It’s been a few months since ESPN’s The Last Dance first aired, but the Chicago Bulls-centric miniseries still appears to be more popular than ever. Following its original debut, many fans have taken to Netflix to witness the highs and lows of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, as well as their teammates and coach Phil Jackson. The show’s effect on pop culture really can’t be understated at this point, especially when you consider how it’s helped reinvigorate interest in ‘90s culture. Now, it would seem that a notable singer of that era is reaping the benefits of its popularity.
R&B singer Kenny Lattimore recently revealed that his music sales went “to another level,” thanks to a scene in The Last Dance. The moment that sparked this hype is one that shows Jordan listening to unreleased tracks from Lattimore on the Chicago Bulls’ team bus, which was headed for Game 1 of the 1998 NBA Finals.
While speaking with TMZ, Kenny Lattimore would also say that The Last Dance has increased his following and has, in a way, linked him to the legendary Chicago Bull:
The Michael Jordan effect is definitely real!!! There's so many people from around the world that started following me, sending me messages [because of The Last Dance]. People were like, 'This is Jordan's guy' or 'I'm gonna listen to this 'cause this is what Jordan listens to.'
Kenny Lattimore has been making music for years, but he truly rose to prominence in the 1990s, which saw the release of his eponymous debut album and follow-up From the Soul of Man. The two albums would produce several hits like “For You” and “If I Lose My Woman.”
Those who are familiar with Lattimore’s music know that he’s produced some beautiful tunes that still hit just as hard as they did back in the day. So it’s nice to see that a new generation of music lovers are becoming familiar with his body of work.
So far, The Last Dance has affected the general public in some pretty interesting ways. For instance, some basketball fans mistakenly went after NBA player Isaiah Thomas after mistaking him for his namesake – Detroit Pistons legend and Michael Jordan rival Isiah Thomas. And on the other end of the spectrum, the docuseries has reminded people how Carmen Electra really doesn’t age, leading some to search for her on a certain website.
Nevertheless, it’s been a true joy to watch many people enjoy The Last Dance and fully take in the ‘90s culture that permeates it. Nostalgia has been a major selling point over the past several years, and this sports documentary appears to have come at just the right time.
In addition to Netflix, The Last Dance is also available to stream on ESPN+.
