MTV Music Awards Celebs Rock with Donkey Kong!

September 3, 2004, 8:55 am EDT
Total comments: 14

A whole host of celebrities battle it out in Donkey Konga - and Red Cross gets a really big check!

RECORDING ARTISTS BEAT TO NINTENDO'S DRUM AT THE MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS IN MIAMI

VIPs Get Exclusive Treatment as First to Play Donkey Konga

MIAMI, September 1, 2004 - Hip-hop, R&B, rock, film and television artists all beat to the same drum this weekend at the pre-MTV Video Music Awards (VMA) luxury suite at the Loews Hotel in Miami Beach, FL. Celebrities played against each other on the highly anticipated Donkey Konga video game exclusively for the Nintendo GameCube available Sept. 27. Artists including VMA winners and nominees Outkast, Lil' Jon and the Eastside Boyz, MatchBox 20, Fabolous, Chingy, Good Charlotte, Steriogram, Evanescence and music video director Bryan Barber drummed along on the DK Bongo controller to music arrangements of popular songs featured on the screen.

"Celebrities are a great litmus test for what will be a hot game; we were pleased to see all types of celebrities from rock to hip-hop enjoyed playing Donkey Konga," says Perrin Kaplan, vice president of marketing and corporate affairs. "It's not often you get to see Billy Martin (from Good Charlotte) playing music with (rap artist) Chingy!"

While the suite provided celebrities an array of hot products, celebrities did give back. Top of mind in Miami were the victims of Hurricane Charley. Big Boi from Outkast and award-winning music video producer, Bryan Barber, participated in the Donkey Konga Challenge. A $10,000 donation to the Red Cross was made on behalf of Big Boi, the winner of the friendly competition.

Additional guests of the suite included recording artists Christina Milian, Lil' Scrappy, Adina Howard, Omarion (B2K) and Lea; music producer Just Blaze; actors O'Ryan (You Got Served), Erika Christensen (Swim Fan), Brian White (The Shield, Mr. 3000), J.D. Williams (HBO's The Wire), Michael B. Jordan (All My Children) and Paulie Shore; Frank, Carmen and John Gotti (Growing Up Gotti); and music industry tastemakers including Fonzworth Bentley, MTV VJ LaLa, DJ Clue, DJ Sno, and Lisa May (KROQ-FM, Los Angeles).

Big Boi, Bryan Barber, and Red Cross Guy with a giant check from Donkey Kong as a donation to Red Cross.

Adam Gaynor (Matchbox 20) and Christina Milian Konga Battle!

Christina Milian and some cool Nintendo gear

Evanescence having way too much fun

Billy Martin and Chingy battle for Konga superiority

John and Carmine Gotti are busting the beats

Talkback

couchmonkeySeptember 03, 2004

"Celebrities are a great litmus test for what will be a hot game; we were pleased to see all types of celebrities from rock to hip-hop enjoyed playing Donkey Konga,"

HA HA HA HA HA HAAAA! HA. I think what Perrin Kaplan means to say is, "We hope that the public are sheep that will buy this game because they heard that some stars played it." Not that it's a bad idea, I just don't like the spin.

But congratulations to Nintendo and Namco for making Amy Lee from Evanescance smile for the first time, like, ever.

Ian SaneSeptember 03, 2004

"But congratulations to Nintendo and Namco for making Amy Lee from Evanescance smile for the first time, like, ever."

I think it's kinda scary. It's like that scene in Addams Family Values where Wednesday smiles. I think it would be really funny if any of the musicians that were there sucked at the game since, you know, they of all people should have good rhythm.

I hate celebrity endorsement stuff but since MS and Sony do it I'm glad Nintendo is doing it too just because it makes them look more "with it" to the morons who care about what celebrities think. I find this gives me no indication on how fun this game is since celebs are 9 times out of 10 casual gamers at best so you can put virtually ANYTHING in front of them and they'll like it because to a lot of people the concept of playing a videogame is fun.

My local Toys 'R' Us has a display with the bongos but I can't try it out because the other controller's A button is wanged and I need it to select the game. ARRRRGH!!!

KnowsNothingSeptember 03, 2004

So far, I have had two or three dreams of playing this game. I didn't know I wanted it that much...o_o

nickmitchSeptember 04, 2004

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I hate celebrity endorsement stuff but since MS and Sony do it I'm glad Nintendo is doing it too just because it makes them look more "with it" to the morons who care about what celebrities think.

Celebrities think?

KDR_11kSeptember 04, 2004

Actually, no, they're remote-controlled drones that do what their masters command, but you're not supposed to know that. Fnord.

joeamisSeptember 04, 2004

This will help the mainstream into thinking Nintendo's more "cool". On another note, the game and bongos are playable at Gamestop. Unfortunately I saw a Gamecube owner, probably aged 25 play it and then say quite loudly, "this game sucks".

MarioSeptember 04, 2004

You should have said "YOU SUCK!".

Bill AurionSeptember 04, 2004

I know I would've...I would have gone up to him and smashed his face into the bongos...

The game is an absolute blast to play... ^_^

Ian SaneSeptember 04, 2004

"You should have said 'YOU SUCK!'."

Agreed. "YOU ______!" is the best comeback ever. If someone says "something stinks" you reply "YOU STINK!" If someone says "this bacon is too salty" you reply "YOU'RE TOO SALTY!" If someone says "I think my arm is turning yellow" you reply "YOU'RE TURNING YELLOW!" If someone says "Hi, I'm Frank." you reply "YOU'RE FRANK!" even though that's true and not really an insult.

Bill AurionSeptember 04, 2004

Ahahaha, so you *are* capable of humor, Ian... ^_^

Shift KeySeptember 04, 2004

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Lil' Jon

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!!

blol pietriots demand to play donkey konga with lil' jon

DasmosSeptember 05, 2004

Your freakin Fat Guy Avatar scares the crap out of me Shifty!!!! He just looks like he wants to eat me!!

Hostile CreationSeptember 06, 2004

First off: *laughs at Ian Sane*

Secondly: I hate it when stuff like this happens and I can't instantly hate celebrities. I mean, I still don't like their music, but suddenly I'm very fond of Evanescance. *personally thinks Amy Lee doesn't look like Wednesday*
Not sure about Christina Milian, though. Is she a robot?

Ian SaneSeptember 06, 2004

"First off: *laughs at Ian Sane*"

HA! A few days ago I found a working demo and drummed along to Wild Thing. It was really fun. Don't know if it's "buy" fun as much as "rent" fun though.

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