ESPN

Music has been part of the sports experience for more than 100 years, with marching bands and ballpark organists and blaring rock filling the air during breaks in the action. But the latest incarnation blends the human element and the latest in tech in a new way as DJs take their skills from the clubs to the stadiums.

One of the leaders of this new movement is Brooklyn Nets music supervisor J. Period, a mixtape DJ who has worked with The Roots and Common. The team hired him for more than your standard playlist of jock-jam favorites; they wanted him to create a soundtrack for games at the Barclays Center.

For his first season, J. Period created more than 150 remixes and edits of classic and new hits, each tailored to very specific game situations. A remix of Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" captures the feeling of anticipation before the players take the floor. A fresh combination of Carmina Burana with Nas' "Hate Me Now" stirs up feelings of battle, so it's well suited to bring the crowd back into the game after halftime. And an edit of Jay-Z's "U Don't Know" in the fourth quarter of a close game never fails to rouse the Brooklyn fans.

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It's probably too strong a statement to say that without exercise, Chris Cornell -- lead singer of 1990s grunge band Soundgarden -- wouldn't be around anymore.

But it's pretty close.

"For years, I wasn't feeling good about myself," said Cornell, who formed the Seattle band in 1984. "My head wasn't clear. I was doing nothing productive."

When Soundgarden hit it big with the 1994 album "Superunknown," Cornell lived the typical rock star lifestyle: drugs, alcohol and no sleep. That was no different from other Seattle bands such as Nirvana, Alice in Chains and Pearl Jam.

Then, as with other bands, internal strife torpedoed Soundgarden in 1997.

"I decided I needed to work on my brain and not just my body," said the 48-year-old Cornell. "I figured if I focused on my brain, that everything else would fall into place."

It wasn't an easy road as Cornell struggled to give up drugs and alcohol and focused on solo work and creating Audioslave (2001-2007). He then went solo again and reunited with Soundgarden in 2010.

These days, the band is touring off its sixth studio album, "King Animal." Tuesday night, Soundgarden is performing in New Jersey.

Cornell, who rarely gives interviews, talked exclusively with Playbook about exercise, music today and life on the road.

What does being physically fit mean to you?

"It means I can do whatever I want without having to worry about it."

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Peyton Manning might be a four-time NFL MVP, but a country singer? Not so much.

Just a few weeks ago, Manning joined country star Luke Bryan on stage at Manning's Children's Hospital gala in Indianapolis to sing a few songs, including Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues."

"I think he did pretty good considering he's a pretty awesome quarterback," said Bryan, who recently was named ACM's Entertainer of the Year. "Well, maybe he didn't sing that great. But his heart is in the right place."

Manning invited Bryan to his yearly charity event, and Bryan said, "I took about 1 second to say yes."

There was some good-natured college ribbing going on. Manning graduated from the University of Tennessee, and Bryan went to Georgia Southern but is also a huge Georgia Bulldogs fan.

"We had a great couple of days. We played golf. We hung out," Bryan said. "I had never met him before that weekend. I was always a huge fan. He's such a driven athlete."

Now Bryan, who is equally driven, is set to hit the road for his Dirt Road Diaries Tour and is finishing up his next album.

"Life has never been better. I'm getting these amazing opportunities," Bryan said. "It's time now to get back on stage where I love being. I'm having a blast up there, and I want to give the fans a great experience."

The Professional Bull Riders and legendary rock band KISS on Tuesday morning will announce a partnership to create an 8-Second KISS Kam, a twist on the tradition in which couples are shown on overhead video screens and encouraged to kiss.

This version is different, as the participants must kiss for 8 seconds -- the length of successful bull ride. Band members Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer, Eric Singer and Gene Simmons cheer fans on during the video.

“Some see this as an unlikely pairing, but it’s quite the opposite," Stanley said in a statement. "PBR fans have a passion that we relate to and want to be a part of. They span cultures, stereotypes and countries. They are our kind of people. The 8-Second KISS Kam is a great way for fans to show their passion for both.”

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Here's a list of songs from performers featured on ESPN’s X Games Barcelona programming, links to the artists’ websites, and links for you to download and buy the songs and/or albums:

Music for X Games Barcelona Programming

0SM

"W1th0ut" from the “Nylon” album
(iTunes | Amazon)

"The Biggest Lizard" from the “Nylon” album
(iTunes | Amazon)

Here's a list of songs from performers featured on ESPN’s "SportsNation" and "Nacion" programming, links to the artist’s websites and links for you to download and buy the songs and/or albums:

May Music on "SportsNation" and "Nacion" programming

Ana Tijoux

“Shock" from the “La Bala” album (iTunes | Amazon)

Ritmo Machine

“This Day" from the “Welcome to the Ritmo Machine” album
(iTunes | Amazon)

Here's a list of songs from performers featured on ESPN’s "First Take" programming, links to the artist’s websites and links for you to download and buy the songs and/or albums:

May Music for "First Take" programming

Bad Rabbits

"Get Up and Go" from the “American Love” album.
(iTunes | Amazon)

Little Hurricane

"Hold Me Back" from the “Homewrecker” album.
(iTunes | Amazon)

Willy Moon

“Get Up" single not available for sale

Warm Soda

"Only In Your Mind" from the “Someone For You” album.
(iTunes | Amazon)

Here's a list of songs from performers featured on ESPN’s programming, links to the artist’s websites and links for you to download and buy the songs and/or albums:

May Music on ESPN programming

Fitz and The Tantrums

"Out of My League" from the “More Than Just A Dream” album
(iTunes | Amazon)

Fitz and The Tantrums

"Get Away" from the “More Than Just A Dream” album
(iTunes | Amazon)

Fitz and The Tantrums

"Tell Me What Ya Here For" from the “More Than Just A Dream” album
(iTunes | Amazon)

DJ Raff

"Latino & Proud" from the “Latino & Proud” album
(iTunes | Amazon)

DJ Raff

"Paseo Con Audifonos" from the “Latino & Proud” album
(iTunes | Amazon)

Here's a list of songs from performers featured on ESPN’s "Unite" programming, links to the artist’s websites and links for you to download and buy the songs and/or albums:

May Music for "Unite" programming

Coe 24K

"On Tha Come Up" not available for sale

The perks of living in the city where the LA Kings practice. #goodtalk vine.co/v/bxuuilT9XI2

— Jonathan Vigil (@JonathanVigil) April 26, 2013

Lead singer Jonathan Vigil of The Ghost Inside will have to rely on his computer for results of the NHL playoffs, which begin this week.

See, Vigil is a big fan of the Los Angeles Kings. And the hard-core band from Los Angeles is in Asia for the next three weeks.

"I'm obsessed," said Vigil, who helped form the band in 2004. "I'll be able to watch the games from my phone backstage at the shows. I love when kids yell out the score to me during the set. Having the Kings win on days of our shows is awesome."

Vigil didn't start out loving hockey. Like many kids growing up in Southern California, his first love was baseball. But eight years ago, a friend had some extra hockey equipment and asked Vigil to play a recreational game. And he was hooked.
Playbook had a few minutes with Vigil to talk hockey and music.

Was it really love at first sight with you and hockey?

"Yep. I skated that first time and fell in love. It's all I think about. It's so awesome."

And it seems fans and the Kings notice your love.

"I'm not sure who runs the Kings' Twitter feed, but they sent me a message one time talking about our new record. That was pretty awesome to see that. This one time on Twitter at the Philly show, I said I'd kiss the fans if the Kings won. As I got off stage, fans told me the Kings had won! I didn't think people were checking Twitter during a show. I did kiss a few -- on the cheek."

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To say Joakim Noah is multi-cultural is a bit of an understatement. The Bulls center's diverse background has been well documented: his French-African father earned his fame as a tennis star, his mother once reigned as Miss Sweden and his father's father was a soccer player in Cameroon. Arts and sports have long held equal sway in the Noah family.

But it’s reggae, and the roots of the Rastafari movement, that have inspired Noah to broaden his horizons. He was first exposed to the music of Bob Marley as a child. In fact, his parents, Yannick and Cecilia, shared a love of the Jamaican artist. “My house always had Bob Marley music playing in the background," Noah says.

As he grew older, Noah began to appreciate the lyrics of Marley’s songs as much as the melodies, and was motivated to research their meaning. In doing so, he stumbled across the origins of the reggae movement and Rastafarian culture. “A lot of people think of reggae as laid-back and chill, but the words in reggae are very powerful," he says.

Despite his fascination with the Rastafari movement, the soft-spoken, 6’11’ Noah – who holds American, Swedish and French citizenship -- doesn’t consider himself a follower of any one religion. “I’m not a religious person, but I’m a spiritual person," say Noah, whose family members practiced both Islam and Christianity. "I believe in God, but I don’t believe in one specific god. I like to take pieces from everywhere and incorporate them into my life."

“I’m not a Rastafari, but a lot of their philosophy and beliefs make sense to me: being in tune with nature, knowing about your roots, knowing about your heritage, not getting caught up in materialism.” He adds, “I think Rasta teaches you humility.”

It also helps him connect with his roots. Noah’s favorite Marley song is "Africa Unite" and, even though he's never been to Ethiopia or Marley's homeland of Jamaica, he wears an Ethiopian cross adorned with Tibetan beads around his neck to represent Rasta.

"I feel like your jewelry is a big part of you,” Noah says. “I don’t wear diamonds or anything like that, but I wear this every day. This is my peace. When I die, I want to have it on.”

Noah, who is averaging a double-double that includes career highs in points (12.0) and rebounds (11.5) per game this season, also finds peace before games by listening to reggae. "It gives me strength when I play,” says Noah, who also jams to Barrington Levy, Capleton and Sizzla -- and his dad. Now a pop singer in France, Yannick Noah released a Marley tribute album, “Hommage,” last year.

For now, his son is sticking with his day job. Noah says there's no chance of him following in the footsteps of his athlete-turned-singer father. “I can’t sing like that,” he says. “Only in the shower.”

With the NBA playoffs set to begin this weekend, Ohio native and Maybach Music Group member Stalley will be rooting on hometown friend LeBron James closely.

See, Stalley knows that James is an Ohio guy and will someday return to resurrect the franchise -- Cleveland Cavaliers -- he left.

"I think soon he'll honestly go back and give them a ring and do as he promised," said Stalley, who was quite critical of James during the "Decision" of 2010. "When that happens, everyone will erase the past, and he'll be king again here. He'll enjoy his life back home."

Ohio is and will always be home for Stalley, born Kyle Myricks. He started out making mixtapes and started working with big-time producers and he signed with Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group and will release his debut album this summer.

In fact, growing up in Massillon, Ohio, Stalley played James in high school basketball. Stalley was a 6-2 player also with NBA aspirations.

"I tip my hat to LeBron. I knew he was going to be something special. I saw him up close a lot. He was an animal," Stalley said. "I'm still such a big fan of his. He is my motivation. Seeing him do what he does, why can't I get Grammys? Why can't I sell platinum records? It makes me work harder."

Playbook had a few minutes with Stalley to talk LeBron, music and his love of cars.

You played basketball as a teen. Think you could have gone pro?

"I don't see why I couldn't. I always had that dream. I could see myself playing overseas or even the NBA. I'm not a person who lives out of my means so I know the road wouldn't have been easy. I think music is very similar. You have to put in the work."

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It’s not that Rockie Fresh is scared or anything. He’s just not stupid.

The 21-year-old rapper laughs when he says it, but you will never catch him playing a game of pickup football with his Maybach Music Group boss, rapper Rick Ross.

Emphasis on never. Have you seen the size of the two of them side by side? It would never work.

Musically, Rockie Fresh is bringing a different funk to hip-hop. He's signed to MMG, one of hip-hop's trendsetting labels, but his interpretation of the music has hints of alternative rock music a la Fall Out Boy and Good Charlotte. After uber-success on the mixtape circuit, he'll finally release his first studio album, aptly titled, "Debut Studio Album," later this year.

Aside from rocking the mic, of course, Rockie is rooting for most Chicago teams (as a South Sider, it’s treason to root for the Chicago Cubs, but he’ll have a beer in the stadium) and hoping/wishing/praying for a Bulls comeback.

Everyone is waiting for Derrick Rose to get back in the game. What’s the vibe like in Chicago now?

It’s a good time for us. But at the same time, we all just want to make sure he’s actually ready to come back. Nobody wants him to come back too soon. Because he’s actually from Chicago, people have a different kind of respect for him than we’ve had for any other player that’s played for us. So everybody just wants to make sure that he’s healthy more than anything. ... We don’t want him to get injured again and things be worse. It’s a crazy time for the city.

I know you want another championship from your home team. How far off from reality do you think that is?

I don’t think it’s too far. We could get blessed with a good draft pick or something next year and maybe the year after that. But I do feel like Derrick Rose needs a little bit of help -- that’s a lot of responsibility on him. He needs a little bit more release in the backcourt. Hopefully we come up and get us a nice little guard.

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Here are a list of songs from performers featured on ESPN’s NASCAR programming, links to the artists' websites, and links for you to download and buy the songs and/or albums:

Music for NASCAR programming

Green Day

"99 Revolutions" from the “Tre” album
(iTunes | Amazon)

John Fogerty

"Almost Saturday Night" (with Keith Urban) from the “Wrote A Song For Everyone” album (iTunes | Amazon)

John Fogerty

"Bad Moon Rising" (with Zac Brown Band) from the “Wrote A Song For Everyone” album (iTunes | Amazon)

John Fogerty

"Fortunate Son" (with Foo Fighters) from the “Wrote A Song For Everyone” album (iTunes | Amazon)

John Fogerty

"Born on the Bayou" (with Kid Rock) from the “Wrote A Song For Everyone” album (iTunes | Amazon)

John Fogerty

"Hot Rod Heart" (with Brad Paisley) from the “Wrote A Song For Everyone” album (iTunes | Amazon)

John Fogerty

"Who’ll Stop the Rain" (with Bob Seger) from the “Wrote A Song For Everyone” album (iTunes | Amazon)

John Fogerty

"Mystic Highway" from the “Wrote A Song For Everyone” album (iTunes | Amazon)

Blue Sky Riders

"I’m A Rider" from the “Finally Home” album (iTunes | Amazon)


Imagine Dragons

"Round and Round" from the “Night Visions” album (iTunes | Amazon)

Maroon 5

"Lucky Strike" from the “Overexposed” album (iTunes | Amazon)


Tim McGraw

"It’s Your World" from the “Two Lanes Of Freedom” album (iTunes | Amazon)

Tim McGraw

"One Of Those Nights" from the “Two Lanes Of Freedom” album (iTunes | Amazon)

ESPN The Magazine is celebrating its 15th anniversary. To commemorate the milestone, The Mag will look back and generate exclusive playlists curated by Bomani Jones. The “Around the Horn” panelist will pick and discuss the biggest hits of the past 15 years. Listen to the final playlist below.

“Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen
“You’ll understand I had to put it on the list. But I don’t want to talk about it either.”

“Gangnam Style” by PSY
“Remember, Dennis Rodman wanted to go to North Korea and meet PSY. PSY, who is South Korean, wasn’t able to make it.”

“We Are Young” by Fun featuring Janelle Monae
“Say hello to the Oklahoma City Thunder, as exciting and youthful a basketball team as we’ve ever seen in the NBA Finals. The future looked so bright ...”

“Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” by Kelly Clarkson
“... and then they met the Heat, survivors of scrutiny as rare as the Thunder’s youth. LeBron got his ring, meaning it might be a while for Kevin Durant.”

“Starships” by Nicki Minaj
“Add 'starships' to the list of things not nearly as fast as Usain Bolt, who won three more gold medals and staked his claim to being the greatest track Olympian of all time.”

“Take Care” by Drake featuring Rihanna
“Can’t you imagine Drake consoling Lolo Jones and telling her everything would be OK? How did Lolo’s PR team not get her in one of his videos?”

“Work Hard, Play Hard” by Wiz Khalifa
“Call him Johnny Football if you want to, but it’s pretty clear Johnny Manziel likes lots of other things. The Heisman Trust has never had a winner quite like this.”

“Glad You Came” by The Wanted
“Serena Williams did the crip walk at Wimbledon during the Olympics, and Andy Murray won the men’s gold medal. There’s two things you’ll probably never see again.”

“We Found Love” by Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris
“Inspired by the death of his girlfriend, Manti Te’o helped Notre Dame to its best season in nearly 25 years. Hey, that’s what we thought in 2012."