Midway Games announced today that rapper Chuck D (the guy in Public Enemy that didn't wear a giant clock around his neck) will serve as the play-by-play announcer and studio host for NBA Ballers: Chosen One. "Super-producer" Just Blaze will also be lending his talents to the game by composing the entire instrumental score.

"The talents of Chuck D and Just Blaze will greatly enhance the NBA Ballers: Chosen One experience, as players live the fantasy lifestyle of an NBA Superstar," said George Gomez, executive producer of Midway Amusement Games. "Chuck D is one of the most recognizable voices in music history, while Just Blaze has produced multiple chart-topping hits. Together they'll ensure that NBA Ballers: Chosen One will feature a sound to match the game's amazing graphics and gameplay."

Chosen One is the third installment in the NBA Ballers franchise. It features the arcade-style basketball gameplay Midway has been known for since NBA Jam in the early nineties, as players engage in two-on-two or one-on-one games with various NBA stars. The developer is trying to give the game a more urban or hip-hop feel by hiring Chuck D and Just Blaze. Chuck D has been a rap star for twenty years and Just Blaze has produced tracks for Kanye West and Jay-Z, among others.

I'm not sure what makes Just Blaze a "super-producer"; maybe he fell into a vat of Chemical X and can now shoot "funk rays" out of his eyes or something. At any rate, he has the interesting job of producing a dynamic soundtrack for the game. The music will change depending on the situation like a cinematic score (e.g. speeding up as the clock winds down).

Chosen One is scheduled for a Spring 2008 release for Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. Check out the trailer with Chuck D below.