Former American professional basketball player LiAngelo Ball, or G3 GELO, released his first song “Tweaker” on Jan. 3. Being a star player at Chino Hills High School, Ball played overseas in Lithuania and college basketball at the University of California, Los Angeles.
After a short National Basketball Association stint with the Charlotte Hornets and Detroit Pistons, Ball tried his hand at rapping. Quickly becoming a viral sensation, the song gained popularity with many audiences. The Detroit Lions, Hornets, Dallas Mavericks and Brooklyn Nets are just some of the many professional sports teams that have posted social media content of their players listening to “Tweaker” while working out or warming up. However, there are explicit lyrics throughout the song. Due to Tweaker’s widespread success, Ball signed a deal worth 13 million dollars with Def Jam and Universal Music Group on Jan. 13.
Throughout “Tweaker,” Ball expresses his confidence within himself, saying that “I can’t take a loss, I’m always goin’ for the win.” Being constantly under the public light, many basketball fans wonder why Ball’s basketball career didn’t pan out like his brothers, Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball and All-Star Hornets guard Lamelo Ball. He raps relentlessly about his journey to find success and his unwillingness to let others get in his way. “Flexin’ on these tweakers, they just want a taste,” also seems to be his way of defying his critics. I believe that this part of the song helps the audience like me feel more connected to what he is saying, as I appreciate Ball’s attempt to overcome those who are trying to put him down.
Being a well known figure, Ball also talks about his caution with others. He doesn’t easily trust, as he warns others to “watch over your shoulder.” Relating with many people, Ball helps resonate with people who are also on a new journey toward success. Ball shows how he overcomes this mental obstacle, proving that he is more capable than people may believe.
Personally, I found the song to be very catchy, as it has a nice beat and vibrant energy to it. One of the first and most popular lyrics of the song, “I might swerve, bend that corner, whoa,” intrigued me into wanting to hear more. Scrolling through TikTok, I am exposed to hearing it everyday, as I constantly see multiple edits that use “Tweaker” for the music. I really enjoy the flow of the song as well, as it makes you want to nod to the song instinctively. I would definitely recommend others to listen to “Tweaker.”
