Basketball players usually can't rap. It’s a harsh truth. For every "K.O.B.E." or "40 Bars" that exists in the archives of mid-90s hip-hop, there’s a collective cringe from fans who just wanted their favorite center to stay in the paint. But then there’s Shaquille O’Neal. Shaq didn't just want to be a "rapper" in the sense of a vanity project; he was obsessed with the culture. He actually went platinum. And honestly, the peak of that obsession—the moment where the stars aligned and the cringe factor hit zero—was when he managed to get Christopher Wallace, better known as The Notorious B.I.G., into a recording booth for Can’t Stop the Reign.
It was 1996. The track served as the lead single for Shaq’s third studio album, You Can't Stop the Reign. It wasn't just a song; it was a flex. Think about the landscape back then. Biggie was at the absolute zenith of his powers, yet he agreed to hop on a track with a 7-foot-1 center who played for the Lakers. People still debate whether Biggie gave Shaq his "A" material or just a throwaway verse, but if you listen to the flow, it’s clear Biggie wasn't phoning it in. He was skating over that Loose Ends "Hangin' on a String" sample.
How Can’t Stop the Reign Actually Happened
The story goes that Shaq basically manifested this into existence. He didn't just send a check and ask for a verse. He wanted the respect of the greats. Shaq had already worked with Phife Dawg and RZA, but Biggie was the final boss of New York lyricism. According to various interviews Shaq has given over the years, including his appearances on Drink Champs, the session for Can’t Stop the Reign was supposed to be a standard collaboration, but Shaq was terrified of being outshined on his own record.
He wasn't wrong to be worried.
Biggie showed up to the studio, heard the beat, and reportedly asked for about fifteen minutes. He went into a room, sat by himself—no pen, no paper—and came out with that iconic verse. You know the one. The verse where he mentions "the realer, the killer, the filler." It’s smooth. It’s effortless. Shaq actually had to re-record his own parts multiple times just to ensure he didn't sound like a complete amateur next to the greatest of all time.
The chemistry was weirdly good. Most athlete-rapper pairings feel forced, like a marketing executive’s fever dream. This felt like a genuine New York moment, despite Shaq playing in Los Angeles at the time. The production by DJ Quik (who did the remix) and the original version by Chris "The Glove" Taylor gave it that polished, mid-90s sheen that feels nostalgic but surprisingly expensive even today.
The Sample That Defined the Sound
You can't talk about Can't Stop the Reign without talking about the "Hangin' on a String" sample. Loose Ends, the British R&B band, provided the backbone for the track. It gave the song a sophisticated, "grown man" vibe that moved away from the more aggressive, "Shaq Fu" style of his earlier work.
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- The bassline is infectious.
- It bridges the gap between West Coast G-funk smoothness and East Coast lyrical grit.
- The hook is anthemic.
It’s one of those songs that works in a club, in a car, or on a workout playlist. It’s versatile. That’s probably why it still gets spins on "throwback" stations while other 90s novelty hits have faded into obscurity.
Why Biggie’s Verse Still Matters
Let’s be real: people listen to this song for Biggie.
His verse on Can’t Stop the Reign contains some of his most quoted "deep cut" lines. When he says, "I'm not a hater, I’m a player, I’ll see you later," it sounds simple, but the delivery is everything. It’s the pocket he stays in. He manages to shout out Shaq without it feeling like he’s pandering to a celebrity athlete. He treats Shaq like a peer, which is the highest compliment Biggie could have paid him.
There’s a legendary "lost" version of this verse too. Well, not lost, but different. Biggie originally recorded a verse for the song that was a bit more aggressive, and some versions of the track floating around the internet or on various mixtapes feature different takes. The one that made the album is the definitive one, though. It’s the one that cemented Shaq’s place as the only athlete-rapper who could actually hang in the room with the elite.
The Cultural Impact and the Lakers Dynasty
When this song dropped, Shaq was just starting his journey with the Los Angeles Lakers. The song title, Can’t Stop the Reign, became a bit of a prophecy. It wasn't just about music; it was about his dominance on the court. He was telling the NBA that his era had arrived.
