Hot Take: A Boogie wit da Hoodie picks Yanks to win it all

Artist Dubose grew up a block from Yankee Stadium in the Highbridge neighborhood of the Bronx. So, of course, his team was the Yankees. It's always been the Yankees.

Back then, he says his family couldn't afford tickets to games. But now, as A Boogie wit da Hoodie -- as one of the most famous rappers going right now -- he not only goes to the stadium whenever he can, he also hangs out with the players during nights out in New York City.

"I was with Jazz [Chisholm Jr.] last night," Boogie told me in a call. "He popped out for QP's birthday party, it was lit."

With the Yankees fresh off clinching a playoff spot and the AL East, we talked to the Billboard chart-topping artist about his fandom, his favorite players and whether runners should slide into first base (something he has some personal experience with). Here’s our conversation -- edited for length and clarity.

MLB: You're a big Yankees fan, right?

A Boogie wit da Hoodie:

For sure, for sure. Biggest Yankees fan. I embrace it all. I have Yankee Stadium on my chain.

MLB: Do you have a current favorite player on the team?

A Boogie: [Aaron] Judge is my favorite player. I gotta give it to Judge. I also have to give my props to [Juan] Soto as well. Judge, Soto and Jazz are probably my Top 3 right now. Jazz is gonna bring a spark to this team.

MLB: Any other current non-Yankee players you like?

A Boogie: [Francisco] Lindor, I like Lindor too. Bobby Witt Jr. There's a lot of players, let me see, let me see. [Shohei] Ohtani, of course. Mookie Betts. Freddie Freeman. There's too many, too many. You get the gist.

MLB: What about all-time Yankees? Do you have an all-time list of Yankees?

A Boogie: I would say Derek Jeter, of course. Alex Rodriguez. And definitely Aaron Judge.

MLB: Did you ever play baseball? I know you played in CC Sabathia's Celebrity Softball Game.

A Boogie: Yeah, I played in that, and I slid into first base.

MLB: I know! I need to ask you about that. Sliding into first base in baseball -- some people think you should, some people think you shouldn't. What are your feelings on that play?

A Boogie: I almost broke my leg, so I think it's a bad idea. That was something I just wanted to try because I always wanted to slide. Just in case I didn't make it to another base in that game, I decided to just get it over with. I really just wanted to slide on the dirt.

MLB: OK, but ultimately, you think no slide into first if you're actually playing a real game?

A Boogie: Yeah, no slide in a real game. Nah. I just did that to troll a little bit.

MLB: The Yankees team, this year ... World Series? How are you feeling about them?

A Boogie: To be honest, I feel it more that I think about it. You know when people have like an idea about something? I feel it. I have a gut feeling about it. Even when it comes to the Knicks. Knicks and Yankees, same year.

MLB: Same year?

A Boogie: Same year. Back to back.