Kawhi Leonard win, I am proud. Those are my guys.
Seeing how Rick Ross does a song called “Finals” each year to celebrate the Miami Heat, would you consider doing a song to celebrate the San Antonio Spurs? (Laughs). Maybe I will, but I ain’t doing it for free. But, Ross is from Miami, so he does that for his city. I’m from Texas, but not San Antonio, but representing his city is great thing and I’m all for it.
Your other former team, the Charlotte Bobcats, were recently rebranded as the Charlotte Hornets and they got their full franchise history back, how do you feel about that? I think that’s dope, I think they should have been the Hornets for the jump. The city deserves it and its great for Jordan.
Drake once drew a parallel between athletes and rappers about them often wanting to be in each others’ shoes, what is your opinion on the bond between hip hop music and basketball? They go hand in hand. Drake was exactly right and it is more crucial for me to make a name for an athlete-turned-rapper. Shaq did his thing in the past, but I am becoming more known for my music. I just want to do this the right way and show that athletes can be successful in music. My Life I Chose is my album title because people should live life with no limits.
A few weeks ago, you dropped the “Gumbo” single with Rocko, Young Jeezy, and T.I., what’s it like working with those guys? It is a blessing, shout out to all those guys. Those are some of the top guys in the game and they respect my music. Rocko really put this thing together, props to them. It shows their character for doing this and it shows my caliber as a rapper for doing this record with me, they respect my music, and it all works hand in hand. We all came up the same.
When should fans expect you to drop another new single? I have another single out with Young Scooter and then another single with a high profile feature. My next one features Slim Thug called “Excellence.” I have a lot of good stuff coming out and this is history in the making and I am blessed to have all these industry people working with me.
When you put out the full project, who are some other people we should expect to hear on it? August Alsina, Rich Homie Quan, I have a song with Future, but I’m not sure if that one is on the album or not, Devin the Dude, Pleasure P. I just want to make sure this project is not forgotten.
Which do you prefer, making music or playing basketball? Really, they both come hand in hand. Basketball is my first love and it allowed me the opportunities to do what I do now. But, you get older and your body doesn’t respond the same way anymore. But, I am blessed to be talented to do other things, because my body can’t always do basketball. It’s good that God provides for us.
Can you let the people know where they can find you on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram? My Instagram is @Stak5OTX. My Twitter is @DatrillStak5, no Facebook.
