10 hip-hop tracks about gaming

While mainstream rappers express their affection for video games from time to time, the underground "nerdcore" hip-hop movement takes the connection to a whole other level. There are entire songs and albums dedicated to a love of gaming, and many of these artists plug references into their most popular tracks.

Here are our 10 favorites. Crank your PC speakers, dial the geekiness to 11 and let's get rolling.

"Reaping Beauty" by MC Lars

References: Bayonetta

Loaded with deadliness and oozing sex appeal, Bayonetta will most likely crush the competition for top gaming vixen of 2010. Paying homage to the oh-so-wicked lady in black, post-punk laptop rap pioneer MC Lars teamed up with hip-hop pals Beefy and Random for a triple whammy of nerd rap awesome in "Reaping Beauty."

Notable lyrics: “Strike from the air, long lost in the lake / Lights out with a hair, play lame a mistake / Cause she’s hot in the night, body type is a ten / While your jaw is on the floor, watch her hit you again / I'm really loving every little thing that she does / Got a torture attack, heels packing some guns / Combo, it's over, she's on with her quest / Never mess with Bayonetta cause she does it the best”

"It Is Pitch Dark" by MC Frontalot

References: Zork

These days, the chances of being eaten by a Grue are slim indeed, but that doesn't dampen the all-important message delivered in the catchy chorus of this magnificently geeky track, which references Infocom's most famous text adventure and the days when printed words on a screen were the only requirement for an afternoon of gaming fun. A humorous tale of paranoia woven by The Godfather of nerdcore, "It Is Pitch Dark" reminds us how spoiled we gamers have become with all our fancy 3D graphics and high-tech futuristic devil magic.

Notable lyrics: “You are likely to be eaten by a Grue / If this predicament seems particularly cruel / Consider whose fault it could be / Not a torch or a match in your inventory”

"Level Up" by ZeaLouS1

References: World of Warcraft, Wizards & Warriors

You know you've been in this position before. When faced with the prospect of quality time with your boyfriend or girlfriend, or quality time grinding in your preferred MMORPG, the choice isn't always a clear one - particularly when partaking in both activities at once isn't (usually) an option.

At least nerdcore rapper ZeaLouS1 has his priorities straight in this killer World of Warcraft-inspired track. A huge gaming fan, ZeaLouS1 doesn't discriminate between consoles or genres… note the mash-up of WoW footage and the loop ripped straight from Wizards and Warriors. That’s some epic win.

Notable lyrics: “I level up my druid when I’m playing World of Warcraft / Stompin’ anybody stepping close to my warpath / It got serious, I’m passing up booty / So I can finish the quest, cuz’ that is my duty”