Jay-Z Chooses New Nets Theme Song

Brooklyn MC Jay-Z, who is Def Jam’s CEO and part owner of the New Jersey Nets, has chosen the NBA team’s new theme song after amateur musicians submitted entries in a songwriting competition. The winner is “Going Hard,” a song by 22-year-old Manhattan-based MC M Bars. “In ‘Going Hard’ M Bars completely captured the intensity of Nets basketball and the flavor of our game experience,” Jay-Z said in a statement. “He obviously put a lot of time into the song and demonstrated a lot of talent. We're a hot team, and this song best matches our passion and energy,” Jay-Z explained. M Bars, whose real name is Michael Barnes, will get a chance to perform the song live during halftime at the Nets’ game against the Knicks on April 19 at the Continental Airlines Arena. After beating out 700 other entrants for the coveted spot, M Bars will get to meet Jay-Z and re-record the theme at Baseline Studios.

Listen to "Going Hard" here: