Basketball and music have long been intertwined. There have been plenty of songs inspired by and written about basketball over the years. And some of them are actually pretty good.
I’m crushing through the best and the worst of basketball songs here to uncover the tracks worth visiting and revisiting, time after time. While hip hop is prominent on this list, I don’t think I’m personally biased towards any specific genre. But It just kinda happens you’ll find, that rappers are predisposed towards writing about basketball.
If you’re interested in a broader view of basketball music, I’ve assembled a bunch of takes under this main umbrella article.
He Got Game – Public Enemy
The titular track of the album that was actually produced for the Spike Lee Movie of the same name. The film is easily one of the greatest basketball movies of all time. And the song is easily one of the greatest basketball songs of all time. Way to go Chuck D.
The song notably sample Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth” and features Stephen Stills himself. Sample heavy, it doesn’t not lean on the beauty of the iconic protest song it samples. But the lyrics are sick. This song is a vibe for sure, and it’s the song that made me appreciate Public Enemy and turned me on to hip hop in general. On energy alone, it’s tough to beat this as one of the best basketball songs ever.
White Iverson – Post Malone
Whatever you think about Postey, you’re hard-pressed to not accept that the dude has talent. White Iverson is easily among the most replayable tracks on this list. We’ve got a sick beat, it’s unique enough, well-produced, and has some goofy lyrics.
You can’t help but smile imagining this guy breaking ankles. The video epitomizes everything that I initially thought I hated when I first discovered Post Malone, at the same time demonstrating his musical genius.
Forever – Drake, featuring Kanye, Eminem and Lil Wayne
All those names, and LeBron coming up in the video. Drake has a history of rapping for hoopers. Having some help here makes the difference though, as this is probably the best example, and his flow is the weakest by far, even if the chorus is kinda cool.
Lose Yourself – Eminem
If you lived through the early days of Marshall Mathers, it’s hard to deny the massive cultural impact of this song. The lead single off the 8-Mile soundtrack, Lose Yourself really captured the weird, undirected aggression that permeated the era. It’s almost as though an entire generation of kids realized all at once that their parents had sold away their future on a bet that was going South.
This song is only about basketball if you take it literally. References to the game are pretty obviously metaphorical. But it is referenced, and the hype that comes from it is real. That idea, of being in the zone, locked in, keying up to thread the needle. It’s a great song.
(I know I got) Skillz – Shaq
Shaq is the undisputed king of the hooper rappers. The only one that ever really had any true success on the mic. And miraculously, he’s actually not that bad.
This track, featuring Def Jef, is probably one of Shaq’s best. It is, indeed, something you can “go to the park to”, even if it does feature one of the weaker examples of that G funk synth. Snoop got the good stuff, but they tucked aside a little kibble for Shaq.
Jef produced for some of the biggest names in hip hop in the early nineties, which some of you may recognize as the true golden age of hip hop. But his true claim to fame is the That’s So Raven theme song.
Today Was a Good Day – Ice Cube
Come on. This song is one of the greatest raps of all time. That beat, that vibe. If this song doesn’t give you chills on a summer day, you’re frozen inside.
The only reason it’s so deep on the list is that basketball only features prominently in one verse. But it is a great verse.
Champions – Ron Artest
Ron Artest, A.K.A. Metta World Peace, A.K.A. Metta Sanford-Artest took home a title in 2010 with Kobe and The LA Lakers. Shortly thereafter, Metta dropped Champions. The song featured on NBA 2K11 and it holds a lot of nostalgia for gamers and basketball fans alike. Champions is still appreciated as one of the great hooper raps of all time.
Shooting Hoops – G Love and Special Sauce
A bit of a different grind here. G Love brings the blues in that very unique, white dude from Philly style. I like the sentiment in this song. This guys is rolling out to the court to toss the rock with his boys.
This song has really grown on me over time, and worked it’s way into my on-court rotation. The style is funny as hell, like I just want to tap the dude on the shoulder and tell him to wake up. Are you yawning? Oh, you’re singing. Well, don’t let me interrupt you, my guy.
Dream Team – Michael Franti and Spearhead
What in the actual world!? This song is random, but pretty good. Franti is a Bay area native who went to USF on a basketball scholarship. He makes music, blending a bunch of different styles, flowing frequently politically-driven lyrics over the top. He’s been making music since the nineties, but I managed to miss it all until discovering this track.
This song references the Dream Team and its contribution to American culture, contrasting it against the racial frustrations of the era. Franti assembles his own alternate Dream Team of civil rights leaders and African-American cultural icons.
Catch Me – Lupe Fiasco
A little town from the midwest, huh? Chicago meng, you say? Like many of the most popular basketball songs, this one made a 2k7 appearance. And so, if you were tapped in for the right year, it may well carry some weight in terms of nostalgia.
And it’s all well and good if you dig that sort of thing. The beat is fine and the lyrics are just right if you can stomach that mid-00’s style, clean and perfect and frequently the same. Not that there weren’t some songs in that era that rose way above, but this one kinda just settles into the pack for me.
Basketball Jones – Cheech and Chong
Okay, you may recognize this as the Barry White song from the Space Jam soundtrack. Maybe. I dunno, it was kinda easy to miss I guess.
The song actually traces its roots back to an old Cheech & Chong album, first appearing on 1973’2 Los Cochinos. In an odd twist, it was reworked by Barry White for the movie in 1996.
Basketball – Kurtis Blow
I’m sorry, what are they playing again? Could you repeat that? Drag out the “baaaaaall”. And just say that over and over, perfect.
That Kurtis Blow spits straight fire, am I right? This was what rap sounded like in 1984. This song is not making it on any playlists, but the video is a must-watch, just to convince yourself that this existed as culturally-influential media.
Space Jam – Quad City DJ’s
This was the intro to Space Jam. It’s pretty dumb, but it brings back memories. Kinda nuts that it has more plays on Spotify than C’mon N’ Ride it.
Magic Johnson – Red Hot Chili Peppers
I did not know that RHCP had a song about Magic Johnson. It does fit in with their preoccupation with the city they live in, the city of angels.
The lyrics are weird as hell, just fan boy appreciation for the 80’s lakers, like a cheerleader chant. The guitar breaks are sick, as is to be expected. It is what it is.
Roundball Rock – John Tesh
John Tesh? I mean, yeah, I guess.
It was the NBA on NBC intro song for years. And it’s not exactly one of the best basketball songs, but it is certainly among the most bombastic basketball songs. This song really does have it.