LiAngelo Ball Is the First Big Rap Story of 2025
CultureA viral Twitter joke may have birthed the year’s first genuine heater.By Frazier TharpeJanuary 8, 2025Chris Panicker; Getty ImagesSave this storySaveSave this storySaveThe other day, I saw a tweet that described 2025 as a “sci-fi ass year”—the kind of date films of decades past used to set the action around for all types of futuristic hijinks. Three days in, we’ve already begun living up to that standard thanks to the magnificently next-level phrase “swerve, bend that corner,” a new rap refrain courtesy of none other than… LiAngelo Ball?Yes, that’s Ball as in LaVar Ball, the prophet who’s been willing his sons to superstardom since 2017. LiAngelo, who has an older brother (Lonzo) on the Bulls and a younger (LaMelo) on the Hornets, plays for a Mexican team after years in the G League, and has been fighting middle-child allegations for a time—but now, dammit, LaVar is looking three for three because Gelo might have a genuine heater on his hands.It started, as most things do, as a meme of sorts. LiAngelo, during a visit to popular Kick personality N3on’s livestream, randomly revealed he’s been making music under the alias G3, and played a snippet of a song called “Tweaker” as they drove around. Far from sounding like the typically staid songs aspiring-rapper athletes come up with, whatever LiAngelo had on the speakers was, one way or the other, immediately arresting.Gelo, G3…instead let’s call him Doctor Manhattan, because you have to be mentally unstuck in time to create the strange alchemy LiAngelo cooked up here. The beat? Something along the lines of the bouncy bling-rap Mannie Fresh would’ve given to himself and Birdman for a Big Tymers banger. Gelo’s flow sounds like he would’ve fit right in with the St. Lunatics. And that hook? All it takes is one distinct turn of phrase to stand out and “swerve, bend that corner” is about as different as it gets.On just the strength of the snippet the song took off on the cross sections of rap and NBA Twitter, where people remarked on its 2000s feel with jokes calling it Madden Music or inserting it into a scene of corner boys from The Wire turning up to it—it fit so perfectly, someone who didn’t know the episode or the song wouldn’t realize it’s an edit. Wisecracks inserting LiAngelo into the hierarchy of rappers poised to run the year abounded, as did jokes that the “Tweaker” full release was about to spoil Lil Baby’s new album drop.But then a funny thing happened: the full song dropped and it’s so ridiculous that it actually kind of goes? By the time the weekend was over, “Tweaker” mania had taken hold, from rap fans and artists alike, including T-Pain, the only other writer who had a chance at inventing “Bend that corner” first—to beyond.Bending corners…. It sounds like something Sung Kang does behind the wheel of a Nissan Skyline in Tokyo Drift, or some reality-altering flex Neo pulls off in The Matrix. It sounds cool, simply put. All of these strains of aughts era hip-hop DNA, would in theory make a new song sound dated on arrival, but G3 is the recombinant. As delivered, it sounds just fresh enough to work, tall white tee & Sidekick music that nevertheless sounds like something that might go at a function right now.X contentThis content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.There’s a certain tone to the jokes and conversation around it, where everyone is clearly being tongue in cheek about G3 taking over the rap game and genuinely amused that LiAngelo might have made an honest to goodness heater. Are we laughing at, or with? Both? LiAngelo Ball randomly dropped a rap song that sounds like Y2K rap. That’s just a funny sentence no matter which way you cut it, but not necessarily at its expense. No, Kendrick does not need to bring him out at the Super Bowl, but, honestly, it kind of is exactly the type of song Andre 3000 would’ve decided to dance over with a rare 16 back in 2006.Most PopularGQ RecommendsThe Best Silver Chains Shine With Any Shirt (or Selfie)By Toby StandingStyleEvery Piece of Menswear You Should Own in 2025By Gerald OrtizGQ RecommendsThe Alex Mill Sale Just Went Double PlatinumBy Gerald OrtizX contentThis content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.On WorldstarHipHop’s YouTube page “Tweaker” currently sits at 4.1 million views, nearly double the metrics for “Dum, Dumb and Dumber,” the posse cut from Lil Baby’s new album WHAM that boasts Young Thug’s excellent first new verse since being released from prison.Who would’ve thought that one of the Ball brothers could compete with thunder like that. “Ball Brothers” is the official artist name “Tweaker” was released under; the credits reveal Lonzo as a co-writer. Ever the proud older brother, Lonzo has since said that the track is all Gelo (who’s also listed as the producer, which, wow), and even previewed some of his Bulls teammates turning up to an almost equally compelling unreleased song. A second Gelo snippet has hit the timeline. If you thought this was a catchy mem
The other day, I saw a tweet that described 2025 as a “sci-fi ass year”—the kind of date films of decades past used to set the action around for all types of futuristic hijinks. Three days in, we’ve already begun living up to that standard thanks to the magnificently next-level phrase “swerve, bend that corner,” a new rap refrain courtesy of none other than… LiAngelo Ball?
Yes, that’s Ball as in LaVar Ball, the prophet who’s been willing his sons to superstardom since 2017. LiAngelo, who has an older brother (Lonzo) on the Bulls and a younger (LaMelo) on the Hornets, plays for a Mexican team after years in the G League, and has been fighting middle-child allegations for a time—but now, dammit, LaVar is looking three for three because Gelo might have a genuine heater on his hands.
It started, as most things do, as a meme of sorts. LiAngelo, during a visit to popular Kick personality N3on’s livestream, randomly revealed he’s been making music under the alias G3, and played a snippet of a song called “Tweaker” as they drove around. Far from sounding like the typically staid songs aspiring-rapper athletes come up with, whatever LiAngelo had on the speakers was, one way or the other, immediately arresting.
Gelo, G3…instead let’s call him Doctor Manhattan, because you have to be mentally unstuck in time to create the strange alchemy LiAngelo cooked up here. The beat? Something along the lines of the bouncy bling-rap Mannie Fresh would’ve given to himself and Birdman for a Big Tymers banger. Gelo’s flow sounds like he would’ve fit right in with the St. Lunatics. And that hook? All it takes is one distinct turn of phrase to stand out and “swerve, bend that corner” is about as different as it gets.
On just the strength of the snippet the song took off on the cross sections of rap and NBA Twitter, where people remarked on its 2000s feel with jokes calling it Madden Music or inserting it into a scene of corner boys from The Wire turning up to it—it fit so perfectly, someone who didn’t know the episode or the song wouldn’t realize it’s an edit. Wisecracks inserting LiAngelo into the hierarchy of rappers poised to run the year abounded, as did jokes that the “Tweaker” full release was about to spoil Lil Baby’s new album drop.
But then a funny thing happened: the full song dropped and it’s so ridiculous that it actually kind of goes? By the time the weekend was over, “Tweaker” mania had taken hold, from rap fans and artists alike, including T-Pain, the only other writer who had a chance at inventing “Bend that corner” first—to beyond.
Bending corners…. It sounds like something Sung Kang does behind the wheel of a Nissan Skyline in Tokyo Drift, or some reality-altering flex Neo pulls off in The Matrix. It sounds cool, simply put. All of these strains of aughts era hip-hop DNA, would in theory make a new song sound dated on arrival, but G3 is the recombinant. As delivered, it sounds just fresh enough to work, tall white tee & Sidekick music that nevertheless sounds like something that might go at a function right now.
X content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
There’s a certain tone to the jokes and conversation around it, where everyone is clearly being tongue in cheek about G3 taking over the rap game and genuinely amused that LiAngelo might have made an honest to goodness heater. Are we laughing at, or with? Both? LiAngelo Ball randomly dropped a rap song that sounds like Y2K rap. That’s just a funny sentence no matter which way you cut it, but not necessarily at its expense. No, Kendrick does not need to bring him out at the Super Bowl, but, honestly, it kind of is exactly the type of song Andre 3000 would’ve decided to dance over with a rare 16 back in 2006.
- GQ RecommendsThe Alex Mill Sale Just Went Double Platinum
X content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
On WorldstarHipHop’s YouTube page “Tweaker” currently sits at 4.1 million views, nearly double the metrics for “Dum, Dumb and Dumber,” the posse cut from Lil Baby’s new album WHAM that boasts Young Thug’s excellent first new verse since being released from prison.
Who would’ve thought that one of the Ball brothers could compete with thunder like that. “Ball Brothers” is the official artist name “Tweaker” was released under; the credits reveal Lonzo as a co-writer. Ever the proud older brother, Lonzo has since said that the track is all Gelo (who’s also listed as the producer, which, wow), and even previewed some of his Bulls teammates turning up to an almost equally compelling unreleased song. A second Gelo snippet has hit the timeline. If you thought this was a catchy meme, a lark, think again: G3’s chamber might be fully loaded.
We may not be talking or thinking about G3 and “Tweaker” by Valentine’s Day, or we may have just gotten the year’s first viral hit three days in. Either way, hell of a hilarious start to the year in rap. Damn you, LaVar Ball, you’ve done it again.
