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Konami and Autumn Games sued for fraud over $15 million Def Jam Rapstar loan
City National Bank has sued Konami and Autumn Games for millions over allegations of fraud. Courthouse News reports the bank hasn't received any return on a $15 million line of credit it approved to the defendants, and in court documents claims the financial conditions of Autumn and Konami "were false at the time they were made and that defendants never had any intention of repaying the loan as promised.""Rather than paying game-related proceeds directly to CNB as agreed, defendant have kept all game-related proceeds for themselves and have refused to remit any such proceeds to CNB."City National Bank is seeking over $8.9 million in damages for "fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract, breach of covenant of good faith and fair dealing, money had and received, unjust enrichment, recovery of personal property, and punitive damages."This isn't the first lawsuit the game has spawned. In March, EMI Music Group filed suit against Def Jam Rapstar creators 4mm Games and Terminal Reality, claiming the game contains unlicensed tracks by several artists.
EMI sues Def Jam Rapstar creators
EMI Music Group has filed a suit against Def Jam Rapstar creators 4mm Games and Terminal Reality, claiming the game contains unlicensed tracks from Kanye West, Lil Wayne, DMX and more, and uses unlicensed compositions from DJ Khaled, MIMS and Daft Punk.According to statements given to The Hollywood Reporter, EMI demanded royalties from the game makers but never received a response. EMI is looking for compensation on 54 songs from Def Jam Rapstar's total tracklist, and with EMI looking for upwards of $150,000 for each "infringement" that total tab is looking mighty steep. In the worst case, that brings us to total of $8.1 million.The karaoke aspect of Def Jam Rapstar, and its online video-sharing capabilities, also make this dispute trickier, since EMI owns the rights to display, publicly perform and distribute these songs. Please excuse us while we try to get Richard a good lawyer in case EMI targets us next.
Amazon celebrates PS3 price drop with discounted games
The temptation was just too much. Even with the car payment, the mortgage, and the hospital bills from having your squeedlyspooch removed, you still couldn't resist dropping the tantalizingly reasonable 250 clams for a new PlayStation 3. And who can blame you? We went out and bought a second PS3 that we have absolutely no use for, it was that enticing of a proposition. But now that you've got the system, these tough economic times have left you with very little money for actual games. What's a gamer like you to do? You can't even sell your squeedlyspooch on the black market. Thankfully, Amazon has your back, as they have both recognized and seized the opportunity to get that skrill provide valuable savings by shoveling a big ol' pile of discounted PS3 titles in your face. The sale is an eclectic mix, to be certain: Bulletstorm and Def Jam Rapstar aren't often mentioned in the same sentence, for instance, and while some titles may be better than others, this still seems like a good way to get some use out of your new console.
Def Jam Rapstar adds Kinect support, drops price
Two interesting updates have been released for Def Jam Rapstar. We'll start with the news most likely to be useful: the game's cheaper now. Publisher Konami announced that the MSRP has dropped to $39.99 for the standalone game; a quick look at Amazon shows that the microphone bundle has an MSRP of $49.99 -- and both are a couple of bucks cheaper on Amazon right now. For those of you who already have it on Xbox 360 or plan to pick it up, you'll now be able to use the Kinect to record video for upload to the community, thanks to a new patch. However, one thing that hasn't been updated is how you look rapping at your TV. Sorry!
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.
Wu Tang Clan brings the mother-hugging ruckus to Def Jam Rapstar
You might feel compelled to following along with the salty language present in the newest batch of DLC for Def Jam Rapstar, featuring the works of Wu Tang Clan and its composite members -- however, it's just as easy to censor yourself in the midst of a fiery rap. So many words rhyme with the F, S, D, B, and A bombs dropped by Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Redman and Raekwon, you know? A timely "truck," "pit," "ma'am," "hitch" or "glasshole" can spell the difference between a TV-MA performance and a TV-PG performance. Check out the list of new DLC for the 360 version of the game, including "Protect Ya Neck," "Ice Cream" and "How High" -- as well as the PS3 version's DLC (which is actually the 360 version's DLC from last week) -- after the jump.
Hulk Hogan's old balls are in this Def Jam Rapstar ad
An important note to the Def Jam Rapstar marketing team, regarding the ad you'll find after the break: When a schizophrenic, liquor-soaked homeless man smashes into your conference room and shouts, "Just show Hulk Hogan rapping with his old balls fully out there and everything! Also, Jimmy Hart, Mouth of the South, have him a-movin' and a-shaking nearby! Coo-poo-pa-loo!" the proper response is to call security. The wrong thing to do is thoughtfully stroke your chin and say, "Well, maybe if we censored the old balls?" Sincerely, Joystiq [Update: OK, so apparently they're not. We're not sure if we're more or less horrified. Thanks, Gary.]
Kanye, Clipse, LL Cool J tracks (and more!) available for Def Jam Rapstar
4mm Games has fired off yet another gigantic salvo of downloadable tracks for Def Jam Rapstar, all of which are available now on Xbox Live and "soon" on PSN. The 27 new sing-along songs and four Freestyle beats will run players 160 Microsoft Points ($2) a piece -- a pittance, when you consider the immeasurable joy which selections like "Rapper's Delight," "Can't Tell Me Nothing," and "Ice Cream Paint Job" will deliver unto their owners. Check out the full list of new songs after the jump.
Free Weezy ... album with purchase of Def Jam Rapstar at Best Buy
Best Buy's got a rather appropriate incentive to shore up purchases of Def Jam Rapstar from tomorrow until Tuesday, October 19: Anyone who purchases the title during that week gets a free copy of Lil' Wayne's recently released album, "I Am Not A Human Being."
Def Jam Rapstar: The complete tracklist
There's sad news for true rap fans today as we bring you the final seven songs to be included in Def Jam Rapstar: Beastie Boys - "Brass Monkey" Kanye West - "Stronger" Lil' Kim - "Crush On You" Notorious B.I.G. - "Big Poppa" Rob Base - "It Takes Two Snoop Dogg - "Gin and Juice" Soulja Boy Tell'em - "Turn My Swag On" Yes, we're excited to see "Gin and Juice," "Big Poppa" and "Stronger," but we can't help but feel depressed when realizing that we'll never get to test our rap holes out on classics like "Pirate Rap," "Math Rap" and, of course, "That's How I Beat Shaq." See the full list of disappointments after the break. Oh well. Wake us when that MC Scat Kat DLC drops.
Pull up your pants and check out these new Def Jam Rapstar tracks
Def Jam Rapstar gets another 7 tracks deeper today, adding cuts by Busta Rhymes, DMX, Fat Joe, Ja Rule, Lil' Jon and Twista to the official track listing, in addition to another "oldie" by Public Enemy. As with all songs in the game, these will be edited versions, though it's as yet unclear if the censoring suits have finally caught on to the meaning of Lil' Jon's insistence that we all "skeet, skeet" on ... the windows and walls, is it? Of course, players will be invited to invent their own catchy hooks in Freestyle Mode, which today adds a trio of beats from DJ Premiere, Bangladesh and Just Blaze, who has contributed the appropriately dubbed "8 Bit" production. Check out the full update and a new video promo after the break.%Gallery-101839%
New Def Jam Rapstar tracks make it considerably hotter in herre
To quote world-renowned poet and philosopher Nelly: "Good gracious, these tracks are bodacious." Only, well, he doesn't say tracks. He says something else entirely, as you'll likely see upon your first playthrough of Def Jam Rapstar -- a recently announced batch of songs for the rhythm title include Nelly's seminal summer hit "Hot in Herre," alongside similarly beloved jams from Nas, Method Man, Public Enemy and more. Check out the full list of new tracks for the title posted after the jump. Also, and we're not trying to start a fuss, but -- we're still waiting on "Parents Just Don't Understand." Don't let us down, Def Jam. %Gallery-98923%
Def Jam Rapstar track listing adds Tribe, Pun, Luda and more
4mm Games went digging in the crates and pulled out some infectious tracks for the latest update to the Def Jam Rapstar roster. The seven additions, spanning nearly two decades, feature classics and more recent hits, from A Tribe Called Quest's "Scenario" to Big Pun's "Still Not a Player" onto Ludacris' "Stand Up." But does it get any more buck wild than Onyx's "Slam?" (Warning: Backdafucup when that joint comes on.) Additionally, 4mm Games has announced that the game's freestyle mode will feature "exclusive" instrumentals by producers Cool & Dre and DJ Khalil -- as if the main sing-along mode wasn't already designed to expose the living room MC who has no business in the rap game. Check out the complete list of revealed tracks after the break. %Gallery-97147%
Preview: Def Jam Rapstar
Essentially everything you need to know about Def Jam Rapstar's gameplay can be seen in the video after the break, in which I square off with Def Jam Enterprises' James Waller. If throwing your dignity out the window and throwing down in a singing contest is your idea of a good time -- and it is for me -- you'll have a lot of fun with Rapstar. Incidentally, the game features more than just rap; pretty much anything in the hip hop / R&B realm is fair game. 4mm Games marketing director Devin Winterbottom told me that Def Jam secured rights for over 200 tracks from various labels -- including Aftermath, Death Row, Sony and Warner -- and the plan is to release weekly DLC after the game launches later this year. %Gallery-95466%
Def Jam Rapstar visited by surprise musical guest
One week ago: Joystiq's Andrew Yoon: Are you any good at rapping? Me: What? No. Andrew: Good, I just scheduled an appointment for you to try Def Jam Rapstar at E3. One week later, having vigorously studied Biz Markie's "Just a Friend," I can present you with the video after the break. Big thanks must go to Def Jam Enterprises' James Waller for rapping along with me and enduring my glaring whiteness.
