Hennessy x NBA: Live and Direct With AJ Tracey Onboard a Floating Basketball Court

nme.com:

In partnership with HennessyParked in the middle of one of the Capital’s most bustling water lanes, AJ Tracey performs live from a slick, jet-black basketball court in front of Tower Bridge.

Flanked by Uber boats and tourist cruises, he’s taken to the barge-turned-court-turned-stage to kick off the opening ceremony for the unveiling of the UK’s first floating basketball court, which is travelling down the River Thames between Woolwich and The Houses of Parliament – a collaboration between Hennessy and the National Basketball Association (NBA), in a three-day celebration of the sport in London.The floating court is the latest launch in the ‘Courts Beyond Limits’ series, a global collaboration from Hennessy and the NBA that unveils first-of-their-kind basketball courts at iconic locations around the world, and has already hosted pop-ups in Sydney, Lagos, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

This weekend’s London festivities are part of a long-term commitment from Hennessy to invest in the sport, which has seen court makeovers around the world, with plans to also renovate one in the UK alongside a local British artist.NME is invited on-board as the court docks up in Butler’s Wharf, to get an up close and personal view of the west London rapper’s powerhouse performance.

Shortly after knocking back a cherry flavoured Hennessy cocktail, I clamber onto a speed boat and park myself in the front row with AJ Tracey, as it ferries him over to the barge, which is now positioned in the middle of the river. “Do a wheelie!” the rapper shouts to the skipper as we’re zooming over against the clock before the live-streamed broadcast of his performance starts.