RealGM

Really...Beginning with this stupid anti climactic Kanye West song.

And I can't stand listening to stupid hip hop beats throughout the whole game.

And then they have this stupid hip hop DJ.

I mean, I am not to keen for music during the game in the first place, but if they have to do it, then at least make it something that cheers the fans up rather this hip hop stuff.

I don't get it.

Well...hip hop has been linked to basketball for a long time and personally I feel it goes very well with the game. There are lots of people who enjoy it as well it isn't hard to find enthusiastic fans out of their seats dancing to it during breaks. I agree that we should replace Stronger because there are like 5 other teams that use it, but I don't agree with cutting music out completely.

i don't believe you!

what other type of music would cheer the fans up?

it's a younger demographic that goes to raps games i believe, so i see nothing wrong with hip-hop.

Yeah, everyone knows that the only good music around is played by Q107. I want to hear at least five Pink Floyd songs at every basketball game that I attend. Wouldn't that get the young, diverse, urban crowd fired up?

Anyone who is anyone knows the only song that really gets a crowd going is 'The good ol hockey game' song...

While I have no problem with the music played, particularly during breaks, I really don't like how the NBA plays music during the actual game, or how one of the 4 korners guys tries to get the crowd hyped up at the beginning etc.

For god sakes guys, it's a great product, let it stand on its own.

Like clipped said, hiphop/urban culture are strongly linked to basketball. However, I think recall that the NBA wanted to slowly break that linkage and was trying to mandate teams to choose other types of music during games (not to mention the off-court dresscode). After going to Raps games since day 1, I can definintely see the reduction in urban music the past few years (i.e. U2 intro music last year, the "soccer-chant" during the third intermission, etc.). However, I don't think the NBA can completely get rid of hiphop without jeopardizing losing the grassroots fans.

peter bosh wrote:i don't believe you!

You need more people!

O...K...

All hip-hop, even the good stuff is stupid IYO of course. Good to know, me personally, I luv me some death-metal, they should play that . Seriously, I could do with a little more quality and variety if they're going to insist on playing music at the games.

I really don't mind a hip hop dj..if they actually played some decent hip hop

Mr. Savage wrote:Really...Beginning with this stupid anti climactic Kanye West song.

And I can't stand listening to stupid hip hop beats throughout the whole game.

And then they have this stupid hip hop DJ.

I mean, I am not to keen for music during the game in the first place, but if they have to do it, then at least make it something that cheers the fans up rather this hip hop stuff.

I don't get it.

hey hey... dont be dissing 4 korners. haha

Seriously though - what really REALLY needs to get rid of is thoose stupid live drum guys. Or atleast can someone explain to me why they play when WE have the ball???? That **** is distracting as he77!!!

I have been busy this year and have not been to as many games as I normally would go to. In fact, the first game I went to this year was a couple of weeks ago... when I got to the game and heard these stupid drums, I was like WTF?? And it wasn't just me, everyones else close to me was like 'why is this going on when WE have the ball??' It's loud, random, and I really dont know how our team is able to communicate on offence with it going on... we kept a running count on how we did when the beat was going on, and we were like 2 of 9 from the field.

It's strange to say the least...

I don't mind the music during breaks, but I can't believe that music is played during play.
I hate hearing that sh**, it would be much cooler to just listen to the sounds of the game, the sneakers squeaking, ball bouncing, the trash talk, and the coaches yelling at the players.
It's frustrating how all of the efforts at sports venues these days are aimed to people who aren't even that interested in the game itself.

T0R0NT0_RAPT0RS wrote:Like clipped said, hiphop/urban culture are strongly linked to basketball. However, I think recall that the NBA wanted to slowly break that linkage and was trying to mandate teams to choose other types of music during games (not to mention the off-court dresscode). After going to Raps games since day 1, I can definintely see the reduction in urban music the past few years (i.e. U2 intro music last year, the "soccer-chant" during the third intermission, etc.). However, I don't think the NBA can completely get rid of hiphop without jeopardizing losing the grassroots fans.

You would have to do a survey of all 30 arenas to make that statement. Many cities don't seem to do the hip-hop thing. Watching Orlando-Boston yesterday, i noted that Orlando doesn't. I don't believe Boston does either. Let's distinguish between the intro song and the music used the rest of the evening. I don't think the use of hip hop or urban music is as prevalent around the league as you think. It is part of the mix, but not nearly all of it, and a lot of teams don't play music during the action.

I think the real name for this thread is "I don't like hip hop."

Music is always going to be a tough one, everyone likes different stuff. And a tune that gets you pumped wont necessairly work for everyone. I think they even do some market research for this sort of stuff.. "Solja boi" for instance - Terrible song - but also holds the record for the most legally downloaded track ever.

But we'll never all be happy - I know someone from Beaverton, ON (yes, there is such a place) who suggested that this should be the opening song:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=nCPbL4yA7ik

I slapped him. Though, I do agree that the Kanye song doesn't work.

While I myself am a hip-hop head, I do agree with the original poster's sentiments.

a) Some of the best pump up songs ever are NOT hip hop songs. [there are plenty of hip hop pump-up songs but 90% that work for me are unplayable in public. Let's just say people would be confused as hell when they start hearing canibus on the speakers]

Furthermore, why oh why would you continue to play 'stronger' when it was played out on the radio 2 months ago? Pick a classic you fools [heck, if you just picked Criss Cross or some classic 90s rap tune, people would LOVE it]

b) The four corners guys are douchebags and have to go. I'm sorry, they are not hip-hop and I can understand that these guys were brought in to bolster the ACC's 'hip hop street cred' [because they sure aren't delivering anything else] but please, go pump gas.

The most hip-hop thing about basketball is the classic tunes. The classic MSG sounds for example will even put the smallest kids in awe. One of the rules of modern day pop culture is that if something is loved by hip-hop culture, DO NOT CATER TO THE CULTURE. Basketball and the Raptors are as synonymous to Toronto hip hop as nas is to rap, you don't need all this gimmickry to 'prove' it.

c) I suspect MLSE went the traditional route of corporations and brought in 'cultural/trendsetting' "experts" and asked them: 'hey guys, how do we make raptors hip and cool to the young kids?' The result is the weakness we see at the games.



Look i'm all for hip hop at the ACC. However, what I do NOT want to see is it being shoved in people's places. The NBA is a league of tradition and classic, timeless elements. Artificially inseminating with 'attitude' is not good.

let's see...

you have the Leafs having one of the most painful game productions i have heard (every time they score that play that horrible song from 2Unlimited. every time the other team scores, they play the drum beginning from "Hot For Teacher". someone thinks its still 1989).

you have other NBA teams still using the organ instead of music samples.

while i am not a fan of the hip-hop culture, i can tolerate the Raptors' production. anything is better than ACDC

Toronto is a fair-weather, trendy crowd. My girl loves going to games because she likes the non-stop entertainment. The music, the dancing, all contribute to the energy that she loves.

I on the other hand, am down with no music and floodlights on the court.

But they are making the product as as entertaining and accessible as possible, for everyone who wants to shell out the cash. This is not a sophisticated basketball market, but one with a tonne of cash who wants to be entertained.