‘13 Basketball Songs to Celebrate March Madness’ features contributions from artists including Cheech & Chong, Future, Katy Perry, Kurtis Blow, and Lil Pump among others.

“They’re playing basketball / We love that basketball.” So true Kurtis Blow, so true! March is the time where the sport of basketball is king, and brackets are busted on a nightly basis.  So many different offensive and defensive schemes, while Cinderella upsets highly-favored, power conference teams.  All that said, that doesn’t even factor in the ballers in the NBA or the WNBA, sigh.  While this list is designated for march madness, it’s great for any time of the year.  Among featured artists on 13 ‘Basketball’ Songs to Celebrate March Madness are Cheech & Chong, Future, Katy Perry, and Lil Pump.

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1. Future, “March Madness”

Writers: Chance Youngblood & Nayvadius Wilburn (Future) | Producer: Tarantino

March Madness – Single • Epic • 2015

“We ballin’ like the March Madness (let’s get it) …” To quote Gretchen Wilson, “Can I get a big hell yeah!” Notable, however, it’s a bit hard to decipher what Future is rapping without the lyrics in front of you.  Also, basketball plays a secondary role as opposed to being ‘front and center.’

“…I’m the one that’s livin’ lavish
Like I’m playin’ for the Mavericks.”

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2. Katy Perry, “Swish Swish”

Ft. Nicki Minaj

Writers: Brittany Hazzard, Duke Dumont, Katy Perry, Onika Miraj, PJ “Promnite” Sledge, Roland Clark & Sarah Hudson | Producers: Duke Dumont

Witness • Capitol • 2017

“Swish, swish, bish
Another one in the basket
Can't touch this
Another one in the casket” – Katy Perry, Hook

Katy Perry got in on the basketball action with “Swish Swish,” arguably, the best song from her so-so Witness album.  Despite a fun music video that centers on an outrageous basketball game, most have deemed “Swish Swish” a diss track geared towards rival Taylor Swift.

“Swish swish, aww I got them upset
But my shooters’ll make ‘em dance like dubstep
Swish, swish, aww, my haters is obsessed
‘Cause I make M’s, they get much less.” – Nicki Minaj, Verse 3

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3. Kurtis Blow, “Basketball”

Writers: Full Force, James B. Moore, James Robert Bralower, Kurtis Walker, Robert Arthur Ford Jr., Shirley Walker, William Waring | Producers: Johnny B. Moore & Robert Ford, Jr.

Best of / 20^th Century • Island Def Jam • 2003

“They’re playing basketball
We love that basketball.”

Taking it back to 1984, rapper Kurtis Blow helps us to remember the golden age of hip-hop. Oh how times have changed – no shades.  Safe to say, the basketball and pop cultural references, for the time, are pitch-perfect.

“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.”

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4. Mansionz, “Dennis Rodman”

Ft. Dennis Rodman

Writers: Darryl McDaniels, Joseph Simmons, Matthew Tyler Musto & Mike Posner | Producer: Blackbear & Mike Posner

Mansionz • Island • 2017

Unfortunately, the blackbear, Mike Posner collaboration mansionz didn’t get the attention (or commercial sales) it deserved.  Nonetheless, the album has a number of intriguing moments, including “Dennis Rodman.” Appropriately, the song features Dennis Rodman on the outro. It embodies spirit of the flamboyant former NBA star.  The bigger picture is that it embraces free-spiritedness.  The final verse offers a perfect moment of this free-spiritedness:

“Yeah, I’ma wear a dress if I want to
Green hair, fishnets if I want to
Smoke, drink, do drugs if I want to
I ain’t really trying to impress you
I’ma be as bad as I wanna be
You can be as mad as you wanna be.”

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5. Lil Pump, “D Rose”

Lil Pump • Warner Bros. • 2017

SoundCloud rappers are everywhere these days, sigh. Lil Pump is among the crop, experiencing success with his first official project, Lil Pump.  “D Rose,” as in Derrick Rose, is among the songs appearing on the album. “D Rose” is less about the pro basketball player than it is about flexing.  Over and over, “D Rose” is repeated, when Lil Pump isn’t rapping, “100 on my wrist, 80 on my wrist.” His cockiness continues at an all-time high as he asserts, “Lil Pump never spendin’ money on a b***h.”

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6. Kris Kross, “Jump”

Writers: Alphonso Mizell, Andrew Noland, Berry Gordy, Deke Richards, Fred Perren, Greg Webster, Jermaine Dupri, Joe “The Butcher” Nicolo, Leroy Bonner, Marshall Jones, Marvin Pierce, Norman Napier, Ralph Middlebrooks & Walter Morrison | Producer: Jermaine Dupri

Totally Krossed Out • Sony Music Entertainment • 1992

“The miggida miggida miggida miggida Mac…” Kurtis Blow’s “Basketball” was explicitly about basketball.  The same can’t be said about 1992 Kris Kross gem, “Jump.”  So, why include it on the list?  The music video features a basketball player who clearly has “hops” at one point.  Furthermore, it’s hard to listen to the incredibly energetic joint without envisioning truly epic jump shots and dunks going through the hoop.  A stretch perhaps, but “Jump” is nothing short of incredible.

“Two lil’ kids with a flow you ain't ever heard
And nuttin’ fake and you can understand every word
As you listen to my cool, smooth melody
The Daddy makes you J-U-M-P.”

