So many factors contributed to the amazingness that was the NBA in the 90s. It wasn’t just the frenzy stemming from Michael Jordan’s ability and persona (a cultural phenomenon in itself). There was the incredible music on the NBC broadcasts. There was fantastic drama with characters like Charles Oakley, Barkley, Rodman and coaches like Pat Riley. Here and there I hear a tune that takes me back to this era, so I put a playlist together:

• Tonite, DJ Quik
• You Rock My World, Michael Jackson
• Is it Good to You, Heavy D & The Boyz
• Real Love, Mary J. Blige
• Give it Up, Public Enemy
• I Want it That Way, Backstreet Boys
• Fantastic Voyage, Coolio
• Fantasy, Mariah Carey
• Gangsta’s Paradise, Coolio
• …Baby One More Time, Britney Spears
• Killing Me Softly, Fugees
• It Was a Good Day, Ice Cube
• Y.M.C.A., The Village People
• Summertime, Will Smith
• Rapper’s Delight, Sugar Hill Gang
• Radio, Eazy-E
• Jump Around, House of Pain
• Creep, TLC
• Hoochie, Too $hort
• Higher Ground, Stevie Wonder