Rappers often would take on out-of-industry projects so that they could leave their marks on their world in more ways than just through their music. And as we embrace the societal and cultural changes of this digital age, mobile technology is now the most sought after way for rappers to earn some extra income, especially since it’s been predicted that mobile would become global gaming’s biggest market this year.
A number of hip hop artists were a bit more traditional with their mobile app vision, creating a product solely based on music. Jay Z’s Tidal is a streaming service that’ been competing with Pandora, Spotify, and Dr. Dre’s Beats Music. DJ Funkmaster Flex brings the best of American rap in his self-titled app, and Tyler, The Creator gives a sneak peak into the making of his Cherry Bomb album with the app Golf Media.
T-Pain was a little more creative with his tech adventure by working with Smule to make a free app that would allow fans to record their own music videos using the rapper’s songs and voice effects. After putting everything together on I Am T-Pain, users can directly upload their finished product on YouTube.
The latest to join in on this type of endeavor is Jermaine Dupri who recently introduced his newest project called 4 Lanes to iPhone users. In article posted on HipHopDX, he explains that he didn’t just want to create something that was just about music. Because he had prior experience in working with the gaming companies, it wouldn’t have been long before he launched a game that featured his own tracks.
The aim of the car game is to escape from the police while collecting as much money as possible. It’s uncertain whether an Android version will be released anytime soon, but 4 Lanes can be downloaded on iOS devices for free.
The mobile app industry is fast-paced and continues to grow at exponential rates, changing the way that we see and use our devices. And with the release of the dual-screened Nintendo DS game Henry Hatsworth and Spin Genie’s Slingo Riches, gaming operators are challenged to break away from conventional designs, combining different gaming mechanics such as slots and bingo in order to remain relevant in this ever-evolving industry. Innovation in mobile gaming can be quite tricky given the previously discussed trend, but these rappers have found unique ways to marry their passion of hip hop with mobile technology.
