Find out which big names in sports have tried to break into the world of music, some with success, others less so.
Shaquille O'Neal
In the 1990s, Shaq didn't just dominate the NBA courts. His first two albums, Shaq Diesel and Shaq Fu: Da Return, were certified platinum and gold in 1993 and 1994. Today, the athlete/rapper is a basketball analyst on TNT and continues to bring new music to his admirers. Last August, in addition to the single Chaos, he also presented the Gorilla Warfare project in collaboration with rapper Gawne at the beginning of December.
Shaquille O'Neal performs in Scottsdale, Arizona. Getty Images via AFP
Manny Pacquiao
This boxer, considered one of the most prolific of all time, has already entered the ring to the sound of his own songs. This was particularly the case during his famous fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2015, where he presented himself in the arena with a walk on the Lalaban Ako para sa Pilipino, a walk in honor of his native Philippines.
Jacques Villeneuve
The racing driver and 1997 Formula 1 world champion made a brief appearance on the music scene in 2007 with his album “Private Paradise”. Critics were less than complimentary of Villeneuve, who had mentioned at the time that music was just a “hobby.” However, the single “Accepterais-tu?”, written by Marc Déry, caused a huge reaction upon its release.
Jacques Villeneuve. AFP
Guy Lafleur
Looking for a disco album that will teach you the basics of hockey? For you, the 1979 album Lafleur! certainly. In this six-part project, the late Montreal Canadiens legend calmly offers valuable advice on improving your game on the ice while upbeat disco beats play in the background. Following the Blonde Demon's death in 2022, the album experienced a major upswing in popularity when copies in good condition could sell for around a hundred dollars.
Kobe Bryant
If Kobe Bryant's sporting career was able to ignite passions, the same cannot be said of his stint in the rap industry in the late 1990s. Black Mamba, who tragically died in a helicopter accident in 2020, still signed impressive collaborations, notably with Destiny's Child for a cover of Say My Name and with 50 Cent and NAS for the song Thug Poet. His album Visions, produced in 2000, never officially saw the light of day because the Colombia Records label was not satisfied with the results of his first single KOBE
The late Kobe Bryant. Archive photo, AFP
Deion Sanders
Now coach at the University of Colorado Boulder, the only athlete to play two professional games in two different sports (football and baseball) on the same day, presented his 1994 album Prime Time. Featuring 16 tracks, this rap/RnB project was criticized by critics who noted that Sanders was unable to muster the same energy in the studio as he did on the field.
John Daly
Known for his golf skills, eccentric clothing and love of drinking, John Daly also has three albums to his credit. Armed with his guitar and his big beard – which perfectly suits his country music style – Daly made it to number 10 on Sirius XM's The Highway: Hot 45 Countdown in 2014 with his song Hit it hard. He also released his latest album Whiskey & Water in 2022.
John Daly. Photo AFP
Darren McCarty
The former tough guy from the Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League recorded their first album with his group Grinder in 2002 in the studio of a certain Kid Rock. McCarty, the group's singer, then took advantage of the 2004-2005 NHL labor dispute to reunite with Grinder and produce a second rock album entitled Out of our Heads. Unfortunately, the band broke up shortly afterwards due to the death of bassist James Anders.