NBA

LISTEN: Ron Artest’s New Single, “Champions,” Reviewed

Hey, remember that new single that Crazy Ron Artest was plugging in his Game 7 post-game interview? It’s here, and it’s not half bad. Say Queensbridge.

“Champions” won’t revolutionize the rap game, but it does display a surprising knack for wordplay from the Lakers forward. Seconds into the song, you realize you’ll be listening to an exercise in sports metaphors, something that has been nearly beaten to death in rap. It’s Artest’s ability to make this exercise a passable, if not enjoyable experience, that’s most surprising about “Champions.”

Despite the punchlines that you could see coming from a mile away (“Cassius Clay, Tyson-in-his prime”), Artest scores points for veering away from the big sports. References to NASCAR and “drinking vodka out the Stanley Cup”  are when we get a peak into the eccentricity of Crazy Ron.

In fact, there should be more of this. For someone who’s fashioned himself into a sort of endearing loose cannon, Artest is surprisingly conservative on the mic. Although his toned-down approach is probably for the best (when athletes write controversial raps, it usually doesn’t turn out well), I have a feeling Ron’s weird side would be enjoyable to listen to.

Plus, can you imagine what would happen if Ron ever really went off? I’m talking Weezy-level free-forming, complete with references to hitting on college girls and visits to his psychiatrist. The only question would be whether David Stern’s head would explode before or after he had a heart attack.

Final verdict: Crazy Ron is no Nasty Nas, but “Champions” will make your head bop for a few minutes.

Download the track here. Listen to it here: