NBA 2K13 News Post

2K Sports Announces Jay-Z as NBA 2K13 Executive Producer, 24 Song Soundtrack Included

08:48 PM - July 31, 2012 by Steve_OS

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As mentioned yesterday, 2K Sports has officially announced Jay-Z as the as Executive Producer of NBA 2K13. 2K Sports has been promoting this "BIG" announcement for weeks.

In an article, over at ESPN, Jon Robinson describes some of the details he brings to the game.

Quote:


	Carter has not only personally selected the game�s 24-song soundtrack, but he�s also been working with 2K designers on the overall look and feel of the game�s presentation.

24 Song Soundtrack includes:

The Hours: �All in the Jungle�
Too Short: "Blow the Whistle" (Main)
Eric B. and Rakim: �I Ain�t No Joke�
Phoenix: �1901�
Jay-Z: �Pump it Up� (Freestyle)
Puff Daddy and the Family: �Victory� (feat. Notorious B.I.G. & Busta Rhymes)
Daft Punk: �Around the World" (Radio Edit)
Santigold: �Shove It� (feat. Spank Rock)
Kanye West: �Amazing�
Jay-Z: �Run This Town�
The Dirty Projectors: �Stillness in the Move�
Nas: �The World is Yours�
Coldplay: �Viva La Vida�
Roy Ayers: �We Live in Brooklyn, Baby�
Justice: �Stress�
Jay-Z: �The Bounce�
Kanye West: �We Major� (feat. Nas & Really Doe)
Mobb Deep: �Shook Ones, Pt. II�
Meek Mill: �Ima Boss� (Instrumental)
Kanye West: �Mercy� (feat. Big Sean, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz)
U2: �Elevation�
Jay-Z: �On to the Next One�
Jay-Z: �Public Service Announcement�
Jay-Z: �H.A.M.� (Instrumental)

If you're interested in listening to some of the tracks, head on over to the official NBA 2K Facebook page.

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Member Comments

# 281 Yeah...THAT Guy @ 08/01/12 11:42 AM

I'm guessing we're in for an even bigger upgrade to presentation this year. I don't even love Jay-Z as a rapper, but he's a very talented guy, and he knows how to brand.

# 282 illwill10 @ 08/01/12 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Granted


	But this really is a novel approach. I can't think of a game that sold because of a soundtrack. The purpose, I always thought, was to make the experience with the game more enjoyable.

soundtrack isnt going to sell a game. The game itself will/should. But, I know casual gamers who dont like NBA 2k because they feel it is too difficult.

But, Jay-Z is good for Marketing/PR though. Just his name alone will sell some games.

# 283 tril @ 08/01/12 11:49 AM

cant complain about the soundtrack. it looks solid; But when it comes to purchasing any game, the last thing I worry about is the soundtrack. when it comes to the NBA, 2k always delivers.
People that are pissed off that Jay Z is exceutive producer of a soundtrack is really ridiculous. I guess people like being p!ssed off, about being p!ssed off about something.

# 284 illwill10 @ 08/01/12 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yeah...THAT Guy


	I'm guessing we're in for an even bigger upgrade to presentation this year. I don't even love Jay-Z as a rapper, but he's a very talented guy, and he knows how to brand.

Presentation-wise(in game), I think he can provide atmospheric ideas and at-the-game presentation. I think there might be better intros in game and starting lineups(players being announced before the game, not the way 2k has been doing) actually being shown in games. I think there will be better stadium atmosphere. I think they want him to give ideas to make the game seem like reallife from a non-gameplay point.
He might have a cyberface in the game

# 285 BigshotSportcenter @ 08/01/12 11:54 AM

This is all about finishing Live for good by getting big names to support 2k. The marketing is going to be huge for this game.

# 286 aloncho11 @ 08/01/12 11:56 AM

I'm sure it something that goes beyond the soundtrack.

If Jay Z is an exec. producer, his role in the game can't be limited to just soundtrack and music...I'm not saying he necessarily has to be involved in gameplay, but maybe he has a significant role in the art direction of the game.

