10 Hip-Hop Songs That Reference Popular Video Games

6. Mos Def - Mathematics (1999)

Mos Def's classic album, Black on both Sides doesn't just have references to video games, but the b-side 'Mathematics' actually featured in Madden NFL 2002 for PS2, Xbox and GameCube. The beat comes from DJ Premier and has a great bassline to it - indeed Premier counts it as one of his favourites.

"Rock your hardhat, black, cause you in the Terrordome!

Full of hard niggas, large niggas, dice-tumblers.

Young teens and prison greens facing life numbers,

Crack mothers, crack babies and AIDS patients,

Young Bloods can't spell but they could rock you in PlayStation."

A typical line from Mos Def, this one. Multifaceted in its imagery and targeting societal issues, it confronts many of the problems in contemporary American society as well as being rapid fire in its criticisms of phone networks, violent crime, prison sentencing and unemployment among white and black populations.

Contributor

Bryan Langley’s first console was the Super Nintendo and he hasn’t stopped using his opposable thumbs since. He is based in Bristol, UK and is still searchin' for them glory days he never had.