LeBron, Carmelo, and Dwayne Wade Prepare to Write A New Chapter In the "Dunkadelic Era" 1984-Present, Says 'Basketball and Hip-Hop' Guru Derrick E. Vaughan

April 16, 2006 was the 3rd Anniversary of last played NBA game for Michael Jordan. The "Dunkadelic" shoe worn by Iverson symbolized the ending and, begining of a new era in the "Basketball and Hip-Hop" culture fusion. XBox College Hoops 2K6 360 introduces new game feature "Dunkadelic University".

(PRWEB) April 17, 2006 -- April 16, 2003 was the last time that Michael Jeffrey Jordan would play an official NBA game. He's considered the best player of All-Time and, arguably the 'Greatest' athlete in the history of sports. That same day the NBA's All-Time leading scorer Kareem Abdul Jabaar (38,387 points) would celebrate his 56th birthday.

Allen Iverson the "Bad Boy" of the league and, the poster-child for "Basketball and Hip-Hop" wanted to symbolize this great moment in history. So instead of wearing his A-6 signature shoe or playoff-mid shoe that was due to hit stores in a few days. He wore the shoe named "Dunkadelic."

Dunkadelic is the term that defines the fusion of "Basketball and Hip-Hop" culture. Its also the term that defines the era that Jordan, Shaq, Kevin Garnett, Kobe, and Iverson helped create over the last 20+ years from 1984-present the "Dunkadelic Era."

That era would be getting 3 new superstar's after Jordans' retirement and, they would continue the 'Culture Fusion' and take it to the next level. LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwayne Wade were the 1st, 3rd, and 5th players chosen during the 2003 NBA Draft. They brought that Hip-hop swagger to the game just as Jordan and Iverson did before them.

The 2006 NBA Playoffs will mark the first time that all 3 will be playing during the post-season. This will be the first playoff experience for King James. LeBron is the first of the 3 to average 30 points a game for an entire season. He's also the first to win the All-Star Game MVP (2006). This will be the 3rd straight playoff appearance for Carmelo. He's shown the leadership ability that won him the 2003 National Championship. D-Wade is also making his 3rd straight playoff run. He's won 3 playoff series in his career to date. All 3 Mega-Stars will be selected to All-NBA teams at the end of this season.

The NBA instituted a new "Dress Code" for the league at the start of the 2005-06 season to take some of the Hip-Hop fashion swagger away from it's players. It's something that Commissioner David Stern felt was necessary for the image of the league. It's noble and should be respected but, it's not realistic because the climate over basketball is dominated by Hip-hop. From every arena to every highlight dunk to every aesthetic of NBA life has Hip-hop surrounded by it. Remember this has been a 20 year evolution in the making.

The "Basketball and Hip-Hop" fusion started it's fastbreak to mainstream in 1984 when Kurtis Blow released the album 'Ego Trip' that featured songs "Basketball" and "If I Ruled The World". That same year a skinny kid from N. Carolina with huge hops and, big hands enterd the NBA. The combination of Jordan and Hip-Hop was inspiring to all urban boys that dreamed of playing in the NBA.

From 1985-1988 Michael and his "Air Jordans" became part of the urban landscape for teenage kids. RUN-DMC released albums King of Rock in 1985, and Raising Hell in 1986 with the hit song "My Adidas." LL Cool J entered the scene in 1985 with his debut album Radio that featured hits "I Can't Live Without My Radio" and "Rock The Bells". As kids played basketball they wore "Air Jordans" with a blast of Hip-hop music in the playgrounds, backyards, and streets. This was the first Chapter in the "Basketball and Hip-Hop" culture fusion.

Chapter 2 was from 1988-1995, Jordan became the "Icon" of sports. The basketball shorts got longer and, heads became clean shaven 'Like Mike'. MJ became a 3-Time World Champion. Hip-hop became bigger with mainstream America from commercials to music videos to fashion. It was also the time that Tupac and Notorious B.I.G. became household names. The "Bling-Bling" Rebels of UNLV and, The "Fab 5" of Michigan were the targets of college basketball purists because they were bringing the urban culture to the NCAA. West coast Hip-hop made a Slam Dunk with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dog, and Ice Cube. A 7 foot 310 pound dunking machine name Shaquille O'Neal muscled his way "LL" style into basketball and Hip-hop.

Chapter 3 was from 1995-2003, Jordan would come back from a 1-1/2 year retirement and win 3 more Championships. A kid from South Carolina would be the first player since Moses Malone to skip college and go to the NBA. Kevin Garnett shocked the world and, was the 5th pick of the 1995 NBA Draft. The Hip-hop culture lost both Tupac and Biggie (Notorious B.I.G) to murder in August 96' and March 97'. The violence of street life in Hip-hop became part of the basketball world as well. In 1996 the most significant figure to the "Basketball and Hip-Hop" culture was selected with the 1st pick of the 1996 NBA Draft. Allen Iverson would become the face of the culture as Jordan retired in 1998. New Hip-hop stars Jay-Z, DMX, Nas, Nelly, Eminem, and 50 Cent became icons of Hip-Hop. Jay-Z and 50 Cent would sign sneaker deals with major shoe companies.

Chapter 4 is from 2003-Present, Allen Iverson is completing his 10th NBA season. He's about to become like Jordan and pass that 'Fusion Culture' torch to the "Newjacks." LeBron, Carmelo, and D-Wade mark on history will unvail over the next 7-10 years and, the state of "Basketball and Hip-Hop" is in their hands. It's their time to Rock the Bells and, to Rock This Way to an NBA Championship and, be "Just Like Mike".

The 2006 All-Dunkadelic Teams for College and Pro will be announced after the 2006 NBA Draft.

XBox College Hoops 2K6 360 recently released a new game feature called "Dunkadelic University". It allows for the player to have more control of the game with expanded capability. The "Basketball and Hip-Hop" term is now part of college basketball computer games. Now that's Dunkadelic!    
        
For more information or interview request on the "Dunkadelic Era", All-Dunkadelic Teams, or the "Basketball and Hip-Hop" fusion culture contact Derrick E. Vaughan, 443-851-5244.

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