NEW YORK — Shaquille O'Neal renewed his longtime rivalry with former teammate Kobe Bryant on Sunday, belting out a freestyle rap in a New York City nightclub that targeted the reigning NBA MVP.
In a performance captured by celebrity gossip site TMZ, O'Neal raps about "Kobe couldn't do it without me," in reference to the Boston Celtics recently defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA finals.
O'Neal and Bryant won three straight NBA titles together from 2000-2002 as teammates on the Lakers, but the two stars have long engaged in a war of words.
The riff between the two stars dates back to when Bryant was accused of rape in Colorado and he reportedly told police that O'Neal would pay his women to keep quiet in similar situations.
O'Neal, who was eventually traded to the Miami Heat, where he won another championship in 2006, busted out a few lines during his rap in which he also accused Bryant of breaking up his marriage.
"I'm a horse. Kobe ratted me out," he rapped. "That's why I'm getting divorced. He said Shaq gave a [woman] a mil. I don't do that 'cause my name's Shaquille. I love 'em, I don't leave 'em. I got a vasectomy, now I can't breed 'em."
On Monday, O'Neal, who has since joined the Phoenix Suns, told ESPN.com that his performance was simply in good fun.
"I was freestyling. That's all," he said. "It was all done in fun. Nothing serious whatsoever. That is what MC's do. They freestyle when called upon. I'm totally cool with Kobe. No issue at all. And by the way, don't forget, six albums, two platinum, two gold. Anybody who knows me knows I'm a funny freestyler. Check the NBA DVD when I was rapping about Vlade Divac during my first championship run. Please tell everybody don't make something out of nothing."
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