“TEARS” by HEALTH Single Now Available on iTunes

Posted: May 15, 2012 3:06PM | Author: R* Q

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Emicida “9 Círculos” (from the Max Payne 3 Original Soundtrack)

Posted: May 08, 2012 12:10PM | Author: R* A

Emicida, a leader of the rap scene in Brazil's hip-hop capital city of São Paulo - and winner of Act of the Year in the 2011 MTV VMB Awards - has just released his original track, "9 Círculos (9 Circles)" composed and produced exclusively for Max Payne 3 to his fans at www.emicida.com. Produced by Emicida's in-house beatmakers Casp and Nave Beatz, you can now listen to the song in full above and at the Rockstar Games Soundcloud page.

The inspiration for the song according to Emicida, is his hometown city of São Paulo itself, where Max Payne 3 is set - as he explains:

"O caos da maior cidade da América Latina, a insegurança, o medo envolto nessa atmosfera de corrupção, crime, pobreza, luta por justiça e todos os elementos que compõem este ambiente... A composição é dividida em duas partes. A primeira é algo como um conflito interno, e a segunda é uma visão mais política, com um olhar sobre fatos recentes, uma vez que o jogo é lançado neste momento que estamos vivendo agora. Acho que a música faz jus à São Paulo que vemos hoje... Ter uma canção cantada em português num lançamento mundial é muito especial para a música brasileira. ‘9 Círculos’ passeia por uma brasilidade bem interessante, flerta com maracatu e samba. É um texto bem cru sobre a realidade das ruas, estou feliz com isso."

("The chaos of the largest city in Latin America, the insecurity, the fear that revolves around this atmosphere of corruption, crime, poverty, the struggle for justice, and all the elements that are part of this environment... The song is divided into two parts. The first part is something along the lines of an internal conflict, and the second is a more political insight, with a glimpse over current events that we are experiencing right now as the game [Max Payne 3] is released. I think the song lives up to the São Paulo that we see today... To have a song sung in Portuguese in a project released worldwide is quite significant to Brazilian music. ‘9 Círculos’ contains a Brazilian flavor that is quite interesting, and it flirts with the maracatu and the samba. It possesses a raw content covering the reality of the streets and I am really happy about that.)"

We're very proud to have this original composition in Max Payne 3. For all of our non-Portuguese-speaking fans, we've also gotten with Emicida for a faithful transcription of the lyrics into English so that all of you can listen and read along to see how the lyrics relate both the Max Payne's tortured state of mind in the game - and to the volatile world of the city of São Paulo. Read the lyrics below - and stay tuned for a special remix of the track as well, to be released soon.

"It feels like a crack hit, but it's just paranoia.
Off I go, carrying my gun - the enemies keep an eye on us
Of course, it stresses and tires me.
Whiskey, neon, dim lights and she dances.
It's me and my demons - like always.
Cigarette... stiff drink... without hope,
Everything that talks, lies.
It's tough at rock bottom - when the pain’s yours, you feel it.
Love I sought, like slow samba.
Lights are out, legs are shaky.
An addict, with a cross on his chest, staring at his sad reflection.
Life draining through his fingers,
Like water from the basin - cold, Ave Maria (Hail Mary).
Brother, a human being in an inhuman state - f**ked up bro, 
Which Orixa is going to clean me up?
2012, the world is ending, and f**k it...
 
…
 
Let everyone know the sky is falling,
What is worse, to hit rock bottom or to keep falling?
How many hells have I crossed, passed, without an angel to sing to me? 
How many oceans have I crossed without a light to guide me?
 
...
 
Hearing only click-clack-click-clack--boom!
...
 
Police here kill more than Tuskegee,
Murderers all around, but the people are calm like Kenny G,
Ghetto like ND [a reference to Brazilian MC Naldinho],
Mouth stutters if they see we’re still public enemies,
It’s 1, 2, quick to flare up, Do-Re-Mi and boom,
It’s over - without a single camera zoom,
And from the government, all that reaches us is pain,
In the hood, it’s tear gas and flash bombs from those who haven’t got enough morals to say anything.
Dark soldier boots, frightening futures,
I join my gang on the walls, I cover up and swear,
I’m gonna pay it back with interest,
I keep it real, no mistakes, pure, I investigate but won’t endure it.
I hold on,
I cure myself of the obscure ideals of the government, the cartel, the clan,
My role is to teach the people to say “uh huh?”
Without spreading their legs like a can-can dancer,
It’s up to us to hate my people’s enemies, you see Kassab?
They burn favelas, control the media and distort information,
Your term’s days are numbered, but our fight will carry on."

