The Side Part: Rob Pelinka’s song is crying

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An over-analysis of Kevin Durant’s firing of Rob Pelinka and move to sign with Jay-Z/Roc Nation Sports through the usage of Jay-Z lyrics that have nothing to do with what I’ll say they have something to do with.

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Kevin Durant is leaving the warm, extension getting arms of Rob Pelinka and moving onward and, let’s just call it what it is, upward, to be represented by King Hov, Jay Z. You should’ve known by now, Pelinka: when you sleep, he’s reaching for your throat.

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Song Cry – The Blueprint (2001)

I can understand why you want a divorce now
Though I can’t let you know it, pride won’t let me show it
Pretend to be heroic, that’s just one to grow with
But deep inside a ***** so sick
I can’t see it comin’ down my eyes
So I gotta make the song cry

Pelinka’s not going to be publicly sour about this. That’s a bad look. He probably understands why Durant’s leaving, too. He doesn’t need any help making money, contract-wise, anymore. That’s been taken care of. Now, taking on the court stuff out of the equation, for better or worse, as far as his agent is concerned, it’s about brand management. It’s about becoming even more worldwide. Prestige Worldwide…wide…wide. Granted, Durant doesn’t need much, if any, help with this. He’s with Nike, Gatorade, Sprint, Skullcandy, and a whole bunch more, but Jay-Z can do nothing but help the brand grow even more.

Girls, Girls, Girls – The Blueprint (2001)

I love girls, girls, girls, girls
Girls, I do adore
Yo put your number on this paper cause I would love to date ya
Holla at ya when I come off tour, yeah

This is what Rob Pelinka looks like on an average day. Kind of a not quite as good looking spiky haired version of Rob Lowe. These are the sorts of situations Jay-Z finds himself in on the regular. Queen Bey. You choose an opportunity to hang out with Bey WAY before you choose an opportunity to hang out with a homeless man’s version of the dick from Tommy Boy.

Young Forever – The Blueprint 3 (2009)

Fear not when, fear not why, fear not much while we’re alive
Life is for living, not living uptight, see ya somewhere up in the sky
Fear not die, I’ll be alive for a million years, bye bye’s
Are not for legends, I’m forever young, my name shall survive
Through the darkest blocks, over kitchen stoves, over Pyrex pots
My name shall be passed down to generations
While debatin’ up in barber shops

I’ve done very little great in my life so I can’t intelligently speak on the goings on of those that have, but I’d imagine that when you’re a dude trying to get to the top of a certain ladder, it pays to be able to pick the brain of someone who’s already at the top of another. As iron sharpens iron, that type of thing. Durant hasn’t been quiet about wanting to be a legend. His opinions of being second are well documented. When you can be mentored by one of the greatest to ever do it and that dude also happens to be an idol of yours, you take that opportunity.

Never Change – The Blueprint (2001)

Cause when you sleep, he’s reaching for your throat
Word on the street, you reap what you sow
Not out of fear but love, love for the game
Roc family first, we never change man

We’re running it back on the “reaching for your throat” line because it makes too much sense to not repeat a second time. Durant’s known to play whenever he wants because he just loves the game that much. Goodman League. Rucker. Wherever. And then there’s family. The guy keeps a tight circle, as do the Thunder. Few organizations preach community and family like the Thunder do. Can’t imagine that’s changing anytime soon.

Dead Presidents II – Reasonable Doubt (1996)

Catch me in the joints, convinced my iguanas is biting
J-A-Y hyphen, controlling, manipulating
I got a good life man, pounds and pence
Nuff dollars make sense, while you ride the bench
Catch me swinging for the fence
Dead Presidents, ya know?

God bless Nas for coming up with one of the greatest lines of all time: “I’m out for dead presidents to represent me”. Jay-Z was on the sneak with this signing, and he’s not playing around with minnows. He went right for a great white shark. He swung for the fences and now him and Durant are going to make a lot of money together.

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Jay-Z once said “We can get paper longer than Pippen’s arms”, so everything is going to be just fine. Ultimately, we’re all one step closer to getting Beyonce court-side for a game, which means we’re one step closer to Brian Davis trying to talk to her.

That’s a win for us all.

Unrelated: This really goes without saying, because you know this, but that’s just incredible denim vest work by Durant in that picture.

Tyler Parker is a contributor to Daily Thunder and a contributing editor at Ballerball. Follow him on Twitter, yo.