A few weeks after Showtime released the Kevin Durant-produced "Basketball County: In The Water" documentary, we now have the official soundtrack courtesy of Prince George's County's own IDK. It's called "IDK & Friends 2" and features several DMV area artists in the same spirit of celebration that the documentary portrays.
County queen Rico Nasty leads the posse cut "495" with Big Flock, YungManny, Big Jam and Weensey. Xanman, who was named "DMV's Most Prolific Teen Rapper" by Fader appears on "Riley." "Live for It" closes out the project with hometown hero Wale.
Previously released single "Mazel Tov," a certified slapper with A$AP Ferg produced by Ronny J, is also on here. So is "Bulletproof," a fiery song with IDK's good friend Denzel Curry and Houston powerhouse Maxo Kream and "Square Up," a racing track featuring and produced by Juicy J.
Other production credits include JetsonMade who helped DaBaby craft his signature sound, Michael Uzi, FNZ, Acyde, Nils, Blue Rondo and more.
Tales from the street and sorting through the real from the fake are sprinkled with plenty of basketball shoutouts to Chris Paul, Kyrie Irving, Reggie Miller and of course Durant.
IDK released the first installment of "IDK & Friends" in 2018 in between his critically-acclaimed "IWASVERYBAD" and his debut album, "Is He Real?" He has since established his own label, Clue No Clue to create ownership of his craft.
IDK narrated "Basketball County" and his music is featured heavily throughout the film. The movie explains the basketball history of PG County, starting in Washington, DC when Dr. Edwin Bancroft Henderson brought the game of basketball to the community directly from the sport's founder, James Naismith. It follows the various factors that have allowed the sport to flourish, including a robust parks system, the legacy of DeMatha High School and the rise of AAU team DC Assault.
What defines a PG star? Toughness, resilience and pure shooting. Countless NBA players, including Durant, Michael Beasley, Victor Oladipo, Quinn Cook and Jerami Grant hail from the area as well as recent college stars Kris Jenkins and Nate Britt. You can't forget New York Liberty by-way-of University of Maryland star Marissa Coleman.
The legacy really crossed into national attention with the rise of Len Bias, who grew up playing for the county schools and, when given his pick of the litter for his college decision, decided to stay home to play for the Maryland Terrapins. He was selected as a top NBA draft pick by the championship Boston Celtics and had the world ahead of him before he died of a cocaine overdose. Bias' death rocked the local community and was a national tragedy.
But the community carried on the legacy of elite basketball and PG County influence is woven into the very fabric at all levels of the game.
Press play on "IDK & Friends 2," which serves as the "Basketball County" soundtrack below or at Apple Music:
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