Is Just Dance and Guitar Hero racist?

[LinkxPeach]

Not to be racist, I own Just Dance 2014 on the Nintendo Wii U and after playing and dancing to most of the songs in that game. I noticed there rarely any Black people songs to play and dance to. Why is that? Also, I played Guitar Hero with my friends and I noticed I was playing Guitar Hero and I wasn’t playing any guitar to Black people music. Why? Why don’t these type of music genre games have any Black people music in it?

[dangerDoge]

Short answer: No, I don’t think they’re racist.

Long answer:
No, I don’t they’re racist. First I’d like to bring up the one comment: “Black people music.”
From my perspective, music is pretty universal. Although there are differences in demographics (i. e. more white people listen to metal vs black people), I don’t think I could constitute a genre as race-specific. I could listen to whatever genre I wanted to, and a black person likewise. Even if more white people create metal music, let’s say, it doesn’t mean the metal music is specifically for white people.

That being said, I can only assume you are referring to genres that a higher percentage of black people listen to compared to other races... so like rap and hip hop.

I can’t speak for Just Dance since I’ve never played it/am not familiar with it. However, I am familiar with guitar hero. The reason why more songs are not on guitar that are rap / hip hop can be presumably due to...
1.) Instrumentation. In Guitar Hero 1 through 3, guitar was the only instrument. However, many rap and hip songs lack guitar parts. It would be odd for a game focused on guitar to have songs without or with little guitar in them. Rock and metal, the genres they focus on, tend to have very prominent guitar parts that take lead too.

2.) Style. I don’t claim to be an expert with rap or hip hop, but I do know that they often use loops or repeated sections quite often. Most of the lead/focus is in the vocals. Hence, it would be really boring if a rap song did have a guitar part, but all it was was a simple loop that repeated over and over. It would make for a boring game.

3.) Possible copyright issues. If a song uses sampling from another song, that could cause more issues with GH hero trying to use the song in the games. They may have to deal with copyrights from the sample in addition to the song that uses the sample. This is just conjecture though.

It’s not necessarily like GH has something against rap or hip hop— they just don’t fit well for the game. I mean, I can think back to Aerosmith with Run DMC song being in a GH, and I believe I’ve seen a Beastie Boy’s song here or there too. Rap rock or rap metal (i. e. Rage Against The Machine) is going to be the best the game can really bring in given the design limitations.

DJ Hero may offer more of a song selection that you’re looking for.

[hellionthesagereborn]

black people songs? Whats a black people song exactly? I didn't know we had different music, that only one group can like and make a type of music. That sounds really racist actually.

[AA-ron]

Just dance is more pop/anthem and guitar hero is country/rock/metal.
I don't know what black people music is but I'm going to assume it's trap/rap. So no not racist, just different genre

[Exterminatore]

Do you know what Snoop Dog, Dr. Dre, and Warren G all have in common? They are NOT known for their blazing guitar riffs.

As for the dancing game, I don't know.

Everything isn’t racist by the way.

[catmandoes]

Name 5 black rock star guitarist and just dance 2014 had about 40% songs with black artists so I don't know what you are on about

[outside_Toronto]

Because for the most part, Black people dance better than white and again for the most part, black people don't study guitar as much as white

[MarketData]

You ever see a black game designer?

[LinkxPeach]

No, why?

[MarketData]

Me neither.

[Other_Tommy_Wiseau]

bruh...