Andrew Pace
Basketball by Kurtis Blow is a rap song released in 1984 from his fourth album Ego Trip. The song is a tribute to the NBA, with references to basketball legends like Bill Russell, Rick Barry, and Larry Bird. It is considered the first song to strongly connect basketball and rap music. The NBA took an interest in the song, playing it at games and even flying Blow around to perform at shows. Basketball is considered a hit and was embraced by a broad audience, marking the beginning of a lucrative collaboration between the NBA and hip-hop.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Song Title | Basketball |
| Artist | Kurtis Blow |
| Genre | Rap |
| Release Date | 1984 |
| Album | Ego Trip |
| Songwriters | Robert Ford, Kurtis Blow, J. B. Moore, Jimmy Bralower, Full Force, and William Billy-Bill Waring |
| Record Label | Mercury Records |
| Song Subject | Tribute to the NBA and its players |
| Notable Performances | Live performances at NBA games |
| Cultural Impact | Increased collaboration between the NBA and hip-hop, influenced a generation of young people to discover hip-hop |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
'Basketball' by Kurtis Blow was a hit
"Basketball" by Kurtis Blow was a hit. The song, released in 1984, is a rap song written by Robert Ford, J. B. Moore, Jimmy Bralower, Full Force, and Kurtis Blow himself, who also recorded it. It was released as a single from his fourth album, Ego Trip, and was the first song to strongly connect basketball and rap. The song is a tribute to the NBA, with shout-outs to basketball legends like Bill Russell, Rick Barry, and some of the stars of the league at the time, including Larry Bird and Moses Malone.
Blow, a huge basketball fan, had a lot of fun writing the lyrics, which consist of rhymed couplets, typical of early-1980s rap. The song's hook was sung by Alyson Williams, who later went on to have hit solo songs. The idea for the song came from his then-girlfriend (whom he later married), who told him that basketball was the number one sport for African Americans and that he should make a song about it.
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. Blow was flown around to do shows and live performances right after the games, which helped to pack the arenas. The song marked the beginning of a lucrative and sometimes uneasy collaboration between the NBA and hip-hop. It also led many young people to discover hip-hop, as they bought Blow's album Ego Trip to listen to "Basketball" and became enamored with other tracks on the record.
"Basketball" by Kurtis Blow is considered a classic and a crossover rap hit single, embraced by a broad audience beyond his native Harlem. It is a celebration of the game's past and present, referencing star players and iconic moments in basketball history. The song has stood the test of time and remains relevant, even being featured on the soundtrack of NBA 2K12 for a new generation of listeners.
Basketball in the Dominican Republic: A National Love Affair?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The song's impact on the NBA
"Basketball" by Kurtis Blow is widely recognised as a tribute to the NBA and its star players. The song was released in 1984, a time when the NBA was beginning its meteoric rise in popularity. It is considered the first song to make a strong connection between basketball and rap music.
The NBA embraced "Basketball", using it in promotional videos and playing it at games. The song's writer and performer, Kurtis Blow, was also flown around by the NBA to perform at games, and he would often do live performances right after a game to fill the arena. The NBA even created its own video for the song, featuring clips of every player mentioned in the lyrics.
The song mentions 25 famous basketball players, including legends of the game such as Bill Russell, Rick Barry, and Larry Bird, as well as stars who were in the league at the time, like Moses Malone. Blow's favourite player, Julius "Dr. J" Erving, is mentioned first. The song also references specific moments in NBA history, such as the night Wilt scored 100 points, and the Celtics winning back-to-back titles.
"Basketball" marked the beginning of a lucrative and sometimes uneasy collaboration between the NBA and hip-hop. The song's popularity helped to turn a generation of young people onto hip-hop, with many buying Blow's album, "Ego Trip", to listen to the song. The NBA's acceptance and promotion of "Basketball" had a significant impact on the genre, leading to a synthesis of the league and hip-hop culture that influenced a generation.
Building a Basketball Stadium: A Model Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The song's impact on hip-hop
"Basketball" by Kurtis Blow is widely recognised as a hit song that had a significant impact on the hip-hop genre and culture. The song is a celebration of basketball, paying tribute to the NBA and its legendary players. It is considered a seminal work that helped to popularise hip-hop and strengthen the connection between the NBA and hip-hop culture.
Released in 1984, "Basketball" was a crossover rap hit single that gained popularity beyond Kurtis Blow's native Harlem. The song caught the attention of the NBA, which was experiencing a meteoric rise in popularity at the time. The NBA embraced "Basketball", using it in promotional videos and playing it at games. This marked the beginning of a lucrative and influential collaboration between the NBA and hip-hop.
The song's impact extended beyond the NBA. It served as a gateway for many young people, including myself, to discover hip-hop. The song's popularity led listeners to explore other tracks by Kurtis Blow and artists associated with him, such as Run-D.M.C. and DJ Run. This synthesis of the NBA's exploding popularity and Kurtis Blow's music inadvertently turned a generation of young people onto hip-hop.
