Exploring the '90s Bulls Championship Soundtracks

The Chicago Bulls dynasty of the 1990s was a legendary tour de force that dominated on the court and, in many ways, dictated that decade’s culture —including music. The Chicago Bulls Greatest Hits soundtrack series, distributed by Alphabet City Records, proved to be just as successful at the team and further embedded the franchise in ‘90s lore.

As seen in ESPN’s The Last Dance documentary, the ‘90s Bulls had a singular style of doing things. From Michael Jordan harassing teammates to Phil Jackson’s zen rituals, and even Dennis Rodman’s in-season vacations; it was the ‘90s Bulls’ way or the highway. Their music compilations were no different.

Released across three CDs during the Bulls prolific run, the Chicago Bulls Greatest Hits now serve as a 60-minute time capsule of those glory days. But to understand how these soundtracks came together, its best to revisit the origin of sports soundtracks.

In the late ‘80s & early ’90s, various record labels explored the world of “sports music:" compilations CDs that threw songs commonly associated with professional sports leagues together and marked it as something new. These albums were such a hit that one label, Tommy Boy Records, sold over 4 million units of their CD series Jock Jams.

With this newfound opportunity to profit off fans’ loyalty, other labels entered this space, including Alphabet City Records, which launched with the sole focus of making sports team compilations.

Founded by Kenny Dichter and Jesse Itzler, Alphabet City had a unique vision that made each of these soundtracks highly sought after by sports fans across the world. The label produced a winning formula by splicing in music commonly heard at games, radio call-ins in each team’s city, and sound-bites from pivotal games to create their albums. Each soundtrack featured crowd-pleasing anthems that rang through arenas. For the United Center, that meant anything from “Sweet Home Chicago” to tracks off the Space Jam movie.

The first iteration of these soundtracks served as sort of an origin story of the ‘90s Bulls, with clips of Jordan getting drafted, highlights of Jordan’s glo up in the ’80s, the first three-peat, and ending with a clip of the fourth championship. The Vol.2 soundtrack highlights the fifth championship season and splices in older memorable moments, like John Paxson hitting his famous buzzer-beater shot against the Suns as well as Jordan’s famous buzzer-beater against the Cavs.

Photo by Ed Wagner Jr. (Chicago Tribune/Getty Images)

Alphabet City and the Bulls also went for a three-peat, producing Vol. 3 of the Chicago Bulls Greatest Hits shortly after MJ and company delivered trophy number six. In hindsight, the final CD portrays the ‘98 season much like The Last Dance, as the soundtracks’ song choices made it blatantly clear that this season was the end, like “Closer to Free” by Bo Deans, which symbolized the franchise breaking apart to go their separate ways after the ‘98 season. The soundtrack has some of the most amazing Bulls moments in NBA history from Jordan’s last shot against the Utah Jazz and the iconic 70-game winning season, along with hits like “Space Jam” by Quad City DJ’s and “Good Times” by Chic.

From Space Jam to MJ’s commercials, The Last Dance has reiterated that music is often a part of life that helps us reminisce. In the ’90s, compilations were the playlists that now flood streaming platforms. While revisiting these rare compilations, staff writer Luis Hernandez ranked the top 10 songs from the three discs that summarized this Bulls iconic era perfectly. Enjoy.

10. “This Is Your Night" - Amber

I have no idea how this song got on this soundtrack but every time I put this on I feel like I’m out partying with Dennis Rodman. Also, it was the Bulls night every night in the ’90s, so its only right they have 90’s pop song to recognize this.

9. “Good Times” - Chic

This is probably the most perfect song for these Bulls. 6 championships in 8 years is absurd and I doubt there will be good times at this level for another NBA franchise ever again.

8. “Here Comes the Hotstepper” - Ini Kamoze

This song is the perfect description for Jordan in his prime as a “Hotstepper” literally means a fugitive running from the law. MJ was a NBA “Hotstepper” to the fullest, excelling at such a high-level that the league literally had “Jordan Rules” to not have teams run away with too many championships.

7. “Whoop There It Is” - Tag Team

This song was released just in time for the Bull last dance and it turned into another arena anthem that got Bulls fans hype during the game. No wonder the Chicago was one of the hardest places to play in the ’90s!

6. “1-2-3-4” - Coolio

Who knew Coolio would accidentally create a Chicago Bulls championship anthem? The Bulls were winning so much I bet Michael and Scottie were getting lit at a Chicago club back in ‘97, flashing their 4 rings to this song.

5. “Pump Up The Jam” - Technotronic

Space Jam and the Bulls almost feel intertwined at times. This song has to be on here just for the fact that it is a classic for anybody born in the 90’s. (Also shout-out to Joakim Noah for carrying on this song’s legacy at a local house party back in the day.)

4. “Be Like Mike”

One of the best original songs ever created by a brand, Gatorade really started a movement with this track. To think that everybody wanted to be Jordan so badly that we got a theme song is still absurd.

3. “Space Jam” - Quad City DJ’s

The best theme song for one of the greatest sports movies ever. Honestly, Space Jam was such a success it technically should be counted as a 7th ring for Jordan. Lebron has big shoes to fill for his own Space Jam song next summer, but he has never filled MJ’s shoes, so don’t get your hopes up.

2. “Only the Bulls”

Often forgotten, but “Only the Bulls” is probably the most fire Chicago sports team song behind “Bear Down”. Fun fact, the O’Hare airport parking garage has a Bulls themed floor that plays this song on a loop. Not so fun fact, Fall Out Boy and Lupe Fiasco tried remaking this song and it was so trash I’m not going to hyperlink it. Either way, we need this song to be brought back to the franchise once they start winning soon. (Anthony Davis, come home bro.)

1. Sirius - Alan Parsons Project

What else could it be? If you don’t get goosebumps when hearing this and are ready to drop 40 at your local gym after pressing play, are you human?

The 90’s Bulls left behind a legacy that will likely never be repeated by a team again. They were bigger than basketball, they were the ‘90s. One can only hope that one day the Bulls return back to this type of success. In the meantime, bask in the nostalgic vibes of a store advertising a CD on TV, a sentence you will likely never hear again in human history.