Tony Hawk’s Underground (1 & 2) overall had a huge impact on the youth whether you were a skater, a gamer, or just a fan of Tony Hawk in general. The reason why these video games are important to hip-hop is that they gained a huge following and helped some of hip-hop’s underground gems be promoted into a some-what mainstream medium that wasn’t the radio or MTV. They were awarded for the best video game playlist in 2004 by MTV, so that helped a shit-ton with capturing an even bigger audience.

Talking about both games and how they helped hip-hop catch traction into a mainstream spotlight should be a topic in hip-hop that is discussed more.

It was a unique time in hip-hop, there were an array of different styles clashing, one of them being skateboarding and hip-hop. You gotta remember this was the era in which hip-hop was heavily in rotation but wasn’t considered a genre as big as Rock or mainstream Pop.

Looking back at the Hip-hop playlist for this video game was nostalgic peep it below.

T.H.U.G 1 Hip-hop Track-list:

• Aceyalone - Rapps on Deck

• Anacron - A Prototype

• Busdriver - Imaginary Places

• Cannibal Ox - Iron Galaxy

• Dan the Automator (featuring Kool Keith) - Better Tomorrow

• Deltron 3030 - Positive Contact

• DJ Q-Bert - Cosmic Assassins

• Frog One - Blah Blah

• The Herbaliser (featuring MF DOOM) - It Ain't Nuttin'

• J-Live - Braggin' Writes Revisited

• Juggaknots - The Circle (Pt. 1)

• Jurassic 5 - A Day at the Races

• L.A Symphony - King Kong

• Living Legends - War Games

• Mr. Complex - Underground Up

• Mr. Dibbs - Skin Therapy

• Mr. Lif - Phantom

• Murs - Transitions as a Rider

• Nas - The World is Yours

• People Under The Stairs - The Next Step II

• Quasimoto - Low Class Conspiracy

• R.A. The Rugged Man - King of the Underground

• Supernatural - Internationally Known

• Wildchild - Secondary Protocol

side note: check out notable songs in bold.

T.H.U.G 2 Hip-hop track-list:

• Aesop Rock - No Jumper Cables (DJ paWL Remix)

• Atmosphere - Trying To Find A Balance

• Audio Two - Top Billin'

• Brand Nubian - Punks Jump Up To Get Beat Down

• Cut Chemist - Drums of Fire

• Diverse - Certified

• Grand Puba - I Like It

• Handsome Boy Modeling School - Holy Calamity

• Libretto - Volume

• Living Legends - Night Prowler ft. Slug of Atmosphere

• Melbeatz feat. Kool Savas - Grind On

• Pete Rock & CL Smooth - Soul Brother #1

• The D.O.C. - Whirlwind Pyramid

• The Sugarhill Gang - Rapper's Delight

• Ultramagnetic MC's - Ego Trippin

side note: check out notable songs in bold.

The main point: These two games were monumental in hip-hop as well as the skate and gamer communities there for being a pioneer in introducing real hip-hop to people from many different backgrounds and perspectives. Do yourself a favor and either enjoy some new content from these track-lists or take in the nostalgia.

T.H.U.G