Whether you like it or not, Killer Mike has been having one of his most successful years in his storied career. Since the release of MICHAEL and its deluxe last summer, he’s been on one heck of a tear. The solo sophomore album went onto take multiple categories at this year’s GRAMMY Awards, upsetting one fan base in particular along the way. Those incredible achievements didn’t make him complacent, though. He went on to drop Michael & The Mighty Midnight Revival, Songs For Sinners And Saints on August 2, a continuation of that rap/gospel mixture. Now, Killer Mike is working with video game giant Activision for a new single called “Detonator”. The record is essentially the theme song for the upcoming Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 which drops on October 25.
Hip-hop and this iconic video game series have been linked together for quite a while. Eminem did a similar thing for Call Of Duty: Ghosts with “Survival” back in 2013. Now, its Killer Mike’s turn and he’s recruiting some close friends to help him. Rapper Rock D The Legend and MC/producer El-P are here to bring this thing to life, and it’s always a blast to see the Run The Jewels reconnect. It’s been quite a bit since we’ve gotten a new project from the duo. If you remember, 2020 was the year when they put out the fourth RTJ tape. El-P did contribute to MICHAEL, but hearing Mike over his good buddy’s production is always a treat. “Detonator” comes with a music video, which you can view below, and the song is also out now on DSPs.
Bronny James won a Call of Duty tournament over the weekend during the NBA’s Summer League in Las Vegas. The tournament appeared to feature NBA players and NBA hopefuls, as Charlotte Hornets player Grant Williams placed second overall. For his win in the Modern Warfare III tournament, he received a Call of Duty championship belt and a $10,000 prize.
Bronny James is no stranger to the gaming industry. He previously livestreamed on Twitch, and though his account has been dormant for years, he still has over 600 thousand followers. James was also previously a member of esports organization FaZe Clan’s celebrity wing, joining in 2020. FaZe Clan came into popularity over a decade ago because of their ability to hit “trick shots” on the popular Call of Duty games of the time. He made the cover of Sports Illustrated with the team in 2021 with other members of the team, becoming one of the youngest athletes to grace the cover of the magazine.
Bronny James Wins Call Of Duty Tournament During Summer League
Call of Duty is famously very popular among athletes, so Bronny James being good at and enjoying playing the game is not surprising. Many NBA players have spoken about being avid gamers, as it provides them with something to do in their downtime, away from the daily grind that comes with being a professional athlete. His father LeBron Jamesrecently previewed the upcoming EA Sports College Football 25 game on a livestream with longtime friend Frankie Walker, blowing him out while controlling Ohio State University. LeBron is also a longtime Madden player, beating his Lakers teammates in tournaments during the NBA bubble, so he and his son are both good at their video games of choice.
In a recent interview with ESPN, LeBron stated that he would have supported Bronny in any endeavor he chose to embark on and mentioned gaming as one of those endeavors. Gaming is clearly big in the James household, and in Bronny’s case, it became an important part of his public identity long before he even knew he’d be playing in the NBA. As most rookies do, Bronny has struggled in the Summer League so far, though his defensive instincts and playmaking have received early praise from his peers and pundits alike. Hopefully, he gets it going on the court in the same way that he has off the court.
In a teaser video for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, the faces of presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln on Mount Rushmore are covered with black blindfolds that collectively read “The Truth Lies.” Publisher Activision announced this new game on Thursday.
This year’s edition of Call of Duty marks a return to the globe-trotting Black Ops franchise for the first time since 2020’s Black Ops: Cold War. The announcement was inadvertently revealed hours earlier due to a full-page USA Today newspaper ad, which fans shared online before the official announcement.
A video titled “wake up (rushmore) #thetruthlies” was released, depicting a squad vandalizing Mount Rushmore at night with the blindfolds.
No release date, details on different editions, or pricing information have been disclosed yet for what the publisher describes as a “dark new chapter” in the franchise.
Activision has promised to reveal more at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET) on June 9 during an online Xbox Games Showcase, followed by a Black Ops 6 Direct broadcast.
Everybody is currently digesting Nicki Minaj’s highly-anticipated new album Pink Friday 2 which dropped overnight. The project sports a bulky 22 tracks including numerous high-profile features. It also includes some singles dating all the way back to last year like “Super Freaky Girl,” “Red Ruby Da Sleeze,” and “Last Time I Saw You.” Billboard celebrated the release of the album by ranking all 22 of its tracks and Nicki caught the list on Twitter.
