Rap stars have become the backbone of modern musical culture. This is a massive shift in cultural focus that initially began in the early 1990s, with rap as a growing genre, before superstars of the era, such as Dr. Dre, Eminem, and Jay-Z, took the genre mainstream. In the modern era, though, many rappers have grown up during the golden age of home video consoles and PC gaming.
Some rappers have partnered with gaming companies as part of their affiliate marketing strategies, through their social media channels, and some have spoken extensively about their love of gaming. Today, we’re going to cover a range of rappers, and you might be surprised to see just how much scope there is when it comes to their favorite games.
Rappers who like to place a bet or two
Since casino gaming carries an aura and glamor about it that is difficult to find in other genres, it’s been featured as the backdrop of hundreds of rap videos since the mid-1990s. Massive stars of years past, including Nelly, have often discussed their love for casino gaming. Although his music might not be as culturally impactful as it used to be, he’s made more than enough money to live that VIP high-roller lifestyle.
Over the last decade, the industry has shifted its primary market online. Back in the early 2000s, Nelly would frequently visit land-based casinos, and he has recently been pictured in some of the world’s most exclusive casinos. However, the rise of online betting platforms has led modern rap megastars to utilize their digital platforms to promote online companies, resulting in a rise in the number of celebrities seeking out digital gambling rather than conventional formats.
Drake is the best example of this; he is someone who regularly places sports bets and has a penchant for casino games, and he details his escapades as part of a social media marketing strategy. VIP players, or those with a substantial bankroll, are often designated as customers who are entitled to the best promotions and bonuses that online casinos can offer.
To get top no deposit bonuses, expert reviewers and websites can provide a detailed run-down of the sort of variables to look for, and how you can navigate the market to make the most from the promotions that a litany of casinos offer.
A long-standing history between rap and video gaming
Although rappers are partial to a casino game or a sports bet, if we’re discussing the topic in greater detail, there’s a much broader scope of artists who prefer to play video console games. There’s long been a collaboration between rappers and video gaming, with many of them featuring on soundtracks to some of the most popular games of all time. Radio Los Santos on San Andreas, anyone?
From a gaming perspective, it’s a history and tradition with long-standing ties. 2024 marked the 20th anniversary of Def Jam: Fight For NY, which featured a roster of licensed rappers battling against other legends of the game.
Rappers and their console gaming escapades
Snoop Dogg is the apparent selection in any discussion that combines the crossover appeal of rap music and video gaming, after collaborating with Dr. Dre in the early 1990s—who is undeniably one of the greatest producers of all time—and helping to put West Coast hip hop into the global spotlight.
Snoop has taken a more relaxed approach to his music-making now that he can live comfortably, spending more of his time gaming. He is a huge fan of EA Sports Madden, as well as playing Call of Duty online. 21 Savage is another rapper who enjoys taking to the lobbies of Call of Duty. However, they do enjoy the anonymity that comes from not using their real names.
Snoop also featured as a playable character in multiple games spanning different decades, including True Crime from PlayStation 2, and more recently, Fortnite, where a virtual concert featuring Eminem smashed several records. It’d probably be easier to list the games he hasn’t featured in.
Sticking with Interscope Records, 50 Cent is another name associated with a range of video gaming titles, as well as Bulletproof, a game that featured his image rights and 50 as a leading character. However, the less said about that one, the better.
Modern rappers and their games of choice
Kanye West’s incredible fall from grace, following a tsunami of disgusting social media outbursts over the last two years, has not shaken him from many people’s lists as their favorite artist or rapper. The multiple Grammy award-winning producer and rapper made positive news last year when he raised $1 million for the family of DMX.
On the gaming front, Kanye has expressed his affection for The Last of Us 2, as well as other games such as Silent Hill, Super Mario, and Mortal Kombat. T-Pain is a fan of Kings III Religion, and Post Malone is someone who enjoys the remarkably successful PUBG.
Tyler, the Creator, is someone who grew up at a time when video games were not online. Although they may have taken a different format during this period, he has mentioned on numerous occasions that the Tony Hawks Pro Skater games are a personal favorite of his.
Conclusion
Although marketed as artists that are beyond the pale and brimming with magical talent, many rappers are just like you or me. They enjoy their downtime, and for many, this includes sitting around and playing their favorite games. It’s a surprise to see so many rappers who do enjoy games you wouldn’t match them to.
Snoop Dogg playing Madden seems like a pretty obvious connection to make, but his deep-rooted connection to the Fortnite games is something that surprised me. Kanye is another one. The irony that he can be a fan of a game called Silent Hill, given that he is one of the most vulgar, outspoken, and crass rappers, is not lost on many people.
However, as video games start to bleed into other genres, including film and TV, with such remarkable success, the connections between the rap industry and the broader gaming world are likely to continue for quite some time.
Hulda Hicks was born in Brooklyn, NY in the late ’70s, at the time when Hip-Hop music was just emerging as an art form. Her entire life was influenced by the culture, having grown up in the epicenter of the creative movement.
As a trained musician and vocalist, Hulda got exposed to the industry in her twenties and has worked on projects with iconic figures such as the Chiffons, the Last Poets, and Montell Jordan, to name a few. Her passion for music extended past the stage on to the page when she began to write ad copy and articles as a freelancer for several underground publications.
A written review from “Jubilee Huldafire” is as authentic as it gets, hailing from one creative mind that has a unique voice, on paper and in person.
