Jay-Z, raps, produces music, is part owner of a basketball team and now also produces video games.
He was given the title of executive producer for "NBA2K13." The new basketball game from 2K Sports was released earlier this month.
I never thought of Jay-Z as a big video game guy. Does he sit around playing "Call of Duty" while wearing a headset and talking smack to Mountain Dew-fueled 15-year-olds online?
Even more suprising is 2K Sports letting someone who's got a partial ownership in an NBA team being involved in the creation of the game.
Outside of having a recognizable attached to the title, the big selling point for the game is its inclusion of the 1992 Olympic Dream Team as well as the 2012 Olympic team.
But they're not the only specially featured teams on "NBA2K13." You also can play as Justin Bieber who is included on a new celebrity team. Also on the team are "Jersey Shore" castmates Pauly D and Vinny Guadagnino; rappers and singers Wale, Bow Wow, Chamillionaire, Sean Kingston, Meek Mill and Mac Miller; actor and comedian JB Smoove and Brian Baumgartner who plays Kevin Malone on "The Office." Apparently George Clinton gave up his video game baskettball career after "NBA Jam." (Is it the shoes?)
So apparently having Jay-Z's in the mix helps get other celebrities involved. Although I'm not quite sure how many people were anxiously awaiting seeing Bieber dish to DJ Pauly D on a breakaway. It's a shame both Jay-Z and buddy Kanye West aren't on the team as well. Imagine seeing Kanye posted up against Kris Humphries under the basket.
But what about the music on the game? The soundtrack for "NBA2K13" contains plenty Jay-Z as well as other tracks by some of his friends in the music business.
Songs with questionable content have been edited so the game could keep its E (for everyone) rating. Here is the full soundtrack listing:
Jay-Z "Pump It Up Freestyle"
Jay-Z ft. Kanye West "The Bounce"
Jay-Z "Public Service Announcement"
"G.O.O.D Music "Mercy"
Kanye West Young Jeezy "Amazing"
U2 "Elevation"
Kanye West ft. Nas & Really Doe "We Major"
Mobb Deep "Shook Ones Part 2"
Santigold "Shove It"
Nas "The World Is Yours
Diddy ft. Biggie, Busta Rhymes, 50 Cent & Lloyd Banks "Victory"
Dirty Projectors "Stillness Is The Move"
Phoenix "1901"
Justice "Stress"
Too Short "Blow The Whistle"
Tribute Mega Stars "Ima Boss (Remix) (Instrumental)"
The Hours "Ali In The Jungle"
Roy Ayers Ubiquity "We Live In Brooklyn, Baby"
Eric B. & Rakim "I Ain’t No Joke"
• Rob Carroll writes about pop culture and entertainment for the Northwest Herald. He can be reached at rcarroll@shawmedia.com. You can also follow him on Facebook and Twitter.
