As previously reported, Black Hippy’s own ScHoolboy Q is one of several acts to contribute new music to the NBA Live 14 soundtrack. Aside from the confidence-spewing title, “Man of the Year” is an intriguing entry into the catalog of music for sports-based games. Sure, there’s the prerequisite references to basketball (including the annoyingly hokey chorus of “Bounce”, which hits with the subtlety of an errant hook shot to the face.) Still, there’s several aspects that help raise this single above the hoop. The choice of a menacing Chromatics sample skews this away from other, more celebratory tracks. And though Q’s lyricism isn’t especially groundbreaking (I’d put it above “Banger” but below “Collard Greens”), his frenetic pacing and slightly acerbic tendencies are the point guard and forward that snag the winning shot. Listen in below.
NBA Live 14 is available now on PlayStation 4 and XBOX One. Q’s long-awaited new album, Oxymoron, is due out early next year.
