National Basketball & Hip-Hop Culture Month

Reposted from boards.history.com The basketball and hip-hop culture fusion born in 1984 that is known now as The ‘Dunkadelic-Era’ In America, 1984-Present. The ‘Dunkadelic-Era’ is celebrating its 25th Anniversary during the year 2009 (1984-2009).

To honor the 25th Anniversary of The ‘Dunkadelic-Era’ June 2009 has been selected to be the 1st National Basketball & Hip-Hop Culture Month. It’s an American cultural celebration for people from all over the country to join in and be apart of.

During the month of June the NBA crowns a new league Champion (NBA Finals), usher in a new crop of soon-to-be-stars with their Annual NBA Draft, and the WNBA begins play for its new season.

There has been positive responses for National Basketball & Hip-Hop Culture Month by various Governors, Senators, Mayors, and Congressman. NBA players and rap artists have also been receptive to honor the culture fusion of hoops and hip-hop.

June marks the end of the school year with kids looking forward to a nice Sunmmer vacation. Students from high school and college graduate with a positive outlook toward the future.

Many hip-hop artists release albums and hit songs for a popular Summer run. June is a great month to celebrate the fusion of basketball and hip-hop says, Derrick E. Vaughan the self proclaimed Dunkadelic-Era Scholar who is spearheading the cultural month celebration.

To celebrate Basketball & Hip-Hop Culture Month kids and young adults can get back to having fun, and that’s something that’s needed with the state of the American economy. It’s inexpensive for families and kids just play or watch some basketball games, and listen to a few old school party rap songs.

Back in 1984 the culture fusion of basketball and hip-hop was flying under the radar until a rap group from Queens, New York named RUN-D.M.C. released their pioneering debut album named after the group (RUN-D.M.C.). They would also be the first major rap act of a sub-culture that went by 2 simple, 3-letter words ‘Hip-Hop.’

Some said that rap-music would be a fad, and it wouldn’t last, but only a few knew that the city game, and the music of the city street would merge together and create the first sport-and-music defined time period in American history.

A few states down south from New York City at the University of North Carolina a skinny 6’6 kid from Wilmington, NC was being compared to basketball great Julius ‘Dr. J’ Erving. He had leaping ability that would soon become part of his name and signature basketball sneakers (Air Jordan). Michael Jordan was the 1984 College Basketball Player of the Year, an Olmypic gold medalist, and the man that would be the marquee player of the best Draft in NBA history (1984).

Michael Jordan and RUN-D.M.C. will both be enshrined into their Hall’s-of-Fame (Naismith and Rock-n-Roll)during the year 2009. It’s also a 25th Anniversary for both as they made their cultural impact together to help forge basketball and hip-hop as one in 1984.

With 25-years slam dunked home The ‘Dunkadelic-Era’ has grown up, and those within the culture can now be Ambassadors of the culture fusion who carry themselves with class and respect. They can sit back and look forward to another 25-years and its 50th Anniversary in 2034.

LeBron James the superstar forward for the Cleveland Cavaliers was born during the birth-year of the era in 1984. When LeBron turned 1-years old on December 30, 1985 Michael Jordan was injured and didn’t play for most of the season with a broken foot. His Chicago Bulls on that day played and defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers. LeBron is now the franchise player for the Cavs. James also wears the same #23 as Jordan. Now that’s Dunkadelic!

National Basketball & Hip-Hop Culture Month, June 2009