ProHipHop

Hip-Hop Music Game Rap Rivals™ Turns Anyone into a Pro Vocalist

Stagename, creator of the hit mobile music game Rap Rivals™, the first role-playing music game for iPhone and iPod Touch dedicated to the world of hip-hop, has released an in-game upgrade called Vocalizer. Developed with MuseAmi, Vocalizer enables anyone to put their voice in perfect tune, add harmonies and other studio-quality effects with just one tap. “No experience singing is required to play Rap Rivals, but we’ve now made it easier than ever for anyone to sound like a pro”, said Josh Barkin, CEO and founder, Stagename.

In Rap Rivals, players take on the role of an up-and-coming Rap Star battling against others trying to make a name for themselves in the music business. Players can mix their own beats and record their own vocals. For those who can’t sing, they can use Vocalizer to get similar vocal effects used by major Rap recording artists. Ten different effects are included in the Vocalizer package and players can mix different vocal effects to get a style they can call their own. “To win battles players need to earn votes from the Rap Rivals community. Vocalizer gives non-singers an instant competitive advantage”, says Barkin.

View music trailer on YouTube.

NBA 2K11 Features Michael Jordan’s Tongue & an In-game Soundtrack With Big Stars & Up and Comers [Cover Art, Complete Tracklist]


NBA 2K11

NBA 2K11 – Will MJ Bite His Tongue?

2K Sports' NBA 2K11 videogame is due October 5th in an ever growing assortment of versions for different devices. What? Nothing for the Kindle?

Here's the complete tracklist for the in-game soundtrack:

1. Snoop Dogg – NBA 2K Theme
2. Big Boi – Shutterbug
3. Drake – Over
4. Cassidy – Game Time
5. Ron Artest – Champion
6. Duck-Down All-Stars feat. Buckshot, Skyzoo, Promise, and Sean Price – Better Than You
7. The Alan Parsons Project – Sirius
8. Art vs. Science – Hollywood
9. Big Rock Candy Mountain – Rocketship
10. Brunettes – Red Rollerskates
11. Chicharones – Little By Little
12. Children Collide – Skeleton Dance
13. Constellations feat. Asher Roth– We're Here To Save The Day
14. Dan Black feat. Kid Cudi – Symphonies (Remix)
15. Delorean – Deli
16. Ev – Home Of The Brave (Instrumental)
17. Failsafe – Hope & Only If We Learn
18. HOGNI – Bow Down
19. Kidz In Space – Downtime
20. Middleman – It's Not Over Yet
21. Rakaa feat. Aloe Blaac – Crown Of Thorns
22. The Redland – So Far
23. The Russian Futurists – Paul Simon & Precious Metals
24. Sonny Bones – Rise
25. Two Door Cinema Club – I Can Talk
26. Yung Autmatik & Bayroot Productions – Go Hard or Go Home
27. Dux Jones – Pourin' It On

Big ups to Will Huff at FrontStreet Records for pointing out the press release which I had actually missed. FrontStreet artist Dux Jones' single, Pourin' It On, made it on the soundtrack. Congratulations!

Official Site:
NBA 2K11

Available on Amazon:
NBA 2K11

Over at Hip Hop Press:
NBA 2K11 Soundtrack Includes Snoop Dogg, Big Boi, Drake and Kid Cudi
Along With the All-Time Greatest Cover Athlete Michael Jordan

Call of Duty: Black Ops Remix Trailer ft. Eminem’s “Won’t Back Down”



Call of Duty: Black Ops Remix Trailer ft. Eminem’s “Won’t Back Down”

Call of Duty: Black Ops is one of a series of Activision games set for upcoming release that feature such artists as Eminem, Pharrell Williams and Z-Trio.

Oficial Site:
Call of Duty: Black Ops

Over at Hip Hop Press:
Activision Announces Upcoming Titles Featuring Music by Usher, Eminem, Soundgarden, Pharrell Williams, Jane’s Addiction, David Guetta, Deadmau5 and Z-Trip

Pac-Man x Rocawear Collab: Good Idea? Jumping the Dead Shark?

I don't know if the Pac-Man x Rocawear Collab is a good idea or not. It's good for Pac-Man (however you want to spell it) in the same way Hello Kitty can absorb any cultural influence into its realm but for Rocawear?

From the press release:

This collaboration between Bandai Namco and Rocawear includes:

PAC-MAN being part of Rocawear's mobile, 18-wheeler Pop-Up shop. The Roc Pop-Up Shop will have various Bandai Namco games including PAC-MAN which will be able to be played by visitors to the truck. Limited edition PAC-MAN /Rocawear tees will also be sold on the truck…

PAC-MAN will also have its own channel on the Roc4Life website (www.roc4life.com) and throughout Roc4Life’s social media properties, which will feature various PAC-MAN 30th anniversary projects, interviews, etc. will be featured.

