Anthony Edwards Joins Bose and Culture Jam to Celebrate Compilation Album

We’re just a day away from the start of this year’s NBA All-Star Weekend celebration. The festivities are taking place in San Francisco this year and features a stacked roster of not only talented superstar hoopers, but exciting brand activations as well. For Anthony Edwards, he’s due to make his third consecutive appearance in the All-Star Game while also teaming up with Bose and Culture Jam to introduce the lead single of his newly-announced compilation album — Culture Jam Presents: Legend In My Hood.

Edwards follows in the footsteps of fellow NBA star Kawhi Leonard, who dropped his seven-track Culture Jam (Vol. 1) compilation back in 2021. Similar to Leonard’s project, Edwards is credited as a co-executive producer alongside Culture Jam founder Eesean Bolden. Culture Jam Presents: Legend In My Hood follows the story of two brothers — Anthony and AnTony, aka bdifferent — who have set out on their own paths as a basketball player and rapper respectively, and how they’ve overcome adversity through brotherhood. To introduce the new project, Anthony is hosting an event at All-Star Weekend with Bose & The h.wood Group, where he will debut the lead single “Late Bloomer” by bdifferent and Skilla Baby.

In anticipation of the exciting premiere, we caught up with Anthony Edwards to chat about what role music plays in his life, working with his brother on the project, what it’s like being an All-Star for the third year in a row and more.

Allleuu/Culture Jam

How does music impact basketball for you?

Music and basketball go hand in hand. There’s a special connection for me, especially because of my brother — he is the reason I play basketball. I grew up watching him play and it made me want to go out and be great like him. Now, my brother is an artist and makes the dopest music out there. So there is a special connection for me. Even beyond just myself, everyone in basketball is connected to music. We feed off the energy of the music and it gets our minds right for practice, big games and everything in between.

When do you most often listen to music?

Music is with me everywhere I go, so you’ll never catch me without my Bose headphones, whether that’s at the gym, during a workout or when I’m getting ready for a game.

How did working on the mixtape start?

This was a project of love created with inspiration from my brother. Music is huge for us and to get to work on this is really dope. Music has been a constant in both of our lives, so it was a natural step to take that’s been a lot of fun.

Did you immediately have an idea of how you wanted it to sound?

I knew from the jump the artists we had to have on this mixtape. It’s going to have it all. It’s going to be everything anyone could want.

Your brother makes an appearance on the mixtape. What’s it like being able to work with him on a project of this magnitude?

Working with my brother is a dream come true. I always want to uplift the people who have supported me the most throughout my life, but this isn’t about putting him on, he deserves it whether he is my brother or not — his music is fire. Anyone that don’t know will know soon.

Bose

In three words, how would you describe the mixtape?

Heat, heat and (more) heat.

You’re hosting an event at NBA All-Star Weekend to debut the lead single. What kind of energy are you looking to bring to it?

I just want to bring everyone together to have a good time. I want to celebrate my brother and the mixtape but also my fellow All-Stars and my partners at Bose who are helping to make it all happen.

Who is more stylish, rappers or NBA stars?

I don’t think it’s about if it’s a rapper or player wearing something. It really comes down to the confidence and energy you bring to the outfit. That’s where style comes from to me.

You’re going into NBA All-Star Weekend as an All-Star for the third year in a row. How does it feel?

Amazing. I’m blessed to be able to do what I love every day and I’m honored to be recognized again this year.

Look out for “Late Bloomer” by bdifferent and Skilla Baby to arrive on Friday, February 14. From there, the entirety of Anthony Edwards’ ‘Culture Jam Presents: Legend In My Hood’ is due to drop this spring.