Songs Used to Promote The NBA
The soundtrack to the game is pretty amazing.
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Hip Hop Songs Used on NBA Broadcasts - NBA players often listen to hip hop in their headphones to help get in a zone before games. But it's not just the hoopers that get ready for games that way. For years, particularly over the last decade, the NBA and its television partners like ABC, ESPN and TNT have used hit songs as part of their marketing campaigns. Played on commericials, before games, and as promo packages, here are the songs that have provided the soundtrack to the NBA on TV.(Photos: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BET; Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images; Paul Morigi/Getty Images for The New Yorker)
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Kanye West featuring Young Jeezy "Amazing" - From 2007-2011, the NBA pushed the maxim "Where Amazing Happens." It was a perfect fit, then, when they used Kanye West and Young Jeezy's "Amazing" during the 2009 playoffs. (Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty Images)
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Aloe Blacc "The Man" - Recently, the league started using Aloe Blacc's "The Man" (which has become inescapable, thanks in part to its use in Beats by Dre campaigns, too). The singer is set to perform at All-Star Weekend this year. (Photo: Etienne Oliveau/Getty Images for IWC)
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Black Eyed Peas "Let's Get It Started" - In 2004, the Black Eyed Peas' "Let's Get It Started" became a mandatory pump up song, and ESPN and ABC oblidged, using the hit in their promos. (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images)
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Justin Bieber featuring Busta Rhymes "Drummer Boy" - Starting in 2011, ABC and ESPN used Justin Bieber and Busta Rhymes' "Drummer Boy" as part of their promos for the full slate of Christmas Day games. The video package was a bit odd. (Photo: Landov)
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Busta Rhymes and Linkin Park "We Made It" - Busta Rhymes and Linkin Park celebrated success in 2008 with their collaboration "We Made It," and TNT decided to ride the wave, using the song for their coverage of that year's Western Conference Playoffs. (Photos: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BET; Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Usher "More" - For the 2010 All-Star Game, TNT used Usher's song "More" as a lead in to their coverage.(Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BET)
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Jamie Foxx featuring Justin Timberlake and T.I. - The powerhouse trio of Jamie Foxx, Justin Timberlake and T.I. collaborated for 2010's "The Winner," and TNT decided to use that winning combo during their 2010 playoff coverage. (Photo: Mark Davis/Getty Images for BET)
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Cee Lo Green "Fight to Win" - With a title made for NBA Playoff coverage, "Fight to Win," by Cee Lo Green, was used for exactly that during the 2012 postseason.(Photo: Paul Morigi/Getty Images for The New Yorker)
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Mariah Carey "All I Want For Christmas Is You"/"Oh Santa!" - After a memorable perfomance at 2003's All-Star Game, Mariah Carey was again tapped by the NBA, this time in 2009 and 2010, for their Christmas Day coverage. They used her songs "All I Want For Christmas Is You" and "Oh Santa!" respectively. (Photo: Mark Davis/Getty Images for BET)
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