“Playing call of duty and smoking weed,” - ScHoolboy Q, when asked how he spends his free time (Reddit AMA)
While many hip-hop fans may love to debate, dispute, troll and ridicule one another without mercy, there are a few things over which they can unite - mainly, a shared love of smoking weed and playing video games. Luckily, video games and getting high go together about as well as Jay-Z and Eminem on “Renegade,” and some of the most prolific rappers have been known to indulge in some gaming. Logic, ScHoolboy Q, Vince Staples, Snoop Dogg, Waka Flocka, The Game are all proud gamers, and several of them have been known to light up on occasion.
So next time you’re looking for a way to spend a couple of free hours, why not spark some, start up your favorite console, and engage in one of the following stoner-friendly classics.
Call Of Duty
Vibe: Competitive and fast paced.
Genre: First Person Shooter
Call Of Duty has been around for a minute, spawning several games and covering several decades of warfare. While the main appeal has always been it’s adrenaline pumping, high-octane online multiplayer, the Zombies mode has become a cult classic in its own right, adding a touch of horror to the experience. A perfect choice if you’re feeling competitive, and perhaps inclined to zone out thinking about the existential and seemingly futile nature of war.
Goat Simulator
Vibe: Fucking stupid and completely hilarious
Genre: Open World
The Goat Simulator is, in some ways, the picture of utter madness. In this single or multiplayer game, players can take control of a goat and frolick around an open world, causing untold amounts of destruction in the process. With ragdoll physics and an amazing “licking” mechanic, Goat Simulator is the perfect choice for someone looking for something mindless. Plus, it’s guaranteed to have you laughing your ass off.
Resident Evil 7
Vibe: Scary as all hell.
Genre: First Person Shooter
While previous titles in the Resident Evil franchise have skewed toward action territory, the seventh and most recent installment has made a triumphant return to its horror roots. While horror games and weed can have a bit of a masochistic relationship, the atmosphere and tension in Resident Evil 7 are second to none. If you’re one of those people who love to scare the shit out of themselves, yet appreciate the nuances of the horror genre, than this might be the game for you. It’s at once beautiful, macabre, and challenging. Play alone if you dare.
Super Smash Brothers
Vibe: Cartoonish mayhem with surprising depth
Genre: Fighting
Any gamer has played at least one iteration of Nintendo’s classic brawler, and the series remains one of the most appealing choices for a stoned-night-in. Between the expansive cast of playable characters, which range from bipedal animals to Japanese samurais, utter item-infused madness, and dynamic, never-stagnant levels, Super Smash Bros is a game that will challenge you on a variety of levels. A near-perfect choice for three-or-more players.
Grand Theft Auto V (or any)
Vibe: Open world, criminal hedonism. Kill digital people and laugh hysterically.
Genre: Third person, open world action.
Grand Theft Auto has been linked with hip-hop for years. GTA3 helped put Royce Da 5’9” on the map, and GTA San Andreas was basically a West-coast hip-hop fan’s dream come true. While the music and culture have influenced Rockstar’s legendary series, the sheer scale of possibility is perfect for the freshly-high. In GTA, you can do whatever you want with little to no consequences. Whether you’re murdering hookers, going on killing sprees, gambling, hitting the strip club, jumping out of a plane, exploring the depths of the ocean, or searching for bigfoot, Grand Theft Auto has it all.
Limbo
Vibe: Eerie, focused, thought-provoking.
Genre: Side scrolling puzzle game, slight horror themes.
While Limbo is not quite a horror game, the Tim Burton-esque imagery and silent atmosphere are a touch unsettling. At its core, Limbo is a puzzle game, and gamers must use every corner of their brain to figure out their next step. It’s the perfect choice for a rainy night in, and you might find yourself transfixed by the haunting, black and white beauty presented in Limbo’s curious little world.
Overwatch
Vibe: Chaotic, competitive, and creative.
Genre: Online first person shooter.
Overwatch can be best described as Super Smash Brothers as a first person shooter. With an amazing cast of characters, all of which feature diverse movesets and roles, Overwatch can appeal to all variety of gamers. With the same fast-paced nature as Call Of Duty, Blizzard’s immensely popular shooter differs from its competition with an emphasis on team-based strategy. Pick a character, do your duty, and marvel at the satisfaction some good team-synergy can bring. Take a puff, and gaze into the iris.
Mario Kart
Vibe: Cartoonish, zany, surprisingly competitive
Genre: Racing
Nintendo tends to stick to their staple franchises, and for good reason. Mario Kart has been a party staple for years, spanning across several generations of consoles and continuing to thrive today. Easy enough for anyone to pick up and play, yet difficult to master, Mario Kart will have you and your crew laughing, swearing, and marvelling at the fast past world unfolding before your very eyes. It won’t be long before you’re asking yourself “what the fuck sort of abomination is Waluigi?”
Skyrim
Vibe: Epic fantasy, open world adventure.
Genre: Action RPG
Skyrim is the perfect game for Game Of Thrones fans, or anybody who needs a dose of epic fantasy. While Bethseda’s open world masterpiece lacks the social component found in some of the other selections, it’s a great game for those seeking to lose themselves in a beautiful and vibrant digital world. With a seemingly infinite number of questlines, customization, and new places to discover, Skyrim is at once a cerebral and adventurous for the solitary smoker.
NBA 2K
Vibe: Competitive sports, perfect for a side of basketball debating
Genre: Sports
Hip-hop and basketball are, in many ways, intimately linked. Therefore, it's no surprise that hip-hop fans all over the world have taken to smoking up, creating a digital avatar of themselves, and styling on fools. It's a great choice for a friends-only smoke session, and works perfectly as a catalyst for some heated basketball debates. With a hip-hop heavy soundtrack as background music, the 2K franchise has nailed the basketball game, and 2K18 looks like the best installment yet. Depending on your preferential sport, EA Sport's Madden franchise and NHL franchise serve as viable substitutes.
Honorable Mention: Def Jam - Fight For NY
Vibe: The greatest hip-hop related video game of all time.
Genre: Fighting, surprisingly deep RPG elements
If you can manage to get your hands on this old-school classic, do yourself a favor and make it happen. Def Jam: Fight For NY blends hip-hop culture with a deep and complex combat system, making it the perfect choice for a party of up to four players. The game itself boasts a roster of over fifty fighters, including Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, Redman, Ludacris, Xzibit, Sean Paul, Joe Budden, Ghostface Killah and more. There’s a great soundtrack, excellent voice acting, and some sweet customization on deck. While the game has definitely aged, it remains one of the most entertaining collisions between hip-hop and gaming, leaving us praying for a modern-day reboot.