Word up, Pies posse. This week’s Tuesday 10 celebrates rapping footballers. We really shouldn’t be able to compile a list this lengthy but, alas, we can and we have. Shout out to John Barnes – grandfather of the UK football/hip-hop scene!
1 John Barnes
The master of football rap. Not only did he rap on Englandneworder’s World In Motion, but also led the infamous Anfield Rap.
2 Didier Drogba
Pies reported in April that the Chelsea striker is working on an album to be released under the pseudonym Drogbacite.
3 Gazza
To make it in the football/rap crossover world you either need to have a massive ego or be daft as a brush. No prizes for guessing which category Gazza fits into. His hip-hop influenced efforts include Fog On The Tyne and Geordie Boys.
4 Andy Cole
Tell the world my name, (who’s that?), Andy Cole, I blaze the scene – score the goal. Released Outstanding in 1999 to… mixed reviews.
5 Liverpool FC
John Barnes is at it again, but this time we are giving the whole squad credit for Pass and Move. Any song including the lyric Jason McAteer like a bat out of hell is OK by Pies!
6 Jonathan Akpoborie
The Nigerian striker released the understated We Will Win ahead of the 1998 World Cup. He then got injured and missed out on the squad.
7 Benni McCarthy
Rapped on South African outfit TKZee’s 1998 hit Shibobo, which sampled The Final Countdown by Europe! He also released the album Get Ready To Rumble, which was apparently not a nod to UK rap sensations PJ and Duncan!
8 Clint Dempsey
‘Deuce’ Dempsey released Don’t Tread with late US rapper Big Hawk. The track was featured as part of a Nike advertising campaign.
9 Ian Wright
The Arsenal legend released Do The Wright Thing in 1993. An unsurprisingly large amount of unwanted copies are now knocking about the internet.
10 Jay-Jay Okocha
Released My Name is Jay-Jay in 1994, but was always more comfortable freestyling on the pitch than in the recording studio.