A NORTHSIDE SOLO
PITTSBURGH, PA | 2023

Welcome to the Jungle, a historic basketball court in the heart of Pittsburgh's Northside. This court has seen greatness from all sides of the city. An epicenter of basketball, the Jungle has seen better days.

In January 2020, JY Originals, Hounds, + Swishh Dreams had a vision to renovate a basketball court, displaying the connection between basketball + jazz, the history of jazz music in PG(H), + the importance of "The Jungle." 2020's devastating issues halted our vision. Years went by + funding was non-existent for a project such as this (understandably so).

Then all of a sudden, there was hope. In March 2023, Janel shared a renovation giveaway, "Every Court Has a Story," courtesy of Five-Star Basketball, Project Backboard, + Local Hoops. The objective was to narrate the tale of your court, which we accomplished through film.

The vision needed a special touch, and we found it in Diarra Imani, an Emmy-nominated spoken word artist. The way she told the story with such emotion was genuinely inspiring. The addition of "Limehouse Blues'' by Roy Eldridge, a Northside native, and Dizzy Gillespie really tied it all together. The film welcomed H'enri Wade-Chatman as its actor. He is a professional basketball player, a Beltzhoover native + childhood teammate of Janel’s, who grew up playing at the Jungle. Finally, we partnered with Mars Jackson, a renowned figure in Pittsburgh, to deliver a curated playlist that blends basketball + jazz seamlessly. Together, we created a powerful and moving piece, "A Northside Solo."

The submission was successfully awarded a court renovation in June 2023.