More Than a Game
Encyclopedia
More Than a Game is a 2009 American documentary film
that follows NBA superstar LeBron James
and four of his teammates through the trials and tribulations of high school basketball in Akron, Ohio
, and James's journey to fame. The film trailer was released in April featuring the single "Stronger
" by Mary J. Blige
, which she released in support of the film. The soundtrack titled Music Inspired by More Than a Game was released September 28, 2009. The film had limited theatrical release on October 2, 2009.
, Dru Joyce III, Romeo Travis
, Sian Cotton, Willie McGee - and their coach, Dru Joyce II, performing on an AAU team with the growing stardom of the future NBA superstar, LeBron James. Taking them through their pre-teens to high school, the film follows their incredible journey as the unknown Ohio team rises to the top of youth athletics. The moral really suggests that to win, a team has to fight until the end to achieve a goal, even if the challenge seems easy.
of the movie, Harvey Mason, Jr.
, also is an executive producer of the soundtrack album, Music Inspired by More Than a Game
. The album was due for release on September 28, 2009 in the UK and September 29 in the United States. Interscope is the main record label involved although Polow da Don
's label one 4 (record label)|Zone 4 inc/productions] Mason's Harvey Mason Media the main production associates and publishers involved. Producers for the project include Boi-1da
, Danielle Rayna, Polow da Don and Jerome Harmon amongst others.
The soundtrack features songs from Ester Dean
, Drake
, T.I.
, Mary J. Blige
, Jay-Z
, and Soulja Boy
amongst others. The album also features additional vocals or raps from Chris Brown, Kanye West
, Lil Wayne
, Eminem
, Toni Braxton
, JoJo, Jordin Sparks
, Ya Boy
, Omarion
, and Faith Evans
plus others. A number of songs were released as singles. Firstly "Stronger" by Mary J Blige is the soundtrack's lead single and was released on August 4, 2009 to support the film and later on August 21, 2009 as the second single from Blige's ninth studio album also titled Stronger
. "Drop it Low
" by Ester Dean
(with Chris Brown) was released as a single on August 9, 2009 whilst "Forever
" by Drake
(featuring Kanye West, Lil Wayne, & Eminem) was released as a single on September 15, 2009.
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
that follows NBA superstar LeBron James
LeBron James
LeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
and four of his teammates through the trials and tribulations of high school basketball in Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
, and James's journey to fame. The film trailer was released in April featuring the single "Stronger
Stronger (Mary J. Blige song)
"Stronger" is a 2009 song by American R&B singer Mary J. Blige. It was written by American songwriter Ester Dean. It was co-written and produced by record producer Polow da Don. It was also co-written by Keri Hilson, Chauncy Hollis, Dwayne Dalton and American R&B singer Chris Brown, who provides...
" by Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
, which she released in support of the film. The soundtrack titled Music Inspired by More Than a Game was released September 28, 2009. The film had limited theatrical release on October 2, 2009.
Cast
- LeBron JamesLeBron JamesLeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
as himself - Dru Joyce III as himself
- Romeo TravisRomeo TravisRomeo Travis is an American Basketball player. Travis was born December 10, 1984 in Akron, Ohio. He currently plays for Barak Netanya in the Israeli Basketball Super League-Early career:...
as himself - Sian Cotton as himself
- Willie McGee as himself
- (Coach) Dru Joyce II as himself
Plot
"More Than A Game" is a documentary that focuses in on 5 young basketball players - LeBron JamesLeBron James
LeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
, Dru Joyce III, Romeo Travis
Romeo Travis
Romeo Travis is an American Basketball player. Travis was born December 10, 1984 in Akron, Ohio. He currently plays for Barak Netanya in the Israeli Basketball Super League-Early career:...
, Sian Cotton, Willie McGee - and their coach, Dru Joyce II, performing on an AAU team with the growing stardom of the future NBA superstar, LeBron James. Taking them through their pre-teens to high school, the film follows their incredible journey as the unknown Ohio team rises to the top of youth athletics. The moral really suggests that to win, a team has to fight until the end to achieve a goal, even if the challenge seems easy.
Soundtrack
The music is mainly inspired by A. J. Mighton and John Colwill. An executive producerExecutive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
of the movie, Harvey Mason, Jr.
Harvey Mason, Jr.
Harvey Mason, Jr. is a songwriter, record producer and movie producer. He has written and produced songs for some of the biggest legends in the music industry including Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Whitney Houston, and Luther Vandross as well as today’s superstars like Britney Spears, Jordin...
, also is an executive producer of the soundtrack album, Music Inspired by More Than a Game
Music Inspired by More Than a Game
Music Inspired by More Than a Game is the official album name for music taken from and inspired by the film More Than a Game. The film is centered around the life of LeBron James and was released in October 2009. The soundtrack and film were both executive produced by Harvey Mason, Jr. on behalf of...
