Exclusive: Rapper Nas says that Shaq is a better rapper than Kobe [Video]

Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant have had their fair share of verbal sparring bouts when they were teammates on the Lakers from 1996-2004.

According to rapper Nas, who has released eight consecutive platinum and multi-platinum albums since 1994, one of basketball stars might be a bit more glib than the other.

When asked who is a better rapper, Nas said, “Shaq got that.”

“Shaq got a classic hip-hop album,” Nas said. “I don’t think Kobe got a chance to put out an album.”

However, former Laker Cedric Ceballos said that at the beginning of the 1996-97 season, he, O’Neal, Bryant and Corie Blount used to have freestyle battles on the plane and Bryant often came out on top.

“The stuff that he put out, he was real commercial,” Ceballos said of Bryant’s rapping. “It wasn’t the real Kobe.”

Ceballos said that behind the scenes, Bryant’s rapping style is much different.

“He’s got a Wu-Tang Clan-like style,” Ceballos said.

“Kobe’s a nice guy; he doesn’t like to let everbody know that, but he’s got some mean lyrics.”

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