Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Carmelo Anthony Reveals the Songs He's Keeping on Repeat During Black History Month

21/02/2023

While Carmelo Anthony is best known as a professional basketball player, there are many dimensions to the star. In recent years, Carmelo has been hard at work launching his STAYME7O clothing brand, which culminated with the release of the label's first collection in December.

But in addition to being a legendary hooper and fashion entrepreneur, he can now add playlist curator to his accomplishments. As part of our Black History Month celebration, we tapped Carmelo to create a Spotify playlist of the songs that inspire him every day.

Drawing from a blend of hip-hop, Afropop, and R&B from the likes of Future, Lil Baby, Tems, Wizkid, H.E.R., and more, the STAYME7O playlist strikes the perfect balance between high-energy bangers and mellow jams.

For the Record talked to Carmelo about his approach to the playlist, the role music plays in various aspects of his life, and the importance of supporting Black creatives.

Can you tell us a little bit about your playlist? The mood that I tried to create with this playlist revolved around the question, what do I want the STAYME7O tribe to vibe to? So I give you songs that bounce, and I give you the trap music, and the songs with the big, big drums. But I also mellow it out for listeners and take them on a spiritual journey a little. I've sat and really listened to the playlist a few times now, and it's just a vibe. I also tried it out in different environments, too, like when I was watching the game last weekend with people. I like to look and listen to see who's nodding their head and who's not. So I took all of that into consideration.

What is it about music that inspires you? I just love the art of music, and the craft that goes into it. I love the way that music can make a person-or a group of people-feel. And I love to see artists and creatives in their element. I love how they take their worlds, their feelings, their stories, and shape them into a rhythmic flow.

What role does music play in reflecting your own identity and place in culture? Well, music is a way of actually telling the story. I think everybody can identify with different genres of music or different artists or different sounds and different ways of digesting music. For me, it's a way of telling my story. I find music that I can relate to. I find music that uplifts me. I find music that I enjoy. But also I get a chance to learn about the artist, go through their journey, and understand what they're actually feeling. So if I can connect with artists on that level, that's a plus.

How does music factor into the message and mission of your brand, STAYME7O? STAYME7O is a mindset. Everything is based off of a mindset. The mantra of the STAYME7O community is When in doubt, stay mellow. And music ties into that because music feeds the soul. It is food for the soul. It's a mix of vibrations and sounds that have the power to change our mood, whether it uplifts us or makes us feel sad. And ultimately, that's what the STAYME7O community is also about . . . vibrations and sounds coming from people in real time. So you get a chance to get into that mindset and put this rhythmic sound together, and you have a community there. You get a chance to survive, you get a chance to tell your story, you get a chance to be confident in what you're speaking about. And so it offers some of the same things that music does and what music creates.

How did music fit into your life growing up? So much of what I've done, and what my family has done, and what we've witnessed was soundtracked by music. Music was always there in the background, whether it was cleaning up on the weekends, having breakfast together, or playing cards together.

Back in the '80s, there was a lot of rhythmic music, like Teddy Pendergrass, James Brown, and Marvin Gaye playing in my house. At the time, I didn't yet know what my mom was playing, but that's the cadence and bounce that I picked up.

In what ways do you feel like music and basketball are similar? Basketball shares a lot in common with jazz. To some people that may seem unorthodox, but I always used to have Miles Davis playing during my workout. And some people would come in and be like, What is he doing listening to Miles?

But listening to the notes of Miles Davis is my way of catching that cadence as I'm on the court. When you listen to Miles, you don't quite know what he's going to do, but you know he's going to do something special. I think playing with that rhythm in my head gives me an edge because nobody knows if I'm going to drive to the basket or when I'm going to shoot the ball.

Like what you heard on the STAYME7O playlist? Check out more of the hottest rap hits featured on RapCaviar.
LINK: https://newsroom.spotify.com/2023-02-21/carmelo-anthony-reveals-the-so...
See more stories from spotify

More from Spotify

07/05/2025

Experience a New Dimension of Music Discovery With More Controls and Enhanced Tools

Discovering music should feel effortless and fun. That's why Spotify continu...

06/05/2025

Spotify Amplifies Colombia's Booming Local Music Scene With Sbele a Eso' Initiative

In Colombia, music isn't just background noise-it's center stage. It'...

06/05/2025

La nueva apuesta de Spotify para destacar la msica local en Colombia: Sbele a Eso'

En Colombia, la m sica no suena de fondo: es el centro del escenario. Es el cora...

06/05/2025

Spotify Introduces Plays, a New Way To See What Content Is Resonating With Podcast Fans

At Spotify, we always seek ways to connect users with their next favorite podcas...

06/05/2025

In Mumbai, Our Public Affairs Chief, Dustee Jenkins, Spotlights the Role of Spotify in the Growth of India's Music Industry

Since Spotify's 2019 launch in India, the growth of the country's local ...

