Cito Culver, ValleyCats shortstop, considers the number six to be more than simply a number on his uniform. While the 13-year veteran hasn’t always been allowed to choose his own number in affiliated ball, he felt he had to grab the opportunity this year.
Culver’s uniform has the number six on the back since the position he plays, shortstop, is the sixth position on the field, and his favourite rapper, Drake, was given the nickname’six god’ because he is from Toronto, Canada, which is known as ‘the six’ due to its 416 area code. So, for Culver, the number six is more than simply a number; it represents a link to his favourite song.
“I enjoy his music, and I don’t believe he’s ever released a bad album.” “I really appreciate the effort he puts in,” Culver said of the rapper from Toronto. “I think of his music as reflecting my mood and the state I’m in. I believe he has something for every emotion; he has the energetic, like very amazing rap, and then he has the singing…you have something for every occasion, which is what I appreciate.”
It doesn’t take much digging to discover that Drake has a particular place in Culver’s heart, since the rapper’s voice can be heard over the loudspeaker as Culver’s walkup music at Joe Bruno Stadium.
While the shortstop has utilised several Drake songs during the season, he doesn’t anticipate his walkup music changing anytime soon.
“It’ll probably always be Drake for me” “To me, he’s the guy who gets me locked in,” Culver said, “so when I go to the plate that night, I can sing the song in my head and that kind of calms me down and gets me ready for my at-bats.”
Culver, who is now 31 years old, did not grow up listening to Drake’s songs. Instead, the shortstop said that he began with Jay-Z, a Brooklyn-based musician and pop cultural phenomenon.
It’s easy to see why Jay-Z was so popular with Culver. With albums like “Hard Knock Life,” “the Blueprint” series, and finally “American Gangster,” Jay-Z, or ‘Hov’ as he’s called, was quickly taking over the early to mid-2000s rap scene.
Culver would leave Jay-Z for New Orleans-based musician Lil’ Wayne, who was a member of the ‘Young Money’ rap group at the time, along with Drake. That was Culver’s debut, and the rest is history.
Culver has been there throughout Drake’s whole rise to fame, even if the musician isn’t aware of it. Culvers has heard both the old and new Drake, and he like them both. So much so that he’s created his own Mt. Rushmore of rapper masterpieces, but he couldn’t stop at just four.
“‘Take Care,’ ‘Scorpion,’ ‘If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late,’ and I do like ‘Her Loss’; I really liked that one and the collaboration with Future (‘What a Time to Be Alive,’” Culver said. “I just love how his music grows on you over time.” For example, you’ll download an album and listen to your favourite tracks, and then you’ll let the album run through and see there are no skips. That’s what I enjoy about him; there are no misses.”
Swagger is another thing the rapper and shortstop have in common. Culver adds flare to his game not just with his glove and bat, but also with his demeanour on and off the pitch.
“I’ve always had a knack for being my own unique individual out there.” I enjoy little things, whether it’s a tinge of blue in my studs or something unique on the batting gloves. “When Deion Sanders said, ‘you look good, you feel good to play good, you play good, they pay good,’ I thought that was really cool,” Culver remarked.
When it comes to music in the clubhouse, it’s not only Culver’s music that can be heard spewing good feelings from their speakers, win or lose.
When Culver considered who had the greatest power over the clubhouse music, he immediately thought of ValleyCats catcher Oscar Campos and pitchers Brac Warren and Jhon Vargas. However, he claims that the starting pitcher is usually in charge of getting their heads in the correct place for the day’s game.
With so many varied people from all over the globe, including Culver, who grew up in various times, comes a wide range of musical tastes. The Cats’ clubhouse loves music, whether it’s Latin, Country, old-school rap, or rock & roll.
“I think it’s just part of the environment.” “I mean, it’s better than sitting in silence, so I think it helps people get in the mood,” Culver said. “If you’re having a bad day and some good music comes on, it’s hard to be in a bad mood singing along with the music.” “I think it’s something that can lift your spirits a little bit and get you ready for a baseball game.”
Culver said that the ValleyCats’ 59-year-old manager Pete Incaviglia and 38-year-old bench coach/third base coach Thomas Incaviglia had no issue with the rap music and even make some surprise requests of their own.
“It’s hilarious because I’m going old school for some bus rides.” I’ll be able to connect to the bluetooth on the bus, and I’ll go old school, which Pete enjoys. “Pete likes NWA, so we go back to West Coast rap, and Thomas is a huge Tupac (Shakur) fan,” Culver said. “It’s just more of that diversity.”
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