What's On the NBA 2K9 Soundtrack/Song-List

2K Sports has released details from the music soundtrack for NBA 2K9. This year’s soundtrack looks to keep the tradition of eclectic and pre-breakthrough music alive with a mix of standards with up-and-coming artists. N.E.R.D, Santogold, Gnarls Barkley, The Pharcyde, and Beastie Boys all make the cut. An exclusive track by DJ UNK, along with an original recording by The Cool Kids titled "2K Pennies," add extra flair to the NBA 2K9 soundtrack.

"Every year our NBA 2K soundtrack features music innovators that push boundaries in the same way our franchise does," said Tim Rosa, director of brand and lifestyle marketing at 2K Sports, in a press release. “With NBA 2K9 we’re continuing the tradition with The Cool Kids representing our deepest music integration. They will appear in the game’s NBA Blacktop streetball mode, will perform on the 2K Sports Bounce Tour, and they recorded an original song which we’re giving away for free on the 2K Sports website.”

“Video games are an important part of culture and our lifestyle. For years we’ve been playing games, but have never been inspired by the songs in them,” said Chuck Inglish and Mikey Rocks of The Cool Kids. “When 2K Sports presented us with an opportunity to create an original song for NBA 2K9, we knew we had to create a song that embodied the sport of basketball. We had to make kids everywhere appreciate the song as much as the game.”

According to the publisher, along with The Cool Kids integration, NBA 2K9 will include in-game character likenesses of other 2K music artists. The list includes Questlove (from The Roots), DJ Steve Aoki, Aceyalone, the legendary Bobbito Garcia, and Phife Dawg (from A Tribe Called Quest). Users can now listen to and purchase music from the game at the 2K Beats Channel (link in sidebar). Fans can now listen to and purchase individual songs from the NBA 2K9 soundtrack through the new 2K Beats channel.