Jay-Z is a gamer; likes Madden and, uh, you know, stuff like Madden
When celebrities get on board for a game, the inevitable pitfall is the dreaded interview where said celebrity awkwardly tries relating to the "gamer" crowd (trust us, we know all about it.) With DJ Hero dropping this week, celebrity sponsor Jay-Z sat down with MTV News to talk about how much of a gamer he is (hint: not so much) and his support for the cultural awareness opportunities inherent in the recently released turntable title.
"Immediately, of course, with the success of Guitar Hero, you know, [DJ Hero] piqued my interest, and then on top of that it was something from the hip-hop culture. So, anytime you can, you know, I can expand the genre and introduce it to new audiences and widen it -- you know, the reach of what hip-hop can do -- you know, I'm interested in that," Jay-Z explains in the video interview (embedded after the break).
As far as Jay-Z's gaming roots, that's another story altogether. "I was really a gamer," Jay-Z urges. "Like, ask any of the guys. Like, I used to -- Madden and all these type of games," Jay-Z awkwardly cobbles together, "I was, like, really a problem. Like, those were my things -- for awhile." Presumably, until, you know, he got all that other stuff that impresses us, right? It's okay, Mr. Z -- you don't have to impress us with your gaming prowess, too. It's not like we have the numbers of "the guys" to fact check your claims anyway.
"Immediately, of course, with the success of Guitar Hero, you know, [DJ Hero] piqued my interest, and then on top of that it was something from the hip-hop culture. So, anytime you can, you know, I can expand the genre and introduce it to new audiences and widen it -- you know, the reach of what hip-hop can do -- you know, I'm interested in that," Jay-Z explains in the video interview (embedded after the break).
As far as Jay-Z's gaming roots, that's another story altogether. "I was really a gamer," Jay-Z urges. "Like, ask any of the guys. Like, I used to -- Madden and all these type of games," Jay-Z awkwardly cobbles together, "I was, like, really a problem. Like, those were my things -- for awhile." Presumably, until, you know, he got all that other stuff that impresses us, right? It's okay, Mr. Z -- you don't have to impress us with your gaming prowess, too. It's not like we have the numbers of "the guys" to fact check your claims anyway.















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Riley @ Oct 29th 2009 5:05AM
I'm surprised he didn't mention Super Mario Brothers, that seems to be the other "I'm a gamer" auto-mention
drdre74 @ Oct 29th 2009 10:07AM
HAHA if all you can name is Madden then don't even try and fake like you a gamer. I laugh at people that all that name are sports games and clam they play games. You have no say in the gamer world to me.
fffunfarm06 @ Oct 29th 2009 10:09AM
man i thought he was gonna mention pong. all wanna be gamers say they play pong. weirdos
Gillfigno @ Oct 29th 2009 11:27AM
I think maybe he actually likes video games, but he likes old ones that would make him look like a mega-nerd, so he tried to think of some crappy new game that everyone likes to keep his street cred.
If he were like "I was really a gamer. Like, ask any of the guys. Like, I used to -- Dig-Dug, Tower of Druaga, Space Harrier, Art of Fighting, Pengo, Bubble Bobble and all these type of games," he would have been shot immediately.
Wilhelm @ Oct 29th 2009 12:28PM
He talked about the Lakers & Celtics basketball game from way back when too.
Nathan-DTS [He is your father] @ Oct 29th 2009 12:41PM
Gilfingo, Bubble Bobble is amazing. How would that game ruin your street cred. He also better like Crash 2 otherwise known as the greatest game ever.
Ridgecity @ Oct 29th 2009 2:16PM
PImpin ain't easy...
wallywallas @ Oct 29th 2009 5:11AM
99 hobbies but gaming ain't one.
Biggums @ Oct 29th 2009 8:24AM
you sir, win.
Enrike @ Oct 29th 2009 10:16AM
lol that's a good joke!
Stevetrop @ Oct 29th 2009 12:55PM
Bravo
VaultBoy @ Oct 29th 2009 4:31PM
Man, you beat me to it. Well played sir...
Adam M ONeill @ Oct 29th 2009 5:11AM
Yeah Jay-Z, WE KNOW!
DubiousCow @ Oct 29th 2009 5:42AM
Haha, I love bananas.
Deegan @ Oct 30th 2009 5:51PM
Ugh, I agree. That's one of the worst kinds of nervous studders, and most annoying too.
Cash @ Oct 29th 2009 5:18AM
Anyone want the bullshit Jay-Z and Eminem packin cd that came with my renegade edition? I just wanted the convertible stand/case and the upgraded turntable. I'd rather give it away, but unless I find someone who actually wants it, that bitch has a date with the shooting range.
Side note: can anyone explain to me why these two are associated with this game, but real masters like The RZA are nowhere to be found, even in DLC?
Filthy Assistant @ Oct 29th 2009 6:58AM
Holy christ you actually bought that thing?
embassy @ Oct 29th 2009 7:08AM
Um, because they are two of the most respected, successful and regarded figures in the hiphop/music industry? Just maybe? That might be why.
xtremeholymuffin @ Oct 29th 2009 9:13AM
Yeah, well, they've both fallen from that position because Relapse sucked ass and The Blueprint 3 was a pretty pathetic followup to the masterpiece that was The Blueprint 1. The second one wasn't that great either.
And neither of them compare to RZA.
CarpeD1em500 @ Oct 29th 2009 9:55AM
So....(in your opinion), they released two less than stellar albums in the past 6 months, and now they are a) no longer highly respected, b) no longer successful, and c) no longer highly regarded in the hip hop music industry (or music industry as a whole)...
....right. I'm sure they'll both get dropped from their labels now too...I mean, who would want someone who isn't respected, successful or highly regarded.
Oh wait, they both practically own their own labels.
You fail.
Snakku @ Oct 29th 2009 10:26AM
wow..u shoulda just got a real turntable ..seriously. It's a hunk of plastic. Activision is good at selling that
Discotheque @ Oct 29th 2009 11:35AM
While I agree that we should get some Wu-Tang in here, I have to add that Eminem and Jay Z have had some excellent albums in the past. Sure they've recently been releasing shite but that doesn't take anything away from them.
Almost every talented band/musician you've seen has had crappier output later on in their career.
redjack @ Oct 29th 2009 12:07PM
Because Eminem is a living legend. His albums may be full of jackassery but listen to his freestyles sometime. Especially his stuff from before he was a big name. Eminem is the Bruce Lee of freestyle. No one can beat him in a battle. And that's fact.
Traceur_Ryuk [All Digital until December] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Oct 29th 2009 12:42PM
I'll take it if you ship it...
Cash @ Oct 29th 2009 4:07PM
Why the renegade edition? Easy: after playing the demo at BB, I really liked having the controller on a table in front of me, playing it in the standing position. Dunno why, helps me concentrate I guess. I have nothing like that at my house, so I was going to buy the rocketfish branded dj stand from BB for 30 bucks (the one the demo was sitting on, for those who saw them) and just get the standard edition of the game. 119.99 + 29.99 = 149.98, or 150 bucks.
But then I saw Fred Meyer was offering a coupon for 30 bucks off anything in the electronics department 150 dollars and over, so with that coupon, the renegade pack went from 199 to 169, instantly. So for 20 bucks more, I got a much better looking table that also turns into a carrying case, and a slightly cooler looking turntable. Had there not been a coupon, no way in hell would I have paid 200 bucks for it, however. Anyway, it's a great game, and I'm enjoying the hell out of it so far. Still holding out for those RZA tracks though.
Jesus (PSN: Luttdawg) @ Oct 29th 2009 5:27AM
"Streets robbed me wasn't educated properly, well fuck yall needed money for Atari"
JaseH @ Oct 29th 2009 7:17AM
If you read the article, and watch the video, you can see they don't match at all. Jay's dribble on being a gamer wasn't that bad at all, and actually named a few games and didn't see "I used to - Madden"... the article was akwardly patched together, it came out more awkward than Jay's actual interview in the video.
And he's known to have referenced games consoles from his childhood into his own songs, for example the Atari (as you've mentioned)...
_____________________________
JaseH.
Maverick Saturn (Igor) @ Oct 29th 2009 5:41AM
Why is he hiding his eyes again ¬_¬
He's doing a kanye
nintendo fanboy hater @ Oct 29th 2009 6:07AM
thats part of his persona i guess... or he has weird looking goat eyes or something... idk
Mazrael @ Oct 29th 2009 8:37AM
his 'persona'? his eye's have been seen before.. he even has a hat on in doors.. He's probably just there for the interview, cos he still has his jacket on...
Twinturbo120 @ Oct 29th 2009 9:00AM
Obviously to hide the fact that hes a crack head >.>
PSN: John-Paul-Jones (click for last.fm profile!) @ Oct 29th 2009 6:33AM
Where's Nas to tae bo hoe Gay-Z?
Filthy Assistant @ Oct 29th 2009 6:59AM
"Gamer" is becoming dangerously watered-down these days, honestly.
Ashitaka @ Oct 29th 2009 8:43AM
True. People play farmville and suddenly they think they're gamers.
M.Garvey @ Oct 29th 2009 9:36AM
"Garvey just sheared their sheep and got some beautiful wool in FarmVille!"
Awesome! I pwn in FarmVille! I'm so hardcore!
ripslymemc @ Oct 29th 2009 9:37AM
What? I own a ps3, I hacked my psp and ds, and I read game blogs and video game reviews.
How am I not a gamer??
/s
AtomicPlayboy @ Oct 29th 2009 10:46AM
Very true. I don't really consider sports-game-centric folks to be "gamers" anyway, as sports games are such a completely different experience which usually appeal to a completely different demographic than other genres. Nothing wrong with this type of console owner, just not really a "gamer".
I Like Corn @ Oct 29th 2009 11:56AM
Dangerously? How does it affect you in any way?
And really, "gamer" is not some hallowed title. Especially with the fucking mainstream industry being basically a copy of modern Hollywood. With all of the faults and problems that come with it.
"Gamer" is just a person that plays games. There's this fucking snobbishness amongst so many groups of people that play video games,
Granted, his interview is bullshit, but that's marketing for ya.
Nate @ Oct 29th 2009 7:10AM
reminds me of this guy on PSN that told me Jay Z is a free mason, lucifer worshiping (and I know those two are contradictory), conspirator trying to take over the world with his fellow free masons. he even had me check out a youtube video (which you know proves it right there).
jo @ Oct 29th 2009 3:35PM
That guy was right. Jay-Z Is in fact a freemason.
PSN: John-Paul-Jones (click for last.fm profile!) @ Oct 29th 2009 7:47PM
So fucking what if he's a freemason? If you gather a huge random number of people and ask them who's a freemason, guaranteed those who are freemasons will put their hands up. Freemasonry isn't a secret, and people will tell you straight up if they are one. There's no conspiracy about taking over the world. This is as stupid as those pseudoscience thirty year olds still living in their mom's basement conspiring and gathering amateur evidence about 2012 and the end of the world.
Destro @ Oct 29th 2009 7:19AM
Not to say that I am agreeing with him being a gamer, because he probably isnt. But more than likely the reason he seems so out there and most certainly the reason he is "hiding his eyes" is because Jay-Z rarely does interviews and is somewhat shy when put on the spot one-on-one like that.
-Vexx- @ Oct 29th 2009 8:37PM
Wow no one gets a P4 joke...
-Vexx- @ Oct 29th 2009 7:24AM
http://i35.tinypic.com/adp4ls.jpg
KSPRAYDAD ... no longer playing games @ Oct 29th 2009 8:10AM
Do people in Canada and Britain call him Jay Zed? Just wondering.
prodigy69 @ Oct 29th 2009 8:22AM
no we call him a twat just like everybody else
Space @ Oct 29th 2009 8:24AM
haha I never thought of that!
Nineset @ Oct 29th 2009 8:12AM
Not sure why we should actually care about his gaming status and if I were Jay-Z I'd be much more concerned with money cash hoes and gettin all up in Beyonce than playing uh you know stuff... I'm a gamer because I don't have any or all of those things. Sad but true.
manmanpotty @ Oct 29th 2009 8:16AM
I am in love with hip-hop... but I hate mainstream hip-hop...
Space @ Oct 29th 2009 8:26AM
but seriously though jay-z has done some great stuff. not saying everything he's done is awesome but 99 problems, encore, dirt off your shoulder...he has some really good songs