Ex-Streetballer Stuart Tanner Releases Tribute Track to British Basketball - Hoopsfix.com

Ex-Streetballer Stuart Tanner Releases Tribute Track to British Basketball

It was the end of last summer that one of my boys, ex-streetballer Stuart Tanner (pictured above, left, with Tarryn Algar), dropped me a sendspace.com download link to a track he had recorded, ‘Letter to My X’, which pays tribute to British basketball in a way I have never heard before.

Tanner, most famously known for beating Devin Harris in a one on one, grew to prominence back in the early 2000’s through streetball.co.uk, the now legendary website his brother, Greg Tanner, set up.

These were before the days of YouTube, and the ease at which we can share content nowadays, but it didn’t stop Stu becoming globally known for his flashy game (he walked into an interview with LeBron two years ago, and ‘Bron had no problem recognising who he was!).

Ultimately, he left basketball due to health problems, and whilst he was ill he used to enjoy writing; one of the things he began to write was this ode to British basketball.

Future Stars 2013 back in June was the first time I heard a few of the bars. He rapped them to me, accompanied by by Joe Bada$$’s Unorthodox instrumental playing on YouTube and I went siiiick on it.

I told him that he HAD to record it and release it, it’s too good to not be put out there for other people to hear.

Stuart was (and still is) reluctant, “I’m not a rapper, I don’t want people to think I’m trying to be a rapper,” he said. So just to make it clear – it is me that has pushed this, not him.

He finished it off, adding a verse at the end to bring it up to date with some modern references (appreciate the Hoopsfix shout out, Stu), and got into a friend’s recording studio at the end of the summer.

I received the download link a few weeks later, and it has since taken another six months to persuade him to allow me to make it public.

UK Sport announced the funding cut this week, and one of first things I thought of is now would be the perfect time to drop it, with it featuring a line about UK Sport and funding n’ all…I got him on the phone yesterday, and managed to persuade him to let me just stick an image with it and put it on YouTube.

Check it out; the entire three and a half minutes is pure fire; paying tribute to British basketball legends, stories, and more, it’s the kind of thing that any true hooper will love (the lyrics are also below). If you are feeling it, make sure you share it and show your friends!


For those who want to go into it deeper, the lyrics are below with explanations in brackets:

She got me here sitting down thinking bout fun times,

Kept me outta trouble in the summer when sun shines.

My friends are catching cases and caged up in Feltham

Told me if my teammate gets burnt I should help him.

And I don’t need a courtroom to take no ‘charge’

But dance in this ballroom and you’re bound to get scars.

Goes deeper than the physical, blood, sweat and tears

I feel it in my spiritual been loving her for years.

She made me man up round the people that I feared

When she left me I turned to the beers (all opening bars are about basketball being Stuart’s girlfriend)

She took soldiers out the City to Chicago in the past (when Midnight Madness went to America)

I heard about the crazy late nights you had with Nhamz (Nhamo Shire, founder of Midnight Madness)

You also demonstrated, how your love has bought my hatred

You put me on the world news and Sport Illustrated (when Stu beat Devin Harris)

The many doors you opened and avenues created

And no i’m not religious but to me you stay sacred.

I’ve seen you take walks with Tarryn in the park (Tarryn Algar, streetballer)

Germayne still love you even though you broke his heart (Former GB guard Germayne Forbes was forced to leave the game for a period of time due to a rare and serious condition affecting his heart, pericarditis)

His love for you made Luol excel in his craft (GB star Luol Deng, just incase you didn’t know)

Other countries laughing at us is a thing of the past

I’ve seen mans leave you to try and get their cake up (stopped balling to get money)

Ryan (Cadogan) was the truth in his youth but now it’s shape ups (promising young talent Ryan Cadogan stop playing to become a barber)

Warriors like Midgley and Duncan Ogilive (Richard Midgley)

Lost chapters out their story after blowing out their knees (both careers cut short after serious knee injuries)

You took may casualties and burnt many calories

People planned on going pro but never made a salary

But you gave me memories that I will always cherish

Till ashes turn to ashes and my presence just perish

The most respect I give R.I.P Joe White (legendary Hackney coach)

He taught kids that society sees as low life

And I don’t have the word the affect that he had

But when he past many kids felt like they lost their dad

I’ve seen this little kids sitting on a sideline silent

And six years later he’s a 6 ‘9″ giant

The results of hard work and a basketball diet

Don’t try it, you’ll get blocked in the paint by Matthew Bryan (Matthew Bryan-Amaning)

The new generation is led by Van Oostrum (Devon van Oostrum)

Hesitation dribble, jump shot or just cross them

And when I watch him play I’m on the edge of my seat

Whether he leaps in the lane or he’s just raining from deep

They say that Jordan is Jesus but he is no carpenter

You’re on Facebook then you’re friends with Glenn Hardaker

Ballers on line from the city to the sticks….

Sam Neter’s on his grind updating Hoopsfix

And Streetball.co.uk was the sickest site that I’d seen back in the day.

It was all about passion it wasn’t about pay Greg Tanner’s influential even tho he didn’t play

(Little break in track)

Shout out the UK

Too many names to mention

Putting in extra hours like it’s detention

Suicides, jump shots, leg extensions

Get it in, ’til your games outta this dimension

We got ballers and I just don’t mean London

F*ck UK Sport for fucking with the funding

It ain’t stopping our passion for the game were loving

and to our coaches stay focused on them young’ns

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