Of course Snoop is Smoke
Fighting games are full of characters who have beef with each other, but the hip hop community was also able to just witness their biggest battle between icons in a long time.
That Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake lyrical smackdown has apparently even managed to expand beyond Earthrealm with its influence seeping into Outworld and beyond in Mortal Kombat 1.
This is thanks to NegativeZoneNerd crafting now multiple ‘Dej Jam’ mod packs for MK1 bringing rap artists onto the battlefield over the existing cast.
First up to the plate was of course Kendrick with the crown of thorns pulled from his Mr Morale & the Big Steppers album cover along with the white shirt referencing his Damn. album.
The modder put Kendrick over both Reiko and Kung Lao for move sets, but it’s probably going to be difficult to find a combo that hits harder than ‘Meet the Grahams’ and ‘Not Like Us’ as the breakout counter into Fatal Blow.
Meanwhile, Drake is in what appears to be his puffer coat from Hotline Bling with the fitting move set of Johnny Cage.
Since then, NegativeZoneNerd has released a second Def Jam pack featuring Snoop Dogg with Smoke’s moves and Kanye West over Reptile plus Ludacris and Busta Rhymes Kameos.
Finally (for now), they just dropped a third showing off Eminem Scorpion, 50 Cent Stryker, Dr. Dre Sub-Zero and Ice-T Shujinko.
Click images for larger versions
These are of course also references to the fan favorite Def Jam 3D fighting games / brawlers where a lot of the hip hop artists here were featured as characters.
Although there has been occasional rumblings every handful of years, the Def Jam games that a lot of people grew up with have remained dormant since basically 2007 even if Ed Boon found out that players really want it back.
If NetherRealm Studios could actually get the license and the likenesses, their version of a Def Jam revival wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world.
Until then, however, you can find these mods and more on NegativeZoneNerd’s Nexus Mods page, and check out some gameplay of the boys in action in MK1 thanks to Gee Lambo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZNniVYRDiY