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Ode to Kobe: Korean rapper pays tribute to retired NBA superstar

Oct. 20, 2017 - 15:58 By Yoon Min-sik
Black Mamba may be gone but he will always be remembered, even among Korean fans as rapper myunDo is set to release a tribute song for the retired L.A. Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant.

myunDo said that he decided to release “Black Mamba” because he was deeply sorry for Bryant’s departure as a long-time fan. The Lakers’ shooting guard hung up his sneakers last year after wrapping up his highly-decorated 20-year career. 

The Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant salutes the crowd after his final game, on April 13, 2016, at Staples Center in Los Angeles. (TNS)


Black Mamba, a venomous snake and a code name used for deadly assassins, is a nickname that Bryant has given himself, which fans say perfectly captures his unrelenting competitiveness and nearly-unrivaled skill on the basketball court.

He even capped off his last game in the NBA -- in which he became the oldest player to score 60 or more points -- by saying “Mamba out” with a mic drop, a move that even former US President Barack Obama channeled at his final correspondents dinner.

“Even though we can‘t see Kobe anymore on the court, I hope my music will be a small comfort (for his fans),” myunDo said.

The single will be released Saturday on 6 p.m.

(minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)