For those that have been paying attention, video-game scores and soundtracks have quietly been influencing generations of hip-hop producers for quite some time now.
Going as far back as Sugar Hill recording artists The Chilly Kids 1983 “Ice Arcade” record which heavily sampled Space Invaders, to Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff’s “Human Video Game” record off 1988’s He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper, all the way through to recent hits like the distinctive synth-based organ trill from the Golden Axe theme song which was used by Swizz Beatz on Jay-Z’s classic “Money, Cash, Hoes,” video game music has had a clear influence on multiple generations of rappers and producers.
With this in mind, we here at Complex present to fans of video games and hip-hop alike Ten Video Game Songs We Wish Rappers Would Remix.
For those that have been paying attention, video-game scores and soundtracks have quietly been influencing generations of hip-hop producers for quite some time now.
Going as far back as Sugar Hill recording artists The Chilly Kids 1983 “Ice Arcade” record which heavily sampled Space Invaders, to Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff’s “Human Video Game” record off 1988’s He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper, all the way through to recent hits like the distinctive synth-based organ trill from the Golden Axe theme song which was used by Swizz Beatz on Jay-Z’s classic “Money, Cash, Hoes,” video game music has had a clear influence on multiple generations of rappers and producers.
With this in mind, we here at Complex present to fans of video games and hip-hop alike Ten Video Game Songs We Wish Rappers Would Remix.
Our Pick: Kanye West
Game: Halo: Combat Evolved
Song: Theme
Composer: Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori
Who else but Kanye West could meld the sweeping orchestral medley’s and bombastic percussion of the Halo theme song into a viable hip-hop production?
What other rapper has so vast a sense of production, or the genius ability to marry a cohesive theme and verses to said productions? One could really argue that Kanye is one of the only hip-hop artists really putting out albums in the last 5 years. Not just a collection of records, but a thematically driven piece of art that demands each of its disparate elements be informed by its context within a larger association of work. When thought of in this manner it’s easy to spot why this would be a match made in heaven.
Between the religious tones, the tribal drums, and its epic scope, the Halo theme is poised for an amazing Kanye remix. It’s just missing a soul sample.
Our Pick: Kendrick Lamar and Black Hippy
Game: Donkey Kong Country
Song: Theme
Composer: Robin Beanland, Eveline Fischer, David Wise
Arguably the most feel-good video game theme song ever made, the Donkey Kong Country theme song is rich for a posse-cut remix by an artist and a crew that can handle the jungle theme and tripped out 16-bit synth note-bending. Kdot has proven himself versatile with his flow and vocal sound over the past couple years.
Part of his appeal comes not only from his strength as an MC but also his astounding ability to maintain that west coast sound while adapting it to fit melodic and atmospheric tracks like “Money Trees,” to going hard lyrically over the gritty snares and descending major chords of Big Sean’s “Control”.
Kendrick’s crew, west coast-based Black Hippy, consisting of Ab-soul, Schoolboy Q, and Jay Rock, offer a diverse range of raps to bless the 16-bit classic.
Our Pick: Kid Cudi
Game: Ecco the Dolphin (Sega CD)
Song: Introduction / Theme
Composer: Spencer Nilsen
While Cudi has seemingly relinquished his crown as the king of stoner rap, the multi-talented artist’s music still puts its stock in psychedelic melodies and spaced out beats. If trippy video game music were up for an awards show, the soundtrack for Ecco the Dolphin would sweep the show. Apart from being notorious as arguably the hardest game on 90s consoles (aside from Wolverine: Adamantium Rage, argh), the game is also memorable for a soundtrack reminiscent of some sort of dolphin symphony high on acid and recorded underwater. Perfect for Cudi right?
Our Pick: Rick Ross
Game: Final Fantasy VI
Song: Dancing Mad
Composer: Nobuo Uematsu
“Dancing Mad” is hands down the most epic boss music from the Final Fantasy catalogue and at fourteen minutes long it also takes itself very seriously. With refrains of previous themes interwoven throughout, and clearly delineated movements within the piece, the organ-centric composition not only is epic in structure, but also in the mood it conveys in the listener. Who better to tell boastful and completely fabricated drug dealing stories about how awesome you are?
