"Like Mike" Soundtrack Lyrics

"Like Mike (Music From the Motion Picture)" – Album Guide to Tracks and Key Scenes

Overview

How do you sell a wish-fulfillment hoops fantasy to 2002 audiences? With a radio-ready soundtrack leaning hard into hip-hop and R&B, plus arena staples dropped into the mix. The retail album—released by So So Def/Columbia/Sony Soundtrax—positions Bow Wow front and center, wrapping the film’s orphan-to-NBA fairy tale in big hooks and clean, kid-friendly swagger. The single “Basketball” (a Kurtis Blow cover revamped with Jermaine Dupri, Fabolous & Fundisha) anchors the set and the marketing.

On screen, the songs handle energy and attitude while Richard Gibbs’ score handles connective tissue. The film also taps “jock jam” cuts and club tracks (Darude, DMX, Gary Glitter, Funky Green Dogs, etc.) that aren’t all on the album. Chart-wise the compilation opened strong in July 2002, and the track list—Solange with B2K, Jagged Edge & TQ, Mario—reads like a time capsule of the era’s crossover R&B.

Questions & Answers

What exactly is the official album?

Like Mike: Music From the Motion Picture—a various-artists compilation issued July 2, 2002 by So So Def/Columbia/Sony Music Soundtrax. Bow Wow headlines with “Basketball.”

Did the album chart?

Yes. U.S. Billboard 200 peak #18; Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums peak #10.

What songs are in the film but missing from the retail album?

Among others: Darude’s “Feel the Beat,” DMX’s “Party Up (Up in Here),” Gary Glitter’s “Rock and Roll, Pt. 2,” Funky Green Dogs’ “Fired Up,” Tone Lōc’s “Funky Cold Medina,” The Movement’s “Jump!,” and more.

Who composed the original score?

Richard Gibbs. Additional music credits include Jason Frederick and Kevin Kliesch.

Who handled music supervision?

Billy Gottlieb is credited as music supervisor.

Is there an official score album?

No widely released standalone score album; the commercial release is the songs compilation.

Notes & Trivia

• The soundtrack marks Bow Wow’s final release under the “Lil’ Bow Wow” moniker and his last under So So Def.
• “Basketball” revived Kurtis Blow’s 1984 single for a new generation; the video cross-promoted Like Mike with NBA imagery.
• Album producers include Jermaine Dupri, The Neptunes, Just Blaze, Kerry “Krucial” Brothers Jr., Trackmasters, and others.
• Non-album film cues include classic arena chants like “Rock and Roll, Pt. 2” and club staples like “Feel the Beat.”

Genres & Themes

Hip-hop with pop gloss — swagger for highlight reels and wish-fulfillment beats; clean hooks fit kid-centric PG tone.

Turn-of-the-millennium R&B — romantic B-plots and downtime vignettes around Calvin and the Knights.

Jock-jam & club energy — arena chants and four-on-the-floor cuts for in-game hype and montage rhythm.

Tracks & Scenes

“Basketball” — Bow Wow feat. Jermaine Dupri, Fabolous & Fundisha
Scene: Marketing/video tie-in and in-film hype use during success montages and TV spots. Non-diegetic. Why it matters: the franchise theme—call-and-response energy that sells Calvin’s meteoric rise.

“Take Ya Home” — Bow Wow
Scene: Pre-NBA glow-up cues during early stardom beats. Non-diegetic. Why it matters: a Bow Wow carryover single that doubles as character branding within the film’s pop frame.

“Dance With You” — Solange feat. B2K
Scene: Boutique/party ambience and celebratory downtime around the team orbit. Semi-diegetic. Why it matters: R&B sheen lightens the film between games.

“I Remember” — TQ & Jagged Edge
Scene: Locker-room or travel interludes when relationships soften. Non-diegetic. Why it matters: brings adult-leaning warmth into a kid-hero story.

“Party Up (Up in Here)” — DMX
Scene: Tracy (Morris Chestnut) and Calvin rap along in the car on the way to a game—an in-world sing-along. Diegetic. Why it matters: instantly readable chemistry beat; a rare father-figure bonding moment scored by a massive 2000s hit.

“Feel the Beat” — Darude
Scene: Game-night club-style montage and arena-adjacent hype. Non-diegetic/source blend. Why it matters: four-on-the-floor momentum for fast-cut sports geometry.

“Rock and Roll, Pt. 2” — Gary Glitter
Scene: Crowd-pump between plays in the arena. Diegetic (PA system). Why it matters: classic jock-jam chant; shorthand for “the building is jumping.”

“Fired Up!” — Funky Green Dogs
Scene: Pre-tip warm-ups / party-adjacent sequences. Semi-diegetic. Why it matters: house pulse that frames the film’s glossy, NBA-branded vibe.

“Jump!” — The Movement
Scene: Fan-engagement and early montage energy. Diegetic/PA. Why it matters: literal instructions to the crowd; easy sync for cut points.

Note: Several placements above appear in the film but not on the retail album; they’re documented in official credits and databases rather than the CD track list.

Music–Story Links

The compilation’s hip-hop core gives Calvin’s fantasy a confident voice, while R&B tracks humanize downtime and friendships. Diegetic moments (DMX car sing-along; arena chants) fold music into the world, not just over it. By the time highlight montages kick in, “Basketball” functions as both a marketing hook and an in-universe anthem.

How It Was Made

Score by Richard Gibbs; album executive music production credited to Jermaine Dupri and Michael Mauldin. Music supervision by Billy Gottlieb coordinated clearances across NBA-branded scenes, pairing clean rap/R&B with evergreen arena cues. The commercial album arrived July 2, 2002 alongside the U.S. release.

Reception & Quotes

The film drew mixed reviews, but the album performed solidly and the DMX sing-along became one of the movie’s most-shared music moments.

“U.S. Billboard 200 peak at 18; Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums at 10.” Trade listings

“Bow Wow and Chestnut rapping DMX in the car is the scene fans still bring up.” Artist interview recaps

Additional Info

• Label credits: So So Def / Columbia / Sony Music Soundtrax.
• Main single: “Basketball” (Bow Wow feat. Jermaine Dupri, Fabolous & Fundisha).
• Album also includes cuts by Mario (“Put Me On”) and R.O.C. (“NBA 2K2”).
• Non-album film cuts: Darude “Feel the Beat”; DMX “Party Up”; Gary Glitter “Rock and Roll, Pt. 2”; Funky Green Dogs “Fired Up!”; Tone Lōc “Funky Cold Medina,” and more.
• No official comprehensive song-plus-score release; the retail disc/stream is the songs compilation.

Technical Info

• Title: Like Mike: Music From the Motion Picture
• Year / Type: 2002 / Various-artists compilation (songs); separate score composed for the film
• Composer (score): Richard Gibbs (additional music by Jason Frederick, Kevin Kliesch)
• Music Supervision: Billy Gottlieb
• Labels (album): So So Def / Columbia / Sony Music Soundtrax
• Singles / Highlights: “Basketball”; “Take Ya Home”; “Dance With You” (Solange feat. B2K); “I Remember” (TQ & Jagged Edge)
• U.S. release: July 2002 (film July 3; album July 2)
• Chart notes: Billboard 200 #18; Top R&B/Hip-Hop #10

Canonical Entities & Relations

Sources: Wikipedia (film & soundtrack); Billboard/album listings via Apple Music & Spotify; Discogs release pages; IMDb Soundtracks & full credits; Metacritic credits; SoundtrackInfo track list; HotNewHipHop interview recap; official trailer on YouTube.

November, 13th 2025