Due to the success of such “crossovers” as Olivia Munn and career-boosting abilities for people such as Sara Jean Underwood, the video game industry has become a bridge for entertainers trying to make it in other areas of entertainment. It doesn’t seem to be a bad move with such notable video gamers as Jimmy Fallon, who has had Cliff Bleszinski and Felicia Day as guests, Snoop Dogg and a number of others making known on sites like Konsole Kingz and Gamertag Radio.  Nonetheless, there are still those who don’t quite understand the world of video games.  Much like music, there is never a shortage of controversy and debate. Perhaps these are the reasons music, particularly hip hop, and video games have become such great friends; they always find themselves surround by those who don’t understand them but they persevere.

After listening to a track released by Ubisoft by Kendrick Lamar called “War is My Love” I started reading the comments being left on YouTube.  I cannot say I was shocked by how far people will go when sitting at home on a computer, but I will say it still baffles me how ignorant some can be with such tools at our disposal.  Apparently it is easier to look up and listen to a song on YouTube than it is to look up Ghost Recon: Future Soldier to see it is a video game, about war.  It also helps if you read the description below the video.  Some of the comments were such an overreaction, like the one including Barack Obama and his love of war.  ¡Ay Dios mio, people! One comment put a smile on my face however, probably because I fully concur with the statement.

 

“I’m sorry if someone is not smart enough to understand that this was made for a video game they A) probably don’t understand 90% of Kendrick’s music and B) they are already of no value to society for their lack of intelligence.“  ~19Seattle93

 

I really do try to avoid getting on a soapbox about things, but alas to try is to fail.  The level to which ignorance can go in this society makes me crazy.  Am I naive to believe the widespread accessibility to information via the internet will educate and enlighten?  The only thing I found  more abhorrent than the ignorant comments about war and politics were the so-called fans leaving comments like, “this nigga changed my life one love kendrick” and “Kendrick rapes me again.” I am well aware of how the term “rape” is used in the gaming community but I don’t have to like it and I am not a fan of the use of nigga.  It lessens the collective intelligence of our communities and feeds into negative stereotypes.

I have been working with Broken Pixels for over a year so it is no secret I am a fan of hip hop and music in general.  Given that I am also a video game journalist and run a video game-centric charity, I would be a fool to pretend there is no bias.  I am not making any apologies.

It’s a good song – well written, produced and performed.  If he can keep going on his current trajectory, Kendrick Lamar will go far.  [Hey! That rhymed!] As for the game, it is out now and definitely worth some game time if you enjoy strategic, first-person shooters.