WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for American Sports Story.FX and Hulu’s new limited series American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez features a robust and relevant soundtrack. Josh Rivera leads the American Sports Story cast as Aaron Hernandez, the former collegiate and NFL superstar tight end who was convicted of murdering semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd in 2015. Lloyd was just one of several criminal acts of violence that Hernandez was either directly a part of or implicated in throughout his football career as a member of the University of Florida Gators and the NFL’s New England Patriots.
American Sports Story is also accompanied by an original music score composed by David Klotz (American Horror Stories, The Watcher). Created by Stuart Zicherman (The Americans) and executive produced by Ryan Murphy (American Horror Story), American Sports Story will span 10 episodes with new weekly episodes released every Tuesday from September 17 until November 12, 2024. Episode 1 “If It’s to Be” chronicles Hernandez’s stern upbringing in Bristol, Connecticut, while episode 2 “Consequences, with Extreme Prejudice” dives into his collegiate career at the University of Florida.
American Sports Story
is streaming now on Hulu.
American Sports Story Episode 1 Songs
“If It’s to Be”
“Ride (feat. Ludacris)” by Ciara: This song plays at the very beginning of American Sports Story as Aaron begins to get paranoid while in a Florida strip club with Sherrod. “Ride” was released as a single on Ciara’s 2010 album Basic Instinct and went platinum in the United States.
“There It Go (The Whistle Song)” by Juelz Santana: This popular 2005 song by Juelz Santana plays around the 28:30 mark in American Sports Story episode 1. Aaron asks his future girlfriend Shayanna Jenkins out to a school dance. The song also plays over a montage of Aaron playing on his high school basketball team before his cousin Tanya Singleton attacks his mother Terri Hernandez in the stands for sleeping with her husband, Jeff Cummings.
“Temperature” by Sean Paul: This very popular 2005 song by Sean Paul plays around the 32:30 mark in American Sports Story episode 1 as Aaron visits the University of Florida for the first time and meets head coach Urban Meyer. The song fits perfectly with the time that the scene takes place before Aaron began his collegiate career in 2007. It also alludes to Aaron’s impending party-boy status and the shift in temperature from Connecticut to Florida.
“Laffy Taffy” by D4L: This classic 2005 hip-hop song plays Aaron’s high school dance which he attends with Shayanna. It appears around the 36-minute mark in American Sports Story episode 1. “Laffy Taffy” hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 2006.
“Just a Dream” by Eric Roberson: This song plays moments after “Laffy Taffy” in American Sports Story episode 1 as Shayanna and Aaron embrace for a slow dance and talk about their futures. It’s a crucial scene that depicts Aaron seemingly in love with Shayanna while his friend and occasional romantic partner Dennis looks on from afar. The song also carries on as Aaron’s brother D.J. confronts Aaron for choosing to go to Florida after committing to UConn.
American Sports Story Episode 2 Songs
“Consequences, with Extreme Prejudice”
“Shakey Dog (Explicit)” by Ghostface Killah: This classic 2006 hip-hop track plays at the beginning of American Sports Story episode 2 and Aaron walks into a crowded University of Florida locker room surrounded by his new teammates. Aaron walks over to his new locker and finds a massive binder labeled “Playbook”, quickly discovering how much work, time, and effort he is expected to put into his new team. He also meets his new teammates, Maurkice Pouncey and Cam Newton, two future NFL stars.
“Party Up (Up In Here)” by DMX: Another classic hip-hop track appears around the 8:30 mark in American Sports Story episode 2 as Aaron and his teammates go out to experience the Gainesville nightlife. “Party Up (Up In Here)” was released in 2000, went 3x platinum, and was nominated for a Grammy. The song plays as Aaron begins to realize the perks of being a football player at the University of Florida.
“The Orange and Blue (Florida Gators Fight Song)” by University of Florida’s Marching Band: As Aaron heads out onto the field for the first time in his collegiate career, the classic Florida Gators Fight Song is performed by the university’s marching band around the 19:45 mark in American Sports Story episode 2. The Gators get fired up in the tunnel before storming onto the field in anticipation of their home opener in front of more than 90,000 screaming fans at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
“Drop It Like It’s Hot” by Snoop Dogg feat. Pharrell Williams: After the Florida Gators’ decisive 49-3 victory over Western Kentucky to kick off their 2007 season, Aaron and his teammates party in the dorms in American Sports Story episode 2. This classic 2004 song by Snoop Dogg plays in the background as Aaron and the partygoers celebrate the win.
“Roll It Up” by Blind Fury: This 2006 underground hip-hop song plays just before the 30-minute mark in American Sports Story episode 2. Aaron and his Connecticut friends Carlos Ortiz and Bo Wallace go out to experience the Florida nightlife when Ortiz’s overly aggressive behavior starts causing problems. Regardless, the bouncers of the bar know to protect the Gators at all costs, so Aaron and his entourage get out scot-free until a mysterious shooting takes place nearby toward the end of American Sports Story episode 2.
American Sports Story Episode 3 Songs
“Pray the Gay Away”
“Boom Boom Pow” by Black Eyed Peas: One of the biggest songs of the late 2010s aptly plays at the beginning of American Sports Story episode 3 as the University of Florida wins its third national championship and second in a span of three years under head coach Urban Meyer. “Boom Boom Pow” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three consecutive months following its February 22, 2009 release. It remains one of Black Eyed Peas’ most popular and successful songs and fits in perfectly with the celebratory atmosphere of the Florida Gators following their National Title win on January 8, 2009.
“Intro” by The xx: Another classic 2009 song plays around the 4:30 mark in American Sports Story episode 3. The mostly instrumental “Intro” by minimalist alternative rock band The xx is instantly recognizable as Aaron Hernandez and an unnamed Florida student meet in the basement of a University of Florida library to hook up in the bathroom secretly. It was the first song on The xx’s debut album xx which was released on August 14, 2009. It has been featured in many advertisements, television series, and movies, such as It’s Kind of a Funny Story and Project X.
“God of Wonders” by Third Day: This 2003 Christian rock song is performed by a religious band and sung by churchgoers at Tim Tebow’s service in American Sports Story. Hernandez attends one of Tebow’s church services around the 10:30 mark in episode 3 of the series after getting in a scuffle with his teammate Jordan Reed. The episode explores themes of Hernandez’s struggles with religion, faith, and morality and displays how Tebow tried to mentor Hernandez both on and off the field. In real life, Tebow is a devout Christian.
“Million Bucks (feat. Swizz Beatz): This popular 2009 hip-hop song plays around the 15:30 mark in American Sports Story episode 3. Hernandez is seen cleaning up his act and relinquishing himself from his vices, getting off porn sites and discarding his cannabis stash in a toilet. Hernandez hits the weight room and goes all in on being the best football player he can be, which enables him to win the prestigious John Mackey award at the end of the 2008-2009 season. Maino’s other notable songs include “All the Above (feat. T-Pain)” and “Hi Hater”, which were both released in 2009 around the time of American Sports Story episode 3.
