The New York Knicks love what they have in young star Iman Shumpert and now that he is healthy heading into the season, the team is ready for him to develop into a primetime player and he used his time this year to cut a track for Michele Obama's hip-hop album to help her campaign to lower childhood obesity.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, Shumpert is on a track called "Pass the Rock" and he is one of many guests on the album, including Jordin Sparks, Doug E. Fresh, Dr Oz, Matisyahu, Ariana Grande, Travis Barker and many more. Shumpert is following in the footsteps of many before him and now he can use that motivation to help him on the court as well. The song is with Artie Green and it is one of 19 that is being put together on the album.
This is a big season for Shumpert in New York and he has the chance to develop into a primetime player after averaging 6.8 points, 1.7 assists and 3.0 rebounds last season. He came back from a serious ACL injury last year that limited him and now that he is healthy he could end up being an All-Star alongside Carmelo Anthony. The team signed Metta World Peace and brought back JR Smith and Pablo Prigioni while also trading for Andrea Bargnani and all those moves should help Shumpert with his development.
Shumpert was solid in the playoffs last season while playing in 12 games over that span before the Knicks were defeated by the Pacers and he also showed off his skills in the summer league this past summer. Shumpert averaged nearly 10 points in the playoffs and with a healthy season under him, the Knicks could challenge LeBron James and the Miami Heat as they try and win their third straight title. Last season the Knicks won over 50 games and defeated the Celtics in the playoffs and they made it into the postseason against the Pacers before losing and heading home.
Full track listing:
1. U R What You Eat featuring Salad Bar (Matisyahu, Ariana Grande, Travis Barker)
2. Everybody featuring Jordin Sparks, Doug E. Fresh, Dr Oz, Ryan Beatty, Hip Hop MD
3. Let's Move featuring Doug E. Fresh, Artie Green, Chauncey Hawkins
4. Just Believe featuring Ashanti, Gerry Gunn, Artie Green, Robbie Nova
5. Veggie Luv featuring Monifah and J Rome
6. Hip Hop FEET featuring DMC and Artie Green
7. Stronger featuring Shayna Steele, Jeremy Jordan, Our Time Theater kids, and E-Street Band guitarist Nils Lofgren
8. Give myself a try featuring Ryan Beatty
9. Jump Up featuring Brady Rymer and the Little band that Could
10. Hip Hop LEAN featuring Artie Green
11. Pass the Rock featuring Iman Schumpert and Artie Green
12. Good Living featuring Ashton Jones
13. Beautiful featuring Daisy Grant and Artie Green
14. Change the Game featuring The Happiness Club, featuring Naledge
15. Wanna Jump (Let's Move) featuring Paul Burch
16. Mother May I featuring Amelia Robinson
17. We Like vegetables featuring Los Barkers!
18. Get Up Sit Up featuring Babi Floyd
19. One step forward featuring Samite
