Chicago rapper G Herbo didn’t hold back during a recent appearance on the BagFuel podcast, where he passionately argued that Derrick Rose holds a deeper cultural impact in Chicago than even NBA legend Michael Jordan.
When asked whether D. Rose “matters more” to Chicago than MJ, Herbo didn’t hesitate, stating, “To me, yeah,” he said. “Michael Jordan is not from Chicago... Derrick Rose is from Chicago. Bro, we seen this s***.”
G Herbo explained that Derrick Rose’s journey resonates more with everyday Chicagoans, especially those from the Southside who watched Rose grow up, dominate high school basketball, and make it out of poverty through sheer determination.
“D Rose didn’t come up middle class,” Herbo added. “That n**** was poor, bro. Broke as f***. His only way out was basketball and he made a way. Now this n**** worth half a billion dollars.”
While Jordan brought six championships to the Bulls and transformed the franchise into a global brand, G Herbo and many of his peers view Derrick Rose as a product of the city, not just a star who played for it. He recalled how people in his circle had autographed basketballs from Rose when he was still in high school—a testament to how closely the city watched his rise.
“That s*** is like a real Chicago Southside story.”
G Herbo even named Rose as the first pick in his personal top five Chicago hoopers list, which also included Kevin Garnett, Dwyane Wade, Anthony Davis, and Quentin Richardson. He acknowledged other local legends like Benji Wilson and Ronnie Fields, but made it clear that Rose's legacy hits differently for the younger generation who watched him rise in real-time.
Source: BagFuel
