Every song and when they play

Warning: Spoilers ahead for American Sports Story.The new limited series from​​​​FX and Hulu American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez Features a powerful 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 killing 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 during his football career as a member of the University of Florida Gators and the New England Patriots of the NFL.

American Sports Story is also accompanied by an original musical 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 to November 12, 2024. Episode 1 “If It Was to Be” chronicles Hernandez’s strict upbringing in Bristol, Connecticut, while episode 2 “Consequences, with Extreme Prejudice” dives into his college career at the University of Florida.

American Sports Story Episode 1 Songs

“if it is to be”

“Drive (feat. Ludacris)” by Ciara: This song plays at the beginning of American Sports Story As Aaron begins to become paranoid while at a Florida strip club with Sherrod. “Speech” was released as a single on Ciara’s 2010 album Basic instinct and went platinum in the United States.

“It Goes (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 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 When Aaron visits the University of Florida for the first time and meets head coach Urban Meyer. The song fits perfectly with the time the scene takes place before Aaron started his college 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 features Aaron’s high school dance that he attends with Shayanna. It appears around the 36-minute mark 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 Scheanna while his friend and occasional romantic partner Denise looks on from afar. The song also continues as Aaron’s brother DJ 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 goes to his new locker and finds a massive binder called “The Playbook”, and quickly discovers how much work, time and effort he is expected to put into his new team. He also met his new teammates, Maurkice Pouncey and Cam Newton, two future NFL stars.

“Party Up (Up In Here)” by DMX: Another classic hip-hop track is 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 out 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 the University of Florida’s Marching Band: As Aaron takes the field for the first time in his college career, the classic Florida Gators fight song is performed by the university’s marching band around the 7:45 p.m. 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. Pearl Williams: After the Florida Gators’ decisive 49-3 victory over Western Kentucky to start their 2007 season, Aaron and his teammates party in the dorms at American Sports Story Episode 2. Snoop Dogg’s classic 2004 song 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 to cause problems. Regardless, the bar’s bouncers know to protect the gators at all costs, so Aaron and his entourage get off scot-free until a mysterious shooting takes place near the end of American Sports Story Episode 2.

American Sports Story Episode 3 Songs

“Pray the Gay Away”

“Boom Boom Paw” by Black Eyed Peas: One of the biggest songs of the late 2010s plays at the beginning of American Sports Story Episode 3 as the University of Florida wins its third national championship and second in a three-year span under head coach Urban Meyer. “Boom Boom Pow” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three consecutive months after its release on February 22, 2009. It remains one of the Black Eyed Peas’ most popular and successful songs and fits perfectly with the celebratory atmosphere of the Florida Gators after 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 meeting in the basement of a University of Florida library to hook up in the bathroom in secret. This was the first song on the XX debut album 1 which was released on August 14, 2009. It has been featured in many commercials, 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 was performed by a religious band and sung by churchgoers at Tim Tebow’s service in American Sports Story. Hernandez attended one of Tebow’s church services around the 10:30 mark in episode 3 of the series after a face-off with teammate Jordan Reed. The episode explores themes of Hernandez’s struggles with religion, faith and morality and displays how Tebow tried to mentor Hernandez 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 his vices, getting off porn sites and dumping his cannabis stash in a toilet. Hernandez enters the weight room and goes all in to be the best footballer he can be, enabling 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”, both of which were released in 2009 around the time of American Sports Story Episode 3.

American Sports Story Episode 4 Songs

“Birthday Money”

“Where I’m From” by House of Pain: This classic song by hip-hop trio House of Pain plays at the beginning of American Sports Story Episode 4. This song was a deep cut on House of Pain’s 1994 album The same as it ever waswhich is the second album in their discography. The episode begins with a flashback to DJ Hernandez playing football in his backyard with friends in Bristol, Connecticut, in 1996, making the song’s title fit well with the scene’s context.

