Apple Music and NBA team to launch new BASE:LINE playlist

Apple recently teamed up with the National Basketball Association and United Masters to launch a new Apple Music playlist called 'BASE:LINE' that currently contains 40 songs from independent artists. The playlist is available for everyone to stream; it is intended to highlight the best indie and emerging hip-hop songs of the past week, helping listeners discover new music to enjoy.

Apple Music debuted the BASE:LINE playlist on January 16; it currently includes artists like Baby Keem, Princess Nokia, MAVI, Armani White, Tobe Nwigwe, Little Simz, Mozzy, Mex, Rockie Fresh, and others. Songs include 'Final Form,' 'Sorry feat. Lil Wayne,' 'Feelin It,' 'Maria,' 'Sad Situations feat. NoCap,' and more.

The playlist is curated by Ebro Darden, director of Apple Music's Hip-Hop and R&B content. In a statement to Billboard, Darden said:

NBA players come from the same communities that the music does, that is why the artists and the players feel connected. Many artists wanted to make it to the NBA before their life took a turn. BASE:LINE is a playlist that gets closer to the community where the artist and the music is beginning.

As expected, the playlist will be updated every day with new music from independent hip-hop creators, including emerging artists you may not have heard of. For its part, the NBA will use tracks from the BASE:LINE playlist for its future highlights made for social media and digital platforms.