Baller Tapes: Ryan Babel

“I think I was the first football player on Twitter,” recalls Ryan Babel, speaking to CLASH inside our London studio. He’s referring to his early relationship with social media during his playing career in the early 2000s, long before the pandemonium of ‘football twitter’ took over. “I was the first player to get fined for social media use because I criticised [referee] Howard Webb. Because of me, they had to change all the laws for social media use in the Premier League.” 

Whether this is a record to be proud of or not, it’s emblematic of how the former professional footballer was always ahead of the curve. The Dutch International – who played for clubs including Liverpool and Ajax – is speaking to CLASH on the eve of the European Championships. He’s singing the praises of the “exceptional” Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Trent Alexander-Arnold, having no idea at the time, of course, that his beloved Netherlands would face-off against England in the semi-finals.

Even before his retirement in November 2023, Babel was a trailblazer in curating a lifestyle off the pitch – arguably one of the first modern footballers to do so. Founding his own music management company in 2009, he released an eight-track autobiographical rap album, ‘The Autobiography – Chapter 1’, in 2021. “They called me the Soulja Boy of football, because I was the very first [football player] who actually rapped in Holland,” he explains. “I opened the door for all the other football players to be more comfortable and to jump in that space. I got all the slack for it in the beginning.”

Fellow Dutchman Ejero Elia followed in Babel’s footsteps with 2022’s ‘Molenwijk’, and a mystery, masked Premier League footballer ‘Dide’ made airwaves last season, rapping under the anonymous name. For Babel, however, the sentiment goes beyond just rapping, it concerns your personal brand as a whole. “Paul Pogba was doing commercials, media and entertainment outside of football very well, and brands wanted to work with him. I think that was very inspiring for the upcoming generation, who understand that football players now are more of a brand rather than just being a product or a solely an athlete,” he says.

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Whilst legends like Jay-Z and Nas were formative hip-hop influences for Babel, his references include soul progenitors like James Brown, Prince and “all-time favourite” Michael Jackson, who he saw at the Amsterdam Arena aged just 12. Alongside “underrated” icon Jay Electronica, Babel reveals a hidden gem he’s enjoying at the moment. “He’s actually not hip-hop. His name is Marc E. Bassy, and he’s from California. He’s a great artistic person who makes great music, and I think people should definitely tap in with him.”

Cryptocurrency. Acting. Fashion. Though Babel promises the follow-up chapter to his 2021 album is imminent (“a totally different one… music for clubs, for radio, for girls”), the ex-pro has a whole host of strings to his bow in addition to music, forever driven to explore other creative outlets. Wearing Shawn Carter by Hublot on his wrist, he explains – perhaps unsurprisingly – how it’s a collaboration with Jay-Z, limited to just 100 pieces. 

“My biggest fashion inspiration… I have to give it to Pharrell Williams”, he continues. “I think his style is very unique and I think with a lot of moments he was ahead of his time. My go-to brands have changed over the years, but my all-time favourite is Tom Ford. I like brands like Neil Barrett, one of the newer brands, NAMACHEKO, and also KidSuper. Brands come and go… you have to adapt.”

Never standing still, this mantra arguably underpins Babel as a person. His outlook is always forward-facing, and he seeks to inspire others and be a beacon for positive change. His track ‘Open Letter’ addressed the widespread racism in the aftermath of the Euro 2020 final, which Babel explains needs more stringent consequences in order to proactively stamp out discrimination. “I don’t think things have necessarily changed a lot,” he sighs. “In Spain [the May 2023 Real Madrid v Valencia game], those people were punished with jail time. If the punishments are really high, I think you can avoid it a lot more in football.”

Having enjoyed an illustrious career in football which included two Dutch league titles, a seasoned Babel has messages for both the older and younger generation of players. “My advice to athletes overall is to make a plan and invest for after retirement. Some athletes fall into a black hole,” he warns. Still, he acknowledges the privileges that professional football and music have afforded him. “[The platform] gives you great opportunities to inspire people,” he concludes. “It’s very easy to get carried away and sell out, because a brand wants to give you some money. For me, the most important thing is to be myself and stay authentic. People will always respect that more.”

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