Players Anthems: When Sports Teams Adopt Rap Songs
Rich Homie Quan has the Spartans feeling some "Type of Way."
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Player Anthems: When Sports Teams Adopt Rap Songs - Monday night (Jan. 7), Florida State defeated Auburn in college football's BCS National Championship game, in a thrilling 34-31 victory. The game itself had its share of rap-related moments — like Auburn coaches calling a play by holding a picture of Jay Z with the caption "Tom Ford" — but the most hip-hop moment of the bowl season belonged to Michigan State, which adopted Rich Homie Quan's "Type of Way" as a team anthem during the year. The Spartans took it one step further, inviting Rich to join them for their recent games. Read on for more sports teams that have picked up rap songs over the years.(Photo: Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)
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Michigan State Spartans - Rich Homie Quan "Type of Way" - After victories this year, Michigan State began celebrating by dancing to “Type of Way” in their locker room (the coach even got involved). The connection was capped off when the Atlanta rapper was invited to join the team for their Rose Bowl match up with Stanford — a win that he was on hand to celebrate.
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NY Giants - Jim Jones "We Fly High" - In 2006, Jim Jones heated up the New York streets with his “We Fly High” single. The New York Giants took a liking to the jam — particularly their defensive line, who would "ballin' stroke" after each sack. Jones returned the nod with "We Fly High (New York Giants Remix)."(Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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New York Yankees - Jay Z "Empire State of Mind" - In 2009, “Empire State of Mind” became an anthem for not just New York, but throughout the country. The Yankees, naturally, took particular pride in the song and Derek Jeter would walk to the plate with it playing over the loud speakers. Hov and Alicia were tapped to perform it prior to Game 2 of the 2009 World Series at Yankee Stadium. (Photo: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
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Kentucky Wildcats - Troop 41 "Do the John Wall" - As the best player in college basketball during the 2009-10 season, John Wall popularized a move where he’d flex his arm and simultaneously twist his wrist. Troop 41, a trio from Raleigh, North Carolina — also Wall's hometown — immortalized the dance with their "Do the John Wall" single in 2010, which landed on the Billboard Hot 100.(Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
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