Twin Cities Hip-hop Corner

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Tony Hawk’s Underground & Hip-hop

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