At the virtual 2020 ESPYS ceremony on Sunday (June 21), Snoop Dogg honored the late Kobe Bryant with a musical tribute that highlighted the retired basketball star's 20-year journey as a Los Angeles Laker and his impact on the city of L.A.
"The stage is set, it's go time/ Peep the scene, we in the mix, it's '96/ And rising from the Philly streets, a teen/ Tryin' to find his direction," the song began, with Snoop rapping over an uptempo beat as footage of murals honoring Kobe appeared on the screen and the song highlighted Kobe's rise from teen prodigy to five-time NBA champion. "You beat the odds by a mile, all grit, no smile/ A new golden child, yeah, let's do it Mamba Style."
"Your reign in the city remains, from Ocean to San Vicente," Snoop continued. "This is your city, much love for the ride."
The video additionally included shots of Kobe playing alongside fellow basketball legends including Shaquille O'Neil, Michael Jordan and LeBron James as well as footage of Kobe with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant, who also died in the January helicopter crash.
Kobe's wife, Vanessa Bryant praised the tribute on Instagram, calling it, "beautiful" and shouting out Snoop for the moving song.
As fans know, it's been nearly five months since Kobe, Gianna and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash.
Last week, Vanessa called for Congress to pass the "Kobe and Gianna Bryant Helicopter Safety Act" — a new helicopter safety bill that would require all helicopters certified to carry six or more people to be equipped with a Terrain Awareness and Warning System, a flight data recorder and a cockpit voice recorder.
"I strongly urge that the United States Congress pass a federal law that would improve the safety of helicopters operating in this country," she said in a statement. "I believe there is a chance that Kobe and Gianna would still be alive today if their helicopter had been equipped with the safety equipment required by this pending federal legislation."
Photo: Getty Images