Big Boi And B.o.B. Talk 'Army Of TWO,' Video Game Virginity And Cyber Sex
Army of TWO: The Devil's Cartel is a grittier and more mature third-person shooter developed by Visceral Games. In anticipation for the game's release on March 26, Electronic Arts announced months back that fans who pre-order the game would be allowed to play as T.W.O. operatives -- Charles 'Chuy' Rendall and Anthony 'Baker' Barnes.
Big Boi and B.o.B. voice and act in the game, as well as collaborate to provide the game's official theme song, "Double or Nothing." The pair took time out from putting down members of La Guadaña (Spanish for "the Scythe") to speak with VIBE about their adventures in video game land, how it felt to wear a full-body spank, and what they both would do if they ruled the gaming world.
Big Boi and B.o.B. voice and act in the game, as well as collaborate to provide the game's official theme song, "Double or Nothing." The pair took time out from putting down members of La Guadaña (Spanish for "the Scythe") to speak with VIBE about their adventures in video game land, how it felt to wear a full-body spank, and what they both would do if they ruled the gaming world.
VIBE: Much hype has been made about you and Big Boi's involvement in Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel. I don't think it would be right if I didn't ask you both when y'all lost your video game virginity?
B.o.B.: [Laughs] Actually, man, the first time I was ever featured in a video game was a long time ago. I had a song called "Auto Tune" that was featured on [Rockstar Games'] Grand Theft Auto IV. So that was the first time I was ever really involved in a video game on that scale. I've always been a gamer, so it's just been growing since then.
Big Boi: When we got an Atari when I was little was when I lost my video game virginity. Whenever Atari came out — that's when I lost it. I saw that they had Atari Flashback 4 Retro game console at Wal-Mart for like $50 dollars over the holidays. Crazy! It comes with like 50 games — all the games that were classics are on it. How crazy is that?!
B.o.B.: I lost my video game virginity to Mortal Kombat. I was a part of that Sega generation. We played that, Street Fighter, Sonic the Hedgehog, Mega Man and all that!
As an advent gamer, can you talk a bit about what it was like to do the motion capture for your role in Army of Two?
B.o.B.: This was the first time I've ever been mocapped before. It required quite a bit of acting and training. I'm already experienced with guns myself, so they just had to apply the military technique to my street technique. To prepare for the role of Baker, they had to apply censors all over my face and my body to get all the right camera angles, lines and all that. Before you start up each scene, you gotta pose. It's dumb crazy, man! It's a whole process. It's like acting and you gotta enter the digital world and get crazy!
B.o.B.: [Laughs] Actually, man, the first time I was ever featured in a video game was a long time ago. I had a song called "Auto Tune" that was featured on [Rockstar Games'] Grand Theft Auto IV. So that was the first time I was ever really involved in a video game on that scale. I've always been a gamer, so it's just been growing since then.
Big Boi: When we got an Atari when I was little was when I lost my video game virginity. Whenever Atari came out — that's when I lost it. I saw that they had Atari Flashback 4 Retro game console at Wal-Mart for like $50 dollars over the holidays. Crazy! It comes with like 50 games — all the games that were classics are on it. How crazy is that?!
B.o.B.: I lost my video game virginity to Mortal Kombat. I was a part of that Sega generation. We played that, Street Fighter, Sonic the Hedgehog, Mega Man and all that!
As an advent gamer, can you talk a bit about what it was like to do the motion capture for your role in Army of Two?
B.o.B.: This was the first time I've ever been mocapped before. It required quite a bit of acting and training. I'm already experienced with guns myself, so they just had to apply the military technique to my street technique. To prepare for the role of Baker, they had to apply censors all over my face and my body to get all the right camera angles, lines and all that. Before you start up each scene, you gotta pose. It's dumb crazy, man! It's a whole process. It's like acting and you gotta enter the digital world and get crazy!
WATCH: Rappers Big Boi & B.o.B In EA's "Army Of Two: The Devil's Cartel"
What was the best and worst part of doing motion capture?
Big Boi: The best thing was being in there with all the guys, running the lines and knocking out the scenes. The worst thing is that you're standing there with your nuts in a sling the whole time. [Laughs] You had your nuts kind of jammed up on you and it's discomforting! You see what it feels like when how you see women who wear spanks. We had on a full-body spank!
What was it about the game itself that inspired the theme song?
Big Boi: We did all the dialogue in the game and that helped to inspire our song. I play 'Chewy' and we are mercenaries who work as operatives for T.W.O. We go in there, smack people in the face and fight to take down this cartel. We went straight from doing the lines and headed straight into the studio. We're still in character when we hit the booth, but the song was organically made. B.o.B. and I traded off verses—just blazing, y'know! Trading lyrics back and forth with B.o.B. was fun man!
B.o.B.: On a musical standpoint, it really came about natural. If you didn't know that the song was associated with a video game then you'd think it was an epic song with myself and Big Boi! The effort was real natural and it shows when you play the game or listen to "Double or Nothing."
For gamers playing Army of Two, who would you say is better to use in co-op mode?
BB: You had to have pre-ordered the game to get myself and B.o.B.'s character to use. I think we might have some tricks up our sleeves! We are T.W.O. operatives and they come juiced up because they're mercenaries looking to stop the cartel.
Big Boi: The best thing was being in there with all the guys, running the lines and knocking out the scenes. The worst thing is that you're standing there with your nuts in a sling the whole time. [Laughs] You had your nuts kind of jammed up on you and it's discomforting! You see what it feels like when how you see women who wear spanks. We had on a full-body spank!
