Boxed In: Which rapper is the better basketball player: 2 Chainz vs. Master P
Last Friday's Boxed In attempted to answer the most important question of our time: which NBA star was the better rapper? In the battle between Shaquille O’Neal and Damian Lillard, no clear winner was determined, so Chris Haynes, Zach Schwartz and LaJethro Jenkins are settling the debate with an epic part two that flips the script: which rapper was the best athlete? Is it 2 Chainz, who played two seasons at Alabama State? Or was Master P a better baller, spending two preseasons with the Charlotte Hornets and Toronto Raptors? Watch or listen to Boxed In every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on Yahoo Sports, YouTube or on your podcast provider of choice. Subscribe: https://apple.co/39UC09o https://spoti.fi/3aVpV56
Video Transcript
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
CHRIS HAYNES: Welcome to another edition of "Boxed In" presented by Yahoo Sports. We have the clown show together once again between Zach Schwartz and the LaJethro Jenkins.
But before we debate which rapper is the best hooper, we have to revisit last Friday's shenanigans. It was Shaq and LaJethro, Dame and Schwartz to decide which athlete is the best rapper. Let's just say it was a complete disgrace. The jury of 12 unbiased jurors, they rule that this was a mistrial.
ZACH SCHWARTZ: [GROAN]
CHRIS HAYNES: So I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, guys. This is a mistrial. I'm sorry. You know, if you want to have this-- if you want to, you know, do a revisit on the trial, we've got to do this again. But hey, that's what they said, to vote mistrial. I'm out of it. The court is over. Court is adjourned.
ZACH SCHWARTZ: Your honor, I need a-- I need a cigarette.
CHRIS HAYNES: It's adjourned.
ZACH SCHWARTZ: That's absolute [BLEEPING] nonsense.
CHRIS HAYNES: Court is adjourned! Get him out of here! Get him out of here!
ZACH SCHWARTZ: Your honor, what are we doing here?
CHRIS HAYNES: [INAUDIBLE]
ZACH SCHWARTZ: Your honor, this is kangaroo court, sir.
[LAUGHTER]
Are you kidding me?
LAJETHRO JENKINS: [INAUDIBLE] embarrassed. I can't believe this.
CHRIS HAYNES: It was a mistrial last week. It won't be a mistrial this week, I can guarantee you that.
OK. Now today's topic is who was the better baller between the rappers of Master P and 2 Chainz, and the first question is going to be which rapper had the most impressive single stat line during their respective careers. We're going to start with you, Schwartz, going for 2 Chainz.
ZACH SCHWARTZ: First of all, I'd like to apologize for not wearing a suit today. I did instead decide to wear black, as this is a funeral for John and all of his arguments as we finally put those to rest and put them in the ground where they belong.
I argued to make the case of Tauheed Epps last week-- that is, 2 Chainz. He played basketball at Alabama State. He played for two years. You know, the stat line not that great-- 3 points per game, couple of rebounds, a few assists. That was his average.
But you know what? I don't blame him for that. I blame the times. People didn't really understand the value of a 6' 5" wing that could go inside, could do a little bit of defense, hit the 3 when he needed to. He's got a clean jumper. And I just-- I more blame the times for being archaic and not understanding what to do with such a talent.
LAJETHRO JENKINS: A clean jumper? I don't know if we could say that.
But anyway, he wasn't just a rapper. I would argue that P was a hooper that became-- that became a rapper. He had a stint in Houston before that, but he tore his ACL.
But anyway, as far as like, you know, basketball, we've seen J Cole hoop with, you know, Brickley. We've seen Quavo play against, like, your local mailman.
But 2 Chainz's peak was nowhere near Master P, you know. The best stat line would be by the person that played with NBA players, you know what I'm saying? In an exhibition game, he scored 9 points, had like four assists with-- with Charlotte, you know what I'm saying. And I mean, that's-- that's more than 2 Chainz averaged. He was actually playing actual basketball players.
CHRIS HAYNES: OK.
ZACH SCHWARTZ: Your honor, 2 Chainz played in actual college games that matter that were for real wins and real losses. They weren't just some sort of chump exhibition-- you know, just exhibition games for people to come in and try and fill the stands by bringing in a known commodity.
LAJETHRO JENKINS: I mean, that-- that's interesting, you know what I'm saying. But none of those-- none of those people that are playing for real basketball-- real basketball games for wins and losses could've played in this game either, so-- due to their lack of talent. So I mean, I think that matters some, all right.
ZACH SCHWARTZ: That's fair.
[LAUGHTER]
That's fair.
CHRIS HAYNES: We're gonna pivot. We're pivoting right here to my next question. I'm interested to hear your arguments on which rapper had the bigger impact on the game of basketball overall. And we're going to start with LaJethro. Make your case for Mr. Master P.
