New Generation Of Rappers Featured In Madden 2006

For the past 15 years, EA Sports and John Madden have written the book on creating the perfect franchise football game. Within the last few years, the game has also become an extremely useful marketing vehicle for brand new artists that are featured on the Madden Soundtrack. Tapping new and proven talent alike, this year’s […]

For the past 15 years,

EA Sports and John Madden have written the book on creating the perfect franchise

football game.

Within the last few years, the game has also become an extremely

useful marketing vehicle for brand new artists that are featured on the Madden

Soundtrack.

Tapping new and proven talent alike, this year’s Madden 2006

soundtrack looks to further the Madden name and prove that they are still on

the pulse of pop culture.

"Every year, the release of Madden NFL Football is a major

event for gamers and music fans alike," said Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive

of Music and Music Marketing for EA. "Some of today’s most important acts

were first introduced through the game. This year’s in-game soundtrack features

some amazing new tracks from artists that we believe will be next year’s hottest

stars."

Mixtape wunderkind Papoose was contacted by EA for the soundtrack

and soon thereafter the song "Born to Win" was created.

“They contacted me and the rest was history," Pap

told AllHipHop.com. "Fans can expect to hear pure talent. I think "Born

to Win" is incredible. The concept is crazy and it’s definitely going to

stand out from everything else on the game."

New Jersey’s Sam Scarfo was also courted for the soundtrack

and dropped "Tear it Up" for the soundtrack.

"I think they chose ‘Tear it Up’ because it’s

an adrenaline type of feel," said Scarfo, who was recently signed by Jay-Z.

"It has an ill energy and its real cocky just like me."

In recent years, Madden has tapped numerous Hip-Hop artists,

both established and unknown.

Jazze Pha and Young Wun were heard on last year’s soundtrack,

and in 2004 they featured the likes of Outkast, Killer Mike, The Roots, Red

Café and Bonecrusher.

Included this year is Chicago’s Bump J with his song "Move

Around.” He is an avid Madden gamer and is looking forward to not only

being on the soundtrack but also playing the new game.

"The new Madden is the s**t," Bump told AllHipHop.com.

"It’s a little harder than last year but I’m the s**t on it already!"

Madden 2006 has made some slight changes to gameplay this year,

which they hope will give gamers better control and a more realistic approach.

The new Vision and Precision (also called Vision and Placement)

has been added to the passing game allowing quarterbacks to only pass in the

direction he is looking, mirroring actual NFL quarterbacks.

And the new Truck Stick Control has been added as well to deliver

big hits, break tackles and pancake defenders.

Selling over 3.2 million copies for the Playstation 2 last year,

Madden has cemented itself in the sports gaming genre as the top dog and has

been a go-to for upcoming artists looking for a chance at exposure.

Free Maiden, CEO of record label Free 4 All, said that landing

his artist Bump J. on EA’s NBA Live proved to be successful, so Madden

was a natural progression.

"When it was time to start on this year’s Madden, EA felt

"Move Around" would be a perfect fit,” Maiden told AllHipHop.com

“Several other companies want the song as well, so in a nutshell, one

opportunity is definitely leading to another."

Madden 2006 hits stores on August 9th and features Philadelphia

Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb on the cover.

Look for the following artists on this year’s edition:

-Chamillionaire, "Hate in ya Eyes"

-Memphis Bleek, "Like That"

-REV RUN, "Mind on the Road"

-Sam Scarfo, "Tear it Up"

-Slim Thug, "Get it Started"

-Spider Loc, "When I Get Angry"

-Stat Quo, "Rock Da Party"

-Tech N9ne, "The Beast"

-Papoose, "Born to Win"

-Bump J, "Move

Around"