Adam Yauch may have made a name for himself as MC A, one third of the Beastie Boys, but the rapper is bringing a different vibe to filmgoers with his new street ball documentary, Gunnin’ for That #1 Spot.
The film, which recently premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York, profiles eight up and coming basketball players who played alongside some of the nation’s top high school basketball players in a basketball tournament at Rucker Park in Harlem.
Among those featured in the documentary are Kansas State’s Michael Beasley, UCLA player Kevin Love, Jerryd Bayless of Arizona, Donte Green of Syracuse and Kyle Singler of Duke.
Gunnin’ for That #1 Spot takes place before the players arrived in college, as it captures them during high school years.
Since playing in the tournament in 2006, Bayless, Beasley and Love have gone on to become star players at their respective schools, who are expected to be among the first players selected in next month’s NBA draft.
Seeing the group transition from young men to mature adults proved to be interesting for Yauch, who was impressed with the players throughout the filming.
The documentary’s soundtrack will include music from Nas, Jay-Z, the Notorious B.I.G., Lil Wayne and the Beastie Boys.
Gunnin’ for That #1 Spot is the latest project helmed by Yauch, who has directed various music videos for the Beastie Boys, as well as the group’s 2006 concert film Awesome; I F****n’ Shot That!
Adam Yauch’s Gunnin’ for That #1 Spot is slated to hit theaters on June 27.
