When you think of Shaquille O’Neal, basketball is probably the first thing that comes to mind.

O’Neal in fact has a successful musical career and is also highly respected in the field.

O’Neal had hardly been an NBA star when he made his first foray into the world of rap music.

Shaquille O’Neal posing in sunglasses

It was 1993 and “Shaq Diesel” debuted, setting the basketball great up as a rap star.

but O’Neal’s music success would not last through the ’90s.

He planned another album for 2001, but it never came to fruition, according toBiography.

Shaquille O’Neal

He was still a top NBA player until he retired in 2011.

Shaquille O’Neal smiling