# 287 illwill10 @ 08/01/12 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aloncho11


	I'm sure it something that goes beyond the soundtrack. If Jay Z is an exec. producer, his role in the game can't be limited to just soundtrack and music...I'm not saying he necessarily has to be involved in gameplay, but maybe he has a significant role in the art direction of the game.

Out side of Menu Arts and Intros(loading the game and pre-games), I think most of the his contributions will be atmospheric

# 288 Riggins @ 08/01/12 12:07 PM

lol it's actually a decent soundtrack. I mean, I'd rather listen to Victory and The World Is Yours than some other crap from last year. But like every year some of these will be extremely annoying too. I'ma Boss without the words is probably going to make me do the Rick Ross grunt over and over again haha. Ugghhhhh

# 289 aloncho11 @ 08/01/12 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by illwill10


	Out side of Menu Arts and Intros(loading the game and pre-games), I think most of the his contributions will be atmospheric

Exactly! That's part of art direction too! Art direction is not limited to player, jerseys and courts.

The camera work one sees while playing the game, the instant replays, the type of screen angles captured by the pressbook, how all the different menus interact with each other, arena specific like crowd animations, cheerleaders mascots, how the coaches and players behave during timeouts...There is really a lot of more stuff too in other game modes.

That's art direction too

# 290 theprocess @ 08/01/12 12:11 PM

I said it in the other post when they released the video.

"o Jay-Z didn't just curate the game's soundtrack (at right). "The level of detail he wanted to talk about�down the road, you'll find out about some of the ideas he had�was really surprising," Argent insisted. "Getting a phone call from Jay-Z in the middle of the day, with him saying 'You know, here's something I've been thinking about,' is a surreal experience."

Argent referred a couple of times to professional basketball as a sport where the intersection of lifestyle, competition and culture is more visible than in other sports. It would seem that Jay-Z coming aboard would help deepen NBA 2K's appeal as a broader lifestyle product, as opposed to a hardcore sports simulation."

Nobody wanted to listen to me.

# 291 TeamBuilder @ 08/01/12 12:16 PM

If Jay-Z's music in 2K13 magically removes the hard cap in Association, gives rookies real portraits, and improves the CPU trade logic, then I'll recognize this as the biggest announcement ever for 2K.

# 292 Strangerstake @ 08/01/12 12:24 PM

I got an idea that they would have Jay-Z songs in the game once he was announced the executive producer. I was hoping for Ni**as in Paris to be in there.

# 293 airjoca @ 08/01/12 12:29 PM

Biggest announcement ever still remains getting MJ23.

# 294 Eman5805 @ 08/01/12 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjallure24


	No Jay Electronica??? wtf jigga

Like most people, Jigga man probably forgot Jay Electronica even existed.

There's a whole other reason people call his album Detox. Cuz Act II don't look like it's ever coming out.

# 295 VDusen04 @ 08/01/12 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theprocess


	I said it in the other post when they released the video. "o Jay-Z didn't just curate the game's soundtrack (at right). "The level of detail he wanted to talk about—down the road, you'll find out about some of the ideas he had—was really surprising," Argent insisted. "Getting a phone call from Jay-Z in the middle of the day, with him saying 'You know, here's something I've been thinking about,' is a surreal experience." Argent referred a couple of times to professional basketball as a sport where the intersection of lifestyle, competition and culture is more visible than in other sports. It would seem that Jay-Z coming aboard would help deepen NBA 2K's appeal as a broader lifestyle product, as opposed to a hardcore sports simulation." Nobody wanted to listen to me.

I think people have read that, they just don't know what it means. For starters, mostly everyone understands how the marketing game works. Even if all Jay-Z did was make a soundtrack and then hang around for a day and watch the game get made, 2K would still spin this very positively in a news release ("Jay-Z not only put together an exclusive soundtrack, he was also here firsthand playing a role in the development process"). So in that regard, I think folks are at least a little tentative as to what his role means and whether 2K is just fluffing up another media release.

Secondly, if other folks are anything like me, I think we're wondering what it is Jay-Z could have provided that'd be unique to him. What information about the atmosphere would Jay-Z be able to provide that 2K employees somehow couldn't grasp themselves? Are people assuming he's in there saying things like, "First of all, during time-outs, it's not always the same 7 cheerleaders out there doing the same dance" while the rest of the 2K crew nods their heads in amazement?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yeah...THAT Guy


	I'm guessing we're in for an even bigger upgrade to presentation this year. I don't even love Jay-Z as a rapper, but he's a very talented guy, and he knows how to brand.

You're right, he does know how to brand, and that worries me a little as well. I was satisfied with 2K's integration of classic players and legends into their game because they're all a part of the NBA and its experience. On the contrary, I feel someone like Jay-Z has less to do with the NBA than many may believe. I wouldn't be looking forward to an NBA video game setup that reminds me it is clearly and obviously branded by Jay-Z every single time I start things up.

I'm hoping this all ends up being Jay-Z complementing the 2K series instead of stamping himself all over it. I'd prefer it similar to Trent Reznor's approach to doing the soundtrack to The Social Network. We knew it was him, but his music didn't scream "I'm Nine Inch Nails and this is my music dominating a movie!" Instead, it was a small contributor to a total effort that knew its role in the grand scheme. As such, I'd favor an NBA 2K13 that benefitted from the presence of Jay-Z over a 2K13 that had Jay-Z stamp his mark all over it, essentially making it "NBA 2K13: With Jay-Z" instead of just "NBA 2K13".

In short, maybe "low key" would be the phrase I'd be looking for.

# 296 mdoud10 @ 08/01/12 12:57 PM

I forget who said it, but someone said that Jay-Z could give insight more into the lifestyle of the NBA. I don't think the 2K developers really have a great idea of what it is like to drive into the arena in your couple hundred thousand dollar car, park it in your specialized spot, and walk to your courtside seat like Jay-Z does... so maybe he'll be able to add more to the glitz/glam of being an NBA owner or in the NBA.

PS> Just a complete shot in the dark. I know I am new to OS, but I am trying to be helpful and not clutter up the forums with useless ****

# 297 NYdreams @ 08/01/12 12:59 PM

how can you get mad at 2k.... this is a big announcement ...its jay z on 2k ... one of the biggest names in music today is picking out 2ks soundtrack.. of course you would wanna promote that... and its only the 1st day of august and the game itself doesnt come out until october so im happy that we are even getting news unlike LIVE who has been under a rock since that terrible demo ... 2k is just taking it one step at a time ... real talk we all know that 2k will be discussing gameplay the whole month of september for sure to really build the hype

# 298 TalenT @ 08/01/12 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VDusen04


	I think the backlash isn't so much about the soundtrack itself, but more in response to this line from 2K's VP of Marketing Jason Argent in articles released over a month ago: So, had the soundtrack news trickled out on its own, I'm betting the overwhelming response would have been positive. Instead, folks clamoring for ground-breaking news on par with the greatest announcements in 2K history (if not the biggest) really set themselves up to be let down (with some assistance from 2K marketing). Yep, all we can do now at this point is guess but from the information provided, the guesses aren't particularly pretty. I'd love to be pleasantly surprised with the manner which Jay-Z was able to contribute. Unfortunately, I can't stop thinking it's going to be more along the lines of, "With his wealth of knowledge both on the court and in the off-court limelight, hip-hop mogul and worldwide icon Jay-Z aka Hova was able to bring his personal flavor and style to NBA 2K13 firsthand. J-to-the-Izzo's unprecedented wealth of street savvy and stylistic knowledge will be a welcomed addition to the 2012 #1 best selling NBA video game." I see Jay-Z directed game introductions in our future.

I got ya. I just think we don't know the whole scoop. There's still more to this that hasn't been revealed yet. I do agree that they were fools to tag this "the biggest announcement" though. I guess I'm not as bummed because I wasn't expecting as much. Lol Some of these guys were expecting something that was gonna cure cancer.

# 299 TwinCitiesJHawk @ 08/01/12 01:03 PM

what a bummer. I was so hoping for FIBA teams or 92 dream team. Damn you 2k!

# 300 Retropyro @ 08/01/12 01:03 PM

How many people actually listen to the soundtrack? I hope they don't take away the option to mute it because it's Jay-Z putting it together.

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