Method Man and Redman to blow up the mic at E3
Method Man and Redman are teaming up to make E3 feel 'dis, with the rap duo set to make an appearance at the show on behalf of Def Jam Rapstar. They'll be doing some of their hits live for conference goers at the Konami booth on Wednesday, June 16 at 4 p.m. PDT. Frankly, we can't imagine a better way to go through E3 than hearing "Cereal Killer" blast throughout the convention center. Def Jam Rapstar busts a funky rhyme on October 5.
October 5 is a good day to release Def Jam Rapstar
"I even saw the lights of the Goodyear Blimp, and it read 'click to open the gallery.'"Konami has announced release dates for Def Jam Rapstar, the Def Jam game that is actually about rapping and not about rappers beating one another unconscious. 4mm Games' karaoke title will be released on October 5 in North America, with each game/microphone bundle retailing for $69.99 on PS3 and Xbox 360, and $59.99 on Wii. The game will be out "the week of November 2, 2010" in Europe. The company also announced that Primo and Just Blaze will provide background for the game's Freestyle Mode. For less creative types, seven more songs were added to the tracklist, including total classics "Just a Friend," "It Was a Good Day," and, in what is guaranteed to create awkward fun at parties, Salt-n-Pepa's "Push It." Push it real good past the break to see all the additions.
Def Jam Rapstar dropping exclusive tracks on Europe
It's only fitting that Def Jam Rapstar will include exclusive tracks for Europe -- the birthplace of rap. Wait -- what? You heard that right, but before we explain, let's go over the exclusive tracks by region: UK -- Tinie Tempah's "Pass Out" and Dizzee Rascal's "Fix Up, Look Sharp" France -- NTM featuring Lord Ko's "Ma Benz" and Sefyu's "Molotov 4" Germany -- Sido's "Mein Block (Beathoavenz remix)" and Kool Savas's "Futurama" So, about that rap origin story: Modern rap actually originated during the mid-70s in a suburb of Munich, Germany known as Freising. The heavy beats and lyrical dexterity of the genre were perfected in a small parking lot near the Brennergasse by a group of former tuba players who'd practice weekly after hitting the Weihenstephaner a bit too hard. True story. We swear ... ... Fingers crossed.
Def Jam Rapstar distributed by Konami this fall
A little less than a year after the game was officially revealed, Def Jam Rapstar finally has a distributor and a release window. Konami revealed that it will be bringing the Rakimulator to junior MCs on Wii, 360 and PS3 this fall. We only know a handful of the game's 40+ songs, but we've listed what we know right after the break. A tip for the future rappers this game inspires: When trying to appear "hard" amongst your colleagues and the subject of paying dues arises, admitting that you got your start "on the streets of Def Jam Rapstar" probably isn't going to win you any brownie points. And if there's one thing that holds sway in the rap industry, it's brownie points. %Gallery-64860%
New Def Jam Rapstar screens still not impressing us
click to Rapstar-size We've seen nearly nothing of Def Jam Rapstar since we got a chance to check it out at E3 this year, though today 4mm passed along a handful of new screens. Here's the thing: It's more of the same stuff we've already seen. A couple screens do offer a glimpse at the community features and user video upload features, but the majority just give us more shots of menus or points screens.We like hip hop, we even like some rap -- with that in mind, we're left wondering what Def Jam and 4mm are thinking by showing off Young Jeezy and T.I. instead of Notorious B.I.G.'s 'Hypnotize' or even Pete Rock & CL Smooth's "T.R.O.Y." (both of which were playable at E3), two songs that actually highlight major rap stars. While we wait for more info on the game, we'll remain hopeful that Def Jam Rapstar will become something more than SingStar Mostly Pop Rap.%Gallery-64860%
