Apparently hip-hop now counts as “Rock” too, with Snoop Dogg’s debut into the musical gaming world of Rock Band. As of September 7th for North America, you can now buy up to eight tracks to play along to at your own convenience and show off your skills as a rap master deluxe.
Snoop, who self proclaims himself as an “OG Gamer” on top of an OG Gangster, is extremely proud to have the first hip-hop genre songs included in the Rock Band soundtrack. “I’m the first hip=hop rock star,” said Snoop to MTV News. However, for young gamers, perhaps the subject matter may not be entirely appropriate. Editing and censorship aside, playing a song over and over from the perspective of the “musician” may have a totally different impact than simply hearing the music on the radio, and sometimes simply editing out questionable words does not do enough to change the actual message of a song.
That said, this is a breakthrough for other genres besides rock to successfully make it into video gaming, including jazz, country and pop besides the few previously used, soul, and, of course, more hip-hop and rap. Perhaps this will lead to games beyond just Rock Band or Guitar Hero, but truly successful games centered on rap or other genres (ones that are perhaps more serious than PaRappa the Rapper? As fun as that one was…). Putting in more variety to games could certainly lead many more consumers to join the gaming world and improving the music fueled section of the gaming industry as well.
The eight songs will include “Beautiful,” “Sensual Seduction,” Drop It Like It’s Hot,” “Ridin’ In My Chevy,” “Snoop’s Upside Ya Head,” “Tha Shiznit,” “That’s Tha Homie,” and “Who Am I (What’s My Name?).” You can download them individually at a price of $1.99 or purchase the whole set for $13.49 on the Rock Band Music Store. So go on and take your “Gin” or “Juice” and get on to hip-hopping your way to the show!
Comments
turn it up a lizzle
It's unfortunate that they don't have much of Snoop's older stuff, aside from "Who am I?". I haven't listened to any of his music from the past ten years or so, but I'd totally download "Gin and Juice" or "Nothin' but a G Thang." Of course, that last one was Dr. Dre featuring Snoop, but still.
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