JAY-Z‘s Roc Nation enterprise is producing a new docuseries on the classic New York Rucker Park streetball tournament.
The Hollywood Reporter reported the news exclusively on Thursday (April 11), noting that Hova’s company is teaming up with EverWonder Studios and 3 Legends Productions to create the series on the classic Harlem event.
“The Rucker is an integral part of basketball culture. I’m honored to have been a part of its legacy. We’re looking forward to sharing the history in a way that’s never been done before,” said Juan Perez, executive producer and president of Roc Nation Sports.
“As individuals who lived the culture that was revolutionized by the EBC, we knew that Juan Perez and Roc Nation were the only ones who would be as passionate about telling this story as we are,” executive producer Dorian “Black” Graham added. “We’re thrilled to bring this series to life and showcase the expansive impact of The Rucker.”
Created by Greg Marius, the basketball tournament began in the early 1980s and rapidly became a must-attend summer event for New Yorkers across all boroughs. Rappers like Jay-Z and Fat Joe began sponsoring teams, and the event became so popular that NBA icons like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Allen Iverson and Kevin Durant played in the recreational competition over the years.
The legendary venue played host to more than just basketball tournaments though.
Last year, Fat Joe admitted that his beef with JAY-Z at the height of his career cost him a lucrative sneaker deal with Reebok.
The pair’s discourse began on the basketball court back in 2004, at the height of the relationship between when Hip Hop and “The Rucker.”
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Both Hov and Joey Crack had teams that made it to the championships that year, but the former never showed, forfeiting the game to Joe’s team. After the win, he took a shot at the Roc-A-Fella co-founder on the single “Lean Back.”
“I don’t wanna speak about the Rucker/ Not even Pee Wee Kirkland could imagine this/ My n-gga didn’t have to play to win the championship,” Joe raps on the classic anthem.
While the pair let bygones be bygones years ago, Fat Joe told Rap Radar last August that the feud cost him some serious business opportunities.
“I learned the hard way, I never complained and I never said it publicly but you know I had beef with 50 Cent and JAY-Z,” Joe began around the 53:47 mark. “The two most fucking powerful dudes in the world. Reebok was gonna give me a sneaker deal and they [were like], ‘Oh you have beef with JAY-Z and 50 Cent,’ Jordan too, ‘We can’t give you the deal.’ You know how much money, shit was like an embargo.”
