Papoose: Rap Game Tim Tebow Posted by Lucas Garrison on 09/10/13 | Filed under Opinion, Sports, Papoose, Rap Game, Tebow

NBA rapper comparisons and Refined Hype go together like PB&J (or Gucci Mane and Twitter). There is only one problem, it’s September and nobody in their right mind is focused on the NBA; it is all about football. With the first weekend in the books, I think its high time we do the first ever NFL rapper comparison.

To kick it off however, we couldn’t just go with any old player like Peyton on Adrian Peterson, we had to pick someone truly talented and special; Mr. Tim Tebow. Granted he isn’t technically an NFL player anymore, but few have had more influence and attention these past few years than Tim Tebow, deserved or not. It is on fitting that Tebow, one of the more polarizing, popular figures in the NFL is our first subject.

So just who exactly  is the Rap Game Tim Tebow?

There are a few important qualities that must be shared between Tebow and the emcee, but perhaps the most important is overhype and inability to live up to the buzz. Who knows more about being famous or popular without ever really doing anything substantial than Papoose? Though he only released one studio album ), Papoose is still a relatively well-known name. Like Tebow, he never had the body of work to deserve the amount of attention he got, but still somehow, he remains famous to this day. When Kendrick was name dropping emcees left and right on “Control”, I don’t think anyone thought, what does “Papoose think about Kendrick?”, but still, he made headlines by dropping a “Control Response”. Despite his one and only album, released this year (and a lack of talent) Papoose has been able to survive in the game for almsot a decade, similar to how Tebow, despite the lack of production and lack of a quarterback skill managed to sign with three different teams.

The majority of Tebow-mania came from just one game; the infamous playoff match up against the Steelers. Perennial AFC contenders, nobody expected the Steelers to lose to a quarterback who couldn’t throw, but sure enough Tebow pulled out an overtime victory and cemented his legendary; instant cult status. Similar to Tebow’s playoff game, Papoose’s "Alphabetical Slaughter" launched him into brief stardom. While he had been dropping mixtapes at a steady rate, it wasn’t until "Alphabetical Slaughter" that he got recognized; it was that song that got him his deal at Jive. Unfortunately, his album was never released via Jive and he wasn’t ever given a shot, resulting his departure from the label .

Still, "Alaphabetical Slaughter" was his claim to fame and got him where he is today, much like how Tebow is still riding that impobable playoff win. Both Tebow and Papoose experienced initial success, but were never able to build on it and had to go elsewhere in hopes of getting a shot. Tebow went to the Jets but never saw a minute of action (even with Sanchez in front of him) and Papoose went to Flipmode, but again, nothing came of it and both became irrelevant and unemployed.

 

Although neither one has had any long-lasting success, they are still media favorites. Tebow was a third stringer on the Jets and Patriots, but anytime he so much as sneezed, ESPN would interrupt their Lebron coverage to bring us the latest on Tebow. Seriously, his fourth quarter pre season highlights were shown more than the highlights of the first stringers. While not on the same level, Papoose certainly gets more media attention than he has earned. In addition to the “Control” response getting way more attention that it deserved his “ On Top Of My Game” video premiered on 106th & Park. How many other emcees, with no albums or real singles, can say they got a video on BET? How many other third string quarterbacks can say their highlights were all over ESPN? Papoose really is the rap game Tebow; maybe they should make an album together.

Now that football season is here, this might have to become a weekly thing. Before today, I never thought I would use Papoose and Tebow in the same sentence, but that is what makes these so great. It is amazing that although they are in complete different lines of work and are very different people, their career trajectories are awfully similar.

I can’t think of a better rap game Tebow than Mr. Papoose…can you Refined Hype Nation?