🏟️ Soundcheck Sidelines

From Free throws to Freestyles — An Interview with Jamal “JaySkills” Okon

Athletes are no longer just game-day performers. they’re curators of culture. And Jamal Okon, a semi-pro Nigerian basketball player and rising music producer, lives at the exact intersection Score & Encore was built to explore.

We caught up with JaySkills courtside after a scrimmage in Lagos. His warm-up gear still on, headphones around his neck, and fingers constantly tapping beats on a Gatorade bottle, he embodied the merger between two crafts.

Q: What came first, the game or the groove?

“Definitely music. My mom sang in church. But the court became my second stage. When I’m in flow passing, juking, locking in, it feels like freestyling. That’s where my nickname came from.”

Q: Do you see any difference between making music and playing ball?

“It’s all rhythm. You gotta read the energy, improvise, but still work within structure. A good team is like a jazz band you listen, then you lead.”

Q: Who's in your pre-game playlist?

“Depends. For power, I go with Meek Mill. For finesse, Odumodublvck. But Burna’s Odogwu is on every warm-up.”

JaySkills is working on a beat tape called “Fastbreak Frequencies” an instrumental album inspired by classic basketball moves. The track titles? Alley-Oop Anthem, 3rd Quarter Pulse, Double Dribble Blues.

He’s not signed yet, but his style is attracting A&R attention. And he’s only 21.

This is what Soundcheck Sidelines brings: unfiltered stories, raw talent, and cultural game-changers who don’t just play for the crowd. they move it.

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Let’s talk about truth: sports and music used to be raw. No filters, no PR-polished edges. From Iverson's braids and Tupac tattoos to DMX yelling before tipoff everything was visceral. Today? Not so much.

The sound of sport has changed.

A generation ago, NBA players came out to DMX's "What's My Name?" Now it’s melodic trap with auto-tuned vibes. The fire’s different. The energy is cooler, smoother but sometimes, less dangerous.

The question is have we lost something? Or is this evolution?

In music, it’s no longer about bars and bravado. It’s about brand and streaming placement. Athletes don’t just want to rap anymore they want to chart on Billboard. Musicians don’t just want respect from the streets they want deals with Nike.

It’s not a bad thing. It’s strategy. But in Mic’d Up, we challenge you to think:

• Are we consuming culture or watching it get monetized?

• What happens when expression gets optimized for algorithms?

• Do we need more Kendrick, or more Kai Cenat?

We’re not here to give all the answers but to ask the right questions. Mic’d Up is your space to rant, reflect, and reframe.

Hit reply with your own hot takes. The best will be featured next week—with your tag and all.