Rucker Park Podcast

Gusto Wells

The Rucker Park Podcast takes you courtside to the most legendary streetball playground in the world. From historic matchups to untold stories, this show brings the culture, the players, and the moments that made Rucker Park a global symbol of basketball.

  1. 3d ago

    The game that started it all that changed Streetball forever

    Michael Ek Shahid Biography Michael Ek Shahid (a.k.a. EK Mike C of the Crash Crew. Born July 17, 1962. Michael Ek Shahid, also known as EK Mike C of the legendary Crash Crew, has been a pioneering force in hip-hop and entertainment since the mid-1970s. His journey began at the age of 13 when he helped build a disco club called “The Pitts” in a loft on 125th Street (x-apple-data-detectors://embedded-result/354) between Park and Lexington, where he honed his skills in DJing, mixing, sound, and lighting. It was inspiring to learn so much. In 1977, Michael joined the influential rap group “The Crash Crew” , which included The Force of the Five emcees and Poison Clan under Mike & Dave Productions. The group quickly rose to prominence, releasing their first hit, "High Powered Rap," in 1980. Their success led to a signing with Sugar Hill Records in 1981, a pivotal milestone in hip- hop history. We released “We want to Rock”. Throughout the early '80s, the Crash Crew released a series of impactful records including "We Want to Rock" (1981), "Breaking Bells" and "On the Radio" (1982), *"We Are Known as Emcees"* (1983), and "2,4,6,8 & Here We Are" (1984). During this period, Michael also co-founded the Entertainers Basketball Tournament with Greg Marius, alongside The Disco 4.   n 1985, Michael and DJ Darryl Cee expanded our horizons by participating in the first hip- hop stage production with The Magnificent Force ( poc lock) Dancers, which was held at Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). The Play “Blacktop Highway” was part of BAM's "Black Theater Season", The production toured internationally in Germany and Switzerland. The play incorporated elements of break dancing, rapping, and DJing, reflecting the diverse forms of hip-hop expression. The group's final performance was at the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. My Primary goals as a Hip Hop Legend, is to progress as an artist. From all of my music accomplishments and experiences in the industry, I want to continue to do road trips, outdoor and indoor events to spread my Love of music. Today, Michael owns Meks Entertainment, a versatile production company specializing in DJing, photography, and videography. His enduring influence and commitment to the culture continue to inspire new generations of artists and fans Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    The game that started it all that changed Streetball forever
  2. Oct 14

    The man who created the rock Basketball now with his newest Basketball invention, he calls it the goat basketball

    John G. Stote III, the creator of The Rock basketball   His basketball roots are in Kingston, New York. In a 2018 interview, Stote said he attended John A. Coleman High School and invented The Rock around 1982. Rucker Park inspired the name. He described taking the bus to Harlem, watching streetball legends, and playing in the later games. Hearing players call the basketball “the rock” gave him the idea for the brand name, which he said he trademarked. His connection included running the business. That interview identifies him as president of Anaconda Sports, which produced The Rock, and also refers to him as the owner of Rock Basketball. The business changed hands. DIRT’s official company history states that Genesco acquired Anaconda Sports in September 2010, through Hat World/Lids Team Sports. GOAT’s current website separately confirms that Stote invented The Rock and that the former company was sold. These references establish the sale history, although they do not detail his personal ownership stake or a separate sale of The Rock brand. He also supported youth basketball. Stote discussed helping bring Smush Parker to Kingston for youth clinics and helping install baskets at Block Park around 2000. Today, GOAT credits him with basketball construction and material development alongside co-founder Heather Swart.     Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    The man who created the rock Basketball now with his newest Basketball invention, he calls it the goat basketball

About

The Rucker Park Podcast takes you courtside to the most legendary streetball playground in the world. From historic matchups to untold stories, this show brings the culture, the players, and the moments that made Rucker Park a global symbol of basketball.

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