Michael Jackson's most unexpected collaboration came when he included four-time NBA Champion Shaquille O'Neal as a feature on one of his tracks. Everyone is quick to praise Shaq for his accomplishments on the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat, which position him as one of basketball's greatest centers, but it's oft-forgotten that in his off-time, Shaq liked to rap.

In one of his most prominent songs, Shaq serves as a feature on the song "2 Bad" in Michael Jackson's HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. Michael Jackson was nicknamed King of Pop, but he wasn't shy about experimenting with other genres or making daring collaborations with surprising artists. One of those genres he dabbled in was hip hop, and one surprising artist was the former Orlando Magic rookie.

This was far from the basketball player's first foray into music, and even further from being his last, but given the star power of Michael Jackson, it's his most high-profile to date.

Shaq Has A Rap Verse On Michael Jackson's Song "2 Bad"

Track 12 of Disc 2 of HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I

As a double album released in 1995, HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I simultaneously serves as a compilation album and Michael Jackson's ninth studio album. Disc 1 compiles MJ's most celebrated songs, including several from he'd eventually change the lyrics on. The album as a whole features some surprising additions for assistance, like hip-hop legend Notorious B.I.G. Jackson freely experiments with genres ranging from rock, to R&B, to funk, and particularly rap.

In experimenting in the hip-hop field, it shouldn't come as a surprise that he'd garner a feature from a rap icon who rivals Jay-Z. What comes as a bigger surprise is the fact that Michael Jackson acquired Shaq for a rap verse, and even more surprising, Shaq's verse isn't bad (no pun intended). Kicking things off with "Life's about a dream / I'm really undefeated when MJ's on my team" makes for a clever double entender for Mr. Shaq Diesel to establish that he isn't going to waste the opportunity or privilege of sharing a song with one of the greatest of all time. The athlete brings his A-game, lyrically.

While "MJ" can refer to Michael Jackson, it could also refer to Michael Jordan. While Jordan and O'Neal never teamed together, Shaq could be alluding to just how unstoppable they would be as a duo, or how unstoppable he and Jackson are as a duo, hence the double meaning.

This Wasn't Jackson's First Time Collaborating With An NBA Champion

Michael Jordan Starred in the "Jam" Music Video

Michael Jackson was notably a basketball fan, having been seen in attendance during NBA games, particularly for Shaq's most famous team, the L.A. Lakers. That being said, Jackson didn't have a bias toward any players or teams. He just loved basketball, and as such, Michael Jackson collaborated with multiple NBA stars in different capacities during his career. One of his most popular and best ed collaborations with a sports superstar came when he linked up with Michael Jordan in the latter's native Chicago for his "Jam" music video. Jordan won six NBA Championships before ending his career.

In addition, another Hall of Fame-level Lakers star in Magic Johnson, a five-time NBA Champion, makes a cameo in one of Michael Jackson's best short film music videos, " the Time." It's also worth noting that at the age of 12 in 1971, Michael Jackson shared the screen playing a game of jump ball with 11-time NBA Champion, Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics, for the Jackson 5 TV special, Goin' Back to Indiana. Clearly, not only did Michael Jackson love the game of basketball, but he loved surrounding himself with multi-time champions like Shaq.

Did Shaq Rap On Any Other Songs In The '90s?

The Four-Time NBA Champion Even Dropped an Album

The 1990s belonged to Shaquille O'Neal from the moment he was the number one pick in the 1992 NBA Draft. Mainstream crowds were in awe of his stature at 7'1 and freakish fits of strength like shattering the rim whenever he dunked. People didn't just want to see him on the court, they wanted to see him everywhere, instantly turning Shaq into a box office icon in pop culture overnight. As such, he dabbled in crossover opportunities like music. Shaq's musical debut came in 1993 as a feature on Fu-Schnickens' "What's Up Doc? Can We Rock)."

Shaq's 90s reign on the music charts continued by releasing his debut studio album by the end of the year, Shaq Diesel. He'd spend the rest of the decade sharing the mic with the likes of RZA, Method Man, KRS-One, Ice Cube, and even the aforementioned Notorious B.I.G. on "You Can't Stop the Reign." Shaq made the most of his quickly growing public image, and celebrities wanted to experience the aura of Shaq firsthand. Michael Jackson was just one of many artists with the star power to match that of the NBA Champion.