Clippers' Kawhi Leonard drops his first rap album, 'Culture Jam'

Madison Williams

Clippers' Kawhi Leonard drops his first rap album, 'Culture Jam' image

Kawhi Leonard has had a big week. 

First, Leonard was named as one of the 75 greatest NBA players of all time. He became one of only 11 active players to make the list. Then, on Friday, Leonard dropped the first half of his rap project "Culture Jam."

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Leonard's goal with his rap album is to celebrate basketball and hip-hop together. He also wants to give back to underserved communities. Some of the proceeds from the first song he released in May titled "Everything Different" featuring YoungBoy Never Broke Again and Rod Wave went to the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation, which honors Kobe and Gianna Bryant. 

When Leonard announced the project, he said in a news conference why he thinks the album is important.

"It just merges basketball and music together. It's always been something on my mind that I wanted to do," Leonard said. "It's just something that could uplift our community. And, you know, a portion of each stream is gonna go to the Mamba & Mambacita [Sports] Foundation. It's just something good for the community, you know what I mean?"

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Leonard helped produce the album, which was produced by Virgin Music. There are seven songs included in the first half of the project, and it features 13 well-known rap artists. There is no drop date for Volume 2 right now.

Leonard's been all over the rap scene this year. In early September, he was featured in Drake's "Way 2 Sexy" music video dancing alongside Drake, Future and Young Thug.

MORE: Kawhi Leonard dances with Drake, Future, Young Thug in 'Way 2 Sexy' music video

If you want to know more about Leonard's album or future projects, his team created a "Culture Jam" Twitter account (@culturejam), which posts about Leonard's basketball updates, information about the album and rap opinions about artists featured on the album and some who are not.

Madison Williams