According to this year's Metacritic top-rated 100 titles for PS2, only one game has an African-American lead protagonist. Despite a few examples of influence, games are far whiter than any other American media. Thomas Wilburn explores this imbalance.

Wobbly and poorly constructed it may have been, The Matrix Online still succeeded where other online games have failed. It connected massive online gaming to hip hop culture. Jonathan Hayter gives an artists perspective of MXO.

While prominent hip hop heads have been exported to the world of the PS2, crossovers the other way haven't been too common. Pat Miller profiles Superior Tek, a group of guys who manage to game without being too geeky and rap without being too gangsta.

Games aren't just for the nerds, dorks and geeks anymore, games are trendy and hip. People who wouldn't normally play games are becoming gamers. Whitney Butts explores the convergence of videogaming and pop culture through music artists.

Games are now cool because middle class teenagers are emulating hip hop moguls who are adopting the trappings of wealth which are defined by Silicon Valley millionaires who like games and tech. Max Steele discusses how hip hop and geek culture are revolutionizing America's pop culture.

"Imagine that. Games based on hip hop culture that don't preach - or even make reference to - violence." Joe Blancato speaks about his early experiences with rythym games PaRappa the Rapper and Bust a Groove.