The music video—directed by Hype Williams—was peak 90s aesthetic. Shiny suits? Check. Fish-eye lenses? Check. Huge mansions? Check. It looked like a Bad Boy Records video because, for all intents and purposes, it was one. Shaq was essentially an honorary member of the New York rap scene for a few years there.
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Misconceptions About Shaq’s Rap Career
A lot of people think Shaq was just a "guest" in hip-hop.
That’s factually incorrect. He was signed to Jive Records. He had major distribution. He wasn't some guy making tapes in his basement; he was a legitimate recording artist who happened to be the most dominant physical force in sports history. His first album, Shaq Diesel, went platinum. His second, Shaq Fu: Da Return, went gold. By the time Can’t Stop the Reign came out, he was a seasoned veteran in the industry.
He didn't need the money. He did it for the love. And you can hear that in the track. He’s not trying to "sound" like Biggie; he’s trying to hold his own.
The Production Layers
The original album version is great, but the DJ Quik remix is where the song really found its legs in the West Coast markets. Quik stripped back some of the R&B elements and added that signature "Quik" bounce. It made the track feel more dangerous.
It’s interesting to note that the song also features Michael Blackson in the intro (the "African King" persona), which added a layer of humor that Shaq always loved. It balanced the seriousness of Biggie’s lyricism with Shaq’s larger-than-life, playful personality. This balance is what makes it "human-quality" music—it’s not a manufactured pop hit; it’s a reflection of who Shaq was at 24 years old.
Analyzing the Lyrics
If you look closely at the bars, Shaq is actually rapping about his struggles with fame and the pressure of the NBA.
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"It's a must I shine, like a nickel-plated nine."
It’s a bit cliché, sure. But for a guy who was being criticized by the media for "focusing too much on movies and music" instead of winning a championship, it was a defiant statement. He was telling his critics that they couldn't stop his "reign," whether that was on the Billboard charts or the hardwood.
Biggie, on the other hand, was just being Biggie. He talks about his wealth, his influence, and his "Junior M.A.F.I.A." crew. It’s a classic 1996 Biggie verse. It reminds us of what we lost shortly after this track was released. Biggie passed away in March 1997, only months after the album dropped. This makes Can’t Stop the Reign one of the final high-profile collaborations released during his lifetime.
Does it hold up in 2026?
Surprisingly, yes.
In a world where every NBA player has a SoundCloud or a Spotify page, Can’t Stop the Reign stands as the gold standard. Damian Lillard (Dame D.O.L.L.A.) is probably the only one who has come close to Shaq’s technical ability, but even Dame hasn't secured a Biggie-level feature. The sheer "weight" of this track—the cultural gravity of having Shaq and Biggie together—is something we might never see again.
Actionable Takeaways for Hip-Hop Fans
If you’re looking to dive back into this era, don't just stop at the radio edit.
- Seek out the DJ Quik Remix. It’s a masterclass in how to re-tool a song for a different regional audience without losing the soul of the original.
- Watch the Drink Champs episode with Shaq. He breaks down the exact moment Biggie walked into the studio, and it provides a lot of context for how much respect he had for the craft.
- Check the liner notes. Look at the production credits for the You Can't Stop the Reign album. It’s a "who’s who" of 90s hip-hop royalty, including Mobb Deep and Jay-Z (on the song "No Love Lost").
- Listen for the "Biggie Ghostwriting" rumors. There have long been rumors that Biggie or others wrote for Shaq. Shaq has always denied this, claiming he wrote his own bars but took "direction" from the greats. Listen to the cadence—you can decide for yourself if you hear another rapper's "pen" in Shaq's delivery.
The legacy of Can’t Stop the Reign isn't just about a basketball player making a song. It’s about a moment in time when hip-hop was the dominant culture, and even the biggest stars in the world wanted to be part of it. It’s a testament to Biggie’s greatness that he could make a song with a center and still make it sound like the hardest thing on the radio. Shaq proved he belonged. Biggie proved he was untouchable. And we got a classic out of it.