Kevin Liles Talks Def Jam Rap Star

Although there are music-themed games out there, none are specific to the genre that’s dominated youth culture for decades.

That’s why Def Jam is enthusiastically plugging its new innovative music video game, Def Jam Rapstar.

The idea of the game speaks to the very essence of hip-hop’s formation.

As Kevin Liles, President and CEO of Def Jam Enterprises explains: “I said no longer do I just want to play. It’s why we got into hip-hop. It’s like no longer do we just want to listen. We want our own. We want to be involved and to create.”

Lil'-Wayne-A-Milli-Gameplay-SoloMuch of the innovation in Def Jam Rapstar lies in the large amount of social networking integrated into the game’s structure.

Players will be able to email each other videos, rate each other’s performances, form their own online crews and freestyle battle others from around the other world.

“I don’t think there’s a particular game out like there – especially in a music space – that allows you to go outside of [just] playing the game,” Liles noted.

Hip-hop fans will be comforted by the fact that a highly contested debate between Liles and other rap tastemakers resulted in Def Jam Rap Star coming packaged with 40 classics like 2Pac’s “I Get Around,” The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Juicy,” and Slick Rick’s “Children’s Story” along with new hits from emcees like Lil’ Wayne and Young Jeezy.

Additionally some 400 tracks have been cleared for use for the game through its Web site and each year various titles will be added.

Wu-Tang-C.R.E.A.M.-1-Gameplay-DuetLiles assures fans that Def Jam Rapstar was developed with the fan in mind. “In the creation of Def Jam Rap Star I not only [wanted to] showcase music, but showcase culture and showcase lifestyle so that this game is really about you, hip-hop, and your social networks.”

And while the former Def Jam intern who famously later became president of the company wouldn’t speak on potential sales of the game, Liles did speak confidently about game’s ultimate impact saying, “I guarantee you it’s innovation and when innovation comes the world gets excited.”

For more information of Def Jam Rapstar, please go to www.defjamrapstar.com. To follow Def Jam Rapstar on Twitter please visit www.twitter.com/defjamrapstar.