On the brink of missing the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2005, LeBron James shifted his focus to A&Ring 2 Chainz’s latest album, Rap or Go to the League. For months, James took to his Instagram story to give hip-hop albums his stamp of approval. He could be seen bobbing his head with his durag tied tight, holding the occasional glass of wine as he listened to personal favorites like Drake and Kendrick. Eventually, James realized his own power as an influencer, which made these IG stories feel less like LeBron James co-signs and more like slick advertisements. (I heard Eminem’s Kamikaze ’Bron, no way it deserved a “So dope!!!!”) Though his influence through most of Rap or Go to the League is hard to discern, “NCAA” is one of the songs where James seems to have directly inspired 2 Chainz.

LeBron James and 2 Chainz connect on “NCAA” through their mutual awareness of the jig that is college sports. The ATL rapper was introduced to the injustices college athletes face—they bring in millions to the schools and see none of that money—during his days playing basketball at Alabama State University. James, who is a former No. 1 recruit, had the luxury of bypassing the traditional college ball-to-the-NBA path by going straight to the league from high school. On the song, 2 Chainz uses real-life examples of star athletes who excelled for their schools yet it wasn’t enough: “I have more crab legs than Jameis/You fake like you got a girlfriend, Manti Te’o.” There’s a never-ending cycle of young athletes being taken advantage of that both James and 2 Chainz have learned from as they have both taken full control of their respective careers.

And though the track is critical of the NCAA’s treatment of players, the hook is still destined to soundtrack the upcoming March Madness: “NCAA, yeah, we the young and the dangerous.” The production from Honorable C.N.O.T.E was made for big game warmups with a haunting melody reminiscent of producer Lex Luger’s heyday and his pounding, celebratory drums. Having James put his name on “NCAA” raises the song’s profile, but it’s 2 Chainz who continues to be an ageless force in hip-hop.