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7. Andy Mineo & Wordsplayed, “Dunk Contest” (Magic Bird)

Andy Mineo and Wordsplayed Present Magic & Bird • Reach • 2017 

When Christian rappers come together, you don’t expect the concept or topic of choice to be basketball.  In the case of Andy Mineo and Wordsplayed, basketball fuels the fire throughout their mixtape, Magic & Bird.

“Yeah, this that, this that, this that Penny with the Shaq
Yeah, if he’s passin’ me the rock, they might not get it back.”

“Dunk Contest (Magic Bird),” the ‘title track’ of sorts, is ‘da bomb.’  The production is superb, while both rappers drop strong rhymes, and an infectious, ballin’ hook.

“I just threw it off the backboard
Game winner, I’m the one they ask for
Magic Bird, Magic Bird, Magic Bird…”

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8. Andy Mineo & Wordsplayed, “Lay Up”

Andy Mineo and Wordsplayed Present Magic & Bird • Reach • 2017 

To reiterate, when Christian rappers come together, you don’t expect the concept or topic of choice to be basketball.  In the case of Andy Mineo and Wordsplayed, basketball fuels the fire throughout their mixtape, Magic & Bird.  Moving on. On “Lay Up,” the lay ups aren’t “buckets,” even though it’s used metaphorically.  This is about surefire things in life. Mineo uses his wife as an example on the first verse as a layup.

“‘She fly, love God, and she’s got a good mind
Oh boy, that’s a layup!’”

Wordsplayed drops hot rhymes as well, with his swimming, He Got Game lines shining.

“Colored folks still can’t swim
But Mike Phelps couldn’t walk the water
Pastor said that we need Jesus
Big State was his alma mater.”

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9. Cheech and Chong, “Basketball Jones”

Writers: Tommy Chong & Cheech Marin

Los Cochinos • Warner Bros. • 1973

“Got a Basketball Jones, oh baby, oo-oo-ooo.” Kurtis Blow has a classic with his 1984 record, “Basketball.” Preceding that gem, however, is another classic, “Basketball Jones,” courtesy of comedy duo Cheech and Chong. Appearing originally on the 1973 album, Los Cochinos, “Basketball Jones” would be the duo’s biggest, most timeless hit.  A cover, courtesy of Chris Rock and Barry White, appeared on the Space Jam original motion picture soundtrack.

“Yes, I am the victim of a Basketball Jones
Ever since I was a little baby, I always be dribblin’
In fac’, I was de baddest dribbler in the whole neighborhood
Then one day, my mama bought me a basketball
And I loved that basketball
I took that basketball with me everywhere I went
That basketball was like a basketball to me.”

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10. Aaron Childs, “Basketball”

Basketball – Single • GODMODE • 2018

If throwback soul tickles your fancy, perhaps you should give up-and-coming artist Aaron Childs a look.  Single “Basketball,” released March 2, 2018, is short, but extremely sweet.  Does it have much to do with the sport itself? Well, maybe not particularly, but this alternative, throwback soul joint is a jubilant, can’t-miss listen.

“Do you play basketball?
Must be like ten feet tall
Can I touch your Afro?
Teach me how to shoot a free throw.”

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11. Marsha Ambrosius, “Hope She Cheats on You (With a Basketball Player)”

Writers & Producers: Canei Finch & Marsha Ambrosius

Late Nights & Early Mornings • J • 2011

R&B singer/songwriter Marsha Ambrosius could care less about assists, jump shots, or steals despite referencing them on “Hope She Cheats on You (With a Basketball Player).”  There is one steal that’s got her pissed off though. She essentially hopes that her no-good, cheating ex gets cheated on a by a basketball player.  On the second verse, she changes her tune – she hopes he gets cheated on with an “NFL baller.”

“I hope she cheat on you wit’ a basketball playa
Hope that she Kim Kardashian’ed her way up
Don’t know the difference 'tween a touchdown and a layup
Got you on Viagra in order for you to stay up.”

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12. Ruben Studdard, “Take the Shot”

Writers & Producers: Harold Lilly & K. Dean (Swizz Beatz)

Soulful • 19 • 2003

“I’m down by two points and a three can win the game.” Ruben Studdard’s claim to fame was winning narrowly over Clay Aiken on the second season of American Idol.  His debut album, Soulful, was certified platinum.  The most notable songs from the record were “Sorry 2004” (a top-ten hit on the Billboard 200), a cover of The Carpenters’/Luther Vandross’ classic “Superstar,” and a cover of Westlife’s “Flying Without Wings.” Still, one of the overlooked songs, “Take the Shot” fits perfectly for this basketball-driven, March Madness celebratory list.

“Watcha’ gon’ do girl (girl you got the ball)
Make a move girl (you got my heart)
Take the shot c’mon take the shot
Take the shot, c’mon
And win the game girl (girl you got the ball).”

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13. Steve Miller Band, “Fly Like an Eagle”

Writer & Producer: Steven Miller

Fly Like an Eagle • Capitol • 1976 

Why does Steve Miller Band and their classic “Fly Like an Eagle” get a nod on this basketball playlist.  Two words: Space Jam.  The Seal cover from the 90s basketball film definitely revived interest in, and love for the song.  Not that Steve Miller and company where exactly hurting…

“I want to fly like an eagle
To the sea
Fly like an eagle
Let my spirit carry me
I want to fly like an eagle
Till I'm free
Oh, Lord, through the revolution.”

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