Nas, Gary Clark Jr. to Collaborate on NFL Draft Music

Nas and Gary Clark Jr. have teamed up to create music for ESPN’s three-day presentation of the 2012 NFL Draft, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The rapper and guitarist have collaborated on new versions of their own tracks – “The Don” and “Train” from Nas’ forthcoming album and Clark’s “Bright Lights” – that will be used coming in and out of commercial breaks as the draft is broadcast. The draft will begin at 8 p.m. ET on April 26th.

The adapted versions of the songs will emphasize elements of the material – such as Clark’s line “you gonna known my name by the end of the night” – that connect with the nature of the event. 

Both artists have worked with ESPN in the past. Nas narrated a feature for the ESPN newsmagazine program E:60 about Liberian amputees who play soccer, and Clark’s music was featured in coverage of the 2011 college football season.