2K's Own Signature Style

[RaychelSnr]

To some, the term “classic vinyl” cues up memories of All-American classic rock. For basketball purists, classic vinyl delivers the imagery of records spinning original music of the hip-hop genre. Ryan Hunt, 2K Sports Brand Manager, and Chris Snyder, Senior Director of Marketing, are two of those basketball purists, etched deep within the culture and the music around the sport.

Hunt and Snyder are the minds behind our basketball gaming greatness. Their work inspires memorable NBA 2K trailers featuring tracks with the likes of Kanye West, successfully marrying music and sport in gaming.

Read More - 2K's Own Signature Style

[VDusen04]

I've really enjoyed the route 2K has always decided to take in regards to their soundtracks. Whereas other sports titles have often chosen to go either the "What's Hot and Popular Now" route or the "Classic Jock Jams Everyone's Heard 18,000 Times" route, 2K has consistently looked to bring forth exposure to lesser known (albeit still talented) bands and artists. As a result, their theory worked out quite well in my regard. The constant flow of underground artists kept the game's sound about as fresh it can be throughout a large portion of the gaming year.

Through the years, 2K Sports has keyed me in on dozens of artists I likely never would have heard of otherwise (or at least never gotten around to listening to, even if I had heard of them): Aesop Rock, RJD2, MGMT, Ratatat, Blockhead, Friendly Fires, Little Brother, Miike Snow, Matisyahu, the list goes on. And to be clear, I haven't loved everything 2K's thrown together. I don't recall being particularly fond of the 2K11 soundtrack. But overall, I much prefer their soundtrack route over that of their sporting competitors.

[RustedWalleye]

Over the years I would almost instantaneously turn off the soundtracks for any title. The 2k series especially the last two years is the first time not only have I left the soundtracks to play, but I even keep the volume up. They fit very well, even when the style isn't always what I listen to. They have done a great job putting soundtracks you can listen to even while playing.

[mlp111]

I continue to instantly turn off sound track, IMO it straight up sucks, so I personally don't listen to it


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[Gramps91]

Honestly the soundtrack on 2k11 was my favorite I loved Fail Safe. If 2k wants to be more diverse they should have less rap and hip-hop. Just my opinion.

[SouthBeach]

Quote: Originally Posted by eaterofworlds888

Honestly the soundtrack on 2k11 was my favorite I loved Fail Safe. If 2k wants to be more diverse they should have less rap and hip-hop. Just my opinion.

I see what you mean. And my response may be a bit touchy, so don't take offense to it.

But from a marketing standpoint, I can see why 2K has mostly included hip hop vs other genres of music(think NHL games). As much as "we" may want to turn a blind eye to why it's mostly hip hop, the fact of the matter is that the majority of people that play basketball typically come from the same background that enjoys hip hop.

Not to say that including other genres would decrease sales, but more so that including more genres wouldn't necessarily have much of an effect on its diversity because I would assume that consumers love 2K's series for the games they produce, not the soundtrack.

[Gramps91]

Quote: Originally Posted by SouthBeach

I see what you mean. And my response may be a bit touchy, so don't take offense to it. But from a marketing standpoint, I can see why 2K has mostly included hip hop vs other genres of music(think NHL games). As much as "we" may want to turn a blind eye to why it's mostly hip hop, the fact of the matter is that the majority of people that play basketball typically come from the same background that enjoys hip hop. Not to say that including other genres would decrease sales, but more so that including more genres wouldn't necessarily have much of an effect on its diversity because I would assume that consumers love 2K's series for the games they produce, not the soundtrack.

yea I agree, I know the reason they pick mostly hip-hop is because of the background of people, but I'm just basketball nut who really doesn't like hip-hop at all. But yea I like 2k basketball so much that the soundtrack is of little significance

[tril]

2k has always done an excellent job with their soundtracks.
2K has hipped me to alot of artists outside the realm of hiphop. Ive actually purchased cd's after hearing an artist from 2k.
Those that think that 2k's soundtracks are only hiphop, must not listen to all the music selections in a 2k game.
great job 2k