LAJETHRO JENKINS: Schwartz is making fun of how they brought him in as a commodity, but the NBA actually needed to do that in order to draw fans in '99 after the lockout. They expected 8,500 fans to come into the Charlotte game. They got around 16,000. Had to open it up 20 minutes early because they were afraid that people at the front were gonna be stampeded, you know. So that's how much he impacted an actual NBA game. Execs that was the biggest inter-- inter, like, squad game they've ever seen as far as like sound and people attending.
And like I said, he got 9 points, about four assists, shot 50% from the field. But we can't-- you know, you can't take away the impact of his music as well, you know. We all, you know, were-- were listening to-- to P before games. I don't know, Schwartz. You're kind of young. I don't know if you were aware of that. But before your time--
ZACH SCHWARTZ: Your honor, objection for condescendence.
LAJETHRO JENKINS: I'm sure Chris is-- I'm sure Chris is aware. You know, we ready to go to war, you know, bringing-- drenching our-- our shirts prior to the game, you know what I'm saying, in layup lines, you know what I'm saying, listening to P. So his impact musically obviously was there.
ZACH SCHWARTZ: I-- I don't want to disparage Master P, but I'm going to right here. It's wonderful that he played in exhibitions. It's wonderful that Tim Tebow fills seats in spring league baseball games. But what are we really talking about here?
The other element of this is we want to talk about music. 2 Chainz-- 2 Chainz--
LAJETHRO JENKINS: Guess you want to stay away from basketball, obviously.
ZACH SCHWARTZ: I don't know what you're talking about. 2 Chainz and his "Rap or Go to the League" album incredible, A&R by the best basketball player on the planet, LeBron James, who managed to step in. And I just think it shows 2 Chainz ability to bring together the sport-- sports world and the music world in such a wonderful way.
And if we're talking about music, you know-- You know, I'm sure that there may have been a wonderful CD or cassette that Master P made. But boy, 11--
LAJETHRO JENKINS: You didn't do your research, obviously.
ZACH SCHWARTZ: 11--
LAJETHRO JENKINS: There's a lack of research here. Hey, wonderful?
ZACH SCHWARTZ: And 11 million plays on Spotify.
LAJETHRO JENKINS: He owned a record label. He signed Snoop Dogg.
ZACH SCHWARTZ: Sir-- sir-- sir, I'll give you the floor when I'm done.
CHRIS HAYNES: [INAUDIBLE] LaJethro keeping quiet.
ZACH SCHWARTZ: Sir, I'll-- I'll give you the floor when I'm done mopping it up with your client right now.
[LAUGHTER]
Your honor, 2 Chainz, 313 million plays, 193 million plays, 181 million plays, 242 million plays, 203 million plays. I mean, just hit after hit after hit. It's-- it's really, really rather impressive.
LAJETHRO JENKINS: I mean, that's all music. Like you and me, we're playing-- have a lot of those plays as well, Schwartz, and how much do we affect the game of basketball? And if you're talking about bringing away the best basketball player in the game away from basketball, I think that, you know, that counters your argument actually, you know what I'm saying? You're arguing against that.
You know, he was playing for the Lakers at that time. The Lakers weren't the best team in the world at that moment, you know what I'm saying? They could have used Bron putting a little more effort on the court, you know what I'm saying?
CHRIS HAYNES: All right. We're gonna-- we're gonna move on to the final round, the final question. This has been a very hilarious thus far.
LAJETHRO JENKINS: Yep.
CHRIS HAYNES: I wiped the tears away. All right. Now I would advise you guys to take this question very seriously, because it is the last question. This question right here will sway my judgment. So the question is who would win in a one-on-one match-up in their prime between Master P and 2 Chainz, and who would win currently? I'll start with you, Mr. Schwartz.
ZACH SCHWARTZ: You know, it is-- it's-- it's a tough sell for me to say that a gentleman from Alabama State could beat someone who played in basically the Summer League, but maybe he could. Like I said, I genuinely believe he just wasn't quite coached up and formed into the basketball player he could have been.
CHRIS HAYNES: Oh, OK.
ZACH SCHWARTZ: I think if you-- if you give a guy like Pop some time to work with Tauheed Epps, he goes on to be a great player, and he probably does beat Master P. I will say right now I would put all the money I have on 2 Chainz giving Master P the business. It's just, you know, a 10-year difference. One of them is 50 years old. It's-- it's not really gonna be close. 2 Chainz.
LAJETHRO JENKINS: I mean, we could talk shoulda-coulda-wouldas, but we have actual basketball footage of one player, not another. We're talking Pop. Maybe you could have made your high school team if Pop was coaching you, you know what I'm saying? So--
CHRIS HAYNES: [INAUDIBLE]
ZACH SCHWARTZ: Your honor, objection. Objection for him being right.
