What is a 'Jock Jam' in 2025?
It's Hard to Get Hype These Days
I didn’t realize it at the time but when ESPN launched its “Jock Jams” album series in 1995, it changed the course of music in sports. If you’re not familiar with what a Jock Jam is, you’re in for a treat. Well, a second treat. Did you see that above image of the original album cover? If that doesn’t scream “OMG the 90s are in YOUR FACE!” I don’t know what will.
“Jock Jams” was essentially a Dance, Classic Uptempo Soul, and New Jack Swing album smashed together. Those are genres that existed before, but it was the packaging of it all together is what made it special. You want a party in your pocket that won’t raise eyebrows at the dinner table? Well, you better get JOCK JAMS, yo! It was a mixtape with a purpose. I use the term “mixtape” loosely because it wasn’t like the homies were buying bootleg copies of these in the streets or anything like that.
Jock Jams changed the world of sports in three ways. 1) There was now a catch-all name for any high-energy music that would encourage folks to move in their seats. 2) It launched a successful series of albums that introduced millions of fans to new genres. (Something that both the EA FC series and The Fast and the Furious movie soundtracks strive to do) and 3) basically made these type of songs the default in-arena/stadium experience. Organists worldwide were punching the air.
But along the way, something happened. And no, I’m not talking about that odd time when the band Nickelback had a sports jam of their own for a while:
The very nature of what a ‘Jock Jam’ shifted. It’s a genre that’s gotten so large—so broad, it basically encompasses everything! Telling a DJ, “Play some sports music” at a pep rally could yield anything from ‘Gangnam Style,’ (Heard at High School Football Games) to The Black Keys, (FOX Sports’ 2025 MLB playoff coverage) to Travis Scott (the current theme to WWE’s Monday Night Raw).
But like today, what is the quintessential ‘Jock Jam’? What does it even sound like? There was a time when we all allowed a slight quotient of cringe collectively when we went to a stadium. “Hey, you’re going to play ‘Uptown Funk?’ I get it, we’re at a sporting event after all.” Now? It feels like every producer or music curator is looking to out-cool each other. The result? There isn’t a clear choice for what would be on a Jock Jam album today. Sure, the guy who sings The Hey Song (aka “Rock and Roll Part 2”) is basically banned in the UK, but here in the USA, it’s a song that’s synonymous with sports. “We Will Rock You” by Queen? Certified banger! I’ll even throw in that odd summer where we were doin’ The Running Man Challenge to “My Boo” by the Ghost Town DJs. These days? I guess I have to settle for JayRock…?
I mean, okay. If only there were an album that was around that told me how to get excited while living in a world where people were perpetually at a pep rally in a void until seemingly into their late thirties.
On second thought, Gangnam Style ain’t that bad after all.