"Basketball" was also notable for its musical and lyrical content. It was one of the first rap songs to use a drum machine, a Linndrum programmed by Jimmy Bralower. The lyrics, written by William Billy-Bill Waring, consisted of rhymed couplets typical of early-1980s rap. The song's structure and use of instrumentation set a precedent for subsequent hip-hop releases.
Additionally, "Basketball" was significant for its subject matter. While many rap songs reference basketball casually, this song was the first to make a strong connection between the sport and rap. It celebrated the game's past and present, referencing legendary players and iconic moments in basketball history. This fusion of basketball and hip-hop influenced future generations of basketball players and rappers, with several players trying their hand at rap and vice versa.
Indonesia's Badminton Success: A Cultural Obsession
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![AppleRound 4-Pack Small Sports Balls for Toddlers Kids with Air Pump - Choose Your Style: 4X [5" Soccer Balls] or 4X [5" Basketballs] or 4X [6.5" Footballs] for Outdoor Garden Beach Games](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71pQQBiPn7L._AC_UL320_.jpg)
The song's music video
The music video for "Basketball" by Kurtis Blow features cheerleaders, mascots, and kung-fu. It is possibly the first rap video that didn't rely on concert footage, although that distinction might go to "Rock Box" by Run-DMC, released in the same year (1984). The announcer for the New York Knicks, John Condon, introduces the song in the video, saying, "Now rapping 'Basketball,' Number 1, Kurtis Blow."
Kurtis Blow wanted the video to include footage of the players mentioned in the song, but the NBA would only clear the use of still photos of Micheal Ray Richardson, who isn't even mentioned in the lyrics. Despite this, the NBA took an interest in the song, playing it at games and creating their own video featuring clips of every player mentioned in the song. They also started flying Blow around to do shows right after games to fill the arenas.
The song "Basketball" is a tribute to the NBA, with shout-outs to legends of the game like Bill Russell and Rick Barry, and stars who were in the league at the time, including Larry Bird and Moses Malone. Blow, a Knicks fan from New York City, said he just loves the game. He also wanted to include his favourite player, Julius "Dr. J" Erving, who was the first player mentioned in the song.
The track was written by Blow, Robert Ford, J. B. Moore, Jimmy Bralower, and Full Force, and was released in 1984 on Blow's fourth album, Ego Trip. It is considered the most famous rap song about basketball and was one of the first rap songs to use a drum machine—a Linndrum programmed by Jimmy Bralower.
Understanding Trump Match in Badminton
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The song's lyrics
"Basketball" by Kurtis Blow is a rap song written by Robert Ford, J. B. Moore, Jimmy Bralower, Full Force, and Kurtis Blow himself. It was released in 1984 as a single from his fourth album, Ego Trip. The song is a tribute to the NBA and its star players, with shout-outs to legends of the game and some of the stars who were in the league at the time.
The lyrics of "Basketball" are a high-spirited ode to the sport and its players. The song's chorus goes:
> They're playing basketball
> We love that basketball
> They're playing basketball
> We love that basketball
The song's verses name-drop several basketball players and teams, showcasing Blow's love for the sport and its stars. Here are the verses from the song:
> [Verse 1] (Now rapping basketball -- Number 1, Kurtis Blow) Basketball is my favorite sport I like the way they dribble up and down the court Just like I'm the king on the microphone So is Dr. J and Moses Malone I like slam dunks, take me to the hoop My favorite play is the alley-oop I like the pick-and-roll, I like the give-and-go 'Cause it's basketball, uh, Mister Kurtis Blow
> [Verse 2] I used to go to dinner, then take the girl To see Tiny play against Earl The Pearl And Wilt, Big O, and Jerry West Play basketball at its very best Basketball has always been my thing I like Magic, Bird, and Bernard King And number 33, my man Kareem Is the center on my starting team
> [Verse 3] Clyde, Rick Barry, and Pistol Pete Now these players could never be beat Isiah, and Iceman too Just give 'em the ball, and then you chalk up two Dantley and Wilkins are on the scene And Ralph Sampson is really mean Bill Russell didn't take no junk And Darryl Dawkins got a monster dunk
> [Verse 4] Tell me, were you in the joint The night Wilt scored 100 points? Or when Celtics won titles back-to-back And didn't give nobody no kind of slack? Or when Dr. J shook the whole damn team With moves that came right out of a dream? Or when Willis Reed stood so tall Playing D with desire? It's basketball!
> [Verse 5] I get the ball and then I go and play Like a superstar in the NBA The forwards, the centers, and all the guards The ones you see on the bubblegum cards Me and homeboy would go one-on-one
Olympic Basketball: How the Competition Works
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, 'Basketball' was a hit single. It was one of the first songs to strongly connect basketball and rap. It was also one of the first rap songs to use a drum machine.
'Basketball' is a tribute to the NBA and the game's past and present stars. The song mentions 25 famous basketball players, including Dr. J, Bill Russell, Rick Barry, Larry Bird, and Moses Malone.
The NBA played 'Basketball' at games and created a video featuring clips of the players mentioned in the song. The NBA also flew Blow around to perform at shows. The song marked the beginning of a lucrative and sometimes uneasy collaboration between the NBA and hip-hop.
