Kobe Bryant and Brian Shaw were once teammates on the LA Lakers, and during their time together, Shaw gained insight into the music preferences of the legendary basketball player. 

While Kobe enjoyed various genres, including classical music, it was hip-hop that he most often gravitated towards. According to Shaw, Kobe was an avid fan of Jay-Z in the hip-hop realm. Not only would the Lakers icon listen to the artist's albums as soon as they were released, but he would also commit every single lyric to memory.

Shaw expressed his amazement in a 2016 Players' Tribune article, recalling how Kobe would rap every line of every song on the day following the album's release.

Jay-Z has garnered a massive global fan base, but out of his millions of followers, it seems that Kobe Bryant was perhaps his biggest admirer. In fact, Kobe held Jay-Z's album Reasonable Doubt in higher regard than the celebrated work of Biggie Smalls, as per Basketball Network.

This preference showcased Kobe's deep admiration for the rapper, prioritizing him even over legendary artists like Tupac and Biggie.

As time went on, Jay-Z and Kobe Bryant developed a close friendship. Both Jay-Z and Beyonce were frequent attendees at Lakers games, showing unwavering support for the Black Mamba. They even spent time together at each other's homes after Kobe's retirement from the NBA.

Jay-Z recently reminisced about their final conversation in 2020, during which Kobe expressed his pride in his daughter Gianna's basketball skills. It is heart-wrenching to think about how their bond ended tragically.

Although Kobe is no longer with us, his profound impact on billions of people worldwide will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, Black Mamba.