AND1 Mixtape Tour
Encyclopedia
The AND1 Live Tour, formerly known as the AND1 Mixtape Tour, is a traveling basketball
competition and exhibition presented by B-Ball and Company and the basketball apparel manufacturer AND1. A group of streetball
players, along with Emcee Rell and B-Ball and Company CEO Linda Hill, travel from town to town and challenge teams composed of local talent. Games tend to be characterized by isolation one-on-one ball handling moves and acrobatic slam dunk
s and alley-oops.
The tour was televised in half hour "Streetball" segments on ESPN2
, and were compiled into highlight reels, offered under the mark AND1 Mixtape, which were sold on DVD
. AND1 has released 10 volumes. The first mixtape was AND1 Mixtape Volume 1 (1998) and the most recent is AND1 Mixtape X (2008).
and has caused some journalists to criticize the tour. Supporters of the tour have responded by backing up AND1's credibility and the players' legitimate skill. The AND1 players maintain that they are serious basketball players who play against the seven best local players from each city. Many of the current and former AND1 Mixtape Tour players have played in college and in professional organizations such as the CBL
, ABA
, NBDL, NBA or overseas.
Official MC of the Tour: Emcee Rell
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
competition and exhibition presented by B-Ball and Company and the basketball apparel manufacturer AND1. A group of streetball
Streetball
Streetball or street basketball is a variation of the sport of basketball, typically played on outdoor courts and featuring significantly less by way of formal structure and enforcement of the game's rules...
players, along with Emcee Rell and B-Ball and Company CEO Linda Hill, travel from town to town and challenge teams composed of local talent. Games tend to be characterized by isolation one-on-one ball handling moves and acrobatic slam dunk
Slam dunk
A slam dunk is a type of basketball shot that is performed when a player jumps in the air and manually powers the ball downward through the basket with one or both hands over the rim. This is considered a normal field goal attempt; if successful it is worth two points. The term "slam dunk" was...
s and alley-oops.
The tour was televised in half hour "Streetball" segments on ESPN2
ESPN2
ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
, and were compiled into highlight reels, offered under the mark AND1 Mixtape, which were sold on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
. AND1 has released 10 volumes. The first mixtape was AND1 Mixtape Volume 1 (1998) and the most recent is AND1 Mixtape X (2008).
Controversy
AND1's calling card and large reason for success are the flashy moves that rely on a more lenient set of rules than in regulation basketball. This has led to comparisons with the Harlem GlobetrottersHarlem Globetrotters
The Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theater and comedy. The executive offices for the team are currently in downtown Phoenix, Arizona; the team is owned by Shamrock Holdings, which oversees the various investments of the Roy E. Disney family.Over...
and has caused some journalists to criticize the tour. Supporters of the tour have responded by backing up AND1's credibility and the players' legitimate skill. The AND1 players maintain that they are serious basketball players who play against the seven best local players from each city. Many of the current and former AND1 Mixtape Tour players have played in college and in professional organizations such as the CBL
CBL
- CBC Radio :* CBL-FM, a CBC Radio Two radio station in Toronto, Ontario* CBC Radio One in Toronto had the call sign CBL for much of the period when it was on the AM band - Sports leagues and associations :* Canadian Baseball League...
, ABA
American Basketball Association (2000–present)
The American Basketball Association, often abbreviated as ABA, is a semi-professional men's basketball league that was founded in 1999. The current ABA has no affiliation with the original American Basketball Association that merged with the National Basketball Association in 1976...
, NBDL, NBA or overseas.
AND1 Live Streetballers 2011
B-Ball and Company CEO Linda HillOfficial MC of the Tour: Emcee Rell
- Philip ChampionPhilip ChampionPhilip Champion also known as "Hot Sauce", is an American basketball player who has played on the Streetball AND1 Mixtape Tour from its creation in 2000...
AKA Hotsauce from Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in... - Dennis Chism AKA Spyda from Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
- Jerome Holman AKA Circus from Brooklyn, New York
- Robert Martin AKA 50 from Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
- Brandon LaCue AKA Werm from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
- Hugh Jones AKA Baby Shack from Washington D.C.
- Marvin Collins AKA Highrizer from Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
- Alonzo Miles AKA Amazing from Indianapolis, IndianaIndianapolis, IndianaIndianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
- Paul Otim AKA Polo from Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
- Guy Dupuy AKA Easy J from Nice, France
AND1 Mixtape Volumes
- AND1 Mixtape Vol. 1 – Also referred to as the "Skip Mixtape" volume because the tape was mainly focused on Rafer AlstonRafer AlstonRafer Jamel Alston is an American former professional basketball player who last played with Zhejiang Guangsha of the Chinese Basketball Association. He previously played for six NBA teams...
AKA Skip 2 My Lou. This tape and Skip 2 My Lou laid the foundation for what AND1 is today.
- AND1 Mixtape Vol. 2 – This tape was before AND1 started the actual AND1 Mixtape Tour. This volume introduced former AND1 Tour players Waliyy DixonWaliyy DixonWaliyy Dixon , better known by his streetball nickname "Main Event", is an American professional basketball player. He was born and raised in Linden, New Jersey.-Early life:...
