Pharrell teamed up with the world’s best-selling basketball video game franchise as a music curator. 2K Sports announced Tuesday that the Grammy-winning performer chose 27 tracks for the soundtrack of the upcoming “NBA 2K15.” He’s the second music performer to select songs for the popular video game, following Jay-Z who served as executive producer in 2012.
LeBron James picked out songs for last year’s installment that sold 7 million copies. Pharrell said in a statement to The Associated Press that he wanted to create an “eclectic mix” of songs. Three of his songs are featured on the soundtrack including “Hunter,” ”Can I Have It Like That” and “How Does It Feel?” Another song Pharrell will be featured on is Major Lazer’s “Aerosol Can” including The Neptunes classic Clipse’s ‘Grindin‘, the Missy collaboration from 2005 with ‘On & On’ and Snoop Dogg’s ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot’.
NBA 2K15 (Trailer) (2014)
“It was fun to include songs that I have always loved, like Strafe’s “Set it Off” or Tribe Called Quest’s “Scenario,” he said. ” The eclectic mix makes for a really cool vibe.” It’s not the first time Pharrell has shown his talents within the NBA realm. He performed at this year’s NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans, bringing out Nelly, Sean “Diddy” Combs and Snoop Dogg.
That performance was one of the reasons 2K selected Pharrell as curator. “Pharrell’s creative energy and background with the NBA – his performance at the All-Star game for example – was part of our decision in partnering with him to shape a new entertainment experience in this year’s title,” said Alfie Brody, vice president of marketing for the video game. The game is expected to go on sale Oct. 7.
Clipse – Grindin’ (Official Video) (2002)
NBA 2K15 (2014)
- A Tribe Called Quest – Scenario
- Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force – Planet Rock
- Basement Jaxx – Hot N’ Cold
- Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – River Styx
- Busta Rhymes – Dangerous
- Clipse – Grindin’ (The Neptunes)
- Death From Above 1979 – Romantic Rights
- Depeche Mode – Personal Jesus
- Junior – Mama Used To Say
- Lauryn Hill – Doo Wop (That Thing)
- Lorde – Team
- Major Lazer – Aerosol Can feat. Pharrell
- Missy Elliott – On & On feat. Pharrell (The Neptunes)
- No Doubt – Spiderwebs
- OneRepublic – Love Runs Out
- Pharrell Williams – Hunter
- Pharrell Williams – Can I Have It Like That feat. Gwen Stefani
- Pharrell Williams – How Does It Feel
- Public Enemy – Shut ‘Em Down (Pete Rock Remix)
- Ratatat – Seventeen Years
- Red Hot Chili Peppers – Suck My Kiss
- Santigold – Creator
- Snoop Dogg – Drop It Like It’s Hot feat. Pharrell (The Neptunes)
- Strafe – Set It Off
- The Black Keys – Everlasting Light
- The Rapture – House Of Jealous Lovers
- The Strokes – Under Cover Of Darkness