If you grew up in the 90s and early 2000s, and you had any interest in the game of basketball, you most likely remember watching the And 1 Mixtapes or the reality show based on them.
ESPN will debut the next installment in its 30 for 30 series, “The Greatest Mixtape Ever,” on May 31. This much-anticipated documentary examines how 1990s streetball and the And1 Mixtape transformed basketball culture at large.
The 30 for 30 series will be about a bunch of guys who built a reputation playing basketball on the playground and some businessmen who had an idea to monetize those reputations.
One of the biggest names in the early 2000’s was ‘Hot Sauce.’
More details, from ESPN’s release:
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In the late 1990s, a burgeoning young New York City DJ, Set Free, had the idea to set some grainy streetball highlights to a soundtrack of emerging rap music. The results culminated in what came to be known as the And1 Mixtape, a series of VHS tapes that forever transformed the game of basketball.
“This moment in time is an extraordinary piece of culture, and its impact in the worlds of music and sport is undeniable,” said Robinson. “These were giants of sport that came together from different neighborhoods and elevated not only basketball, but the spirit of the community. I’m glad to be a part of telling their story.”
Added Richardson: “Basketball and hip hop have a symbiotic relationship like no other combination of music genre and sport. The history of this mixtape – how streetball VHS tapes, a DJ and streetball players changed the culture of basketball – is essential to understanding that relationship. It had to be told!”
