Washington Wizards’ John Wall Is Feeling Future, ‘Dirty Sprite’ and All
In 2010, Washington Wizards guard John Wall Dougied his way into the NBA, and he hasn’t stopped moving ever since.
The former Number One pick was a one-and-done sensation at the University of Kentucky, and he’s used his unique blend of speed and finesse to become a two-time NBA All-Star – and guide the once moribund franchise back to prominence. But through it all, he’s remained true to the music that inspires him.
“I’m a big fan of hip-hop…the lyrics, how guys can express their feelings or what’s going on in life,” Wall says. “When you play in the NBA, you score and they play music right away. If you’re in that zone and you get caught in the moment, you’re thinking about rapping a couple lyrics.”
In the latest installment of The Die-Hards, a four-part video series that brings athletes and musicians together to celebrate fandom in all its forms, Wall reveals that he’s a huge fan of Future – the Atlanta rapper’s Beast Mode and Monster mixtapes, and new DS2 album are favorites – and not just because his music helps drive his game. Wall says it’s Future’s lyrics and live show that also push him to be better.
“His shows are very live, he has great energy and he feeds back into the crowd. When he’s doing his dances or whatever, he gets the crowd into it. When you get feedback from your fans, it makes you want to go longer,” Wall says. “I’ve been through the [same] experiences [he has]. When he was nobody, I’ve been through those experiences where I was a nobody.”
Of course, there’s also another reason Wall’s a Future fan: There’s nobody better at making a club go crazy.
“Nowadays, people make club bangers – I like Future because he makes it work and he’s got his own style and his own flow,” he laughs. “You can play every song Future has made this year throughout the whole club for like an hour or two.”