Metro Boomin Lands Playable Role In New Rap Fighting Game

The roster for the upcoming Hip Hop fighting game OnlyHands just added one of rap’s biggest producers. Metro Boomin will appear as a playable character in the game, which is set to premiere at New York Comic Con on October 8. The announced lineup also includes Kodak Black, Denzel Curry, NLE Choppa, and Boosie Badazz among the other artists getting virtual fighters.

The game has been building toward its debut since late last year. Complex reported in November that Republic Records partnered with Nothing Projects Interactive on OnlyHands, a fighting game centered on playable artist avatars and combat inspired by Hip Hop personalities. Sauce Walka was among the first rappers to promote the project, comparing its spirit to classics such as Def Jam Vendetta and Def Jam: Fight for NY.

That comparison is easy to understand. OnlyHands puts rappers directly into fights while building characters around recognizable personas. The game’s official site promises more than 20 fighters, with certain players already receiving early access ahead of the larger rollout.

Metro is only one piece of the expanding lineup. Tay-K is also expected to be playable, while promotional material has featured Kodak and Boosie. WorldStarHipHop has showcased footage highlighting several of the artists attached to the game.

The concept naturally recalls the Def Jam fighting franchise, which turned rappers into combat characters during the 2000s and later became a cult favorite. Fans have spent years asking for another game that brings current artists into that kind of environment. OnlyHands is not being presented as a direct continuation, but the appeal is familiar.

New York Comic Con runs October 8 through October 11 at the Javits Center. OnlyHands will use opening day to introduce its growing roster to a much larger gaming audience. Metro has spent years producing fight music. Now he, or his avatar, apparently gets to throw a few punches himself.