The Rap Game[r]
"Xenogears, that's the type of game that relieves my fears." We're right there with you, Del.
This article first appeared on USgamer, a partner publication of VG247. Some content, such as this article, has been migrated to VG247 for posterity after USgamer's closure - but it has not been edited or further vetted by the VG247 team.
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon recently had their video game week, and Tariq (aka Black Thought) of the legendary Roots crew gave us gamers a quick hip-hop ode to Mario to kick off the night's show.
Name dropping Shigeru Miyamoto while daring to call Luigi a coward? Only an MC from Philly would make that work.
I was going to just put this video up on The Feed for a little look, but it reminded me of one of my favorite video game raps of all time, and figured I'd share that too.
Del the Funky Homosapien is best known for his contributions to Gorillaz on a couple of their biggest hits, is an Oakland-based rapper and a true gamer. I don't mean he's a Biggie "Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, when I was dead broke man, I couldn't picture this" lyricist, but someone who takes a Miyamoto name check and raises it with Bernie Stolar, E3, and Sega Saturn RAM cartridge mentions.
Using Morrigan's win theme from Capcom's Darkstalkers, Proto Culture is worth a quick listen and read through. Feel free to add your comments on some of the gaming Easter eggs found throughout the song using our annotations, and hopefully we'll see something similar on The Roots' new one, coming out later this year.
How many gaming references tap into your nostalgia with this one? Be sure to sound off in the comments if you have other game-related songs that need to make any gamer's playlist!
Proto Culture (featuring Khaos Unique) by Del the Funky Homosapien
Let me tell you about the Proto Culture / If you don't know the culture, here's the whole structure / We've had enough of the lackluster-trust us / We get the kind of games you can't rent at Blockbuster
Game related, raise it bit by bit / Yo D, link up the cable we'll go hit for hit / Phantasma plasma particle beam means I have ya / On the run-the rendered effects hot like magnas
I play games by Capcom with a power glove strapped on / On any platform, I don't spend my dough on Phat Farm / Video games, I got many to play / Before my life expires; fulfill my desires
Mastering your hardest boss / Shattering all stars across / Ain't hard to cross the finish line / Floatin' on Daytona / Wex, Gex or Klonoa, we get 'em all at cost / RPG, Platform we transform like Macross
Rival Schools, Batsu / Purchase you ought to / It came with one free CD, it's like I bought two / I hope they make part II for Dreamcast / Cause games I've seen in mags, you won't believe they have!
Getting callouses turning over Asteroids / Graviton bombs destroyed / Getting moms annoyed / Now I'm hacking Nightmare Creatures / Their features splattered across the screen / It gets more clean each year
I remember my homie Ed Coats had the most / A Colecovision, every week I'd visit / Playing Donkey Kong Jr., [Ad]Venture, Rock n' Rope / Games I thought was dope / While my moms was watching soaps
I'm on the next level / I got a double barrel shotgun in the Doomworld / Waiting on the next devil / Armor's low-check the arsenal / Rupture the main conductor playin Disruptor
I remember Ninja Gaiden / Finished finally / With Ramone wouldn't answer the phone / This was before getting blown / I own the first Nintendo Power / With the maps of Zelda helped me conquer in an hour
Let me tell you about the Proto Culture / If you don't know the culture, here's the whole structure / We've had enough of the lackluster-trust us / We get the kind of games you can't rent at Blockbuster
Hey KU you know my SEGA collection is massive / Got all the past hits and classics / Herzog Zwei now Panzer Zwei / Originality that made me a fan today
It's Pandemonium-it's like Toys R Us / Flippin the next Saturn game brings out the boys in us / It's poisonous / Taking out the boys in blue in Grand Theft Auto / Snatch a Rolls Royce to use
Yeah, I'll admit Playstation improved / Come visit Feudal Japan with me and Tenchu / Bushido Blade 2 with sword play so accurate / Mega Man Legends but I had to buy a map for it
I fence Hyo to get a Neo-Geo / For Samurai [Showdown] 64 in full rendered splendor / Rival counter and enter my sword in his innards / My joint was being Leonardo wuppin' on Splinter
I gotta get Xenogears-that's the type of game that relieves my fears / Get it from overseas to here / I gotta get Psychic Force / Authentic arcade that I can endorse / They got me liking imports
I'll need to be at the next E3 / What's the next CD I need to see / Me and D signing checks / Let's float overseas, mingle with game companies / Giving tips to Capcom and Sega-you can't front on these
To anyone who knew me better / Know I chose Saturn first Cause it's 2-D heaven / Bernie Stolar dropped the ball with the RAM cartridge / X-Men Vs. Street Fighter could've expanded the market
Marvel Vs. Capcom-beyond fathom / Tell the truth, Playstation ain't ready to have 'em / Come on I'll bring the onslaught / Alpha and Omega / Khaos Unique brought to you by SEGA
Let me tell you about the Proto culture / If you don't know the culture, here's the whole structure / We've had enough of the lackluster-trust us / We get the kind of games you can't rent at Blockbuster