Songs About Sports - "Basketball"

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It’s time for another edition of this humble little sports-themed songs series, and today it’s one that has the sport in the title: “Basketball” by Kurtis Blow. Kurtis Blow (Kurtis Walker) is a legendary hip hop artist and songwriter. He also serves as a producer. In real life, Kurtis is a minister. He is known for hits such as “The Breaks” and “Christmas Rappin’” in addition to “Basketball.” With a catchy chorus and great beat, “Basketball” mentions 25 then-current and former NBA stars as part of Blow’s lyrical flow, with the rapper specifying to his fellow songwriters that Julius “Dr. J” Irving (his favorite player) had to be mentioned first. The idea for the song first came from Blow’s then-girlfriend (later, wife) who told him basketball is the number one sport for African Americans and that he should do a song about the sport. If you lived in the U.S., you may remember the tune being used in an official NBA promo back in the day (if so, you should recognize the chorus as soon as you hear it.) I do remember the Little Penny character singing it in a shoe commercial at the time. You know the old saying, “You can’t write the story of (insert sport or music or film or television, etc, here) without them.” You literally couldn’t write the story of hip hop without Kurtis Blow. In addition to, and because of, his music, he was part of a hip hop exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and currently serves as the Chairman of The Hip Hop Museum, slated to open this year, in the Bronx. Fun Fact: When Run of Run D.M.C. started performing, he first billed himself as “The Son of Kurtis Blow.” Link is to the official video (with appearances by Whodini as well as The Fat Boys:)