STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

Did Jay Z Use This Verse to Try to Get LeBron James to Sign With the Nets?

That's one way to shoot your shot.

Roc Nation’s hip-hop herald and magnate Jay Z has always been one to keep everyone guessing when it comes to business and bars.

But for his “Blow the Whistle” remix, aka his “Playoff” freestyle, which became the established diss track aimed at former Washington Wizards player Deshawn Stevenson, Oakland’s legendary rap star Too Short believes the song’s sub-shots were shooting for much more than people realized.   

Stopping by on the Scoop B Radio podcast, Too Short dropped a few gems on the original “Blow the Whistle” single, such as how Jay’s mix on the track came about when he first asked for the instrumental. Later, Too Short discovered what he believed to be a Brookyln Nets recruitment attempt for LeBron James, Stevenson’s NBA rival, by way of his commentary on the NBA star being too “overrated.”

“When Jay called, I was like, ‘It will be there in a couple of hours, man,’” the West Coast legend said. “I had no idea what he was going to do with it, but I am glad he did.’”

The remix debuted the night James was set to host at D.C.’s former Love Nightclub, just a couple of days after the Cavs’ 2008 NBA Playoffs Game 3 loss. Previously, the triple-time NBA champ refused to respond to Stevenson’s commentary, denouncing any existence of the rivalry in the first place. Even still, Jay rapped high praise for King James over the beat of Too Short’s smash hit that left no question as to who’s courtside he stood on.

“Uh! Ask my n***a Lebron, we so big we ain’t gotta respond,” Jay spits on the track. “Who the f**k overrated? If anything they underpaid him / Hatin' that's only 'gon make him spend the night out of spite with the chick you've been datin' / We the best of the best, we 'gon be here so the rest could take a rest / I gotta get this off my chest / No pause none of that s**t, get off my dick!”

Released fittingly before James was set for free agent status, Too Short said that the lyrics were telling of a possible hint at a signing with the then-Jay-Z-owned Brooklyn Nets.

“I think he was thinking about signing LeBron and having him play for the Nets, and he was courting LeBron and LeBron was special to him and ol’ boy stepped on LeBron’s toes talking s**t and Jay was like, ‘I’m going to shut this down,’” Too Short explained. "And he probably saw the moment where the crowd reacted to the song and then that was on his mind.”

Though James never made it over to a Nets deal, we’re sure the offer will always stand should the speculations hold any weight after all.

Listen in on Too Short’s newfound revelation for one of Jay’s most popular remixes below.

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