4KORNERS, a veteran DJ/producer from Canada, has served as the official DJ for the Toronto Raptors for 13 seasons. The team is currently battling it out against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the NBA Playoffs.
The Toronto native does more than DJ for one of the league’s best franchises, though. 4KORNERS also produces music and holds residencies at clubs in global cities like London, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Dubai. His tracks have received support from heavyweights like Diplo, Skrillex, and DJ Snake.
With game three going down tonight, we asked 4KORNERS which tracks he’s been playing during this year’s playoff season. His list includes song requests from players and his own picks. We also asked him a couple questions about what it’s like DJing for the Raptors.
Player Picks
DeMar DeRozan: Nipsey Hussle ft. YG – Last Time That I Checc’d
Kyle Lowry: BlocBoy JB ft. Drake – Look Alive
Fred Van Vleet: Drake – Free Smoke
Norman Powell: Drake ft. Quavo & Travis Scott – Portland
Raptors mascot: Was (Not Was) – Walk The Dinosaur
4KORNERS’ Picks
Peter Jackson ft. Karl Wolf – North Over Everything
Drake – Nice For What
Rascalz – Northern Touch
Kardinal Offishall ft. Ray Robinson – Everyday Rudebwoy
Guns N’ Roses – Welcome To The Jungle
Young Jeezy ft. Kanye West – Put On
T.I. – Bring Em Out
Kanye West ft. Rihanna – All Of The Lights
Eminem – Lose Yourself
Queen – We Will Rock You
Icona Pop ft. Charlie XCX – I Love It
Jack U ft. Bunji Garlin – Jungle Bae
Machel Montano – Like Ah Boss
Pengz & TwoTwo – Griselda Blanco
Puff Daddy & The Family ft. The Notorious B.I.G. & Busta Rhymes – Victory
Showtek, We Are Loud, & Sonny Wilson – Booyah
Pressa ft. Tory Lanez – Canada Goose
Metallica – Enter Sandman
LMFAO ft. Lil Jon – Shots – Raptors Edit
Michael Jackson – Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough
Outkast – Hey Ya!
Jazz Cartier ft. KTOE – Right Now
Naughty By Nature – Hip Hop Hooray
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Ray Dalton – Can’t Hold Us
Blur – Song 2
What song gets the players most hype?
That’s hard to say, man. At critical points in games, we get all cinematic and play something like Jorge Quintero’s “300 Violin Orchestra” which definitely gets them and the crowd going on some epic vibes. But then again, in Toronto, you can never go wrong with some Drizzy Drake. Tracks like “Right Above It,” “Trophies,” “Jumpman,” and “Energy” are always the right choice!
Which player has the best taste in music?
Kyle Lowry hands down! He gets up to all the new stuff but definitely loves his old school too. He’s the one that will be dancing or singing on court to anything from the newest Drake record to some old Rick James.
What’s the strangest request that you’ve received from a player?
Serge Ibaka once requested that I play some really smooth, mellow French afrobeats songs while he warmed up early before the rest of the guys came out. I thought it was strange because the musical vibes were so chill, almost sexy. The kind of music you might want to hear at a trendy high-end restaurant in Paris on date night. It’s not at all the type of vibe to get hype to before a basketball game. But, he went on to have a monster game, so what the heck do I know? Haha!
Does Drake vibe out to his own music at the games?
Yes! Particularly when I play unique remixes of his tracks such as Grandtheft‘s “0 to 100” remix, DJ Flex’s “Controlla” remix, and Tuner S’ “One Dance” remix. A lot of the time me playing them is the first time he hears some of these DJ-made remixes and edits.