Our Pick: Ghostface and Raekwon
Game: Mortal Kombat
Song: Liu Kang, Born in China
Composer: The Immortals (Pragha Khan and Oliver Adams of Lords of Acid)
Wu-Tang and Mortal Kombat both have heavy roots in the 90s Western fascination with east-Asian popular culture. If the oft-rumored Only Built for Cuban Linx pt. 3 ever drops, the G.O.D’s. signature flows could really bring Wu-binos back in time for a minute. Especially if RZA, Ghost, and Raekwon, can make up after the mixed-reception of 2007’s 8 Diagrams in light of the recent 20 year anniversary of Enter the 36 Chambers.
Our Pick:Flatbush Zombies
Game: Shinging Force II
Song: Intro
Composer: Mataoki Takenouchi
Flatbush Zombies have been hitting the local NYC hip-hop scene hard the last couple of years, playing venues and clubs almost non-stop while gaining a significant following. Revolving around posse-cuts and acid-rap beats, the Beast Coast members drug-laced raps are perfect for the horrorcore meets trap-like nature of Shining Force II theme song.
Originally composed and arranged by Mataoki Tekenouchi, the track is a remix away from being a Flatbush Zombies classic.
Our Pick: Childish Gambino
Game: Streets of Rage 2
Song: Intro Theme
Composer: Yuzo Koshiro
Our Pick: Lil B
Game: Pokemon Red/Blue
Song: Lavender Town
Composer: Junichi Masuda
The notoriously creepy Lavender Town theme composed by Junichi Masuda for the original Pokemon has become something of an urban legend to children across the world. The level was originally meant to showcase the ghost-type Pokemon but ended up being sort of twisted and fucked up for a game that is geared towards grade-schoolers. Not only is the game area filled with graves, grieving townspeople, and a pokemon who wears his dead mothers skull over his face, the music also allegedly drove a slew of children to kill themselves (Japan is crazy, right?). Apart from it’s creepy background story it also manages to be a viable tune well deserving of some good treatment by the based god, Lil B.
Lil B, the underground self-promoted rapper phenom that spawned countless self-produced mixtapes, a rabid international following, and even an NYU lecture series, seems well deserving of the track. With his non-traditional beats, and laconic almost conversational flow, the rapper seems almost designed to tackle a remix of this notorious track. He has also explicitly expressed his love of video games on wax as well as twitter, particularly the Pokemon series, so what is he waiting for?
Our Pick: French Montana
Game: Mega Man X
Song: Cyber Peacock
Composer: Setsuo Yamamoto, Makoto Tomozawa, Yuki Iwai, Yuko Takehara, and Toshihiko Horiyama.
French Montana’s only dalliance with video games so far was the music video made with Wale for a track called “Back 2 Ballin.” The Skullcandy-sponsored video for the track was notable for outrageously featuring Wale and French Montana as 16-bit video game characters battling their way through mock-ups of stages from Streets of Rage, Road Rash, and Altered Beast. 16-bit French’s laconic and matter of fact flow would be a perfect fit for the Mega Man X’s Cyber Peacock boss music.
Our Pick: Danny Brown
Game: The Legend of Zelda (NES)
Song: Theme
Composer: Koji Kondo
For gamers of multiple generations, The Legend of Zelda’s haunting theme song formed the first impression of what a video game could be. The haunting midi notes paired with the march-like percussion gave hints that this game would be more than just an idle distraction designed to steal your quarters. The bright gold cartridge had a feature that no home console game ever had before: a little battery inside allowing the player save their game.
This was something different. Something that had a real story, a plot that would unfold over the course of weeks, not just minutes. Because of this fact, it’s doubly important that the theme music understand the context of the game. Koji Kondo’s beautiful composition was integral for providing a reference for the adventure that Nintendo wanted to provide. It’s also a trapstep djs wet dream, unopened and still fresh in the package.
The thing about Danny Brown is that his technical oeuvre has progressed in step with his rise in popularity. The Detroit rapper’s most recent project Old throws the acid-rap veteran some clearly EDM-laced tracks to rock with and it’s the rappers prowess at marrying that hype/trap energy with outside-the-box beats that has really propelled his fame and sent scores of fans to his camp. It’s also this talent which makes Danny Brown and the folks at Fools Gold Records perfect for a shot at holding down Kondo’s brilliant composition.