Basketball isn’t the only thing that Anthony Edwards is quite good at.
The Minnesota Timberwolves star guard is also the executive producer of a new compilation album titled “Legend In My Hood,” which was released in collaboration with Culture Jam, a creative studio that brings together entertainers, sports stars and the greater community.
Production on the album was handled by Edwards’ brother, Antony “bdifferent” Edwards. The project itself takes fans on a ride through the brothers’ journey from their Atlanta roots to basketball and music success – all while celebrating the intersection of sports, sound and storytelling.
Edwards hosted a star-studded album release party on Friday night, with red carpet arrivals and a party that echoed the same vibe of the project: one of a success story that’s only just beginning.
KTLA spoke with Culture Jam Founder Esean Bolden on his creative agency’s mission and purpose, and how a young NBA superstar is paving the way for the next generation of athletes. Taking inspiration from the AND1 Live Tour, the traveling basketball competition and exhibition which featured a combination of streetball and rap that featured across the world between 1998 and 2008, Bolden said he believes athletes and artists are now virtually inseparable.
“It’s all about the storytelling…When I started Culture Jam, it was all about taking that to the next level with new platforms and how we can refurbish the artist-athlete relationship,” Bolden explained. “We know that athletes and artists respect each other and a lot of them are cut from the same cloth, and we are bridging them together.”
At the red carpet, KTLA also had the chance to ask ex-NBA guard Brandon Jennings, a Compton native, and Los Angeles rapper AzChike about what they thought about Edwards’ new album and what a project such as Culture Jam means for the future of the modern-day athlete.
“It’s not just music — but anything in life,” Jennings commented. “This is just another lane where, with Anthony Edwards being young and able to tap into music, you just never know what’s next for him. The sky’s the limit.”
“I feel like the connection has been there,” added AzChike. “Rappers and and all ball players have always had a certain type of connection, and I think sports and rap go hand and hand. [Rappers] love to watch, and athletes play our music before the game…it’s just an automatic connection.”
Anthony Edwards’ executive produced album “Legend In My Hood” dropped on Friday. Featured artists on the project include Pusha T, Quavo, Big Sean, Skilla Baby, Key Glock and more. It is available to stream on all streaming platforms.
This isn’t Culture Jam’s first foray into the music space; Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard also collaborated with the studio to release “Culture Jam Vol. 1 Part 1” in 2021. Included on that project are Lil Uzi Vert, NBA YoungBoy, Gunna, A Boogie wit da Hoodie and Ty Dolla $ign.
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