NBA All-Star Game to Feature Bay Area Musical Tribute With Raphael Saadiq, E-40, Saweetie, DJ Cassidy and More

Jem Aswad

11 February 2025 at 2:02 pm·2-min read

The National Basketball Association has announced its lineup of musical performances celebrating the Bay Area’s rich musical culture as part of NBA All-Star 2025:

DJ Cassidy will lead a special Bay Area edition of his “Pass The Mic Live!” show featuring legendary rappers E-40 and Too $hort, along with singer-rapper Saweetie and vocal group En Vogue. The performance will take place at Chase Center in San Francisco, home of the Golden State Warriors, this Sunday, Feb. 16, at 8 p.m. ET on TNT, TruTV and MAX.

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Actor-comic Kevin Hart will also be the game’s first-ever “on-court emcee.”

Prior to tip-off, Oakland, Calif., native and three-time Grammy winner Raphael Saadiq will deliver a special performance to welcome fans to the Bay Area and introduce the 2025 NBA All-Stars. Leading up to the event, Saadiq, joined by fellow Oakland native and nine-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks, appeared in a promotional short film exploring how the Bay has shaped their lives and careers.

On Saturday, Feb. 15, Oscar and Grammy-winning artist and Bay Area native H.E.R. will welcome fans to State Farm All-Star Saturday Night alongside National Basketball Players Association executive director Andre Iguodala.

Additionally, Def Jam Recording artist LiAngelo “Gelo” Ball will make his live televised debut, performing his hit single “Tweaker” ahead of the Starry 3-Point Contest.

Bay Area rapper LaRussell will take the stage to perform an original song to introduce the 2025 Castrol Rising Stars, which will take place on Friday, Feb. 14 at 9 p.m. ET on TNT, truTV and MAX.

As previously announced, Noah Kahan, the Chainsmokers, Zedd, 2 Chainz and Flo Rida will perform throughout the weekend at Pier 48 as part of the NBA All-Star Concert Series.

The U.S. national anthem before the NBA All-Star Game will feature a tribute to the Los Angeles area in the wake of the devastating wildfires. The performance will be led by Los Angeles firefighter and paramedic Dennis R. Rodriguez, accompanied by a presentation of the colors by fellow LAFD firefighters. Singer Alessia Cara will perform the Canadian national anthem.

On Saturday, PJ Morton will perform the U.S. national anthem before Morehouse College and Tuskegee University meet in the fourth annual NBA HBCU Classic presented by AT&T, which tips off at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN+, NBA TV and TruTV. Morton will also join Oakland native and singer-songwriter Goapele to perform the Black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

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NBA All-Star Game to Feature Bay Area Musical Tribute With Raphael Saadiq, E-40, Saweetie, DJ Cassidy and More

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