AKA Main Event,1/2 Man 1/2 Amazing,Speedy,Shane "The Dribbling Machine" Woney, and Tim Gittens AKA Headache. Famous streetballers I'll Be Right Back and Future also played on this tape. All games on this tape were filmed in New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Linden, New JerseyLinden, New Jersey- Local government :, the Mayor of Linden is . The former longtime Mayor of Linden is 82-year-old John T. Gregorio, who served as mayor of Linden for 30, nonconsecutive years and was repeatedly tagged with scandal during his mayoral career, including one felony conviction, later pardoned, which...
.
- AND1 Mixtape Vol. 3 – Volume 3 was the introduction to the AND1 player Philip ChampionPhilip ChampionPhilip Champion also known as "Hot Sauce", is an American basketball player who has played on the Streetball AND1 Mixtape Tour from its creation in 2000...
AKA Hot Sauce and former AND1 player Aaron OwensAaron OwensAaron Owens , better known by his nickname "AO", is an American streetball player from North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Owens is currently on the Ball4Real World Tour. He previously played on the AND1 Mixtape Tour from its creation until 2006. Owens is reported to stand 6'3" tall and weigh 165...
AKA AO. This tape also had to be obtained by buying a pair of AND1 shoes.
- AND1 Mixtape Vol. 4 – Volume 4 was the first tape documenting the actual AND1 Mixtape Tour. AND1 tour visited four cities: Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Washington D. C. and New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Former AND1 player Robin Kennedy AKA Sik Wit It came out of L.A. and the late Antoine Howard AKA Flash came out of Chicago.
- AND1 Mixtape Vol. 5 – Volume 5 was the re-introduction of Rafer Alston AKA Skip 2 My Lou. Alston had been playing Division I basketball at Fresno State University and had been trying out for pro teams throughout the past three years; Volume 5 marked his return.
- AND1 Mixtape Vol. 6 – Volume 6 toured Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York City. The tape introduced former AND1 player and New York streetball legend Tyrone "Alimoe" Evans AKA The Black Widow. The 6'8" Alimoe impressed people with his fancy ball handling moves as well as his slam dunkSlam dunkA slam dunk is a type of basketball shot that is performed when a player jumps in the air and manually powers the ball downward through the basket with one or both hands over the rim. This is considered a normal field goal attempt; if successful it is worth two points. The term "slam dunk" was...
s. This tape also introduced Troy "Escalade" JacksonTroy JacksonTroy Jackson was an American basketball player. The younger brother of former NBA player Mark Jackson, he was a member of the AND1 Mixtape Tour, known by his streetball nickname "Escalade"...
and was the year he got signed to the AND1 Team.
- AND1 Mixtape Vol. 7 – Volume 7 documented the year that the AND1 Mixtape Tour really took off. Every game was played in NBA arenas and the best local talent was found in the Open Runs. Volume 7 was the year that Grayson BoucherGrayson BoucherGrayson The Professor Boucher is an American Streetball player. He is most known for playing on the highly stylized, international AND1 Mixtape Tour; he has also appeared in several movies...
AKA The Professor was found in the Portland, OregonPortland, OregonPortland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
Open Run. The Professor went through all the stops on the tour before being named the winner and newest member of the AND1 team. Former AND1 player Dennis Chism AKA Spyda and current player John Humphrey AKA Helicopter were the other two finalists along with The Professor. Tony Jones AKA Go Get It also had some highlights on this tape as he played on the opposing team and was eventually offered a spot on the team. Also a brief appearance from retired basketball player Shaquille O'NealShaquille O'NealShaquille Rashaun O'Neal , nicknamed "Shaq" , is a former American professional basketball player. Standing tall and weighing , he was one of the heaviest players ever to play in the NBA...
- AND1 Mixtape Vol. 8: Back on the Block – Back on the Block featured a lot of "Crash the Court" footage in which the AND1 team goes to streetball hot spots and plays against the local talent. This tape continued to show footage of the newer members of the tour.
- AND1 Mixtape Vol. 9: Area Codes – This volume shows the hometown and home court of every member of the AND1 team. It began in Philadelphia on the East Coast with Aaron "AO" OwensAaron OwensAaron Owens , better known by his nickname "AO", is an American streetball player from North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Owens is currently on the Ball4Real World Tour. He previously played on the AND1 Mixtape Tour from its creation until 2006. Owens is reported to stand 6'3" tall and weigh 165...
and finished with Kenny BrunnerKenny BrunnerKenny Brunner , better known by his nickname "Bad Santa", is an American professional basketball player. He is 5'11", 185-pound guard and hails from Compton, California...
AKA Bad Santa and Jerry Dupree AKA The Assassin in Los Angeles on the West Coast. This tape officially introduced current AND1 players Andre Poole AKA Sylk and Hugh Jones AKA Baby Shack.
- AND1 Mixtape X: The United Streets of America – Most recently released, AND1 Mixtape X celebrates a decade of streetball dominance by AND1. This tape shows footage from the United Streets Of America tour. It introduces Jamal Nelson AKA Springs and Antwan Scott AKA 8th Wonder as well as the return of Hot Sauce, who took a brief hiatus from the tour. This tour also featured current Boston CelticsBoston CelticsThe Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
Player Carlos ArroyoCarlos ArroyoCarlos Alberto Arroyo Bermúdez is a Puerto Rican professional basketball point guard who last played for the Boston Celtics. Arroyo is the fifth player from Puerto Rico to play in the NBA...
.