Source: BET Awards 2020 / Getty

Lil Wayne performed at the 2020 BET Awards and used his performance to pay homage to the late Kobe Bryant.

So when Kobe tragically passed five months ago in a helicopter accident alongside his daughter, it was no surprise to see so many in the hip hop community support the Bryant family and mourn Kobe as a family man and legendary basketball player.

The hip hop community holds Mamba Mentality in high regard, and it’s commonplace to hear Kobe’s names dropped in plenty of rap songs throughout the last twenty years.

Back in 2009, at the height of his fame, Lil Wayne dedicated an entire song to Kobe Bryant, who was at the height of the basketball world at the time.

Lil Wayne was inspired by Kobe’s dazzling performance in game six of the 2009 Western Conference finals when Kobe scored 35 points and dished out 10 assists to secure their place in the NBA finals.