Charlamagne Tha God -- Iman Shumpert's New Rap Doesn't Suck

Charlamagne tha God thinks NBA star Iman Shumpert SUCKS as a rapper -- which is why it's kind of a big deal that he just admitted Iman's new song is actually "not garbage."

The MTV 2 star -- and host of "The Breakfast Club" -- was on "TMZ Hollywood Sports" and gave Shumpert quasi-props on his new rap, "290 West."

"I will say sonically it was okay. It wasnt garbage."

But the problem with Iman as a rapper, according to Charlamagne ... "[He's] shot so many times and missed, that I don't trust him with the ball."

For the record, Charlamagne has been super critical of Iman for a while ... to the point where Iman previously fired back in a diss track.

So, as frosty as this review seems, it's still progress ... right?