05/05/2025

Loreen, Nemo, and More Reimagine Eurovision Anthems for Spotify Singles

As Europe gears up for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, Spotify is celebrating the spirit of unity and musical legacy with a new series of Spotify Singles. Fiv...

02/05/2025

Following Landmark Court Ruling, Spotify Submits New App Update to Apple to Benefit U.S. Consumers

Updated May 2: In a victory for consumers, artists, creators, and authors, Apple...

02/05/2025

Spotify and FC Barcelona Collab With Travis Scott on a Special Cactus Jack Shirt and Exclusive Concert

Since 2022, Spotify and FC Barcelona have brought the worlds of music and footba...

02/05/2025

Spotify Sparks UK Returns To Bring Together Advertisers and Creators

With more than 678 million users worldwide tuned in to Spotify, we're at the heart of music and culture. Our unrivaled global community of artists, songwrit...

01/05/2025

Best in Class' Touts the Anthems That Defined Student Listening in Celebration of This Year's 2025 College Graduates

After four years of lectures, study sessions, exams, and parties, college senior...

30/04/2025

Spotify and EA SPORTS Team Up To Pilot a New Kind of Audio Experience

EA SPORTS FC 25 fans in Australia and Saudi Arabia, get ready to immerse yourselves in the beautiful game like never before. Spotify is excited to announce a n...

30/04/2025

Tucker Wetmore Celebrates His Debut Album Release With an Intimate Performance for Fans

The past year has been nothing short of a whirlwind for Tucker Wetmore. After th...

30/04/2025

Spotify Celebrates Mexico's Booming Podcast Scene With First-Ever Podcast Awards

Mexico's love for podcasts is no longer a trend-it's a lifestyle. With m...

29/04/2025

Spotify rapporterar intkter fr frsta kvartalet 2025

Idag rapporterar vi f r det f rsta kvartalet 2025, och vi inleder ret starkt med ett resultat som vertr ffar f rv ntningarna inom v ra nyckeltal. Vi levererad...

29/04/2025

Spotify Reports First Quarter 2025 Earnings

Today, we announced our first quarter 2025 earnings, starting the year off strong by outperforming across key metrics, including the highest Q1 Subscriber net a...

29/04/2025

Celebrate Arab Heritage Month With the Local Genres and Artists Making Waves Globally

April is Arab Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the vibrant creators from acro...

28/04/2025

From Audio to Video, Spotify's $100 Million Payout Fuels Creator Success Stories

Podcasts have become a cornerstone of the Spotify experience, evolving from a ni...

28/04/2025

Spotify Lends a Helping Hand to NYC Neighbors, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum

Each April, runners and walkers of all stripes gather together in Lower Manhattan for the 9/11 Memorial & Museum 5K. This race remembers those killed on Septemb...

24/04/2025

Spotify Expands AI Playlist in Beta to Premium Listeners in 40+ New Markets

Playlists have always been at the heart of the Spotify experience. Since AI Playlist in beta launched last year, Premium users have used it to create millions o...

24/04/2025

How Latin Artists Are Thriving Both at Music Festivals and on Spotify

From the California desert and Chicago's Grant Park to New York City's Flushing Meadows Corona Park and beyond, music festivals this spring and summer w...

24/04/2025

82 Artists, 10 Countries, Limitless Sounds: Meet the RADAR Asia Class of 2025

The sounds of Asia are as diverse and vibrant as the continent itself. From the lively beats of Indonesian pop to the gritty rhymes of Pinoy hip-hop, the region...

22/04/2025

Celebrate Earth Day With New Music Featuring the Sounds of Nature

Music has the power to connect us to one another and to the world around us. Spotify is once again teaming up with the Museum for the United Nations - UN Live&#...

22/04/2025

Spotify and ELLE Once Again Collaborate in Celebration of Emerging Women in Music

Spotify has an unwavering commitment to supporting emerging artists across all g...

22/04/2025

Celebrate Earth Day With Audiobooks That Educate and Entertain

This year marks the 55th anniversary of Earth Day, celebrated annually on April 22. On Spotify, listeners can explore a world of stories about our planet in our...

15/04/2025

Indian Artists Are Reaching More Global Fans Than Ever Before (and the Data Proves It)

In March this year, Spotify unveiled its annual Loud & Clear report, a transpare...

15/04/2025

Spotify Expands Its Audiobooks Offering To Listeners In Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein

As the world's most popular audio-streaming subscription service, Spotify is...

14/04/2025

Rocket Scientist Aisha Bowe Shares Her Space-Bound Soundtrack in Honor of Historic Blue Origin Flight

On Monday, April 14, Blue Origin's NS-31 mission lifted off from Launch Site...

