LiAngelo Ball, better known as Gelo, stopped by the Baller Alert Show to set the record straight on his life, career shift from basketball to music, and the internet’s relentless rumors—including claims that he’s a “deadbeat dad.”
From NBA Dreams to Rap Star Overnight
Gelo admitted that rap was never part of his plan, but after his song Tweakin went viral overnight, he knew he had to take it seriously. The track took off after being played on a live stream, and by the time he woke up the next morning, fans were demanding its release.
“I dropped it on the stream… went to sleep, and then by the time I woke up, my s**t was flooded,” he recalled.
Realizing the momentum behind his music, Gelo quickly assembled a team and started making major moves in the industry. He shared that within just a few days, he was already taking meetings and setting up a solid foundation for his career.
And while many NBA players have dabbled in music, Gelo might be the first to make a full, successful transition. He acknowledged that some might be envious of his new wave, saying, “I might have ruffled some feathers… but I don’t trip on that.”
Choosing Lil Wayne for the Tweakin Remix
With Tweakin gaining traction, plenty of artists wanted to hop on the remix, including Moneybagg Yo, NLE Choppa, and even Boosie. But Gelo had one clear choice: Lil Wayne.
“Wayne was my GOAT. I grew up on Carter II, Carter III, Carter IV… I knew I had to get him on it.”
Addressing “Deadbeat Dad” Allegations
Despite his rising success, Gelo has also had to deal with online negativity. One rumor that particularly gets under his skin? The claim that he’s a deadbeat dad.
“That s**t crazy,” he said. “I be with my young n*ggas every day. I raised em up.”
He admitted that people often make misleading assumptions about his life, but he doesn’t let it get to him.
“I don’t get worked up over internet s**t… I just do my thing, pull my phone down, and hang with the gang.”
Life as an Artist vs. Basketball Player
Transitioning from basketball to rap has been a shift, but Gelo says his time in the league helped prepare him for performing.
“I don’t go into shows like, ‘Oh damn, there’s hella people here.’ It feels like I got a game,” he explained. “But the difference is, in music, I get to be myself. Basketball is censored as hell. You can’t say this, can’t do that… but in music, people f**k with you for being you.”
Gelo also shared that while he’s still got love for hooping, music touches a much broader audience.
“Not everybody likes basketball. But music? It’s everywhere. Even overseas, they don’t even know our language but still vibe with it.”
More Heat on the Way
With Tweakin still making waves, Gelo revealed that he has even better songs in the vault, including Shook the Game and Booted Up.
“I got some s**t coming,” he teased.
As for pressure to follow up his viral hit, Gelo isn’t sweating it.
“My pops always said, ‘This is life. Real pressure is waking up and not knowing where to live or having no money.’”
Mental Health Check-In
When asked how he handles bad days, Gelo keeps it simple:
“I go for a walk, smoke one, or just start writing. I’ll put a song down in like an hour or two if I really tap in.”
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