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“Nah Kendrick Lamar, honoring Kobe Bryant with a deepfake is weird”: NBA Twitter is flustered over Lamar’s tribute to Lakers legend in ‘The Heart Part 5’

Samir Mehdi
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“Nah Kendrick Lamar, honoring Kobe Bryant with a deepfake is weird”: NBA Twitter is flustered over whether Lamar’s tribute to Lakers legend in ‘The Heart Part 5’

Kendrick Lamar sends NBA Twitter into a frenzy after deep-faking Kobe Bryant onto himself on his newest song, ‘The Heart Part 5’. 

Kobe Bryant established himself as a Los Angeles legend after 20 years of being a Laker. He transcended the mere game of basketball and became an icon that millions of people looked up to, essentially becoming a larger figure than the game itself. Honoring him following his unfortunate passing is always welcomed. 

Another California legend in an industry that has become adjacent to the NBA world is Kendrick Lamar, one of the greatest rappers and musicians of this generation. Growing up in Compton, Lamar knows exactly what it’s like to be loved by a bevy of fans in Los Angeles. 

Also read: “LeBron James and Kobe Bryant’s MVPuppets ad has to be the greatest one of all-time”: When the two basketball icons starred in a unique puppet Nike advertisement

K-Dot’s much awaited 5th album comes out this Friday on May 13th, 2022 and to give fans a little taste of what he’s got in store, he released a single off that new album, Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers, called ‘The Heart Part 5’. 

In this video, Kendrick would pay tribute to legends across various industries, including Kobe Bryant. 

NBA Twitter not sure if Kendrick’s tribute Kobe Bryant is cool or not. 

Kendrick Lamar took to his ‘The Heart Part 5’ music video to show love to everybody from Nipsey Hussle to Kanye West by using deepfakes created by a studio run by the creators of South Park, Matt Stone and Trey Parker. Among those deepfakes, was one of Kobe Bryant.

Also read: “I wanted to be the best basketball player to ever play”: When Kobe Bryant revealed the deal with himself at 13-years-old that helped him become one of the greatest ever

Fans are puzzled as to how they feel about this considering the fact that the Lakers legend is not here with us today. The same goes for Nipsey Hussle. Is this considered honoring them or disrespecting them. It’s unclear if Kendrick took permission from Bryant or Nipsey’s team and/ or family to use their likeness in this video. 

The reactions have been mixed but the positive ones have most definitely proven to be much more prominent than the negative reactions.

About the author

Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi

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Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

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