What was it about the game itself that inspired the theme song?
Big Boi: We did all the dialogue in the game and that helped to inspire our song. I play 'Chewy' and we are mercenaries who work as operatives for T.W.O. We go in there, smack people in the face and fight to take down this cartel. We went straight from doing the lines and headed straight into the studio. We're still in character when we hit the booth, but the song was organically made. B.o.B. and I traded off verses—just blazing, y'know! Trading lyrics back and forth with B.o.B. was fun man!
B.o.B.: On a musical standpoint, it really came about natural. If you didn't know that the song was associated with a video game then you'd think it was an epic song with myself and Big Boi! The effort was real natural and it shows when you play the game or listen to "Double or Nothing."
For gamers playing Army of Two, who would you say is better to use in co-op mode?
BB: You had to have pre-ordered the game to get myself and B.o.B.'s character to use. I think we might have some tricks up our sleeves! We are T.W.O. operatives and they come juiced up because they're mercenaries looking to stop the cartel.
If either one of you could have cyber sex with any female video game character of your choosing, who would it be and why?
B.o.B.: Lara Croft. She's the whole reason why I played Tomb Raider.
Big Boi: [Laughs] That's cold blooded! I'd say if I could have cyber sex with anyone it would be with Kitana or Jade from Mortal Kombat. All them girls had phat asses, but I don't do too much of that cyber sex thang. I gotta feel some skin, ya feel me? I need that "Pink Matter."
If you both could share rule of the video gaming world, you would [fill in the blank]…?
Big Boi: I would be the owner of Electronic Arts. [Laughs] I would develop my own games and to do that. I would have to be the owner of the company. They have big budgets out here! I've seen some cameras doing work for Army of Two that I have never seen—even when I was shooting movies. So, they really not playing around with it here, and I would make sure that I would add to the game.
B.o.B.: I'd make a fully holographic gaming environment. It would be a blend of Gamer with Gerard Butler and Tron.
B.o.B., you've had your Strange Clouds mobile game out for a minute now. What were your experiences with mobile gaming and how did you feel about the title's reception?
B.o.B.: The mobile app was really just the start-up point for me and the ideas that I have. I came into the game through the digital side of music and entertainment, so I feel like making Strange Clouds was something tangible. It was something people could grasp and become familiar with, without having to ever heard my music. It's really about growing as an idea-maker and providing something remarkable for your audience. Right now, I'm exploring my options and becoming familiar with what I want to do in the world.
Big Boi, hard core gamers will remember when you were dropping elbows on folks in Def Jam Icon. So…
Big Boi: I whooped ass in that game too! That's when I was doing all those pushups, yeah.
This isn't your first foray into video games! Can you talk about your experience with Def Jam Icon and where you'd like to see yourself in the future with the gaming industry?
Big Boi: You know what I like about video games and the industry? I like that I'm in the game and all that—that's cool. But the best part of doing all of this is to create the soundtrack for them. I'm really, really into that. This was a great opportunity right here, and it turned out great! To be able to be in the game was an extra treat. I'm coming from the music world, but I dig this world, too! Put me in the game. I want to whoop ass a few times! [Laughs]
Kevin L. Clark heads Don't Lose Your Day Job, a website for video game enthusiasts. You can keep up-to-date with the latest gaming news on Twitter @DLYDJ.
B.o.B.: Lara Croft. She's the whole reason why I played Tomb Raider.
Big Boi: [Laughs] That's cold blooded! I'd say if I could have cyber sex with anyone it would be with Kitana or Jade from Mortal Kombat. All them girls had phat asses, but I don't do too much of that cyber sex thang. I gotta feel some skin, ya feel me? I need that "Pink Matter."
If you both could share rule of the video gaming world, you would [fill in the blank]…?
Big Boi: I would be the owner of Electronic Arts. [Laughs] I would develop my own games and to do that. I would have to be the owner of the company. They have big budgets out here! I've seen some cameras doing work for Army of Two that I have never seen—even when I was shooting movies. So, they really not playing around with it here, and I would make sure that I would add to the game.
B.o.B.: I'd make a fully holographic gaming environment. It would be a blend of Gamer with Gerard Butler and Tron.
B.o.B., you've had your Strange Clouds mobile game out for a minute now. What were your experiences with mobile gaming and how did you feel about the title's reception?
B.o.B.: The mobile app was really just the start-up point for me and the ideas that I have. I came into the game through the digital side of music and entertainment, so I feel like making Strange Clouds was something tangible. It was something people could grasp and become familiar with, without having to ever heard my music. It's really about growing as an idea-maker and providing something remarkable for your audience. Right now, I'm exploring my options and becoming familiar with what I want to do in the world.
Big Boi, hard core gamers will remember when you were dropping elbows on folks in Def Jam Icon. So…
Big Boi: I whooped ass in that game too! That's when I was doing all those pushups, yeah.
This isn't your first foray into video games! Can you talk about your experience with Def Jam Icon and where you'd like to see yourself in the future with the gaming industry?
Big Boi: You know what I like about video games and the industry? I like that I'm in the game and all that—that's cool. But the best part of doing all of this is to create the soundtrack for them. I'm really, really into that. This was a great opportunity right here, and it turned out great! To be able to be in the game was an extra treat. I'm coming from the music world, but I dig this world, too! Put me in the game. I want to whoop ass a few times! [Laughs]
Kevin L. Clark heads Don't Lose Your Day Job, a website for video game enthusiasts. You can keep up-to-date with the latest gaming news on Twitter @DLYDJ.
