The Memphis Grizzlies face elimination on Wednesday (8:30 p.m., NBA TV/Bally Sports Southeast) with Game 5 in Utah but perhaps Ja Morant’s new theme song can help as motivation.
Local rap star Moneybagg Yo released his two-minute song “Rookie of the Year” celebrating the Grizzlies second-year star guard ahead of his documentary “Promiseland,” which premieres Thursday on Crackle.
It focuses on Morant’s underdog mentality and praises his rise from a little known college freshman to being named NBA Rookie of the Year in 2019-20.
“I play like a beast but my demeanor humble (Don’t makе me turn up)/ Go so hard they got to retirе my number (Big 12)/ Unranked underdog (Uh), trained to go when I ball/Losses turn to lessons, I can’t see myself fallin’ off,” Moneybagg Yo raps in the first verse.
It’s a collaboration Morant teased last week ahead of Game 3. The song was released following the Grizzlies’ Game 4 loss to the Jazz that put Memphis down 3-1 and a game away from elimination.
The chorus celebrates Morant’s high-flying game but also how his journey and fearless attitude can inspire others in Memphis to do the same.
“Come through and slam on you, I’m in the air (Ah)/ ‘Fore it’s all said and done, let me make one thing clear (What?)/ True to it, not new to it, I’m rookie of the year,” the chorus ends.
“Promiseland,” a six-episode series looking back at Morant’s first NBA season, will debut in two parts. The second part will be released on June 17.
It’s the second time in recent weeks Morant has been shouted out by a hip-hop artist. J. Cole name-dropped Morant on his song “m y . l i f e”, which is the No. 2 song in the country on the Billboard Hot 100.
“I’m starvin’, immensely/ Know when I’m done with these songs, you gon’ miss me/ Ja Morant, I’m on my Grizzly/ You (expletive) just cubs but no, not the ones in the big leagues,” J. Cole raps.
“I’m on My Grizzly” was used as the Grizzlies’ Growl Towel slogan during Game 4.
Want to stay informed on the latest Memphis sports news? A Commercial Appeal subscription gets you unlimited access to the best inside information and updates on local sports, and the ability to tap into sports news from throughout the USA TODAY Network’s 109 local sites.
You can reach Evan Barnes on Twitter (@Evan_B) or by email at evan.barnes@commercialappeal.com
