Diary of a DJ: NBA All-Star Weekend

Read about MICK's All-Star experience.

by Gerald Flores

NBA All-Star Weekend can be a frenzied schedule of events. This doesn’t just apply to the pros participating in the actual game, but also the sneaker companies and personalities with All-Star related agendas.

So who do brands call on when they need someone to provide jams for their party? One name that gets thrown into the mix (no pun intended) is MICK, a New York-based DJ that’s made a few rounds in the sneaker industry.

You might remember him accidentally leaking a photo of a Nike Yeezy sample while he did a gig for the brand in Shanghai some time back. Just last year, adidas tapped MICK’s services when the Three Stripes had its annual global sales conference in Germany, where it featured a surprise performance from Kanye West himself.

But don’t get it twisted. MICK isn’t just collecting checks, he’s been into sneakers since the fourth grade when he watched Dee Brown pump up his Reeboks in the Slam Dunk Contest. Later on, one of MICK's classmates put him on to Air Jordans.

"I forget the kids name, but he sat in front of me and had the dopest Jordan IVs on. I could not afford anything remotely close to Jordans at that time in my life,” he said. “When I finally was an adult with money, I made it a point to get all the Jordans he had, and about a million more.”

This week has been pretty busy for MICK. While the NBA All-Star Game was in New York City, several sneaker brands hit him up to deejay at their event. Here, Mick writes about what he’s seen and heard.

 

Thursday, Feb. 12

 

5:30 p.m.

Under Armour x Steph Curry Shoe Launch

"A great start to NBA Allstar Week. This event was really fun and also really funny. Jamie Foxx hosted it and did hilarious impressions of LeBron and Chris Bosh that had everyone laughing, including Steph and his dad Dell Curry. Under Armour has grown incredibly over the last few years. It's fun to work with them."

Friday, Feb 13

10:00 a.m

Jordan pop-up store @ 166 Flatbush

Friday was a big day as I had several events.  However, this event was perhaps my favorite because I live right around the corner from where they built the Jordan / Barclays pop up. Nothing better than getting paid to put on some Jordans and walk around the block.  

Sidenote: they put the DJ booth in the window to pay tribute to the radio station in Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing.  

5:00 p.m.

adidas Sport Performance store

I headed into the city to do an in-store for adidas with Kareem Abdul Jabbar.  Kareem doesn't like hip-hop so we had to keep it really funky and smoove for a minute.  But it was all good - the man is an icon (Even though I'm a Celtics fan). The event was dope but I had no time to enjoy it, as I had to rush right from that event to deejay the Revolt/Verizon Allstar party with Raekwon and Questlove.

Saturday, Feb.14

10:00 a.m.

adidas A Standard Pop-Up Shop

Woke up and headed to Fulton Ave in Brooklyn to deejay another in-store for adidas.  Everyone was coming in to pick up their Yeezys, including former Net Andrei Kirilenko. He came in like a regular guy off the street, waited in line, showed his reservation, and got his shoes. I would have expected a Russian entourage.

11:00 p.m.

Spike Lee's Ol' School Sneaker Jam at BAM

After attending the Dunk Contest with my wife (awesome Valentine's Day date), we headed to Spike Lee's All-Star Sneaker Jam party. Working with him is surreal because he is such an icon, but he is also super in touch and on point.  I think everyone in the entire place was wearing Jordans to honor Spike's Nike legacy. Spike was rocking the crazy Mars Blackmon chain.

Sunday, Feb. 15

Jordan Brand Pearl Pavillion

1:00 p.m.

As a teen - and even as an adult - it was always about having some new Jordans. I even got my first job as a kid so I could buy some Js.  It's amazing seeing how far it's gone. The line was doubled up around the block just to check out the awesome history of the Jumpman. I was thrilled to do some events for them this weekend.  Still waiting for them to send the Don Cs, though.