“Right Round (feat. Ke$ha)” by Flo Rida: This popular song by hip-hop/pop artist Flo Rida appears right after the opening flashback scene in American Sports Story Episode 4. This song plays in the background over multiple scenes of Aaron getting pitched by various sports agents after his successful football career at the University of Florida. Aaron’s brother DJ is also there to keep Aaron under control. “Right Round” finished 6th on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2009.

“Going Back to Cali” by The Notorious Big: This iconic hip-hop song from the Notorious Big plays around the 7:45 mark in American Sports Story Episode 4 Aaron works at the Athletes First training facility in Laguna Hills, California. This song was originally released on the 1997 album Life after deathwhich is widely considered to be one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. The song peaked at number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1997. It is a perfect fit in the context of the series as Aaron visits California for the first time.

American Sports Story Episode 5 Songs

“the man”

“General Patton” by Big Boi: This 2010 hip-hop song by Big Boi, who is one half of the celebrated southern hip-hop duo Outkast, was released on his first solo album, Lord Lucious left foot. It plays at the very beginning of American Sports Story Episode 5 as Aaron Hernandez joins the esteemed ranks of the then 3-time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Reality catches up to him as he is surrounded by current and future legends, including fellow tight end Rob Gronkowski.

“It’s My Life” by Bon Jovi: This classic Bon Jovi pop-rock song plays around the 3-minute mark American Sports Story Episode 5. In a surreal scene, a dramatized version of Bill Belichick blasts the song alone in his office at Gillette Stadium, mumbling and singing along to the lyrics. It seems to be how Belichick pumps himself up before four in the series. In fact, Belichick is a big fan and personal friend of Bon Jovi, so the scene and song were likely thrown into the series to establish the real-life connection.

“Work (Freemasons Radio Edit)” by Kelly Rowland: This 2011 dance song by Kelly Rowland plays around the 6:30 minute mark American Sports Story Episode 5. The song plays at a club where Hernandez and a group of his new Patriots teammates all hang out. The group talks about how Belichick can be difficult to talk to and warns Hernandez to stay focused on winning if he wants to stay on the elite team.

“Club Can’t Handle Me (feat. David Guetta)” by Flo Rida: Flo Rida makes another appearance on the American Sports Story soundtrack in episode 5. His popular dance song from 2009 plays as Hernandez and Gronkowski do a joint photoshoot as two of the newest additions to the New England Patriots. The popular song peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Top 100 in 2010 and was the promotional single for Step up 3D Before it appeared in American Sports Story.

American Sports Story Episode 6 Songs

“Herald Street”

“Make It Nasty” by Tyga: This certified platinum 2012 pop-rap song plays around the 13-minute mark in American Sports Story Episode 6 Aaron Hernandez joins his ex-boyfriend, Sherrod, to go clubbing in Boston. The song sets the party vibe for the nightclub, which is full of alcohol, sensual dancing, and other jokes that contribute to Hernandez’s growing sense of recklessness and paranoia. Shortly after the club scene, Hernandez shoots the two men he was in a conflict with on the street.

“Work Hard, Play Hard” by Wiz Khalifa: This classic double-platinum 2012 pop-rap song by Wiz Khalifa plays around the 24-minute mark in American Sports Story Episode 6 After Aaron Hernandez signs a 5-year, $40 million contract extension with the New England Patriots. The series skips the part in his true story when he played in Super Bowl XLVI and was the top receiver for the Patriots, which greatly strengthened the team’s trust in him. This happened just months after Hernandez allegedly shot and killed two people.

“Hands on the Wheel” by Schoolboy Q feat. A$AP Rocky: This 2012 rap single by TDE member Schoolboy Q plays around the 32-minute mark in American Sports Story Episode 6 as Hernandez self-medicates with cannabis and painkillers after being forced to miss several games due to a high ankle sprain. The song samples Kid Cudi’s famous “Pursuit of Happiness” song from 2009 and emphasizes Hernandez’s growing dependence on drugs in FX’s. American Sports Story. The song was one of the standout singles on Schoolboy Q’s 2012 album Habits & Contradictions which also featured notable tracks such as “There He Goes” and “Sex Drive” featuring Jhene Aiko.