By Mike Patton
Opening night for Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball in Nashville was electric, and as halftime arrived, anticipation filled the air. Standing courtside, Daisha McBride—better known as The Rap Girl—prepared to take the stage. When her name was announced, she confidently stepped onto the court, delivering an electrifying performance that included “What We Finna Do,” the official theme song for Athletes Unlimited this season.
More than just a pre-game anthem, the song carries a deeper significance. Its sharp, precise lyrics reflect the intensity of competition, but beyond that, it serves as a bold statement about Nashville’s evolving music scene. This collaboration between McBride and Athletes Unlimited was a moment born from the power of social media.
“A few months ago, maybe around November or December, a couple of players reached out to me via social media and let me know they were fans of my music and wanted to connect me with the league somehow,” McBride recalled.
One of those players was Dorie Harrison, a Nashville native competing in her second season with Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball. “I actually found her on TikTok when she did a freestyle that went viral, and I hit her up,” explained Harrison.
Once the AU players connected with McBride, a call occurred to discuss what the players wanted out of the song. “I got on a call with a few members of the organization along with a few players on the player executive committee, and we had a conversation about what the song could potentially sound like and what elements they felt were important to include,” McBride shared.
When the details were hammered out, McBride went to work on the song, creating it all within a day. And with a few lyric changes and revisions the next day, the song was ready to go. Performing it live on Opening Night was a moment of pride for the artist.
“Getting to perform the song on Opening Night was incredible. Seeing the players hear it for the first time and watching their reactions was really special,” McBride said. “The energy in the room was electric, and everyone was so welcoming and excited.”
Along with the song and how that collaboration came together, it also sheds light on Nashville artists who are different from the usual country music that some have become accustomed to hearing. “Having this song was important because this league is bringing something new to Nashville, and featuring a Nashville-based artist like myself makes it feel more authentic.” McBride explained. “It shows that Athletes Unlimited really did their research and is making a genuine effort to connect with the people in this city.”
Check out a snippet of “What We Finna Do” by Daisha McBride aka The Rap Girl here at this link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFtJM3JyXiy/?igsh=MTY3cGdrZWpjcWMxZQ==.
