The Video Games Rappers Would Make If They Were Game Developers

It isn't often that the music and video game industries collide, but when they do the results have usually been hugely successful. We're all familiar with the massive successes of Rock Band and Guitar Hero, but even lesser-known, critically acclaimed hits like PaRappa the Rappa were still worth a play. However, aside from the latter title, and the Def Jam video games, hip-hop's collaborations with gaming have been few and far between. Sure, we had 50 Cent's Bulletproof and Blood on the Sand, as well as Wu-Tang Clan's Shaolin Style fighting game, but do any other names really come to mind aside from those?

There's a void in the industry that clearly needs to be addressed. And it certainly isn't as if there is a lack of source material here! Can you imagine what a video game with Kanye West or Kendrick Lamar or Run the Jewels would look like? Awesome. That's what it would like. And to give you a better idea of what you can expect from these rappers and others, we put together a list of The Video Games Rappers Would Make If They Were Game Developers. Any of these titles piquing your interest? Have a read, and let us know your thoughts in the comments section.

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Rapper: Run the Jewels
Similar To: The Call of Duty series

El-P and Killer Mike are two of the most outspoken rappers in hip-hop, completely unafraid to speak their mind about the various societal and institutional problems plaguing popular music, America, and the government. Their Run the Jewels collaboration was one of the most compelling, aggressive, and politically-charged releases of 2013 so, with that in mind, let's give Killer Mike and El-P some AKs, and then let them wreck havoc, one banana clip at a time.

Rapper: J. Cole
Similar To: NiGHTS into Dreams...

After receiving JAY Z's original Roc-A-Fella chain, J. Cole's greatest dream is finally realized: he literally becomes JAY Z. Travelling back in time, J. Cole relives Hova's life, starting from Reasonable Doubt, all the way up until present day, when he's sitting on a rap empire and is married to Beyonce. Truthfully, it's weird more than anything. However, aside from various haters and other rappers, Cole's greatest enemy throughout the game is his subconscious, which litters Cole's fantasy with his own personal demons and insecurities. The game concludes when Cole is finally able to step out of JAY Z's shadow and realize that the fantasy he's living is one that he never needed in the first place. The lesson here: learning to accept yourself. Awwwwww.

Rapper: Danny Brown
Similar To: The Leisure Suit Larry series

Noted rap horndog and drug aficionado, Danny Brown, would have a field day if his character were inserted into the Leisure Suit Larry template. Larry made his name in the video game universe trying to pick up chicks, and essentially starting the still-very-weird adult video games genre. Now, Danny Brown is here to carry that torch with XXX, an RPG focused on Brown's sexually-motivated and drug-induced adventures. Set in Detroit, the charming, but decrepit old city would serve as the perfect backdrop for Brown's seedy mishaps.

Rapper: Rick Ross

Similar To: All of his music

In terms of his artistic persona, Rick Ross is basically a giant fantasy already, so why not just blow up all of his imagined coke-rap narratives into a sprawling, drug-ridden RPG? Let's say that it'd be like Hotline Miami, complete with the necessary color palette and old-school graphics card. Users would get overwhelmed by the sheer decadence if we had to see Rozay's imagination blown up into lush, HD visuals. Stick with an NES or SNES-style aesthetic, throw in a few 8-bit Maybachs for good measure, and now we're talking.

Rapper: Jay Electronica
Similar To: His actual music album

Much like his long-awaited (and reportedly finished) Act II: Patents of Nobility (The Turn), Jay Electronica's video game would get stuck in development hell, and probably never end up being released. However, if it were ever to see the light of day, then it'd probably look something like Jonathan Blow's Braid: a high-minded artistic affair that isn't afraid to appear a little bit pretentious. In the end, though, it would also undoubtedly be a classic.

Rapper: JAY Z/Kanye West
Similar To: Rock Band

Surprise! After months of intense speculation, the long-rumored JAY Z/Kanye video game collabo turns out not to be a breath-taking RPG or some sort of art-goth FPS masterpiece, but instead, a singing game. Why? Because that shit sells like gangbusters, and JAY Z is out here to hustle, not to make friends. Kanye was down for it only because he wanted another reason to break out his AutoTune.

Rapper: YMCMB
Similar To: Final Fantasy

Final Fantasy games—like all good RPGs—are always littered with characters that you'll never play with, or will perhaps only check out once or twice at the most. The thing about these games is that once you find your choice combination of players, it's hard to take yourself out of that groove. YMCMB is much the same way, as it has that perfect blend of heavy hitters (Lil' Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj) and almost useless hanger-ons (Gudda Gudda, Jae Millz, Lil Twist). Also, given that Nicki already has the dimensions of most any female video game character, this transition should be pretty seamless.

Rapper: Outkast
Similar To: Red Dead Redemption

Outkast made a strange, old-timey juke joint classic when they released the film/album Idlewild back in 2006. Now, with a confirmed tour schedule and a possible reunion album in the works, the Atlanta rap legends will bring back their Depression-era grooves to produce Idlewild: The Video Game. Much like Red Dead Redemption—another classic that romanticizes a bygone era—Idlewild will feature open-world gameplay that allows you to control either Andre 3000's character, Percival, or Big Boi's silver-screen persona, Rooster. With gambling, gangsters, partying, and more, how could this game miss?

Rapper: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Similar To: Superman: The New Adventures, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, any other game that was horribly painful to play

After the heist they pulled at the 2014 Grammys, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are now taking their show to video game industry. Watch as they thrift, appropriate, and steal everyone else's style and use it for their own personal gain! Warning: you'll feel terrible about yourself about you play this game. And, to be honest, you should.

Rapper: DMX
Similar To: Twisted Metal

For years now, DMX has gotten himself in some hot water for his driving record, owning one of the most checkered histories with driving of any public figure around. Simply put, the dude just shouldn't be behind a wheel. But you know who also shouldn't? Sweet Tooth, the demonic, fire-haired clown from the Twisted Metal series. What could be a better fit? Twisted Metal features road rage to the max, allowing players to duke it out via motorized vehicles for hours on end. It's almost the perfect blend of DMX's criminal history and his insanely aggressive rapping style. Do not get in the car when you're staring down Dark Man X.

Rapper: Chief Keef
Similar To: GTA III

Remember Grand Theft Auto III? The one that didn't have all the extra features about buying clothes and swagging out your life? That was basically the Chief Keef of the GTA series. The Chicago drill rapper has never been known for his fashion sense or general swag; instead, the Brick Squad and Interscope star has made his name on no-frills thuggery, producing some of the biggest bangers of the past few years with "Don't Like" and "Love Sosa" (which, unsurprisingly, was featured on the GTA V soundtrack). GTA III deals in a similar mood, letting you play as the silent Claude while you embark on various Mafia missions, hits, and rampages across Liberty City. It isn't glamorous compared to Vice City, San Andreas or the other successors in the series, but it definitely gets the job done. Count on Keef's Bang Bang! to have a likewise appeal.

Rapper: Wiz Khalifa
Similar To: GTA V, if all you did was sit around and smoke weed

Truth be told, Wiz Khalifa would probably make the most boring video game of all time, only because it doesn't seem like he does much else besides smoke weed and chill with Amber Rose. Not that there's anything wrong with that! He's allowed to do his thing. However, when it comes to making a virtual world out of his raps and/or lifestyle, there just isn't that much to work with. Journey Through the Emerald City would be like Grand Theft Auto V without any of of the violence or epic missions. Instead, you just get to hang out in a mansion, roll blunts, and play video games. Get it? It's meta.

Rapper: ScHoolboy Q
Similar To: The JumpStart series

For a guy who goes by the name,"ScHoolboy Q," TDE's Quincy Hanley sure doesn't talk much about the education system. However, that's all about to change with JumpStart: The ScHool of Hard Knocks. Developed by noted educational game-makers, Knowledge Adventures, ScHoolboy's title will give kids a fun and interactive look at what it's like to grow up on the streets of Compton. Created for gamers six years old and up, your little tyke will learn all the ins and outs of gang-banging, drug-dealing, and more, just like ScHoolboy Q did when he was younger. Hooray! What they'll lack in book smarts, they'll make up for in street savviness.

Rapper: Drake
Similar To: The "Hot Coffee" mod

Gamers who used the infamous "Hot Coffee" mod to get their kicks with Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas were not in the least bit romantic and, in every bit, sad. But now, hip-hop's most beloved rapper-slash-singer is here to give the mod a makeover, turning "Hot Coffee" into a sex-simulation game featuring Drizzy's patented touch with the ladies. It's still pretty sad (what isn't with Drake?) but at least you'll be able to learn how to finesse the ladies IRL! You can't say the same with the original "Hot Coffee." Believe it or not, dating a woman is not the same as picking up a virtual hooker.

Rapper: Kendrick Lamar
Similar To: Street Fighter

With the "Control" verse, Kendrick Lamar basically created an entire roster of characters that could be featured on a fighting game. Let's run through the contenders for Rap World Champion: J. Cole, Big K.R.I.T, Wale, Pusha T, Meek Mill, A$AP Rocky, Drake, Big Sean, Jay Electronica, Tyler, the Creator, and Mac Miller. And, of course, JAY Z, Nas, Eminem and Andre 3000 would be available as unlockable characters. Who wouldn't play that game? Sure, there have been rap fighting games made in the past, such as Def Jam: Fight for NY, but those are boring compared to what King of New York could be, especially if we pushed the boundaries of reality on it a little bit. Scrap the boring knife and baseball bats that were used in Def Jam and give special techs and energy moves to your favorite rapper. Obviously, Jay Electronica is Dhalsim.

Rapper: Action Bronson
Similar To: Cooking Mama

The sheer number of food references that Action Bronson makes in his music is enough to fill a cookbook. With that in mind, the Queens rapper earns himself a cooking video game, not unlike the uber-popular, Cooking Mama. Can you imagine what sort of tasty creations you'd be able to cook up with Bronson? When you remember the fact that he used to be a sous-chef, your mouth should begin to water.

Rapper: Eminem
Similar To: American McGee's Alice

If you've ever played American McGee's Alice, then you know what it's like to see a childhood classic taken to an extreme and twisted level. Who better to administer that same sort of treatment than Eminem? In Marshall Mathers' Winnie the Pooh, Eminem will use his famously demented sense of humor to completely transform Hundred Acre Wood, turning Pooh Bear into a ravenous, honey-addicted grizzly, and Christopher Robin into a terrified child trying to escape his own, too-powerful imagination. Get ready to be traumatized.

Rapper: Insane Clown Posse
Similar To: Dead Rising

Juggalos are an eccentric bunch, completely unlike any other breed of hip-hop fan around. And now, in Insane Clown Posse's Day of the Juggalos, they've risen up, and must be stopped. Honestly, can you think of anything more terrifying than having to take on a horde of blood-thirsty Juggalos? The image alone makes the skin crawl. So, when you're taking on these Fanta-loving clowns, make sure you're equipped with a diverse arsenal of weaponry, much like the one you're able to have in Capcom's zombie-survival game, Dead Rising. The only difference? In Day of the Juggalos, the threat may be even worse.

Rapper: A$AP Rocky
Similar To: Imagine: Fashion Designer

A$AP Rocky has made no secret of his fashion fascination, essentially using one of the tracks on his debut album as a vehicle for shouting out every label known to man. On top of that, the Harlem rapper is also dating supermodel Chanel Iman, and recently shot a Super Bowl ad for DKNY. So a fashion video game that allows the player to create their own label, take it to the runway, and then sell it in stores only makes sense. Unfortunately, a real-life companion like Chanel Iman is not included.

Rapper: Juicy J
Similar To: Dance Dance Revolution

From the trippiest rapper around, Juicy J, comes Bandz A Make Her Dance, an interactive dance video game, guaranteed to get you and your friends twerking. Featuring all of the most danceable hits from the mixtape scene and Top 40 charts, Bandz will be just as addictive as the dance-pad fervor inspired by Dance Dance Revolution, but will instead have a way better soundtrack. The throwaway tracks on DDR games have piled up as the series has aged, but with a veteran of the industry like Juicy J leading the way, Bandz will manage to avoid the same fate. Extra points are awarded for making that ass clap.