LiAngelo Ball is a name we’ve connected to basketball for as long as he’s been playing, but in 2025 he’s showing that he’s got more than just buckets on his mind. Former professional basketball player LiAngelo Ball is here and with his debut single “Tweaker,” he’s breaking out the doubters and showing the Ball family work ethic is alive and well in his transition to music.

The middle brother among NBA stars Lonzo and LaMelo Ball, LiAngelo may not have found a long-term niche in the league as his siblings have, but that hasn’t kept him off the radar. Instead of fading into obscurity, he has pulled off the unthinkable — a comeback as a rap star. And it’s not just lip service; his new music is resonating with the Detroit Lions, Lil Yachty and hip-hop at large, earning him a major record deal with Def Jam.

A Ball Brother Forging His Own Path

For years the Ball family was associated with success, perseverance and belief that they were destined for greatness — all courtesy of the boisterous ways of their father, LaVar Ball. Love him or hate him, LaVar has always been correct about one thing: his sons are winners.

Lonzo, the eldest of the three, emerged in the N.B.A. as a playmaking wizard. LaMelo, the youngest, announced himself as an All-Star and one of the flashiest babies in the league. LiAngelo, who had always been forgotten, had now surprised the world in his own right — not on the court but in the recording booth.

His first official single “Tweaker” isn’t just a song; it’s a declaration. A quote that declares: “I don’t have to be in the NBA to be great.”

“Tweaker” – A Game-Changer

The song pulls you in from the first note. With an aggressive flow, hard-hitting beat, and a delivery fried in confidence, LiAngelo (who records under the name G3 Gelo) is showing that he’s serious about this new lane. He’s not another athlete-turned-rapper trying to find a hobby — he’s an artist with something to prove.

There’s been huge excitement around “Tweaker.” Lil Yachty co-signed it, NFL teams are blasting it around the locker room, and hip-hop heads are beginning to take note. It’s that rare crossover success that most athletes never achieve, and LiAngelo’s done it off one song.

His confidence is well-founded — by his results — as reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, Ball has signed a multi-million-dollar record deal with Def Jam Recordings and Universal Music Group that is allegedly worth up to $13 million. Unlike many new artists, he will own his music, and retain his independent label, Born to Ball Music Group, controlling his creative and financial fates for years to come.
For a first-timer, that’s almost unprecedented.

LaVar Ball’s Vision Comes Full Circle

Ten years ago, LaVar Ball had the audacity to say all his sons would be superstars. Many people at the time dismissed his larger-than-life personality and ambitious proclamations as schtick. Yet, here we are in 2025 and all three Ball brothers have etched their name in the world.

While LiAngelo’s basketball journey didn’t follow the same trajectory as Lonzo’s or LaMelo’s, he has carved his own path to stardom. From a G-League role player to an attention-grabbing artist with offers from the music industry’s biggest labels, he has found his own way to shock the world.

That’s proof the unyielding self-belief of the Ball family isn’t just for show — it’s a mentality that pays off. LaVar Ball didn’t just raise basketball players, he raised winners.

What’s Next for LiAngelo Ball?

Having signed a deal with Def Jam, an upcoming show at Rolling Loud California in March and a growing fan base, LiAngelo Ball is set to become more than just “Lonzo and LaMelo’s brother” and, instead, a star in his own right in the hip-hop world.

What’s just the start is his debut single, and his work rate could lead him to be rap's next global star if his genetic luck is anything to go by.

From the digital hardwood to the digital booth, G3 Gelo is making a case that the lineage of the Ball family is not just steeped in basketball — it’s steeped in excellence, wherever it originates.

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