If you have any form of social media you’re almost sure to have heard the lyrics “I might swerve bend that corner WOAH.” “Tweaker” by LiAngelo Ball has taken all feeds by storm since it was released on January 3rd of this year.
The song is by basketball star, LiAngelo Ball, who was already quite well known before the song came out. LiAngelo comes from the Ball family, which is very famous in the basketball world. Two of the three sons have had great college careers and play in the NBA. In 2017, they released a reality tv show, called Ball in the Family, which continued for five seasons. It’s safe to say all three of the sons have became stars, as once was promised by LaVar Ball (father), but not for some of the expected reasons.
You may be confused why this former basketball star is now famous for his hip hop presence. LiAngelo’s backstory is quite complex. He grew up in a Anaheim, California in a very competitive household. LiAngelo is the middle child and has an older brother, Lonzo and younger brother, LaMelo. Their father, LaVar played college basketball and also was on the practice squad for multiple NFL teams. With LaVar being a highly accomplished athlete, he was determined to make his kids be at the top of their game and become pro athletes. LiAngelo saw his future the same way as his brothers. LiAngelo was very talented at basketball and was signed at division one school, UCLA, but not for long. After one preseason game, he was suspended by the Bruins for shoplifting designer sunglasses in China. This incident lead him to not succeed to his full potential unlike his sibling, Lonzo and LaMelo. As disappointing of an incident this was, it ultimately turned out fine. He was able to play basketball overseas and even signed training camp deals with multiple NBA teams but never made an on court appearance.
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LiAngelo had always had a artistic side to him and was inspired by his reckless drives to school with his brothers. In high school, he began writing bars for fun and adding different beats, with his brothers, about their reckless drives and adventures which led to the creation of “Tweaker.” The lyrics “I might swerve bend that corner, woah” talk about how LiAngelo and his brothers would take corners fast and say “woah.” Another example from the song is “You wanna tweak? Get up with me and I’ma show you how that go.” LiAngelo shares how if you wanted a crazy car ride, you have to be with him and his brothers because “that where it be.” LiAngelo never planned to release the song because he believed his calling was basketball. However, recently LiAngelo made an appearance on a well known YouTuber’s stream, and he played a little bit of his song “Tweaker.” The video gained lots of traction and viewers loved the song which prompted LiAngelo to release the song on multiple platforms, under his stage name GELO.
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Quickly after the release of “Tweaker” and with his rising popularity, he gained the attention of many influential people. GELO signed a record label with Def Jam. Also, GELO performed at a Lions game at Ford Field as well as at the halftime during State Farm All-Star Saturday Night. GELO also dropped a remix of “Tweaker” featuring Lil Wayne, who is big in the rap industry. GELO also plans to drop more songs which fans are begging for the release of.
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Its safe to say that “Tweaker” is a hit and that fans are eating up all the content around it. Although it may not have been part of his future plans a month ago, GELO has became a social media sensation and the support of his brothers is a key part in it.
LISTEN TO TWEAKER (EXPLICIT LISTEN WITH CAUTION):
TWEAKER PERFORMANCE: