These Game-Changing Rappers Are Making Major Plays in the Virtual World!
The integration of rappers and the virtual world makes for a unique gaming experience — here's a list of rappers who appeared in video games.
By D.M.Dec. 20 2023, Published 2:31 p.m. ET
Hip-hop and video games have always gone hand-in-hand. From providing background music to shoutouts in popular verses, rappers have become important fixtures in the gaming community.
There's one rapper, in particular, who even created their own video game console. That said, we have yet to see the finished product – Soulja Boy, we’re looking at you.
Other artists have taken their love for gaming further and appeared as playable characters in popular gaming franchises — leaving a lasting impact on both the rap game and the virtual world.
As video games evolve, the inclusion of rappers helps game developers stay relevant. Among the musicians who are leading the charge is the following list of rappers-turned-virtual superstars.
Meet the hip-hop artists who have either appeared in or helped develop video games in the past!
Quavo — ‘NBA 2K22’
Quavo's character in NBA 2K22.
Rapper Quavo's love for basketball is no secret. He often shares photos and videos of his time playing the sport on social media, so his inclusion in NBA 2K22 was no surprise.
“I am officially a playable character In @NBA2K,” Quavo wrote on Instagram. “The first left-handed sniper play as the Huncho now.”
Wu-Tang Clan — ‘Project Shaolin’
RZA (top) and (L-R) Cappadonna, Ghostface Killah and GZA of Wu-Tang Clan perform during a stop of the N.Y. State of Mind tour
Legendary rap supergroup, Wu-Tang Clan, partnered with Xbox to create a third-person role-playing game (RPG) — Project Shaolin. As of this writing, the release date for the game is unknown.
According to Insider Gaming, the Xbox exclusive will be a four-player co-op and will allow gamers to play alongside their friends online and in person.
The publication reports that Wu-Tang’s music catalog will be heavily featured in the game and their music will also inspire the gameplay. Furthermore, each of the nine members of the rap group will be playable, giving fans a chance to step into the shoes of the rap icons.
50 Cent — ‘50 Cent: Bulletproof'
50 Cent's video game character in '50 Cent: Bullterproof.'
50 Cent has dipped his toe into almost every facet of entertainment. In 2005, he joined forces with Genuine Games to develop 50 Cent: Bulletproof.
The single player RPG is loosely based on the rapper’s life. The story follows a musician who is seeking revenge on a group of men that attempted to kill him. A sequel to the game was released in 2009 called 50 Cent: Blood On The Sand.
Dr. Dre — 'Grand Theft Auto'
Dr. Dre's video game character in 'Grand Theft Auto.'
Rockstar Games shocked fans in 2021 when they announced that Dr. Dre was joining the beloved Grand Theft Auto franchise.
While Dre initially passed on the opportunity to be featured in the legendary game, he later changed his mind after being swayed by Rockstar Games screenwriter DJ Pooh.
The online expansion pack gave fans exclusive access to missions – where Dre is the playable character – plus a new slate of Dre songs that were only available on GTA.
ScHoolboy Q in ‘PGA Tour 2K21’
In a shocking turn of events, rapper ScHoolboy Q was added as a playable character in PGA Tour 2K21. While ScHoolboy’s addition to the game may have come as a surprise to some, the rapper has been an avid golfer for some time.
“That first day, I was addicted,” he said about his intro to golf (per Golf Digest). “Coming from baseball, I couldn't believe I could hit it so bad. I tried again and again.”
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