14/04/2025

Celebrating the Vibrant Traditions That Make Global Fandoms Unique With New Campaign

Whether it's having first access to tickets, being a part of once-in-a-lifet...

11/04/2025

Spotify Invests 1 Million To Help Authors and Publishers Produce More Audiobooks

Since entering the audiobooks space in 2022, Spotify has positively impacted the industry, paying out hundreds of millions of dollars to rights holders on an an...

11/04/2025

Uncover a Cult Conspiracy in New Scripted Thriller DIAL' From Spotify Argentina and Kuarzo

Latin America's love for scripted audio is about to get a thrilling new chap...

08/04/2025

FC Barcelona Star Lamine Yamal Shares His Favorite Locker Room Jams On the Latest Edition of Bara Matchday

As part of the first-of-its kind partnership between Spotify and FC Barcelona, w...

03/04/2025

Spotify Tunes Up Platform To Make It Easy for Advertisers To Buy, Create, and Measure

Spotify Advertising hit a new high note today as we unveiled how we're makin...

03/04/2025

The Three Key Takeaways for Advertisers From Our Spotify Advance Event

The next stage of Spotify Advertising has arrived. Today, during our Spotify Advance event in New York City, we unveiled a host of updates that make it easier f...

03/04/2025

Spotify Celebrates Its Next Stage of Advertising in New York City

Some of the biggest names in marketing, advertising, publishing, traditional and social media, and the creative worlds gathered yesterday at Chelsea Factory in ...

01/04/2025

Inside USHER's Star-Studded Black Box' Event in London

USHER's London takeover is in full swing. After kicking off his sold-out run of shows at the O2 Arena to rave reviews, the R&B icon joined forces with Spoti...

27/03/2025

The Spotify Partner Program Expands To Nine New Markets, Giving More Creators New Ways To Monetize Their Content

Since announcing the Spotify Partner Program last fall, we've heard from cre...

26/03/2025

Svenska artister genererar rekordutbetalningar frn Spotify: 1,9 miljarder under 2024

nda sedan Spotify grundades har vi arbetat h rt f r att ka betalningsviljan f r...

26/03/2025

Meet the New Class of Artists Shaping the Future of Spanish Music

Spotify's RADAR program spotlights rising talent from around the world, and in Spain, it's been making waves since 2020. Five years in, RADAR Spain has ...

20/03/2025

Our New Concerts Near You Playlist Makes It Fun and Easy To Discover Touring Artists

Spotify listeners love discovering new artists and songs, but they also love fin...

18/03/2025

Celebrate Women's History Month With These Empowering Audiobooks

Looking for inspiration this Women's History Month? Discover the stories of trailblazing women with audiobooks on Spotify. Our Women's History Month aud...

18/03/2025

Podcasts Take Center Stage at SXSW as Top Creators Discuss Video's Impact

From morning commutes to late-night listening sessions, Spotify is the essential daily companion for millions of listeners globally. Podcasts, in particular, ha...

14/03/2025

Bill Simmons Reflects on Five Years of The Ringer

Time flies when you're having fun and we can confidently say that Bill Simmons, founder of The Ringer and Spotify's Head of Talk Strategy, is having not...

13/03/2025

How Spotify Is Driving Growth, Discovery, and Innovation in the Audiobook Market

Spotify took center stage at the London Book Fair this week, reaffirming our commitment to the audiobook market and showcasing our impact on the publishing indu...

13/03/2025

Spotify Audiobooks Launches a New Publishing Program for Independent Authors

At Spotify, we work every day to lift up new voices, giving creators the opportunity to live off their art. Through Spotify Audiobooks, our in-house publishing ...

12/03/2025

Como o Impacto Cultural e Financeiro da Indstria Musical Define Seu Sucesso em 2025

O Spotify acaba de lan ar o relat rio Loud & Clear deste ano, uma vis o transpar...

12/03/2025

Cmo el impacto cultural y financiero de la industria musical define su xito en 2025

Spotify acaba de presentar el informe Loud & Clear de este a o, una mirada trans...

12/03/2025

Nourish Mind, Body, and Soul This Ramadan With Spotify

Ramadan, a period of profound spiritual significance for Muslims worldwide, is a time for fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. Enrich your experience thi...

12/03/2025

How the Music Industry's Cultural and Financial Impact Define Its Success in 2025

Spotify has just unveiled this year's Loud & Clear report, a transparent loo...

11/03/2025

Salsa's Rhythmic Revival: A New Generation Discovers the Genre's Timeless Appeal

Salsa is making a comeback, captivating new listeners with its infectious energy...

11/03/2025

Canada's Own Rupi Kaur Curates the Latest Edition of Local Spot, Revealing the Songs and Artists That Shaped Her

For many people, music can serve as a reflection of their roots and upbringing. ...