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Kurtis Blow is considered one of the founding fathers of hip-hop and his 1984 song Basketball is an ode to the NBA and its legends. The song was a crossover rap hit and marked the beginning of a lucrative collaboration between the NBA and hip-hop. While Basketball received widespread radio play, it did not sell as many records as some of Blow's other songs, such as The Breaks, which sold over 840,000 copies. Only 50,000 records of Basketball were initially released, and once those sold out, the record company put out more copies of the album Ego Trip, which went gold.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Song Name | Basketball |
| Artist | Kurtis Blow |
| Year of Release | 1984 |
| Record Label | Mercury Records |
| Number of Records Sold | 50,000 |
| Radio Play | High |
| Album | Ego Trip |
| Genre | Hip-Hop |
| Impact | Helped intertwine basketball with hip-hop |
| Remixes | Basketball 2.0 |
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What You'll Learn
'Basketball' by Kurtis Blow was a crossover rap hit
"Basketball" by Kurtis Blow was a crossover rap hit single at a time when those were few and far between. The song travelled to a broad audience beyond Blow's native Harlem, and it was embraced by the NBA, which used it in promotional videos. The song was central to the league and was later heard by a new generation on the soundtrack of NBA 2K12.
"Basketball" was released in 1984, the same year that Magic and Bird faced off for the first time in the NBA finals. The league was just beginning its meteoric rise from moribund status. The song was a celebration of the game's past and present, referencing basketball legends like Magic and Bird, as well as Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game.
The NBA's acceptance and promotion of "Basketball" had significant ramifications. It led many young people to discover hip-hop, including those who bought Blow's album ""Ego Trip" to listen to the song. "Basketball" was also one of the first rap songs to use a drum machine, a Linndrum programmed by Jimmy Bralower.
"Basketball" was a groundbreaking song that helped intertwine the sport with hip-hop. It was the first song to make a strong connection between basketball and rap, and it changed the way the game saw itself. The song's impact extended beyond the music industry, influencing the sneaker industry and helping to define "cool" in the 1980s and beyond.
While "Basketball" was a huge hit for Kurtis Blow, it did not sell as many records as some of his other songs, such as "The Breaks," which sold almost a million units. "Basketball" was released as a single, with only 50,000 records pressed. However, it received heavy radio play and helped Blow meet and connect with NBA stars, who loved the song.
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The song was released in 1984
"Basketball" by Kurtis Blow was released in 1984. It was written by William Waring, Robert Ford, Kurtis Blow, J. B. Moore, Jimmy Bralower, and Full Force and recorded by Kurtis Blow himself. The song was released from his fourth album, Ego Trip, and is considered the first song to strongly connect basketball with rap music.
The idea for the song came from his then-girlfriend (whom he later married). She suggested that he make a song about basketball, as it was the number one sport for African Americans at the time, and no one had done it yet. Twenty-five famous basketball players are mentioned during the recording, including his favourite player, Julius "Dr. J" Erving, who was mentioned first. The song also includes shout-outs to NBA legends like Bill Russell and Rick Barry, as well as stars in the league at the time, such as Larry Bird and Moses Malone.
The song helped to intertwine the sport with hip-hop culture and was influential in popularising the connection between the two. The NBA took an interest in Blow's song and played it at games, even creating its own video featuring clips of every player mentioned in the song. This exposure helped to spread the song's popularity and further strengthened the link between basketball and hip-hop.
"Basketball" is considered a tribute to the NBA and the players, with a lighthearted vibe that celebrates the game and the athletes. It is a significant song in the history of hip-hop and basketball, with a lasting impact on both cultures. The song's release in 1984 marked a turning point, bringing these two worlds together and creating a lasting legacy.
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It was the first rap song to use a drum machine
"Basketball" by Kurtis Blow is considered one of the most famous rap songs about basketball, with shout-outs to NBA legends like Bill Russell and Rick Barry, as well as stars like Larry Bird and Moses Malone. The song, released in 1985, was an influential track that helped intertwine the sport with hip-hop culture.
The song was one of the first rap songs to use a drum machine, specifically a Linndrum programmed by Jimmy Bralower. This was a significant step in the evolution of hip-hop music, as it demonstrated the genre's willingness to embrace technology. Kurtis Blow, also known as Kurtis Walker, is known for his experimentation with different forms of music and his early advocacy for incorporating technology into hip-hop.
The use of the drum machine in "Basketball" set a precedent for combining sample loops with drum machines in hip-hop production. A year after the release of "Basketball," Blow and his producer, J.B. Moore, acquired a Fairlight digital sampler and released "If I Ruled the World," the first rap song to feature a sample loop. This further solidified Blow's role in shaping the genre's production techniques.
The combination of sample loops and drum machines became a common practice in hip-hop, influencing the sound and style of the genre. "Basketball" and "If I Ruled the World" showcased Blow's innovative approach to music production and his impact on the artistic and technical aspects of hip-hop.
In addition to his musical achievements, Blow is also known for his contributions to the culture and community of hip-hop. He was the first rapper signed to a major label, Mercury Records, in 1979, and his song "The Breaks" was the first certified gold record rap song. Blow has released numerous albums and continues to be an influential figure in the hip-hop community, with his music and legacy celebrated even decades later.
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It sold 50,000 records as a single
"Basketball" by Kurtis Blow is considered one of the most famous songs about basketball. It was released in 1984 and was a celebration of the game's past and present, referencing basketball legends like Magic and Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The song was influential in intertwining the sport with hip-hop culture and helped to expose a generation of young fans to hip-hop music.
The song was also significant in that it marked the beginning of a lucrative and sometimes uneasy collaboration between the NBA and hip-hop. It received heavy radio play and was used in NBA promotional videos, further solidifying the connection between the league and the genre.
While Kurtis Blow had bigger-selling records, "Basketball" stood out as it took off in ways that his previous recordings had not. As a single, "Basketball" sold 50,000 records. This initial success led to the release of more copies of the album "Ego Trip," which went gold.
The song's impact extended beyond sales, as it altered how people viewed the game of basketball and how the game saw itself. It showcased the potential for a black musical form, created just a few years earlier in the South Bronx, to achieve global domination. "Basketball" by Kurtis Blow is a testament to the power of music to shape culture and bring people together, leaving a lasting impact on both the sport and the genre of hip-hop.
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It helped intertwine basketball with hip-hop
Kurtis Blow is considered one of the founding fathers of hip-hop. He became the first rapper signed to a major label, Mercury Records, in 1979. Over his career, he released 10 albums and 17 albums, respectively, according to different sources.
In 1984, Blow dropped the song "Basketball," a tribute to the NBA and an expression of solidarity between the game and rap. The song is filled with references to basketball legends like Bill Russell, Rick Barry, Larry Bird, and Moses Malone. It is considered the first song that made a strong connection between basketball and rap.
The NBA's acceptance and promotion of "Basketball" had a significant impact. It helped expose a generation of young people to hip-hop, as many kids who were drawn to the song ended up discovering the broader genre. This synthesis of Kurtis Blow and the NBA's popularity turned a generation onto hip-hop.
Additionally, the song's release coincided with the NBA's meteoric rise, and it became a central part of the league's promotional strategy. "Basketball" was used in promotional videos and later appeared on the soundtrack of NBA 2K12, reaching a broad audience beyond Blow's native Harlem.
The success of "Basketball" also led to opportunities for Blow to perform at NBA games, further intertwining hip-hop and basketball. The NBA would host post-game shows featuring Blow, which helped boost attendance and created a unique experience for fans.
In 2024, 40 years after the song's release, Blow released "Basketball 2.0," featuring modern NBA and WNBA stars, continuing the legacy of intertwining basketball and hip-hop.
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Frequently asked questions
Only 50,000 records of 'Basketball' were initially released. However, it was also included in the album 'Ego Trip', which went gold.
The song is a tribute to the NBA, with references to legends of the game like Bill Russell and Rick Barry, and stars of the league at the time, including Larry Bird and Moses Malone.
Yes, in 2024, 40 years after the release of 'Basketball', Kurtis Blow released 'Basketball 2.0', which mentions contemporary basketball players like LeBron James and Steph Curry.
