Michael Jordan was almost in the video for N.O.R.E.'s 1999 hit 'Oh No.'
The visuals feature clips of a Roy Jones Jr. fight, and had originally captured MJ in the crowd. However the Hall of Famer refused to let N.O.R.E. use his image.
Why?
“Jordan is a hater of Hip Hop," Noreaga explained on the Rap Radar podcast.
His evidence goes beyond just Jordan protecting his image. Apparently, His Airness disparaged rap in plain and profane English during a Def Jam Christmas party.
“I seen him shut Redman down at a Def Jam Christmas party,” N.O.R.E explained. “We were all sitting there waiting to speak to Michael Jordan. Niggas said, ‘Yo, Redman and Method Man is here.’ [MJ] said, ‘Fuck rap.’ I seen the nigga say that…Quote me. I believe it was Redman and Method Man, and I’m to the side, so I can directly hear his voice. He was like, ‘Fuck rap.’ That shit hurt me. Def Jam Christmas party, Mariah Carey hosting and shit like that. He only spoke to Hov, but he spoke to Hov. That’s without a doubt.”So far neither Redman nor Method Man have weighed in on N.O.R.E.'s memory.
But Noreaga isn't the first to allege that Jordan hated rappers, if not also rap.