NBA

WATCH: DeJuan Blair Appears In Rap Video – Good Indicator That Duncan Era Is Ending

The Tim Duncan Era in San Antonio has been defined by understatement, professionalism, and fundamentals.

DeJuan Blair’s appearance in P.O.P.’s newest rap video, however–an appearance antithetical to everything that the Spurs stood for over the past decade, as it violates all three characteristics–may symbolize that this era is coming to a close.

To be clear, this article is not a condemnation of Blair (in fact, he is a very effective player who, admirably, plays much bigger than he is).

Merely, it is an indication of change, and, on this point, what a great indication of change this video it is. Let’s take a look.

Much like the Spurs, the video for the song “2 Hard Living” is itself, actually, quite understated.  The director, whoever the hell he may be, chose to depict the scene in entirely black and white–a style, which, in the context, evokes feelings of austerity.

However, in this world of black and white, there is an exception: the color red, which, in being highlighted thusly, accentuates the red solo cups in the video.

The connotation of the glorification of drinking–furthermore, a collegiate form of drinking–that follows from this image suggests a great degree of immaturity and puerile tendencies (Although, mind you, this is objective.  Subjectively, beer pong and college drinking is awesome.) and, as such, manifests values that are in stark opposition to the veteran professionalism of the Duncan Era.

And, while the video does seem to convey the idea that the simple luxuries in life are those that need to be enjoyed–a realization that is actually, in itself, quite mature–there still exists this seed of childish behavior.

Second, Blair’s attire, while undoubtedly de-emphasized and devoid of flashiness on the whole, includes a Big. Ass. Chain.  As the chain is, literally, an object that finds its appeal in flashiness (Could you ever see Duncan wearing that? Neither could I.), it is thus one that symbolizes superficiality–carrying values of money, wealth, and ego instead of the meaningful values (like the emphasis on winning, legacy, and cohesion that define the ethos of the Spurs).

Lastly, Blair’s inability to rap without Auto-Tune–a clear typification of a failure to grasp rap fundamentals–may be the most lucid incongruity with Spurs basketball.  Simply, Duncan is Kool & The Gang, and Blair is T-Pain.

Without value judgment: the Duncan Era is clearly winding down.  Tony Parker is in the last year of his contract.  Duncan is aging more and more noticeably each day.  And as the team slowly becomes more ineffective (their 2nd-round sweep by Phoenix, a team whom the Spurs have owned throughout the Duncan era is an indicator of such a direction), it appears that their identity is slowly–slowly–eroding.

Blair’s video, too, suggests as much.

Here is the music video: