This commercial aired a few years ago, but with Kevin Durant quickly becoming one of the best scorers and developing an impeccable brand and The Mo Williams Academy becoming a basketball development brand to be reckoned with, I think the commercial needs to be revisited for a those reasons, plus the cross disciplinary effort which went into making it a success. DJ Quick was the composer and producer overall for the commercial and the beats, the NBA players created the lyrics and the commercial was directed by Andreas Nilsson.
In a hilarious ad, Nike pays tribute to the glory days of '90s hip-hop. The folks at Nike have assembled a faux rap ensemble called the Hyperizers featuring Kevin Durant, Rashard Lewis, Mo Williams and Andre Iguodala.
Lewis ("Ice-O") sports a Kid N' Play-esque hairdo, Durant ("Velvet Hoop") looks like he stepped out of a Tribe Called Quest video, and Williams ("Fog Raw")...well, his hairstyle is certainly from a simpler time. Actually, the same can be said for some of the lyrics in this ad.
The time spent in recreating not only the original sound of the early rap game, but recreating the visual aesthetics of the time as well are much appreciated. Though comedic, the video amongst a number of other key moves by the NBA has helped in transitioning the league and its fans into the era that has transformed the game as we know it.
From the Fab Five's long shorts and black socks to the corn-rolls worn by Allen Iverson, the NBA, although reluctantly, has embraced its new era and noticed its economic viability, just ask Jay Z, one time part owner of the Brooklyn Nets and designer of its new identity, and now a mega sports agent.
Could this be an avenue for me, an architect of the hip hop generation? I am seeking design opportunities with athletes, entertainers and other professional practitioners who are part of the hip hop generation as well. When it comes to hip hop, we the architects, are the only artist not involved in the movement. What about the companies that use hip hop as a marketing tool? I'm sure there are design opportunities available there as well. I would love to be a location scout to help accurately depict hip hop by selecting and re-appropriating spaces to resembled the environments which birthed hip hop. One day, this and many other things shall come to pass.
Article originally posted here - HuffingtonPost