The Miami Heat
won the Championship in 2006 and began their reign across the nation as the
best team in the East. The talent that they possess can only be determined by
the power and will each player contributes to the team. One such player devotes
his time to better himself in search for a sequel to their first Championship. Udonis Haslem, power forward, of the
Miami Heat is one of the players who believes in determination and gratitude.
Even with one championship under his belt, Haslem still admits that he has a
lot more ahead of him. Born and raised in Miami, he still stays true and humble
to the neighborhoods he grew up around, the appreciation he has for the city
and the hoods of Miami can be seen through his actions and everyday activities.

During the video shoot for Brisco’s ‘I’m In Da Hood’, Udonis Haslem made a guest appearance on
the set in Opa Locka. We had a chance to sit down and vibe one on one with the
power forward of the Miami Heat and provide you with this exclusive interview
only on 24hourhiphop.com, get to
know the Udonis Haslem off the court, in the hood.

24: First off,
how is everything with you, what’s going on?

Udonis Haslem:
Everything good. I just started back working out last week, getting ready,
looking forward to the next season.

24: First game on
schedule, who is the Miami Heat playing?

Udonis Haslem:
I’m not exactly sure, but I heard through the grapevine that we might start off
first game of the season against Detroit.

24: How many
years are you under Contract with Miami Heat for?

Udonis Haslem:
I’m locked in for three more years, so hopefully those three more years I can
continue to get better, improve, and if the opportunity presents itself, play a
couple years in Miami.

24: So how do you
feel about the whole Miami Hip-Hop Movement?

Udonis Haslem:
It’s about time, that’s how I feel. I’m being born and raised in Miami; I’ve
been waiting for an opportunity like this. I mean, we’ve been on the map, we’re
known for booty music and all that, but there’s a lot more going on down here
than that. So I’m just happy to see the movement right now.

24: What songs
are you feeling right now on the radio rotation?

Udonis Haslem:
I’m so Dade County with that, so I’m always down with Trick Daddy, down with Ross,
and right now with my dawg Flo Rida,
shout out to my dawg Flo. Brisco doing his thang, I’m listening to Brisco. Cash Money fan, Wayne is definitely doing his thang right now. But like I said, not
just Miami, but the South overall, it’s our time to shine and everybody else
just got to deal with it.

24: Growing up in
Miami, knowing the music and culture, who did you listen to the most, can you
drop a name?

Udonis Haslem: JT Money and the Poison Clan, I was raised on that. So all this that’s going on
right now, if it’s Miami or whatever, it all started with them boys. And Luke, you gotta give a shout out Luke,
always pay your respects to him, don’t ever forget Luke. So yeah, I was raised
on JT Money and Luke.

24: On that note,
what are your feelings on DJ Khaled
and his album just dropping “We the Best”?

Udonis Haslem:
Right now, we is the best, I’m with it. I don’t rap, I’m not into music, I’m
just a big Hip-Hop head. Like I said, I’ve been listening to this music since
day one. I’m just happy to part of the movement, I’m happy to be from Miami and
playing in Miami with all this going on.


 

24: So we’ll
never get a chance to get an album from you, just like the way Ron Artest and Allen Iverson did it?

Udonis Haslem: I
mess around a little bit; I’ve been in the studio a couple of times with my
dawg, Flo Rida. But maybe one day, maybe one day, just for some fun.

24: It would be great
to see you grace the track, especially with Flo Rida’s new album coming out.

Udonis Haslem: I
would to, like I said shout outs to Flo. I had the opportunity to meet Trick, I
had the opportunity to meet Ross, we down, all of us straight, it’s all love,
but them dudes been doing it before I met them. Flo Rida, its progress from he
started and where he at now and I’m just happy for them.

24: Getting back
to the team for a brief moment, can we get to the championship this year? Because
last year, we were anticipating it, hunting for it, and just couldn’t quite get
there.

Udonis Haslem: I
just think last year we came in with a lack of gratitude and we just couldn’t
get it on track. So I think this year, everyone going to come in with the right
mind set and we definitely gonna make another run at it. I feel, hands down, we
were the best team in the East, we just didn’t play like it, so if you don’t
prove it, there’s just nothing to say.

24: And being the
best, the Miami Heat is the best all day, the question now is, are ya’ll still
hungry?

Udonis Haslem: I
think so, after what happened last year, guys can’t help but come back home. If
you don’t call getting put out in the first round, especially with the type of
caliber team that we are and the talent we have and you can’t come home for
that, then you don’t need to be playing this game.

24: Since we out
here in the Brisco video shoot, how did you hear about it, was it planned for
you to be in it? How’d that come about?

Udonis Haslem:
The funny thing is I was just right up the street getting something to eat out
here at Homestyle and I just sawcars riding by and I saw a Flo Rida truck ride by, so I picked up the phone
and called Flo Rida. He said the video shoot was right down the street, so I
really didn’t plan to be here, it just kind of fell in my lap. That’s just a
part me being from the hood and being in the hood, so I thought I’d come up on
this. Like everybody knows, I represent the hood, I represent Miami to fullest.
I’m from here.

24: So you
frequent Opa Locka and the City on a regular?

Udonis Haslem: I
got family in Opa Locka; I was born in North Shore Hospital in the City. I got
in family all over, I got peoples in Liberty City, Overtown, I got peoples down
south, Perrine, Goulds. So everywhere I go, I’m good, cause I know people.

24: So what are
you looking for in the upcoming season with the Miami Heat, I know you looking
for something?

Udonis Haslem:
I’m looking for another ring. I’m also looking to improve my game and take it
to the next level. But at the end of the day, I’m looking to get another ring.

24: Thank you for
taking the time to vibe with 24hourhiphop.com with this exclusive interview, do
you have any last words for your fans?

Udonis Haslem:
Shout outs to everyone that’s doing their thang out here. Shout out to Trick,
Ross, Flo Rida, Brisco, if I missed anybody, whatever it is, like I said, I
represent Miami. One time for Khaled doing what he did, cause we had a lot of
talent down here, better take it from somebody like him to get everything to
together like it is now and I’m happy to be a part of it. And ya’ll stick
around for me cause I’m doing my thang, I ain’t just hanging out, getting money
for the next couple years, I’m gonna continue to get better and make things
work, looking forward to getting another ring.


Photos by Ghost & Rookie