The gold-chained “E” medallion that E. Eric Guirard wears around his neck is just about the only thing that makes this middle-aged lawyer look anything like a typical rap star.
With the release of Guirard’s first rap song dedicated to LSU women’s basketball coach, Pokey Chatman, he has found a way to combine his two passions — basketball and music.
Guirard hopes the song will help the community rally around the team as they go to the NCAA tournament March 19.
The personal-injury attorney, who has made his fortune recovering millions of dollars for clients involved in automobile accidents and prescription drug injuries in Baton Rouge, said he wanted to create the ultimate tribute to Chatman.
Guirard updated “Tigers to the Top,” a country song he wrote for former men’s basketball coach Dale Brown when his team went to the final four in 1981.
Guirard said he set the two new versions to hip-hop beats to appeal to students. One features a faster, chant-like introduction, and the other is a slower, gospel song.
“It became the theme song for the team in 1981,” he said. “It was a hit, and I think Pokey’s team is so good they can dominate like the 1981 team.”
Sitting in his very own “E-seum” loaded with autographed photos of famous athletes and celebrities, Guirard said this album is not the only music he has recorded.
Guirard has cut two other singles — one was a tribute to his wife and the other a version of the Pledge of the Allegiance set to music, which he sold to raise money for families of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorists attacks.
He also said he is working on a full-length rap album, in which he said he will rap about contemporary social issues and conservative politics in favor of President George W. Bush.
Guirard said most of the rap played on mainstream radio is “vile and disgusting rap,” and he does not like it. He said he wants his lyrics to be cleaner and more articulate.
But for now, Guirard said he wants to focus on watching the Tigers “march all the way through the tournament.”
“Baton Rouge needs to get fired up about the team,” he said. “They are poised to do great things.”
Guirard’s compact disc can be purchased on his Web site, eguarantee.com, and from his office at 1075 Government St.
All the proceeds will be donated to LSU women’s basketball.