This week, Kevin Durant will premiere his new documentary, Basketball County: Something In The Water, which aims to cast a spotlight on Prince George’s County, Maryland and its hotbed of basketball stars. Adding to the forthcoming film is an accompanying soundtrack that’s led by rising star IDK, who has kicked things off with the single “495,” named after the beltway that loops around the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The track also features fellow DMV artists YungManny, Rico Nasty, Big Flock, Big JAM, and Weensey, the lead singer of the legendary go-go outfit Backyard Band. Produced by Juicy J, IDK and British producer Ade ‘Acyde’ Odunlami, “495” is an aggressive display of different styles, showing how diverse hip hop in and around the nation’s capital really is:
“I’m not with that cappin’ or extra fakin’, and I’m sending them shots with no explanation/
Bullets rain on your block, precipitation, when me and JAM slide, no miscommunication/
I was only sixteen when our house got raided, I was only thirteen and incarcerated/
Been this way since a child, need no validation, you gon’ die from this smoke, cancer patient…/”
Via press release, IDK spoke on the single’s creation:
“The purpose of this song was to basically create unity amongst the DC/Maryland/Virginia area. This is one of the first times I’ve seen the DMV on one song; it just felt really authentic when we put it together… It’s just a great feeling to have all these people on one track. The goal for me and Kevin with this project is to bring unity while telling our story in an authentic way.”
Previously, IDK dropped off his debut studio album Is He Real?, which saw additional appearances from DMX, Pusha T, JID, Tyler, the Creator, Burna Boy, GLC, and more.
Press play on “495” below. Basketball County: Something In The Water makes landfall May 15 on Showtime.