Juelz Santana On Kobe Bryant: "He Demanded My Respect"

Yesterday, ESPN and Kobe Bryant debuted Canvas, a new content initiative, one of six short video presentations focused on an NBA on-court topic through the eyes of Kobe Bryant.

“Guarding The Greats,” the first of the series debuted on ESPN’s NBA COUNTDOWN. Countdown’s cast of Michelle Beadle, Earvin “Magic Johnson,” Jalen Rose and Chauncey Billups provided analysis on the topic during the show. Bryant serves as creator, director and writer of the show and provides voiceovers.

Rapper Juelz Santana is an admirer of Bryant from afar despite growing up a Knicks fan. The Harlem lyricist who’s assortment of jerseys and Jeff Hamilton jackets that he and fellow Dipset members Cam’ron, Hell Rell, Freekey Zekey and Jim Jones sported in videos like ‘Oh Boy’ and ‘Hey Ma’ in the early 2000s may suggest that Bryant may get a pass.

Check Out Juelz Santana checking In With Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson on Scoop B Radio

“I wasn’t a fan of Kobe, but not in a bad way,” Juelz Santana told me by phone on Scoop B Radio. “But he demanded my respect. You couldn’t hate on him. no matter what. You know that guy that you may not like, but you can’t say nothin’ bad about him? That’s what Kobe was to me. I was a big Jordan fan and everybody always said he was better than Jordan, so that was my whole dilemma with not being a Kobe fan.”

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#Dipset #Harlem #Juelz Santana #Kobe Bryant #Lakers #Los Angeles Lakers

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Brandon Robinson

Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson is a managing editor and columnist at RESPECT Magazine. Follow him on Twitter: @ScoopB and Instagram: @Scoop_B. As a 12 year old, he was a Nets reporter from 1997-1999, co-hosting a show called Nets Slammin' Planet with former New Jersey Net Albert King and Nets play-by-play man Chris Carrino. He's also been a writer and radio host at CBS and a staff writer at The Source Magazine. He's a graduate of both Eastern University and Hofstra University. You can catch him daily on the Scoop B Radio Podcast. Visit ScoopBRadio.com to listen. For inquiries and to contact Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson visit ScoopB.com