Games more important than hip-hop

By Games Industry.biz Published 19 May, 2008

When it comes to influencing men, says man.

American author, critic and filmmaker Nelson George has stated that he believes videogames have a greater influence on young male culture than music.

His comments came in an interview with Alix Lambert for her book Crime, which will be published by Fuel later this month.

In extracts appearing in The Guardian George compared videogames to hip-hop music - which during the 80s and 90s had a massive influence on all aspects of mainstream and popular culture.

"Videogames are more important than hip-hop. There's no doubt about it," he said.

"The violence and nihilism that everyone thinks is in hip-hop is pumped up about 18 times in videogames. That's really what's driving young male culture, that's really the new rock 'n' roll."

While violent lyrics are just one of the bad influences that critics blame rap music for, George believes that not enough people are looking at videogames and the influence they have on a young male audience.

"The funny thing about this debate is so many hip-hop critics are fixated on rap and not talking enough about videogames, which aren't a racially determinant form," he said.

George went on to observe that Rockstar, and companies like EA with its music-influenced Def Jam franchise, have been smart to incorporate hip-hop culture into games.

"Obviously these Grand Theft Auto guys were very canny because they tied in to Scarface, they tied in to hip-hop. But the games are different - they're not folk statements. Hip-hop was a folk music up until the late '80s.

"With videogames the relationship to the culture is different, they're much more like movies. They're a really interesting hybrid," George continued.

"The Grand Theft Auto dudes were all about figuring out how to tap into urban culture. Vidoegames, like movies, take in so many disciplines. At the same time, it's not folk expressions - at least, the way I understand it - of an individual."

What do you think, Eurogamer reader? Is GTA IV really more important in your life than Vanilla Ice or DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince?

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Comments (30) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • SBfistfun #1 4 years ago

    hip hop?

    crimp plop more like

  • space_ace #2 4 years ago

    respect, fool

  • locus2k1 #3 4 years ago

    *sigh*

  • gingerlink #4 4 years ago

    plenty of people seem to be looking at video games to blame, can we go back to the music?

  • Spanky #5 4 years ago

    How dare he compare our beloved games to retarded plinky plonk like hip hop.

  • Xerx3s #6 4 years ago

    <a href='http://www.cherryflava.com/cherryflava/ms_word_yo.jpg'& gt;Word Yo</a>.

  • the_dudefather #7 4 years ago

    and it all started on the streets of south bohan

  • Laika #8 4 years ago

    "Is GTA IV really more important in your life than Vanilla Ice or DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince?"

    Course not. Jazzy Jeff FTW.

  • rob230 #9 4 years ago

    I took a shit this morning that was way more important than hip-hop

  • HermitArcader #10 4 years ago

    Post deleted at 09:17:39 22-12-2011

  • FooAtari #11 4 years ago

    tick tick tick, BOOM

  • NickD7 #12 4 years ago

    Music is infinitely better than video games, don't even compare them. One is a childrens favourite pass time, the other is art.

  • patchbox360 #13 4 years ago

    games could never be an influence on the human mind, it has a special exemption of course

  • Salvia #14 4 years ago

    What a load of shit.

  • skillian #15 4 years ago

    Just like gamers know not all games are just sensationalistic violence with no real substance (although a lot is), hip hop fans know that hip hop is not just sensationalistic violence with no real substance (although a lot is).

    It's a shame that some people here dismiss hip hop (including the writer?) the way my mum dismisses video games...

  • Malazan #16 4 years ago

    Try playing Eternal Sonata and saying games are nihilistic. Or Lost Odyssey.

  • Muddtallica #17 4 years ago

    Nothing is more important in my life than Vanilla Ice. Nothing.

  • bitesize #18 4 years ago

    It's a shame that some people here dismiss hip hop (including the writer?) the way my mum dismisses video games...

    amen to that. what's saddest is that most people aren't even aware that there's another side to hip-hop apart from the violent/mysogynistic obessesed mainstream...

  • barchetta #19 4 years ago

    It's a shame that some people here dismiss hip hop (including the writer?) the way my mum dismisses video games...

    amen to that. what's saddest is that most people aren't even aware that there's another side to hip-hop apart from the violent/mysogynistic obessesed mainstream...

    Yes, but the labels pushing out the latest Jay-Z / 50cent wankery appear to want to erase from the history of the genre some of the seminal work done by the likes of Grandmaster Flash / Disposable Heroes etc.

  • Yaster #20 4 years ago

    \So, what? All you guys are into Coal Chamber then?

  • Anthony_UK #21 4 years ago

    I think music is still far more influencial.

    Videogames in my opinion are just a form of escapism/relaxation.Where as popular rap artists at the moment such as 50 cent etc are people who are selling there fans (who are mainly kids lets face it) that the idea of shooting people, selling drugs and such like is the way to make it big/ are cool things to do!

    I'm a fan of rap myself, But I think one of my all time favorites 'Canibus' says it best....

    Tell 'em how I'm tired of the state rap is in/
    Ninety percent of the shit that rappers
    kick is subject matter-less/
    Not original, but blasphemous, just a bunch of the same characters
    shootin the same videos, it's embarassin/
    Usin the same formulas to have a hit
    Usin the same actors and actresses, same shit different laxative
    Edited by 3 at 19/05/08 @ 12:31

  • Nithron #22 4 years ago

    In other news, Nihilism = Evil, American Author concludes.

  • red_shift #23 4 years ago

    Nelson George? Surely George Nelson.

  • patchbox360 #24 4 years ago

    control their minds

  • dominalien #25 4 years ago

    I dunno 'bout that. I always listen to music when I'm not playing video games.






    This is like... never.

  • Frosty840 #26 4 years ago

    I find it astonishing that people still don't understand that videogames have genres...
    I couldn't really tell from the article what tone the guy had towards videogames, but it would appear that he was at least phrasing his comments to treat them as an undifferentiated whole, whether or not he thinks they are that.

    It would be nice if the mainstream could be penetrated with the idea that there's something out there in gameland for everyone.
    He certainly would have been taken to task by someone if he had referred constantly to "music" instead of "hip-hop"...

  • Ryze #27 4 years ago

    Mainstream HipHop's now a big steaming pile of shite - that's why Gaming is more influential.

    /thread over.

  • élbéróss #28 4 years ago

    yes mainstream hip hop is waste, but true hip hop is pioneered by the underground movement. You cant compare poetry and gaming..

  • YourMessageHere #29 4 years ago

    Oranges more important than apples when it comes to influencing fruitcakes, says fruitcake.

  • Zuiyo #30 4 years ago

    Nelson George (not George Nelson) is a very respected writer in hip hop. I recommend his book Hip Hop America. Education (for y'all).

  • louyfitz #31 4 years ago

    who does this thicko think he is anyway?

    Hip hop is a genre, video games are not a genre.

    ok, so he could compare hip hop to say FPS games, that would make a little more sense, not much tho considering that it's two completely different mediums.

    In games you get to do things, things that you could never do in real life. Hip hop just lets you listen, no intereaction.

    I'm a heavy metal man myself, but I do like a little rap from time to time, bit of tupac while playing gta or smoking up a spliff.

    "Staring at the world thru' my rear view"