Tracy McGrady Responds To Jay-Z Name Dropping Him In ‘Pump It Up’ Freestyle
It has been 19 years since Joe Budden dropped his hit record ‘Pump It Up’ on his debut album, Eponymous. Jay-Z would later drop his freestyle on the track, and during his verse, Jay’s name drops T-Mac & Kobe Bryant in the single.
“Sorry I’m not the Mike Jordan of the mic recording / It’s Hovi baby you Kobe, maybe Tracy McGrady / Matter fact you a Harold Miner, J.R. Rider / Washed up on marijuana / Even worse, you a Pervis Ellis / You worthless fella / You ain’t no athlete, you Shawn Bradley,” said HOV.
Of course, when Joe Budden heard Jay’s verse, he had to hop back on the ‘Pump It Up’ track to respond to HOV.
“I ain’t Kobe or Tracy, Jay-Z, JB merk/ Joey the future I’m more like Dirk/ Anybody buyin respect me/Try and wet me/Y’all dudes will never make it/Y’all a Tyus Edney/I’m a standout like Yao Ming, I’m what’s sparking now/ Like fall back Shaq, I’m starting now/ Boys poppin it toys poppin spit/I’m not from round these parts I’m Stojakovic/ Never hear your man say I’m the Jordan of rappin,” said Budden.
In a recent interview with Brandon’ Scoop B’, Robinson of Bally Sports caught up with Tracy McGrady and asked him where he was when he first heard the line and shared his thoughts on being mentioned aside from the late great Kobe Bryant by Jay-Z.
“I was in Orlando at home. Did we have the two-way pagers then? I don’t know what we had back then, but my joint blew up, correct? Because Jay gave me a shot, said Tracy McGrady.
“A shoutout in a few of his joints, right? Even on the Freeway What we do and that went crazy, but to have your favorite artist give you a shoutout in a couple of songs that’s love. That shows love that shows that you are appreciated for the craft that you portray out there.”
The Hall of Famer spent 14 years in the NBA. Still, he became a Superstar during his years in an Orlando Magic’s uniform, playing for Doc Rivers from 2000- 2004 before he was traded to the Houston Rockets in a seven-player that sent him along with Reece Gaines, forward Juwan Howard, guard Tyronn Lue in exchange for Kelvin Cato, guard Steve Francis and guard Cuttino Mobley.
Tracy McGrady averaged 19.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. He was a seven-time all-star, two-time scoring champion, and a seven-time All-NBA player.
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