LAJETHRO JENKINS: I'm just-- No, I'm just saying. I mean, if we're talking shoulda-coulda-wouldas, let's talk shoulda-coulda-wouldas.
CHRIS HAYNES: I would allow-- I will allow.
LAJETHRO JENKINS: You know, [INAUDIBLE] in their prime, it's not even close. It's the NBA player, the guy that played with NBA talent, that could play with NBA talent, that we actually seen footage of playing basketball [INAUDIBLE], a guy that has a scouting report on him from other NBA teams. You know what I'm saying?
Now it's hard to say a 50-year-old would-- would-- would win in a one-on-one game. But we did see a little bit of him working with Brickley, 2 Chainz working with Brickley, and that jumper took about 45 minutes to get off. So I think-- I think-- I think that, you know, P's old-man game, he could out-- he could outsmart 2 Chainz and get a dub. You feel me?
CHRIS HAYNES: OK. All right. Well, we've-- we're going to the moment of truth right here. I've listened to your remarks. I heard your statements. There was some wavering being done here. And I have to be honest, you know, that I had little bias sit-in. Initially, I was going to rule one way regardless today.
But I'mma tell you right now, I've enjoyed what I've heard. I have enjoyed what I listened to. But I had a few issues with, you know, some of your remarks. I'mma just go on one of each.
Mr. LaJethro, on your argument towards Master P, you made it seem like his insertion into the exhibition game in '99 was the equivalent of how Larry Bird and Magic Johnson saved the NBA. Just-- just the way you made-- just the way you made it seem like the NBA was just in such-- such a desperate time that they-- they needed somebody to come save the league.
LAJETHRO JENKINS: He was part of what they needed. And he also played against the Grizzlies and scored 8 points in an actual pre-season game. So you know, I mean, it was more than just, you know, that. You know what I mean? But I get what you're saying. I apologize for that.
CHRIS HAYNES: Well-- well, it's too late for that.
LAJETHRO JENKINS: But I would like to also throw out there I did wear somewhat of a collar, the closest thing I own to a collar, today to respect your-- your courtroom, you know what I'm saying.
CHRIS HAYNES: Oh man. I would just dismiss the last 15 seconds of that rant right now, 'cause I would not be swayed in my judgment.
And Mr. Schwartz, the problem I have with you in my courtroom, Mr. Schwartz, is that we're in 2020. Times have changed. So we can't allow for age bashing to go on in today's society right now. I asked you a simple question about Master P and 2 Chainz, and you went the age route. Age discrimination is a serious problem, and I take that offense seriously in my courtroom.
So with all that being said, my ruling today, based on the true in-depth arguments from the first question through the third question, I have to rule in favor of Mr. Schwartz today.
[LAUGHTER]
LAJETHRO JENKINS: Based on what? On what facts?
ZACH SCHWARTZ: Oh, your honor, this is--
LAJETHRO JENKINS: Horrible, bro.
ZACH SCHWARTZ: This is-- this is a great day.
LAJETHRO JENKINS: [INAUDIBLE]
CHRIS HAYNES: Court is adjourned.
LAJETHRO JENKINS: I object that you got the court.
CHRIS HAYNES: Court is adjourned.
LAJETHRO JENKINS: You gotta run this back.
CHRIS HAYNES: Court is adjourned.
LAJETHRO JENKINS: This is horrible. I've been beaten once again.
ZACH SCHWARTZ: Hey--
[LAUGHTER]
LAJETHRO JENKINS: That is horrible.
ZACH SCHWARTZ: Hey John, I'm gonna go-- I'm gonna-- I'm gonna drive by your house--
LAJETHRO JENKINS: What do you have to say?
ZACH SCHWARTZ: I'm gonna drive by your house for a little ticker tape parade, so just-- just be out front and start throwing paper so I can celebrate.
LAJETHRO JENKINS: That is horrible. Can we go off of facts? This man came up with nothing but hearsay and assumptions and woulda-coulda-shouldas.
ZACH SCHWARTZ: Yeah. I think I've earned another victory cigarette--
LAJETHRO JENKINS: You didn't even [INAUDIBLE] an album.
ZACH SCHWARTZ: --this time, you know. Just nice and-- nice, robust victory cigarette. Mm.
[COUGH]
I'm not--
CHRIS HAYNES: No smoking in my courtroom--
ZACH SCHWARTZ: I'm not--
CHRIS HAYNES: --Mr. Schwartz.
[LAUGHTER]
ZACH SCHWARTZ: I'm not lighting this one in the house again. It smelled for too long.
CHRIS HAYNES: All right. So that's been another episode of "Boxed In" presented by Yahoo Sports. Next week, we come with a new episode of "Boxed In." Make sure to tune in every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I'm pretty sure you'll see these knuckleheads once again squaring off and pairing off. See you then.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
