10 hip-hop tracks about gaming

References: Guitar Hero

Activision reportedly passed on this track as a contender for inclusion in a future Guitar Hero title… mainly because it pokes fun at the franchise and rhythm games in general. That doesn’t stop MC Lars from rocking out with a plastic axe and making a statement. Love it or hate it, this jab at Guitar Hero is filled with hooks and hilarity. Guest appearances by the singer from Nerd Herder and a face melting solo by the guy from Mr. Big are also a cool bonus.

Notable lyrics:“They say Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil / I can beat "Through the Fire and Flames" on Expert level / While Slash rocks the strip up and down LA / I push multi-colored buttons on a stick all day / Dimebag brought the dope harmonics / My five buttons are electronic / Clapton spilt his heart on "Layla" / I go (click click click) playa”

References: Gears of War

Int Eighty, the rapping half of stellar hip-hip duoDual Core, drops some battle-ready rhymes in this live cut of The Hollow – an ominous war tune that makes us want to fire up Gears of War this very second and slay some Locust scum. Despite a little syntax mix-up towards the end of the video, this is hands-down our favorite hip-hop song about the struggle to survive on the harsh planet Sera. That might be because it’s the only rap song about Gears of War we know of, but damn is it still sweet.

Notable lyrics:“Delta Squad what, a hard act to follow / Recovering the resonator, mapping out the hollow / Berserkers beware I just planted a bomb / With a beam, third degree, from the Hammer of Dawn”

References: Street Fighter, Smash Bros, many others

It’s sometimes hard to tell ifBeefyis more hardcore about his gaming or his rapping, but he does both like a champ, often combining the two into a powerful one-two punch. "Play With Me" ventures into more sensitive lyrical turf than some of his other tunes, tackling the topics of love, confidence and playing Street Fighter (among other games), though it’s easy to dive into due to the insane number of game references he drops and the catchy chorus provided by Bethzilla.

Notable lyrics:“I’d like to get with you, it’s the only thing I think about / But nerds like me we don’t get with the ladies, yeah we go without / I was playing Smash Bros. when it was prom night / The last girl I saw was Chinese, she beat me in a street fight”

Apr 5, 2010


20 raps that made us throw our hands in the air, and move them about in a careless manner


Before Guitar Hero, real musicians and games hit a big fat brown note


Our favorite hobby inspires some incredible homages – plus two that fail miserably

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