Shawn Stockman: Kobe Deserves The Key To The City ... In Philly

It's the end of the road for Kobe ... and that's why Philadelphia singing legend Shawn Stockman says the city should get down on bended knee for the Mamba ... and give him the key to the city.

Stockman is royalty in his native Philadelphia as part of legendary singing group, Boyz II Men ... so when we got him at LAX we had to ask ... how does the city say 'thank you' to it's favorite bball son?

Check out the clip -- Shawn says Kobe definitely deserves the full hero's send-off ... complete with parades, and the key to the City of Brotherly Love.

We know it's hard to say goodbye to yesterday ... but that would be a good start.