Lil Wayne Pours Out Kobe Bryant Love, "He's Inspired Not Only Songs, But He's Inspired Me In Life"

Grammy-winning rapper Lil Wayne's love for Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant is deeper than basketball as he has now dished out just how big of an impact the five-time NBA champion has had on him.

Weezy professes Bryant's determination has influenced both his career and personal life.

"He's inspired not only songs, but he's inspired me in life in general just the way he attacks things, the way he never backs down, the way he fights through injury," Lil Wayne said. "Not only do he fight through injury, and not only do he play through injury, he excel through injury. I take those type of things and I just apply them to my everyday life." (Los Angeles Times)

Last year, producer/rapper David Banner likened Weezy to the NBA star.

"Wayne is like Kobe Bryant right now," Banner said in an interview. "You know, as Kobe gets older all he cares about is championships. Wayne is in that zone. He's highly focused and very sharp right now." (XXL Mag)

Prior to the 2009 NBA Finals, Wayne released his "Kobe Bryant" theme song which fueled the Lakers to win a championship.

"Kobe 'doin' work', 2-4 on my shirt," Weezy raps. "He the greatest on the court, and I'm the greatest on the verse....2-4 so nice, my flow so mean/Catch me at the game sittin' next to Goldstein/Kobe Bryant Nikes, purple, gold strings/Kobe in the game, homie you know who the team/'Black Mamba,' attack, conquer/basketball Weez, rap monster/cross over good, or turn around jumper/Or I'll just drive the lane and dunk on dunkers/You know where it's going, it's going down yo/This is the late show, but don't drown though/I call him King Bryant, not let the crown show." ("Kobe Bryant")

Following the championship run, Wayne was brought out by Bryant to perform at a celebration party.

"We got that dude coming up to the stage right now," Bryant told Los Angeles fans. "All my teammates know who I'm talking about. Because before the game that's all we had in our headset, that dude. I want everybody to put their hands together and bring out my man, my man man, Lil Weezy!" (Rap Radar)

Check out Lil Wayne's interview below: