Michael Jordan doesn't much factor in, that is why no rappers are wearing his jersey or his number(23). Jordans, the shoes, are mentioned in rap songs because of the status(very expensive and hard to come by) and fashion of the brand, like other brands mentioned in rap, Gucci, Prada, Fendi, etc.. Rappers don't know and don't care about the people who started or who are behind those brands, they are only mentioned for the high status and fashion associated with those brands.
> Rappers don't know and don't care about the people who started or who are behind those brands
This is...incredibly not true. The crossover between basketball and rap and hip-hop is significant and the cultural awareness of, uh, Michael Jordan is certainly there. Kendrick Lamar, Kurtis Blow, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Drake--the group of major rappers who've written songs about Jordan (Lamar) or have written songs that draw heavily from basketball and its history (the rest of that list) is huge.
I see what you are saying, he is acknowledged and recognized as one of the greats, but most probably never even think of him when talking about the shoes. Michael Jordan doesn't much factor in when rappers are talking about Jordans, his person is very separate from the fashion and status the shoes have come to represent.
