Is Hip-Hop the New Soundtrack of Soccer?

For years hip-hop has been the soundtrack for NBA and NFL athletes, but now it's trickling into soccer locker rooms. Even though it is rare to find cats in the hood playing soccer in the U.S., in every hood around the world that's what's being played and hip-hop -- American and otherwise -- is becoming the soundtrack. It's hardly a suburban, minivan, soccer-mom thing. Nike recently signed U.S. soccer star Clint Dempsey to an endorsement deal, and asked Dempsey, who goes by the rap name Deuce, to write and perform some rhymes for the commercial. Check out the video here.

"(Hip-hop) is something that's always been a part of me because I would listen to it on road trips while playing club ball," Dempsey told the Chicago Tribune. "These days, I like to listen to the songs I listened to growing up. It reminds me of home. It reminds me of how far I've come."

Fellow U.S. player Eddie Johnson appears in the video with Dempsey and before game time, U.S. midfielder DaMarcus Beasley plays hip-hop to get the team amped up for the match. "I'm the DJ (here)," Beasley told the Tribune. "It's always hip-hop. We just chill. People do their thing, but the music is always going."

Don't look now, but the time is coming soon when we'll see Freddy Adu or Ronaldinho in a Nas or Ludacris video.

Lebron Invests In Housing Development

Last week Lebron James announced his involvement in the development of a $4.7 million housing project in one of Cleveland’s roughest hoods. The 18-unit project will feature two and three bedroom town homes that will sell for $265,000 to $325,000.

"We're very excited about refurbishing and bringing great things to what we call the 'hood. Everybody else may call it the city but we call it the 'hood," James told a crowd of fans at the groundbreaking. "That's where we grew up at and we never ever had an opportunity like this." Other investors include National City Bank, which is providing a $3.4 million construction loan and the city of Cleveland which is offering a $300,000 grant towards the project.

A-Rod Signs Mobile Gaming Deal

As the mobile gaming industry grows, cell phone and video game companies are scrambling to come up with the latest cell phone technology along with the best video games to go with it. One company, Oasys Mobile, is making strides to get ahead of the pack. Already making moves with its Kentucky Derby Championship Racing and Phil Hellmuth's Texas Hold 'Em mobile game titles, the company signed New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez to be the face and name behind A-Rod MVP Skills.

"Having a name associated with your game is hugely important," said Jonathan Ressler, chief marketing officer at Oasys. "Alex Rodriguez not only helped us with developing our game, but he will help us achieve extremely wide distribution."

The deal is a multiyear agreement that includes royalties depending on how many games are downloaded. Most mobile games are between $2 and $6 when downloading to a phone. There’s no word on when the game will be available but fans and gamers alike can sign up to be a beta tester at www.arodmobile.com and have a chance to win a trip to the MLB All Star game.

T-Mac Announced as Cover for NBA Live 07

We all know Tracy McGrady has skills. Even though his lowly Houston Rockets have been struggling the past couple of seasons, there's no question that the dude is one of the sickest jump-shooters in the game when he's healthy. That's why EA Sports has called upon T-Mac to be the cover boy for its NBA Live 07 title, to be released this fall.

"I've always looked upon the EA Sports athletes as fan favorites so I’m honored to be named this year's NBA Live 07 cover athlete and join the EA Sports family," McGrady said in a statement. "Each year there is tremendous anticipation around the league as players wait to see themselves in NBA Live and I feel like this year my virtual self plays more like me than ever before. This is as close to playing in the NBA as you get."

This incarnation of the game will feature EA Sports Total Freestyle Control, a new addition that's supposed to give players even more control. EA will also be partnering with ESPN once again for in-game content and play-by-play coverage. We're sure the Rockets are hoping for the same success last year's NBA Live cover athlete, Dwyane Wade, had this year.

Melo Hosts a H.O.O.D. Movement

On Saturday, Carmelo Anthony will be hosting his 2nd Annual Melo's H.O.O.D. (Holding Our Own Destiny) Movement 3-on-3 Challenge at the Cloverdale Courts in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland. The tournament will feature boys and girls ages 7-15 from area rec centers competing in the double elimination challenge.

"I am very excited about returning to Baltimore to host an event that everyone in the community can enjoy,” Melo said in a statement. "There is something for everyone -- from watching the 3on3 Challenge to enjoying the "Family Day" activities. I would like to thank our sponsors for joining me in bringing a fun event back to Baltimore.”

The Family Day activities will include carnival games, contests, food and music for most of the day. The event is sponsored by Downtown Locker Room, Brand Jordan, Xbox, Mountain Dew, Hyatt Regency, 92QJams and the Carmelo Anthony Foundation. If you run into Melo at the corner of Cloverdale Avenue and McCulloh Street in B-More, ask him what it will take for the Nuggets to get out of the 1st round rut of the NBA playoffs.