. The album was due for release on September 28, 2009 in the UK and September 29 in the United States. Interscope is the main record label involved although Polow da Don
Polow Da Don
Polow-Freache Jamal Fincher Jones , better known by known by professional name Polow da Don or Awesome Jones, is an American record producer, songwriter, rapper, and singer. His cousin is Atlanta singer Monica. He has produced for a variety of artists including Usher, Nelly, Christina Aguilera, T.I...
's label one 4 (record label)|Zone 4 inc/productions] Mason's Harvey Mason Media the main production associates and publishers involved. Producers for the project include Boi-1da
Boi-1da
Matthew Samuels , better known as Boi-1da , is a Canadian hip-hop producer from Toronto, Ontario. He has produced for artists and groups such as Chip tha Ripper, Kardinal Offishall, Clipse, Drake, Eminem, Saukrates, k-os, G-Unit, and The Diplomats among others...
, Danielle Rayna, Polow da Don and Jerome Harmon amongst others.
The soundtrack features songs from Ester Dean
Ester Dean
Ester Renay Dean is an American singer and songwriter, and record producer signed to Zone 4 Records/Interscope Records. She is most notable for her dual appearance on Rio: Music From The Motion Picture and her 2009 US hit single "Drop It Low", which featured singer Chris Brown...
, Drake
Drake (entertainer)
Aubrey Drake Graham , who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor. He originally became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation....
, T.I.
T.I.
Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr. , better known by his stage name T.I., is an American rap artist, film and music producer, actor and author. He is also the founder and co-chief executive officer of Grand Hustle Records....
, Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
, Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
, and Soulja Boy
Soulja Boy
DeAndre Cortez Way , better known by his stage name Soulja Boy Tell 'Em, or simply Soulja Boy, is an American rapper, record producer, actor, entrepreneur, and internet personality....
amongst others. The album also features additional vocals or raps from Chris Brown, Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
, Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
, Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
, Toni Braxton
Toni Braxton
Toni Michelle Braxton is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Braxton has won six Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, and five Billboard Music Awards and has sold over 60 million records worldwide...
, JoJo, Jordin Sparks
Jordin Sparks
Jordin Brianna Sparks is an American pop / R&B singer-songwriter and actress. She hails from Glendale, Arizona who rose to fame as the winner of the sixth season of American Idol. Sparks won when she was 17 years old, making her the youngest winner in Idol history...
, Ya Boy
Ya Boy
William Joseph Crawford , better known by his stage name Ya Boy, is an American rapper from the Fillmore District, San Francisco. He is a younger cousin of San Francisco rapper San Quinn and also the cousin of Bills WR Steve Johnson. Crawford graduated from El Camino High School in South San...
, Omarion
Omarion
Omari Ishmael Grandberry better known as Omarion, is an American R&B singer, actor, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and former lead singer of the R&B group, B2K. Omarion was spotted at a young age by a manager, Christopher B. Stokes, who took a liking to his vocal abilities...
, and Faith Evans
Faith Evans
Faith Renée Evans is an American singer-songwriter, recording artist, record producer, actress and author. Born in Florida and raised in New Jersey, Evans relocated to Los Angeles during 1993 for a career with the music business. After working as a backing vocalist for Al B...
plus others. A number of songs were released as singles. Firstly "Stronger" by Mary J Blige is the soundtrack's lead single and was released on August 4, 2009 to support the film and later on August 21, 2009 as the second single from Blige's ninth studio album also titled Stronger
Stronger (Mary J. Blige album)
Stronger with Each Tear is the ninth studio album from American R&B and soul singer Mary J. Blige...
. "Drop it Low
Drop It Low
"Drop It Low" is the first single released by American singer-songwriter Ester Dean. The official version features vocals from R&B singer Chris Brown. This is also released as the second single from the soundtrack for the film More Than a Game. The original version of the song did not have Chris...
" by Ester Dean
Ester Dean
Ester Renay Dean is an American singer and songwriter, and record producer signed to Zone 4 Records/Interscope Records. She is most notable for her dual appearance on Rio: Music From The Motion Picture and her 2009 US hit single "Drop It Low", which featured singer Chris Brown...
(with Chris Brown) was released as a single on August 9, 2009 whilst "Forever
Forever (Drake song)
"Forever" is a single by rapper Drake. The song features verses by rappers Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and Eminem. The song is released as a single from the soundtrack to LeBron James's More Than a Game documentary....
" by Drake
Drake (entertainer)
Aubrey Drake Graham , who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor. He originally became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation....
(featuring Kanye West, Lil Wayne, & Eminem) was released as a single on September 15, 2009.