Nike teams up with local hip-hop visionaries to commemorate the past, present, and future of the Air Force 1.

Nike first dropped the Air Force 1 on an unsuspecting public back in ‘82. Since that time, no sneaker has crushed more blacktops or rocked more clubs while looking so fresh. From ballers to b-boys, the AF1 has evolved from innovative performance footwear to hip-hop icon. It’s become a symbol of individuality, rebellion, performance, and excellence, while bridging the gap between basketball and hip-hop.

To commemorate this unprecedented achievement, Nike teamed up with Los Angeles’s own Stones Throw Records to throw the ‘B-Ball Zombie War’ three-on-three basketball tournament. A day of ballin’ at The Point, grillin’ burgers, and spinnin’ records – one of the funkiest basketball events in history.

MC’s, DJs, and hoopers were on hand to commemorate the AF1 as well as celebrate the newest Nike Zoom BB. DJs unpacked dusty crates of vinyl while sixteen teams from the Stones Throw and Nike ranks warmed up their jump shots. They competed for the main prize: A chance to fly to Phoenix and watch Steve Nash sport the new Nike Zoom BBs in person.

AF1- and Nike-Zoom-clad fans filed into the point to check out the rare grooves and celebrate the legacy of their favorite kicks. An all-star cast of Stones Throw artists rotated through the DJ booth, which overlooked the action at The Point. They took turns dropping beats and eating BBQ throughout the day’s celebration.

Stones Throw’s Jamie Strong commented, “I’m just happy that we’re able to get all the homies from different scenes in LA together for the 1st time. It’s been a good day of fun. I’m playin’ ball AND playin’ records.”

By the early evening, it was down to the finals, and the team known as ‘Undefeated’ barely squeezed out a victory over the ‘Marleyborne’ squad. Nike presented the winners with trophies. They surprised DJs Madlib and Peanut Butter Wolf with a prestigious prize package given to only a select number of DJs around the world – the fruit of a four-way collaboration between Nike, Serato, Rane, and Head-Porter. Ultra rare white-on-white AF1’s. Matching Head-Porter bags. The latest ‘Serato Scratch’ digital DJ hardware.

The day’s events honored the shared rhythms heard both on the courts and in the recording studios. Proof of the presence of art in basketball and the influence of basketball on art.

But if you’ve ever seen Kobe hit a three-pointer, or if you’ve ever heard J-Dilla spit a rhyme, you’ve known this all along…