S. Samuel
Grammy-winning rapper Eminem recently spoke on the concepts behind the upcoming video game DJ Hero and the close relationship between hip-hop and video game heads.
Speaking in an interview alongside Jay-Z, Slim Shady reminded fans of the “fun” aspect behind the forthcoming release.
“I think there’s a lot of kids who listen to hip-hop [and] buy video games,” Em said in an interview. “A lot of the same audience. It gives the kids a chance to, kinda, get their feet wet with the deejaying experience. Obviously it’s a video game so it’s not the actual thing, but, it can give you a feel for what it’s kinda like for kids or whatever…If this game would have came out back when I was a kid, I would have went to Target and stole it along with my pink ‘Alf’ shirt…I think that this is kinda a way for kids, you know with Guitar Hero it’s like challenging them to be able to play the songs and this is kinda challenging the kids to become a deejay.” (YouTube)
Both Em and Jay recently teamed up for the release of DJ Hero later this year.
A limited edition comes with the rappers’ exclusive new greatest-hits CDs, possibly including previously unreleased tracks, plus an advanced version of the controller, a DJ stand and metal traveling case. Jay-Z and Eminem will serve as consultants to Activision and the game’s developer, FreeStyleGames. The complete list of tracks the rappers are providing is still being worked out. Jay-Z plans on including “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” and “Dirt Off Your Shoulder” for sure. Also possible: tracks from his in-the-works Blueprint 3 album. (USA Today)
They also performed together last week to help promote the game.
The “Renegade” beat dropped, and as he began his verse, the room went crazy. Out sauntered Eminem to perform the song, which he produced for Jay’s The Blueprint album, onstage with Jay for the first time in years. Then it was Slim Shady’s turn to take over, as he rolled out his latest single, the gory “3 A.M.,” which went into a trio of other new songs from his recently released #1 comeback album, Relapse: “Underground,” “We Made You” and “Crack a Bottle.” The set closed with Em’s classic “Lose Yourself.” (MTV)
The rap duo will also face competition from the upcoming video game Rapstar.
Rapstar marks the first game for the newly-formed 4mm Games, a development house created in part by two co-founders of Rockstar Games (Grand Theft Auto). Executive Vice President Paul Coyne says he was astonished that a music game focused on hip-hop hadn’t been created sooner. Each performance is recorded using cameras for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Once a song is complete, players can then take a 30-second clip and upload it to the Rapstar community. Coyne sees the game as creating “the music video of the next generation that stars you.” Among some of the other features: A Battle mode where players alternate rhyming lyrics to score the most points; and Freestyle, a mode that lets players perform their own raps and songs over instrumental tracks. (Press Release)
Check out Eminem’s interview aside Jay-Z below:
DJ Hero will reportedly hit retail stores next fall.
