Big 12 Basketball

Big 12 Basketball Teams as Jay-Z Songs

By Mizzou Hoops Feb 17, 2011, 12:00pm CST

Shuffling through my iPod the other day, it dawned on me that Jay-Z has ostensibly written a song for each of the Big 12 basketball teams. From meanings to interpretations to actual lyrics, it is apparent that 12 of his 215 songs were composed implicitly for conference schools.

So without further ado, I present "Big 12 Basketball Teams as Jay-Z Songs." Videos are available after The Jump.

Baylor Bears - "Big Pimpin" off Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter
When you have three consecutive recruiting classes of 9^th ranked Perry Jones III in 2010, 5^th ranked Quincy Miller and 43^rd ranked Duece Bello in 2011 and a verbal from 2^nd ranked Isaiah Austin in 2012, there's no doubt you're Big Pimpin.

Colorado Buffaloes - "Girls, Girls, Girls" off The Blueprint
No offense to any of the beautiful ladies of the Big 12, but have you ever seen the girls who go to Pac-10 schools? USC, Arizona, ASU, UCLA, Oregon. The Pac-10 is just crawling with girls, girls, girls. In that regard, CU will fit right in.

Iowa St. Cyclones - "99 Problems" off The Black Album
When Fred Hoiberg agreed to coach his Alma Mater, I assume he knew there was work to be done in Ames. I'm not sure, though, if he knew that the program he inherited had at least 99 Problems.

Kansas Jayhawks - "Run This Town" off The Blueprint 3
KU has won or shared six consecutive - and 10 of 14 all time - conference titles, so there is no doubt that they rule the conference and Run This Town.

Kansas St. Wildcats - "Empire State of Mind" off The Blueprint 3
When the season started it looked like K-State was destined to play in the Final Four in Houston. The way it's looking now, they will be lucky to play in the NIT championship, which takes places at... Madison Square Garden in New York City. Oh, and K-State also is located in Manhattan.

Missouri Tigers - "Already Home (featuring Kid Cudi)" off The Blueprint 3
In conference play Mizzou is undefeated at home and winless on the road. Basically if they're looking to compete at the highest level when they're away from Mizzou Arena they need to imagine they're Already Home.

Nebraska Cornhuskers - "On To The Next One (featuring Swizz Beatz)" off The Blueprint 3
Pretty self-explanatory. Next season you won't be reading about Nebraska as often on this site, because with their change in conferences, they're On To The Next One.

Oklahoma Sooners - "Umbrella (Rihanna featuring Jay-Z)" off Good Girl Gone Bad
The song is about a good relationship that will hold together regardless of the hard times the couple may go through. "Now that it's raining more than ever / Know that we'll still have each other" Despite their four game win streak, OU fans know their relationship is difficult to withstand right now, but together they'll get through it.... like Hova and Rihanna.

Oklahoma St. Cowboys - "Kingdom Come" off Kingdom Come
"I run the streets the streets don't run we
Y'all run, we chill STILL WATERS run deep
I repeat, sing a long with me
I run the streets the streets don't run we"
When the home of Ok State is specifically named, I dare you to tell me this song isn't about the Pokes.

Texas Longhorns - "Young Forever (featuring Mr. Hudson" off The Blueprint 3
At Texas they don't rebuild, they reload. There's isn't a year in recent memory when one of the top high school recruits wasn't packing his stuff and heading to Austin. Looking back to last season they brought 5-stars Avery Bradley and Jordan Hamilton in. This year it is Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph. Next year, Myck Kabongo and in 2012 they already have a verbal from 5-star center Cameron Ridley. With fresh blood each year, Texas is staying Young Forever.

Texas A&M Aggies - "Never Change" off The Blueprint
A&M is never a team everyone talks about, but since the 2005-06 season they have placed outside the conference top four just once (sixth in 2007-08). Their play might not be the prettiest, but because it works, it Never Changes.

Texas Tech Red Raiders - "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" off Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life
Tech was good a few years back. In fact (for the time being) they produced the conference's all-time leading scorer. But recently times have been tough in Lubbock. They might as well join along with Annie and the Orphans when they sing "Steada treated, we get tricked / Steada kisses, we get kicked"

For your enjoyment, official videos for all songs are after The Jump (when available).

Baylor Bears - "Big Pimpin" off Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter