10 lesser known facts about Kobe Bryant

The official Kobe Bryant page on Facebook has over 20+ million followers,and his official twitter handle @Kobe Bryant has 5.53 million followers, fourth behind James, Shaquille O’Neal and Kevin Durant. Bryant has been more than a revelation from being the first high school guard ever to be drafted by an NBA team in league history to aging beautifully like wine after 18 seasons.Many might consider $30 million for a single season, Bryant’s current annual salary overpayment for a player who will turn 36 shortly. However, he has earned that kind of money with his dedication and years of  priceless contribution to the Los Angeles Lakers franchise.For the die-hard Kobe Bryant fans these just might be mere writings inscribed in their memory, but for the rest of the world here are 10 lesser known facts about the Black Mamba on the occasion of his 36th birthday (23rd August).

#10 Kobe had quite the rap career including a never released video single titled K.O.B.E

Sony Entertainment signed Kobe Bryant and his high school band CHEIZAW, named after the Chi Sah gang in the martial arts film Kid with the Golden Arm. However the companys ultimate aim was to eliminate the group and capitalize on Bryants youth and NBA fame by making him record singles.

He performed at a 1997 concert by Swag and King Tech and also recorded a verse in the remix of Brian McKnights Hold Me. Although he was not mentioned in the credits, Bryant also made an appearance in then teammate ONeals album named respect, starting the track 3 Xs Dope.

His debut album with the company Visions was set to release in the spring of 2000 and the first single featured on the album was titled K.O.B.E featuring supermodel Tyra Banks singing the hook.

The single released in January of the new millennium and was later performed at the NBA All-Star Weekend the following month but was not received well, leading to the company abandoning their plans of releasing their album.