Is this a nostalgia play on Rocawear's part or are they getting desperate as their clothing line stagnates?

Scratch: The Ultimate DJ on iPad, iPhone & PC [Pics]


Scratch on the iPad

Scratch on the iPad [Photo: Business Wire]

Scratch: The Ultimate DJ will be available later this year for the iPad, iPhone and PC's. I assume these are simulations but that's what it should look like.


Scratch on the iPhone

Scratch on the iPhone [Photo: Business Wire]

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Scratch: The Ultimate DJ Video Game
Numark's SCRATCH DECK: Ultimate DJ Videogame Controller

Over at Hip Hop Press:
Scratch: The Ultimate DJ Videogame Coming to iPad, iPhone, and PC in 2010

Ty Ahmad-Taylor: Monetizing the Desire for Prestige

Ty Ahmad-Taylor, founder and CEO of FanFeedr, discusses the desire for prestige in game settings as an engine for monetization. It's a little confusing because he talks about prestige as a monetization model and prestige as currency but the basic concept is that people like to show that they're making moves in online settings with a game element:

"Prestige turns into real money in any one of several ways. Game players are granted some amount of free virtual currency at the start of play. That currency is used to purchase virtual goods or services that allow the player to advance levels. When the user runs out of currency, he/she can replenish it by paying for more currency with a credit card or PayPal account; by taking a survey; by taking a lead-generation offer like a Netflix (NSDQ: NFLX) trial subscription; or by watching videos (gWallet offers this)."

Virtual currency is a big part of this game and he mentions companies like Offerpal who are providing services to make such things happen. Since that's not a space in which I'm working, I haven't kept up very closely but I have noticed that Inside Facebook is a good source for such info. No, not the posts, the ads.

Beat City Rhythm Game for Nintendo DS Due in Spring


Beat City cover art

Beat City

Beat City for the Nintendo DS is due April 20th.

From the press release:

"THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) today announced that Beat City is currently in development exclusively for Nintendo DS. An easy to pick-up and play game featuring 20 colorful mini-games, Beat City will be available spring 2010, and combines stylistic and fun rhythm-based games with a story of revolution and love."

"In Beat City, players must find their rhythm in order to restore Beat City to the vibrant, melodious city it once was. Using the stylus, players simply tap, swipe or hold on queue to the music's beat in order to receive a high star rating within each mini-game. While players are tapping to the beat, they can watch the city transform right before their eyes ridding the city of Dame Isolde Minor and her Cacophony Corporation, who bring nothing but monotony. The better a player is at keeping the beat the more items are unlocked in the environment."

"Beat City is being developed by Universomo."

Official Sites:
THQ ~ Universomo

Over at Hip Hop Press:
THQ Starts a Rhythm Revolution with the Announcement of Beat City Exclusively for Nintendo DS

DJ HERO BUNDLE CONTEST WINNER: MAC THA KNIFE

Our esteemed panel of slow-moving, deadline breaking judges has deemed Mac tha Knife of Nashville, TN the winner of the DJ Hero Bundle. Congratulations!

Thanks to everybody for your great entries!

DJ Hero Bundle Contest: How will YOU use DJ Hero to Change the Game?


DJ Hero Bundle with Turntable

DJ Hero Bundle with Turntable

ProHipHop joins in Activision's DJ Hero Potlatch with a contest for a FREE DJ Hero Bundle with Turntable.

Contest Rules

Answer the following question in 120 characters or less:

How will YOU use DJ Hero to Change the Game?

Post your response in the comments section including your email in the comments form (will not be shown online).

You may post up to three entries. They can be the straight up truth or you may take as much poetic license as you wish. The contest closes at High Noon, November 3rd 5th with an announcement later that day.

Here's my entry:

"After embedding the DJ Hero controller in my abdominal cavity, I will become a traveling one man band."

Looks like we already have a winner!!!

May the best short form writer win!

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Complete DJ Hero In-Game Tracklist Released
DJ Hero Renegade Edition Porn f/Jay-Z & Eminem
DJ Hero: Grandmaster Flash Remix Trailers

Complete DJ Hero In-Game Tracklist Released

Here's the Complete DJ Hero Tracklist and it's a pretty wide ranging and interesting collections of mixes and "overhauls":

"including DJ AM, Cut Chemist, Grandmaster Flash, DJ Jazzy Jeff, J. Period, DJ Shadow and DJ Z-Trip spinning tracks from JAY-Z to Eminem; Daft Punk to Black Eyed Peas; Rihanna to The Killers; Kid Cudi to Gwen Stefani; and Marvin Gaye to Beastie Boys."

Pac Div: Church League Champions Mixtape & Game


Kottonmouth Kings: Green Album album cover art

Pac Div – Church League Champions Online Game

Pac Div supports the release of their mixtape, Church League Champions with an online basketball game in which you can play as a member of the band.

Unconvinced? Check out the trailer for the mixtape.