Just a few days before the release of NBA 2K24, the developer has unveiled the game’s soundtrack. This one is all about hip-hop, which is celebrating its 50th birthday – but also an in-house anniversary.
According to tradition, DJ Kool Herc and his sister threw a party in New York on 11 August 1973. 50 years later, the event and what DJ Kool Herc mixed there is considered the birth date of hip-hop. 2K Games also follows this definition and dedicates the soundtrack of its new basketball simulation to the music genre as usual. The developer understands the composition of the artists and songs that are to accompany NBA 2K24 as a “homage”.
The musical selection is “peppered with past and present genre hits”. 2K has worked with Grammy winners such as Jay-Z, Travis Scott and J. Cole. According to their own statement, they have “advanced to become the gold standard for video game soundtracks”. Examples of hip-hop melodies and beats cited include “Just Wanna Rock” by Lil Uzi Vert and “Kobe Bryant” by Lil Wayne.
NBA 2K itself is also celebrating an anniversary
In Season 1 of NBA 2K24, Def Jam Recordings will “kick things off.” Classics like “This DJ” by Warren G (feat. O.G.L.B.) or “Hustlin” by Rick Ross are to accompany the action on the virtual court. At the time of release, 2K already plans to offer more than 50 artists and some exclusive music tracks. In addition, new songs will be added to the track list every Friday. The developer wants to “unite famous producers, songwriters and the next generation”.
But it’s not just hip-hop that’s celebrating its anniversary, the video game company itself is too: The NBA 2K series turns 25. Over the past quarter century, it has become “an influential platform where basketball and hip-hop culture enrich each other”. The developer therefore wants “fans to enjoy the best of both worlds”. NBA 2K24 will be released worldwide on 8 September for PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series XS, PC and Nintendo Switch.
