For the past 15 years,
EA Sports and John Madden have written the book on creating the perfect franchise
football game.
Within the last few years, the game has also become an extremely
useful marketing vehicle for brand new artists that are featured on the Madden
Soundtrack.
Tapping new and proven talent alike, this year’s Madden 2006
soundtrack looks to further the Madden name and prove that they are still on
the pulse of pop culture.
"Every year, the release of Madden NFL Football is a major
event for gamers and music fans alike," said Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive
of Music and Music Marketing for EA. "Some of today’s most important acts
were first introduced through the game. This year’s in-game soundtrack features
some amazing new tracks from artists that we believe will be next year’s hottest
stars."
Mixtape wunderkind Papoose was contacted by EA for the soundtrack
and soon thereafter the song "Born to Win" was created.
“They contacted me and the rest was history," Pap
told AllHipHop.com. "Fans can expect to hear pure talent. I think "Born
to Win" is incredible. The concept is crazy and it’s definitely going to
stand out from everything else on the game."
New Jersey’s Sam Scarfo was also courted for the soundtrack
and dropped "Tear it Up" for the soundtrack.
"I think they chose ‘Tear it Up’ because it’s
an adrenaline type of feel," said Scarfo, who was recently signed by Jay-Z.
"It has an ill energy and its real cocky just like me."
In recent years, Madden has tapped numerous Hip-Hop artists,
both established and unknown.
Jazze Pha and Young Wun were heard on last year’s soundtrack,
and in 2004 they featured the likes of Outkast, Killer Mike, The Roots, Red
Café and Bonecrusher.
Included this year is Chicago’s Bump J with his song "Move
Around.” He is an avid Madden gamer and is looking forward to not only
being on the soundtrack but also playing the new game.
"The new Madden is the s**t," Bump told AllHipHop.com.
"It’s a little harder than last year but I’m the s**t on it already!"
Madden 2006 has made some slight changes to gameplay this year,
which they hope will give gamers better control and a more realistic approach.
The new Vision and Precision (also called Vision and Placement)
has been added to the passing game allowing quarterbacks to only pass in the
direction he is looking, mirroring actual NFL quarterbacks.
And the new Truck Stick Control has been added as well to deliver
big hits, break tackles and pancake defenders.
Selling over 3.2 million copies for the Playstation 2 last year,
Madden has cemented itself in the sports gaming genre as the top dog and has
been a go-to for upcoming artists looking for a chance at exposure.
Free Maiden, CEO of record label Free 4 All, said that landing
his artist Bump J. on EA’s NBA Live proved to be successful, so Madden
was a natural progression.
"When it was time to start on this year’s Madden, EA felt
"Move Around" would be a perfect fit,” Maiden told AllHipHop.com
“Several other companies want the song as well, so in a nutshell, one
opportunity is definitely leading to another."
Madden 2006 hits stores on August 9th and features Philadelphia
Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb on the cover.
Look for the following artists on this year’s edition:
-Chamillionaire, "Hate in ya Eyes"
-Memphis Bleek, "Like That"
-REV RUN, "Mind on the Road"
-Sam Scarfo, "Tear it Up"
-Slim Thug, "Get it Started"
-Spider Loc, "When I Get Angry"
-Stat Quo, "Rock Da Party"
-Tech N9ne, "The Beast"
-Papoose, "Born to Win"
-Bump J, "Move
Around"
