Remembering some of the greatest hip-hop video games of all time

The world of hip-hop has been packed full of immensely talented lyricists and big personalities over the years. Some of these famous artists haven’t just managed to break into the mainstream by topping the charts, but they’ve also successfully crossed over into the gaming sphere. In fact, for fans of the overall genre and gaming, there have been a number of unforgettable hip-hop video games.

Even today, hip-hop video games are accessible on a variety of modern-day gaming platforms. For example, people are still playing options like DJ Hero, which is filled with hits from legendary groups like Beastie Boys, while other popular releases in this area include the likes of the Boom Shakalaka game, a title that features some of the coolest cats in the rap game. These options, plus a range of others, have been inspired by some of the genre’s other notable releases, some of which are fondly remembered by hip-hop lovers around the world.

Of course, not every video game in this area has hit the mark. We’ve certainly been exposed to some rather shoddy releases, with rappers and games developers alike teaming up to create products that appeared to be nothing more than cash grabs. Thankfully, we’ve also been treated to a selection of undeniable masterpieces on a plethora of prominent gaming platforms over the years. Let’s take a look back at some of them below.

Def Jam: Vendetta is a classic title from 2003

When most people think of iconic releases in this category, Def Jam: Vendetta is a title that immediately springs to mind. A classic product from 2003, this wrestling-filled favorite contains some of the rap world’s biggest stars, such as Method Man and Ludacris. With hip-hop connoisseurs able to go to war with their favorite artists in a number of fight-based scenarios, this unforgettable release served up plenty of entertainment. You can grapple with DMX before pulling off a successful knockout blow with Funkmaster Flex. Additionally, the game’s extensive storyline and killer soundtracks added another layer of intrigue to a release that many people will never forget.

50 Cent: Bulletproof is a solid third-person shooter

Famous for producing one of hip hop’s finest-ever, 50 Cent’s foray into the world of gaming also recorded notable success. Released in 2005, 50 Cent: Bulletproof featured the man himself as he aimed to take down a selection of hitmen who were tasked with taking him out. This third-person shooter epic perhaps delivered where many people didn’t expect it to, serving up a gripping storyline that featured some other world-famous stars, such as G-Unit members Lloyd Banks and Young Buck, alongside the likes of Eminem and Dr.Dre.

Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style is a much-loved release

 A title that came to the fore in 1999 on PlayStation, Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style is a much-loved product that contained playable characters from the American hip-hop collective that was formed in Staten Island. Similar to the aforementioned Def Jam: Vendetta in some respects, gamers could get firmly stuck into a variety of fighting adventures with their favorite members from the group, with each rapper offering up a different fighting style. Featuring some of Wu-Tang Clan’s greatest tracks and representing a fun gaming package to session, while the game wouldn’t stand up alongside some of today’s detailed releases, it’s impossible to ignore when assessing some of the genre’s most prominent releases.

Some of the other greatest hip-hop video games of all time include the likes of Def Jam: Fight for NY, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, and Rap Jam: Volume One.

Philly Goats: The hip-hop trio finally drop a much-needed self-titled debut mixtape

You’ve heard their bars on endless Attack The Culture Top 50 Must-Hear Songs playlist appearances but the time’s come for the Philly Goats to deliver a full body of audio awesomeness in the form a self-titled much-needed debut mixtape.

The rap trio have come through on a hard-hitting ‘Philly Goats’ mixtape

D Sturdy, Sou and PGS Spence always deliver with their bars but it’s clear this hard-hitting project comes through as a massive Def Jam standout release. Only seven tracks in length, the album deserves ample replays.

After building buzz throughout the game and lighting up social media over and over again, acclaimed rap trio Philly Goats serve up their incendiary self-titled debut mixtape, Philly Goats, out today via Def Jam Recordings.

The seven-track body of work flaunts the collective and individual power of D Sturdy, Sou, and PGS Spence. Among many highlights, their inimitable interplay drives “Turnt” as they fire fast-paced flows and braggadocious bars back-and-forth. The energy overflows on the scorching refrain, “When you talking about who hot, we gone burn it up.” Then, there’s “Buss It.” This banger layers hypnotic vocals above a Jersey Club-inspired crescendo. Elsewhere, their personalities pop off on “Toot That.” They introduce the scope of their sizzling signature style on Philly Goats.

The mixtape also includes the recent single “Buckle Up” and its official Remix featuring Armani White. Thus far, it has cumulatively tallied over 5 million global streams. Inciting applause from the likes of Global Grind and more, Billboard touted it among “R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week,” going on to note, “The runaway Jersey club snippet hit has grown into a full-fledged smash.”

Philly Goats are simply on fire. YouTube named them a “Trending Artist On The Rise,” while The FADER touted “Get Off The Wall” as a “song of the summer 2023 candidate.”

Just a snippet of the latter swept social media into a frenzy, inspiring over 1 million TikTok creates and counting so far. The guys update the classic melody from Kool & The Gang’s “Get Down On It” and speed it up for Gen Z. As a result, it possesses the power to ignite any dancefloor with its swaggering horns, four-on-the-floor thump, and quotable rhymes. Ultimately, it issues a gleeful invitation to move, “I see you up over there on that wall, girl. You better get up off that wall!”

Philly Goats uphold a legacy of high-energy club music, yet they also pave their own lane in the modern movement with airtight rapping and soaring singalongs. It’s no wonder Pitchfork  hailed them among “The Next Generation of Club Rap” and proclaimed, “It’s an escape.” 

Meanwhile, “X Em” continues to gain traction with 557K YouTube views on the music video. Inciting widespread applause, The FADER asserted, “No matter what anyone says, the Philly Goats remain the blueprint for all-ages fun.” Pitchfork proclaimed, “Like the rest of Philly Goats’ music and videos, it’s pure, unadulterated fun.” Teen Vogue attested, “The collective has evolved the sound that upholds the essence of dollar parties, teen dance cyphers, and tangin’ to no end in a way that Gen-Z craves and TikTok can’t go without.”

Over the past year, Philly Goats have captivated audiences with a sharp and show stopping style. They’ve quietly emerged as the face of the “hip dance ”movement in Philadelphia. The guys have incited one viral moment after another, building up to “X EM.” Just the snippet inspired over 251K “creates” on TikTok and nearly 100 million views. Additionally. they rolled through On The Radar Radio for a stunning performance of “X EM.” 

Big Sean's Detroit mixtape drops again for its 10th anniversary

Remember when it was all G.O.O.D for Big Sean? The Music is still going strong and what better way to get into the Labor Day Weekend vibes than celebrating his Detroit mixtape’s 10-year anniversary with its re-release?

Big Sean’s Detroit mixtape hits the 10-year mark

Sean Don’s embracing the milestone date by putting the project out to the masses again through Def Jam Recordings. The expanded edition comes with the ‘More Thoughts’ bonus song and has an exclusive limited edition CD for those needing the physical attachment.

Grammy®-nominated; multi-platinum artist Big Seancelebrates the 10th anniversary of his DETROIT mixtape –– with a newly expanded re-release available on all streaming services today via Def Jam Recordings. The new commemorative edition includes an additional bonus track, “More Thoughts” and an exclusive, limited-quantity CD which can be found at DefJamShop.com.  

Following the landmark arrival of DETROIT, which features J Cole, Jhene Aiko, Chris Brown and more, saw nearly a million first-day downloads causing the DatPiff site to crash, Complex included the mixtape in its tally of The 50 Best Albums Of 2012.  DETROIT went on to win Best Mixtape honors at the 2013 BET Hip-Hop Awards.

In 2020, Big Sean went on to release DETROIT 2, which became his third consecutive solo album to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and the set’s Nipsey Hussle-featuring single, “Deep Reverence,” earned a nomination for Best Rap Performance at the 2021 Grammys.

And it’s packed with tons of features, too. From J. Cole and Juicy J to French Montana and Wale, there’s ample tunes totaling up nearly 20 songs deep.

DETROIT 10th ANNIVERSARY track listing:

1. Higher

2. 24K Of Gold feat. J. Cole

3. More Thoughts (2019)

4. Story by Common

5. How It Feel

6. Woke Up Feat. Sayitainttone, Earlly Mac, Mike Posner & James Fauntleroy 

7. Experimental feat. Chip tha Ripper & Juicy J

8. Mula feat. French Montana

9. Story by Young Jeezy

10. 100 feat. Royce da 5'9” & Kendrick Lamar

11. Sellin' Dreams feat. Chris Brown

12. I'm Gonna Be feat. Jhené Aiko

13. FFOE

14. Story by Snoop Lion

15. RWT

16. Once Bitten, Twice Shy

17. Life Should Go On feat. Wale

18. All I Know feat. Wiz Khalifa

If you’re just now getting put onto Big Sean, it’s safe to say he’s been doing this a lot time. How long? Well, easily over 10 years with 2011 being one of the most memorable times for him.

Big Sean consistently asserts himself as an elite rapper and a vital voice for the culture, at large, since he emerged in 2011, with his debut album Finally Famous on Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music / Def Jam imprint. The album spun off consecutive top-charted pop/R&B/rap crossover smashes with “My Last” featuring Chris Brown (platinum), “Marvin & Chardonnay” featuring Kanye West and Roscoe Dash (platinum), and “Dance (A$$)” featuring Nicki Minaj (4x-platinum). Sean was a major collaborator on Kanye’s groundbreaking Cruel Summer album in 2012, and shared multi-platinum success with Kanye on the Grammy®-nominated “Mercy” (also featuring Pusha T and 2 Chainz), and “Clique” (with Jay-Z).

After an impressive debut, the roller coaster journey continued through multiple platinum projects and unforgettable classics.

Sean’s Hall Of Fame album followed in 2013, including “Guap” (platinum) and “Beware” featuring Lil Wayne and Jhené Aiko (3x-platinum). Dark Sky Paradise (2015) was Sean’s first platinum and first album to debut #1 on Soundscan. It reigned on the charts with the #1 “IDFWU” featuring E-40 (7x-platinum), “Blessings” featuring Drake and Kanye West (4x-platinum), and “One Man Can Change the World” featuring Kanye West and John Legend (platinum). I Decided. (released Feb 2017, platinum) debuted at #1 on the momentum of the two pre-order instant grat tracks that turned into smash singles, “Bounce Back” (6x-platinum with over 300 million streams globally), and “Moves” (2x-platinum). In 2020, he logged his third consecutive #1 debut on the Billboard Top 200 and fifth straight #1 entry on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart with the critically acclaimed Detroit 2.  

Kendrick Lamar protégé Tanna Leone powers up with Def Jam

West Coast rap heavyweight Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free’s pgLang artist Tanna Leone is doing big things with spring just days away. The hip-hop newcomer has leveled up by teaming with iconic record company Def Jam.

Tanna Leone links with Def Jam

The hip-hop newcomer didn't just sign on the dotted line. Leone has also blessed the rap game with a couple new tunes in the form of ‘With The Villains’ and ‘Lucky.’

Tanna Leone, the new LA-based artist from Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free’s pgLang, has released two debut tracks "With The Villains" and "Lucky" along with an official music video for “With The Villains” via pgLang/Def Jam Recordings.

And it’s more than just some new music. Leone has also delivered the music video for ‘With The Villains.’

The video for his new single “With The Villains” was directed by Neal Farmer and is a film noir which moves from block chase, to VR strip show, to tattoo parlor.

It’s a celebration for Tanna Leone and Def Jam

With the news instantly going viral, both Tanna and Def Jam’s Tunji Balogun have stepped up to speak on the powerhouses coming together through pgLang.

Following Baby Keem as the second artist to partner with pgLang, Tanna Leone is eager to make his mark: "As an artist I want to represent disrupting the status quo, push people to focus on their growth as humans, and to be a voice for the voiceless through my artistry.”Tanna Leone joins Baby Keem on the second installment of his “The Melodic Blue” Tour beginningtonight in Pittsburgh, PA.

“We’re excited to welcome Tanna Leone and pgLang to the Def Jam family as valued partners,” said Tunji Balogun, chairman and CEO, Def Jam Recordings. “I’m lucky to have been able to connect with Kendrick and Dave during the early stages of my career as friends and collaborators, and I’m thrilled to be able to extend that relationship here at Def Jam. Tanna is a dynamic and multi-talented new voice and we’re honored to be a part of his development and success.”

Dave Free can’t wait for the the disruption

Free also stepped up to speak on Def Jam taking in his artist and teased folks about what’s on deck.

“Tanna is a rare opportunity to disrupt. We're excited to partner with my young n*gga,” said Dave Free, Co-founder of pgLang. Co-founded by Dave Free and Kendrick Lamar, pgLang is a multi-lingual company, communicating this generation's creative language through mediums exemplifying the shared experiences that connect us all.