The motto here at HHSR is “real rap from the sideline to the studio”. Well two of our favorites here have exemplified what that means. Recently, both Russell Westbrook and Shawn “Jay Z” Carter gained accolades for something outside of their normal lanes.
The 2014-2015 NBA season saw Westbrook, was just named to All-NBA 2nd Team, attempt to embody Kendrick Lamar’s “Control” verse after Kevin Durant went down with injury. Wild Wild Westbrook fell short of his goal of recreating Allen Iverson’s run to the Finals (or the playoffs for that matter) but he scored a major victory off the court earning the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for his service to the people of Oklahoma City. Westbrook opened multiple Russell’s Reading Rooms and his Why Not Foundation was largely responsible for getting books to needy children in the community. He also helped feed the hungry during Thanksgiving and gave the car he won for winning the All-Star Game MVP award to a local single mother of two, and even went so far as cover costs to register and ensure the vehicle for a year!
He is polarizing on the court and has cultivated an oddly cold relationship with the local media but no one short of Skip Bayless could have anything bad to say about what he’s managed to do when Russell Westbrook has stepped off the sidelines and into the streets.
“I think it’s very important, when you’re in a position like this — you have to be able to find ways to help others out,” said Westbrook upon winning the David Robinson plaque for the NBA’s Community Assist Award. The NBA will also donate $10,000 on Westbrook’s behalf to his Why Not? Foundation.
Which brings us to Jay Z who on “Moment of Clarity” rapped, “I can’t help the poor if I’m one of them so I got rich and gave back, to me that’s the win-win”. Jay Z, as well as his wife/goddess Beyoncé, have quietly given back to the community many times over the years to little fanfare. Hov played an intricate role in NBA players wearing “I Can’t Breathe” t-shirts in response to the killing of Eric Garner, while also handing out clandestine scholarships for many NYC youths. 
The Carters were outed recently by activist, filmmaker and co-author of Jigga’s autobiography “Decoded” Dream Hampton as helping fund bail and operations costs of the protests in Ferguson and Baltimore after the murders of Michael Brown and Freddie Gray. Hampton also noted via Twitter that Blue Ivy’s parents sent money to the blacklivesmatter organization.
The Carters are quite possibly the most powerful duo in music business and by reaching back into the community to make real change for people, they show just how powerful they are. The revolution will not be televised but it will be blogged, vined and tweeted and Jay is playing an underestimated vital role therewithin.
Hip-hop and sports are often dragged down by negativity and here at HHSR we do our best to highlight the positive stories that come out of these two arenas we love. Russell Westbrook lives the young flashy spirit of hip-hop culture, while Jay Z is the blueprint for the new wave of NBA superstars who want become brands and not just champions. But the work these two do in their communities will last longer than anything they’ve done this year from the sidelines to the studio.
Salute.