Lamine Yamal: ‘I listen to old-school rappers like 50 Cent, Eminem... and some flamenco’
The FC Barcelona player stars in the latest Beats ad campaign. In the clip, he becomes the owner of his own record label
Beyond being a teen idol and a sports hero for the new generation, Lamine Yamal is the latest ambassador for the Beats headphone brand. Founded 17 years ago by rapper and producer Dr. Dre, the firm has been owned by Apple since 2014. In the spot released on May 9, Yamal introduces himself as the CEO of his own music label — Lamine Records (it’s fictional… at least, for now) — and strives to find the perfect track for a match day. In this musical questionnaire with the Barcelona star, Yamal discusses his musical tastes, reflects on how he combines music and sports… and, of course, chats about soccer.
Question. You’re the self-confessed locker room DJ. How do you choose the tracks to get your teammates pumped up?
Answer. It depends on the day. I always vary between rhythms and artists. I usually play rap, trap, Afro beats...
Q. Who are you listening to lately?
A. El Morad (M.D.L.R.) is always [on the playlist]. Myke Towers, some classic reggaeton...
Q. What kind of music helps you prepare for those big moments?
A. Besides the [artists] I mentioned, I think old school rappers [help me], like 50 Cent, Eminem... I put on my Beats, turn up the volume and go into party mode.
Q. Tell us about a genre you love that we wouldn’t expect from you.
A. It could be flamenco... I listen to it less often, but I like it.
Q. What are your pre-match rituals with Beats by Dre?
A. [My headphones] come with me on all my trips. I usually use them to immerse myself in my inner world: they help me focus. On planes, buses on the way to the stadium, [or] during field inspections, the Beats are always with me.
Q. What’s your all-time favorite El Clásico moment?
A. Well, there are many historic ones, but now that I’m playing, I think the most recent one was the Copa del Rey final. Probably because of how the game played out and because we ended up winning (laughs).
Q. Who’s your favorite player outside of Barcelona right now?
A. Right now, outside of Barça, I think [Ousmane] Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain) and Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) are doing really well.
Q. Is there a stadium that you’d love to play in, but have never visited?
A. I still have so many more to explore, especially outside of Europe. Within Europe, I think there are some legendary ones I’d like to play at, like Old Trafford, or Anfield.
Q. Would you rather win the Champions League and La Liga with Barcelona, or win the World Cup with Spain?
A. I can’t choose. Whenever I play, it’s to compete at my best and win. So, it would be all of them.
Q. Which U.S. sports leagues do you follow? Do you have a favorite team or player in the NFL or NBA?
A. I guess I could say the NBA. And I like watching LeBron, of course.
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