At their number one spot, they put the Lil Uzi Vert collab “Everybody.” The song is already catching on with fans like North West, who shared a video of herself dancing to it in a Barbie-themed outfit. Nicki made a response tweet of her own explaining the surprising origins that resulted in one of the album’s best songs. “This is mad funny b/c that was the song I wrote in 5 mins one day for “Call Of Duty” Once I kept it for my album, I still didn’t even rlly know if it made sense on PF2. I didn’t wanna send it to Uzi b/c I thought he’d be over it. Instead he was like this hard af! Uzicito,” her post reads. Check out her response and fan reactions to it.
This is mad funny b/c that was the song I wrote in 5 mins one day for “Call Of Duty” . Once I kept it for my album, I still didn’t even rlly know if it made sense on PF2. I didn’t wanna send it to Uzi b/c I thought he’d be over it. Instead he was like this hard af! Uzicito https://t.co/h9iblFQ9d2
Pink Friday 2 is Nicki Minaj’s first album in 5 years and she didn’t hold anything back. Alongside the length of the project, it also features numerous high-profile appearances from other rappers. Drake, Future, J. Cole, Lil Wayne, and of course Lil Uzi Vert all appear on the project. The album doesn’t sport any features from any of Nicki’s major female contemporaries. But fans do think they’ve found points on the record where she takes shots at Megan Thee Stallion and Latto.
To celebrate the release of the album Nicki will be making an appearance on an episode of “Watch What Happens Live” next week. What do you think of Nicki Minaj’s explanation on the origins of her new Lil Uzi Vert collab “Everybody?” Let us know in the comment section below.
As Call of Dutymarks its 20th anniversary, we take a moment to acknowledge its longstanding connection with the world of Hip-Hop. The iconic franchise has not only been a powerhouse in the gaming industry but has also been a platform for celebrating Hip Hop culture. From featuring classic Hip-Hop tracks in trailers to enlisting Hip-Hop artists as playable characters, Call of Duty has made its mark on the genre.
The journey began with the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 in 2009, coincidentally on Nov. 10th, which used Eminem’s “Till I Collapse” featuring Nate Dogg in its launch trailer. The game also incorporated four Hip Hop tracks playing on a Humvee radio during the campaign.
In subsequent releases, Call of Duty continued its embrace of Hip-Hop, featuring tracks such as Eminem’s “Won’t Back Down” in Black Ops, and LL COOL J’s “Mama Said Knock You Out” in Warzone Reveal Trailer. The list of Hip Hop songs in the Call of Duty universe expanded over the years, adding to the game’s immersive experience.
Beyond the music, Call of Duty brought Hip Hop artists into the game as voice actors and playable characters. Ice Cube, who played Joseph Bowman in the original Black Ops, set the precedent, and Snoop Dog joined as his playable character in WWII-themed Vanguard and Modern Warfare II. Now, the tradition continues with the addition of 21 Savage and Nicki Minaj in Modern Warfare III, reinforcing the deep connection between Hip Hop and Call of Duty.
As Call of Duty celebrates its 20th anniversary, it not only pays homage to the world of gaming but also highlights the significant role hip-hop has played in the franchise’s history. This collaboration underscores the game’s influence on popular culture and its commitment to celebrating diversity and creativity.
You can catch a run of Hip-Hop songs included in the Call of Duty franchise over the years below:
“Just So You Remember” – by Pusha T, in the Makarov Reveal Trailer “Till I Collapse (Feat. Nate Dogg)” – by Eminem, in the Multiplayer Reveal Trailer “Run it” – by DJ Snake, Rick Ross, & Rich Brian, in the Vondel Reveal Trailer “Notorious B.I.G” by Notorious B.I.G (feat. Lil’ Kim & Puff Daddy) (original song from Duran Duran) – During the Multiplayer Reveal Trailer. “Mama Said Knock You Out” by LL COOL J – During the Warzone Reveal Trailer. “One Shot One Kill” by Jon Connor “King of Rock” by Run D.M.C. “Till It’s Gone [CAMPFIRE REMIX]” by YelaWolf – During the Multiplayer Trailer. “Survival” by Eminem – During the end credits. “Won’t Back Down” by Eminem ft. P!nk – An Easter Egg on “Five”. “Survival Skills” by KRS-One & Buckshot – Playing on a Humvee radio during S.S.D.D.. “Crime Wave” by 50 Cent – Playing on a Humvee radio during S.S.D.D.. “Danger” by Marco Polo & Torae “New New” by Suga City ft. Maria V “Tempo/Eye of the Tiger” by Lizzo/Survivor – During the Verdansk ’84 Trailer War Tracks (In-Vehicle/Radio) “What’s Poppin” – Jack Harlow “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” – DMX “Grindin’” – Clipse “Rapper’s Delight” – The Sugarhill Gang “It’s Tricky” – Run D.M.C. “Push It” – Salt-N-Pepa “Fight The Power” – Public Enemy “The Message” – Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five “Microphone Fiend” – Eric B. & Rakim “Run’s House” – Run D.M.C. “Straight Outta Compton” – N.W.A. “Rebel Without a Pause” – Public Enemy “C.R.E.A.M.” – Wu-Tang Clan “2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted” – 2Pac Feat. (feat. Snoop Dogg) “Nuthin’ But A ‘G’ Thang” – Dr. Dre Feat. Snoop Dog “Scenario” – A Tribe Called Quest “N.Y. State of Mind” – Nas “Hypnotize” – The Notorious B.I.G. “Dirt Off Your Shoulder” – JAY Z “State Prisoner” – Black Thought “Hip Hop” – dead prez “Deep and Hard” – Mark Grigsby “Lighters Up” – Lil Kim “Chun Li” – Nicki MInaj “Slidin” – 21 Savage
Activision has just dropped the live-action trailer titled “The Lobby” to build excitement for the much-anticipated launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III.
The film brilliantly brings the in-game Call of Duty video game lobby to life, following an Operator known as KillSwitch as he prepares for action. As KillSwitch walks through a real-life Call of Duty lobby, he watches fellow Operators gearing up for the game, all while a countdown clock signals 30 seconds to match time. The video features appearances by Call of Duty enthusiast and musician 21 Savage, NBA star Devin Booker, and UK artist Central Cee. Hollywood filmmaker David Leitch directs the trailer and marks a historic moment as it showcases in-game characters alongside everyday gamers and celebrities.
“As we commemorate this monumental milestone for the Call of Duty franchise, we believe it’s essential to honor our player community through our work,” said Tyler Bahl, Head of Marketing at Activision. “For the first time, ‘The Lobby’ features COD players, celebrities, and in-game characters squad-ing up together before a match. The film serves as a poignant reminder of our iconic tagline: ‘There is a soldier in all of us,’ which we are thrilled to reintroduce.”
The trailer concludes with transitioning real-life personalities into game characters, emphasizing the message ‘There’s a Soldier in All of Us.’ This reintroduces a classic line for Call of Duty, representing the ever-expanding player community.
The film and the game will include an original track composed by One Republic’s Ryan Tedder, with verses by 21 Savage and the chorus sung by D4vd. The song “Call Me Revenge” was released in conjunction with the film.
Directed by the renowned David Leitch, who has worked on action-packed films like “Bullet Train,” “Deadpool 2,” and “John Wick,” this trailer comes as part of the franchise’s 20th-anniversary celebration, bringing the series full circle with him. The Call of Duty 20th anniversary film was released on October 5.
d4vd might have tipped Uproxx off to “Call Me Revenge,” his collaborative single with 21 Savage for Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare III.
“I want to leak too much, but I literally just left a meeting about gaming,” d4vd told Uproxx’s Wongo Okon in an interview published on September 8. “I’m working a lot on Fortnite stuff, the new Fortnite season is dropping, and everybody’s on the game again. Gaming is going back on the radar. Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare III is dropping. I’m working hand in hand and being more in the gaming space and telling a story because that’s where I came from. I’m more of a gamer than a musician; it’s telling that story even more. I’m working on scoring and a lot of soundtracking, too.”
21’s “Call Me Revenge” featuring d4vd hit streaming services on Thursday, October 19. Per press release, it marks 21 Savage’s first original material as a solo artist since 2020’s “Secret” with Summer Walker.
“21 Savage will also star in an upcoming Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare III trailer, and Call Of Duty players can access 21 Savage as an operator in the game now and carry over the playable skin and their progress from Modern Warfare II to Modern Warfare III when it launches on November 10,” the release states. You can pre-order the game here.
In “Call Me Revenge,” d4vd’s smooth vocal runs perfectly complement 21 Savage’s confident flow about loyalty (“Keep my enemies closer / Than I keep my friends / Gotta get my payback / Been on that since way back”) and resiliency (“You gon’ shed blood if you made me shed tears”).
While it’s been three-and-a-half years since 21 dropped “Secret,” he hasn’t fallen off in the slightest — dropping joint albums Savage Mode IIwith Metro Boomin and Her Losswith Drake. Each project hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Meanwhile, d4vd has released two 2023 EPs, Petals To Thorns and The Lost Petals, and is opening on the second leg of SZA’s SOS Tour.
Below, listen to “Call Me Revenge,” see its cover art, and check out 21 Savage’s upcoming European and UK tour dates.
Copyright to Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare III/Epic Records
11/14 — Paris, France @ Zenith Paris La Villette
11/16 — Dusseldorf, Germany @ Mitsubishi Electric HALLE
11/17 — Zurich, Switzerland @ THE HALL
11/19 — Berlin, Germany @ Max-Schmeling-Halle
11/21 — Amsterdam, Netherlands @ AFAS Live
11/23 — Manchester, UK @ Depot Mayfield
11/24 — Birmingham, UK @ Forum
11/30 — London, UK @ The O2
Over the last few years, we haven’t gotten a ton of 21 Savage singles. Instead, he has mostly remained lowkey and collaborative. From Savage Mode 2 to Her Loss, 21 has been dealing with some of his best friends in the industry. However, he hasn’t given us a true solo effort since 2019’s I Am > I Was. With the artist heading on a short tour of Europe, there is this sense that some new music could be dropping very soon.
Well, it seems like the wait is over. Today, the artist dropped off a song called “Call Me Revenge” which also features the likes of d4vd. The song doesn’t appear to be a true lead single for an album. Instead, it is a tie-in to the upcoming video game, Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. The artist has a new Warzone character, so it was only a matter of time before he wrote a track for the game. Below, you can listen to what he cooked up.
Overall, you can very much tell that this is supposed to be in a game. From the glossy and theatrical d4vd vocals and the Ryan Tedder production, this screams “pop culture crossover.” However, that doesn’t mean it’s bad. In fact, it does sound great, especially with 21’s verse taking up the bulk of the song. This is a track that will definitely add some flare to the upcoming video game.
Hopefully, we get some more new music from 21 Savage, very soon. In the meantime, let us know what you think of this new song, in the comments section down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will be sure to keep you informed of all of the biggest releases from the biggest artists.
Quotable Lyrics:
I’m with the squad forever (Yeah) When it comes to winnin’, we better (On God) The team loyal to me (21) Through it all, we stand together (21) If he fall, better pick him up (Fast) Go down, better get back up (Straight Up)
It is Call of Duty season. Once again, Hip-Hop and the uber-popular video game series collide, bringing in Dreamville rapper Bas to participate in the Call Of Duty: NEXT event that happened last Thursday.
Bas is an avid gamer when he isn’t posted up in the studio, and he got an early crack at the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III. Speaking with The Source, Bas highlighted his history in gaming, his first Call of Duty, and more.
KeyArtMW3
How long have you been gaming for?
Wow, I’ve been gaming since like Super Nintendo days. So my whole life I’ve been gaming. Always fighting my three older brother for the sticks now I got my own. Was beaver tail super Mario, a yellow cover. I think.
My first COD was World at War, I was addicted to that and the zombies. Me and my friends were playing zombies non-stop.
Does gaming influence your music in any way? From writing, to producing, how have games had an impact?
Absolutely, it’s funny a lot of the guys I collab with I game with. I don’t think that;’s a coincidence. Collab process is chemistry and collab, being in each other’s ears every night when we’re gaming opens up the communication. Even in studio. We’re gaming, we talk about beats. Guys I play with the most happen to be the ones I collab with. Boy wonder produced some of my stuff. W e’ve always been cool and acquaintances but grew really close by gaming and let to your first collab. T-minus, J. Cole. Up and down the line. Lots of my producers and artists.
Best one is Mixed by Ali, my audio engineer. Big Grammy winner, preeminent audio engineer and he’s pretty good, he carries me not gonna lie.
Bas 1 1
What is it about Call of Duty that you enjoy the most?
I am an MP guy, I don’t have patience for war zone. When I stream it’s the aspect of keeping in touch with fans. When you go to show or in public it’s a different interaction, but it’s more intimate when you’re gaming with them. Ask qs, react, more like a friend rather than a public figure at a concert. Really enjoy and allows me to build a new relationship with fans rather than a meet and greet, etc. share stories. Game is muscle memory and puts you in a comfortable. Makes me more human, down to earth discussion.
How does it feel to be invited to one of the biggest gaming events of the year, NEXT, around the biggest game release in the world?
It feels blessed honestly, as much as I’m a musician I’m a gamer at heart. To be a part of this is super cool to me. Humbling, is a pleasure. One of the coolest events across any medium I’ve ever seen. Never seen something like this. I wasn’t expecting this at all. Never seen it.
I was excited to see Santana, my guy. Joe, a few guys I watch on Twitch – swag. I’m a true fan.
If you could “Squad Up” with any other artists, who would that be? Why?
Wow. Let’s see. I’d want to play with Bob Marley because I want to talk to him. Drake, because I want a feature soon. 50 Cent because I’m from Queens and he’s an idol for all of us from Queens, and he’d be down for war stories. And, my boy A$AP Ferg he’s just one of the funniest dudes I know. Can’t be too serious, want to chill out have a fun time, and gang.
Any specific music/songs you listen to while playing?
Not really because I need to hear the footsteps, and bullets whizzing by, usually pretty locked in when I’m playing COD. Music is for everything else I gotta lock-in.
Your single “Passport Bros” with J Cole was well received. Are you working on any new music?
Yeah. I’m releasing an album in Q4. It’s very honest and vulnerable, been 5 years since a solo and I’ve grown a lot as a person and a man so put a lot of those experiences into the music. I think they’re gonna enjoy it. They’re accustomed to honesty, and this is me at my most honest.
Describe the differences between streaming and recording music?
I think what I enjoy most about streaming is being able to speak to my fans. Make that a safe space to speak and talk about whatever. Music is similar because collab process. A lot of songs iv’e written started with me and guys just having a convo in studio, but the time you get to the emotions they make their way into the songwriting. I think in a lot of ways they’re similar. It’s a communal process.
A lot of times we talk about making edits to music while we’re gaming. Giving notes back and forth.
Do you ever game with J. Cole?
He does a lot of NBA2K and GTA. I carry him a bit, he doesn’t have quite as much time with me.
Finally, who is the best gamer at Dreamville? At Interscope?
I’m gonna say there’s no competition for me so trying to put the rest of them in order. IB, our co-founder, would be number two, but there’s a big gap between one and two. Proof is the one that would need some tutoring from me. He’s our guy, but he’s a little delusional with the gaming and his capabilities. He needs to get reeled in. His confidence is through the roof, but there’s a gap.
The new Call of Duty game is a month away and Activision made sure to hype the game’s multiplayer feature with an Eminem needle drop. The Detroit rapper’s 2002 hit “Till I Collapse” can be heard over a cinematic trailer showcasing the ultra-cinematic violence of the game’s multiplayer mode. Furthermore, the trailer also confirms the news that a host of iconic maps from the original Modern Warfare trilogy will be returning for this new Modern Warfare 3. It’s not the rapper’s first Call Of Duty collab. Back in 2013, he released the track Survival for Call Of Duty: Ghosts.
While old maps and fan-favorite modes are returning, Activision is trying a few new things with Modern Warfare III. One of the biggest additions will be Cutthroat, a 3v3v3 mode that is briefly featured and highlighted in the trailer. The new features will likely be highlighted in more detail at the October 5 multiplayer preview event. Meanwhile, the game will be released on November 10. Activision has previously confirmed that cosmetics and other purchases from Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2.0 will carry over to the new game.
However, Eminem is not the only rapper whose music Activision has utilized. The devs also used Pusha T for an August trailer promoting the game’s campaign. The teaser follows big bad Makarov being escorted through prison to receive a new tattoo. Meanwhile, Soap gives one of his usual sonorous monologues about stopping evil. This is overlaid with footage of some of the game’s more iconic moments – a terror attack in London, Makarov bringing down a plane carrying the President of Russia.
A majority of the trailer is scored to Colonel Bagshot’s 1971 single “Six Day War”. However, right at the end, as Makarov looks to the camera, there is an amazing Pusha T needle drop. Pusha sampled “Six Day War” on “Just So You Remember” last year and it’s that intense line (My Joker smile, you know who the villain is/Just so you remember who you dealin’ with…) that hear right at the end of the video. Furthermore, Pusha shared the video to his Instagram with the lyrics in the caption.
. Once I kept it for my album, I still didn’t even rlly know if it made sense on PF2. I didn’t wanna send it to Uzi b/c I thought he’d be over it. Instead he was like this hard af! Uzicito 
