Def Jam Rapstar competition offers record deal to UK flow masters

Atlantic Records UK has teamed up with Def Jam Rapstar to give one lucky UK resident a chance to spit hot fire all over his or her very own record. By employing the game's freestyle mode, contestants will upload their hottest 40 bars (give or take) to be judged by the Def Jam Rapstar community website's membership.

The top regional finalists will then have to compete in front of a live audience at UK HMV locations, "8 Mile style," next February. What this means, of course, is that the winner will have said the most egregiously offensive thing about the other contestants' mothers, resulting in a crowd-wide "OOOOOHHHHHH SNAPPPPPPP."

Ten word stylists who survive that round will then proceed to a central London event where "a panel of Hip-Hop / Music aficionados" will parse who's best. We're getting ourselves pumped up for the competition starting right now by putting Dizzee Rascal's "Fix Up Look Sharp" on permanent repeat.

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2 December 2010

THE SEARCH FOR BRITAIN'S NEXT RAPSTAR BEGINS...

Def Jam Rapstar Forms Groundbreaking Association with Atlantic Records UK & HMV

LONDON, ENGLAND – December 2nd, 2010 – Def Jam Rapstar, the hotly-anticipated interactive Hip Hop video game, is proud to announce a groundbreaking association with Atlantic Records UK. The label, which has released world-renowned music from stars such as Flo-Rida, Jay-Z, T.I., Lupe Fiasco, B.o.B, Missy Elliott, Plan B and many more, will offer a record deal to the winner of Def Jam Rapstar's nationwide search for Britain's best new Rapper - The first time new music talent has ever been signed from a video game. Def Jam Rapstar is available now for the Xbox 360TM video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and WiiTM.

The search for a British Rapstar will launch January 1st 2011. Players will be invited to upload their performances to www.defjamrapstar.com using the games innovative freestyle mode, with this stage of the contest lasting one month (terms & conditions apply). The top UK rappers, as voted for by the community on www.defjamrapstar.com, will then be invited to battle it out live on Def Jam Rapstar's freestyle mode at regional qualifiers, held at select HMV stores across the country during February 2011 and judged by the audience in attendance, '8 Mile style'.

The final ten hottest lyricists will then go bar for bar at a central London finale and judged by a panel of Hip Hop / Music aficionados (details to be announced). The winner will be crowned the Rapstar champ and signed by Atlantic Records who will then go on to release the Rapstar's first single commercially.

HMV gamerbases and stores nationwide will be setting up Def Jam Rapstar freestyle stations from January 1st 2011 where aspiring rappers can hone their skills before entering the competition.

The ultimate emcee experience, Def Jam Rapstar is the only music game that focuses exclusively on Hip Hop, you and your social networks. With more than 40 of the greatest Hip Hop songs available at release, including Flo Rida's "Low", Kanye West's "Gold Digger", "Pass Out" by Tinie Tempah, Run DMC's classic "Run's House" and Dizzee Rascal's "Fix Up, Look Sharp", Def Jam Rapstar allows YOU to be the star by rhyming, using your console camera, and uploading your video to the fully integrated Def Jam Rapstar community at www.defjamrapstar.com.

"We created Def Jam Rapstar with every intention of providing hip hop fans the ultimate gaming and social media experience. Rapstar's social community at www.defjamrapstar.com not only gives players the chance to perform their favourite hip hop songs and show off their emcee skills, but it also builds a platform for us to discover new talent. Artists, producers, promoters etc... All can join in on the fun." says Kevin Liles, President and CEO, Def Jam Interactive. "Atlantic UK and HMV are the perfect partners to venture into this project and together we will find the next Rapstar."

"Digital technology not only helps artists reach their audiences all over the world, it also provides us with new ways of discovering talent. Rapstar brings those two ideas together in an exciting, cutting edge music experience. Fans will get the chance to explore new music, emulate their heroes and even have a shot at stardom themselves." said Max Lousada, Chairman, Atlantic Records UK.

"HMV is delighted to be supporting such a groundbreaking idea,that brings together music, games and visual content in a more engaging way than ever before. It also takes interactivity to a whole new and exciting level, whilst also reflecting our own moves as an entertainment brand towards gaming and technology." Simon Fox, HMV CEO.

"Fresh after our initiative with the National Literacy Trust to find UK secondary schools best 'Rhyme Master', this is the natural extension to take the search for talent to the next level. We always believed that Rapstar would push the relationship between video games and music like never before, providing a platform that allows undiscovered talent a real opportunity to share their skills and become the next superstar." said Nick Perrett, CEO of 4mm Games. "With Def Jam Rapstar, the world is literally your stage, and we are pleased to be working with Atlantic Records and HMV who share our passion for music and originality."

Developed by 4mm Games, Terminal Reality and Def Jam Interactive, and co-published by Konami Digital Entertainment Inc. and Autumn Games, Def Jam Rapstar will offer a software only version of the game that will retail for £49.99 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation®3 and £39.99 on Wii, as well as a bundled version that will include software and one wired microphone for £54.99 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation®3 and for £49.99 on Wii.

For more information of Def Jam Rapstar, including all tracks announced to date, please go to www.defjamrapstar.com.

To follow Def Jam Rapstar on Twitter please visit: www.twitter.com/defjamrapstaruk.

About Atlantic Records:
The Atlantic Records Group was founded in 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson (later joined by Jerry Wexler, Nesuhi Ertegun, Tom Dowd, and Arif Mardin) as a one-room operation in New York City that was dedicated to finding, recording and promoting independent R&B and jazz. The label had its first hit single in 1949 with Stick McGhee's "Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee" and soon after was catapulted into one of the pre-eminent companies in the rapidly evolving music industry. Today it remains recognized and revered around the world as being synonymous with artistry and quality. Through the years, Atlantic recordings have had a profound impact on the development of modern music, while entertaining and engaging listeners with songs that have rooted themselves in our collective consciousness. Atlantic's rich history is distinguished by an array of legendary artists who broke new ground and set new musical standards, among them such icons as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, John Coltrane and Led Zeppelin. ??Atlantic continues to be marked by musical diversity, embracing a spectrum of chart-topping performers who span the contemporary pop, rock, R&B, and hip-hop landscapes. Today the company is home to many of the world's most popular recording artists, among them Plan B, Paolo Nutini, James Blunt, Tracy Chapman, Alesha Dixon, Little Boots, Phil Collins, Rumer, Death Cab for Cutie, Missy Elliott, Estelle, Flo Rida, Lupe Fiasco, Kid Rock, Jason Mraz, Sean Paul, Paramore, T.I., and many more.

About Konami Group
KONAMI CORPORATION was established in 1973, and became a holding company of the Konami Group on March 31, 2006. KONAMI CORPORATION covers the fields of "Digital Entertainment Business," "Gaming & System Business" and "Health & Fitness Business". KONAMI CORPORATION went public on Tokyo Stock Exchange in 1988, the London Stock Exchange in 1999, and the New York Stock Exchange in 2002. Home Page URL: www.konami.co.jp. Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH is a wholly-owned subsidiary, responsible for popular franchises like Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill and Pro Evolution Soccer amongst other top sellers. Konami Group is also the manufacturer of the wildly popular Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME, which has sold more than 22 billion cards worldwide. For more information concerning Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH and its products, please visit www.konami-europe.com.

KONAMI is a registered trademark of KONAMI CORPORATION.

About Def Jam Interactive
Def Jam Interactive, a division of Def Jam Enterprises, is a leading producer and marketer of interactive software games and a preeminent force in the digital industry. It is committed to delivering high-quality; cutting-edge video game titles to consumers by providing an authentic hip hop experience through game play, cultural nuances, strategic partnerships, music, talent, and executive direction. Def Jam Interactive was the first hip-hop brand to successfully partner in the gaming space and to date has produced multiple platinum-selling console titles, including Def Jam Vendetta, Def Jam Fight for NY, and Def Jam Icon. It is the only viable hip hop brand that has trusted consumer loyalty in the gaming space. For more than 20 years, the executive team has successfully extended the Def Jam brand in comedy, poetry, television, apparel, mobile, to name a few. For more information, please visitwww.defjaminteractive.com"> www.defjaminteractive.com.

About 4mm Games
Headquartered in New York City, 4mm Games is an independent global interactive entertainment company that is forging a new approach to content creation: Constantly Connected GamingTM. The company is concentrated on incubating, producing, developing, and releasing a diverse portfolio of culturally relevant entertainment properties that join together multiple platforms including video game consoles, personal computers, mobile devices, and the Internet. For more information, please visit www.4mmgames.com
Constantly Connected Gaming is a trademark of 4mm Games, LLC.

About Autumn Games
Autumn Games is a premier publisher of interactive entertainment focused on partnering with leading creative talent to deliver blockbuster video games and related media. Through long-term partnerships with a number of the most respected game studios in the industry, Autumn's mission is to support these creative teams in their efforts to make cutting-edge, culturally impactful entertainment. Autumn Games was founded as a joint venture between Communications Equity Associates ("CEA") and Autumn Entertainment Partners ("AEP"), combining CEA's 37 year track record in global media and entertainment private equity and merchant banking with AEP's unparalleled expertise in content finance. For more information, please visit www.autumngames.com.

About Terminal Reality
Terminal Reality, Inc. (TRI) founded by lead programmer/CEO Mark Randel in 1994, is an independent industry veteran. With a focus on quality, technology and tools, TRI has shipped more than 30 titles, with more than 80 SKUs. Using the technology behind the highly acclaimed Ghostbusters: The Video Game, Terminal Reality spawns the next wave in game development: The Infernal Engine.
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