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R.I.P. Beastie Boys’ MCA 1964-2012

Posted: May 04, 2012 6:56PM | Author: R* S

For a lot of the crew here at Rockstar, the Beastie Boys were a fundamental part of discovering what music could be and could do. A bunch of NYC kids who started out punks, embraced hip-hop and completely rewrote the book from 'Cookie Puss' to 'License To Ill' to 'Paul's Boutique' to 'Check Your Head' - creating (along with their mentors, Run DMC) rock-rap, evolving it to record the most ridiculously amazing sample-filled record ever made, then turning it all over again with live and raw tracks like 'Sabotage' and 'Gratitude.' The Beastie Boys MC and bass player Adam Yauch passed away today at the age of 47. We salute you. Still too many rappers, not enough MC's. Above, in Adam Yauch's honor, we've posted a fine moment in Beastiedom - the music video for 'Gratitude' - and below, a recording of the late Mr. Magic's radio world premiere of 'Hold It Now, Hit It' in 1986 - the official debut of the Beasties to the rap world.

Beastie Boys – Hold It Now, Hit It (Mr Magic World Premiere)

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Max Payne 3 Soundtrack Details: Official Album Featuring Music by HEALTH Coming May 23rd

Posted: May 02, 2012 1:04PM | Author: R* Q

Today, we are proud to announce that the Max Payne 3 Official Soundtrack will be available digitally on May 23rd. Composed and recorded by LA-based band HEALTH, the soundtrack features the song "TEARS" which is due for release as a single on iTunes on May 15th, coinciding with the game’s console launch.

“Working on the soundtrack to Max Payne 3 was a great experience,” said John Famiglietti of HEALTH. “Rockstar gave us the freedom to bring our own sound to Max’s dark story, and we’re really proud of the results.”

HEALTH’s unique blend of rock, powerful drums and electronic soundscapes lends itself perfectly to the score for the game. Taking influences from Brazil, Max’s native New York and the themes of the original games, HEALTH have put together a fantastic soundtrack that perfectly embodies the tone and the atmosphere of Max Payne 3. Distinctive arrangements unique to each level accompany Max on his journey through the game's locations, perfectly framing the game's epic action sequences and the dark and gritty story.

“By using a band instead of a traditional composer, we’ve created a soundtrack that sounds completely unique,” said Ivan Pavlovich, Rockstar soundtrack supervisor. “HEALTH have created hundreds of hours of amazing music for the game’s score, and distilled it into a devastatingly moody and atmospheric soundtrack album."

Excerpts from "TEARS" can be heard in the new Max Payne 3 TV spot and you can hear more of what the band have to say about the game in their exclusive Q&A with Pitchfork.

The Max Payne 3 soundtrack will also feature a new and exclusive track from São-Paulo-based Brazilian hip-hop artist, Emicida.

DJ mixes heard during Max Payne 3's Nightclub chapter were compiled and mixed by Brooklyn based DJ collective Trouble & Bass, and will be available free as a digital download following the game's release.

Stay tuned for more info coming soon...

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Max Payne 3 Official TV Commercial

Posted: April 21, 2012 10:30AM | Author: R* Q

As world premiered during last night's Lakers/Spurs game on ESPN, here's the official new Max Payne 3 TV Commercial which will begin airing internationally over the next week.

The spot features the original soundtrack song "TEARS" by HEALTH - look for more info about the game's original soundtrack in the days ahead...

* By popular demand, we've made the TV Commercial files available for download at the links below:
Windows Media WMV: SD | HD QuickTime MP4: SD | HD

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A Take of the Max Payne Theme...

Posted: April 11, 2012 2:30PM | Author: R* A

Captured during the Max Payne 3 scoring sessions being conducted by Health at Woody Jackson's recording studio out in LA. Just one quick masterful take of the unmistakable Max Payne theme cue on cello.

We recently sent it around to Max Payne and Rockstar fansites who've posted it for you all to enjoy. Thanks to PayneKillers.com (embed), PayneReactor.com, RockstarNetwork.net, RockstarBase.com, RockstarWatch.net, RockstarSite.pl, RockstarSpy.com, RockstarTurk.com, Rockstar24.eu, GTAGaming.com, GTAPlace.hu, GTA-Series.com, GTA-Scene.de, GTAVision.com and all others.

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Max Payne 3 Soundtrack Details: São Paulo's Own EMICIDA

Posted: March 08, 2012 1:23PM | Author: R* A

Earlier this week, we brought you some first details about Max Payne 3's soundtrack with word of L.A. rock ensemble HEALTH's work crafting the game's unique original score (heard in dramatic fashion in the most recent Official Trailer).

Today, we're proud to announce that another key contributor to the game's aural action is celebrated São Paulo rap star Emicida - one of the leaders in a movement that's helped make São Paulo a veritable hip-hop capital for Brazil. Emicida is known for his tough and raw rhymes and freestyles ('Emicida' being a fusion of the words 'emcee' and 'homicide') and for his dedication not only to aesthetics but to imparting important messages of social justice as it relates to the downtrodden of his city and country. Winner of Act of the Year in the 2011 MTV VMB Awards, Emicida's regarded as one of the biggest icons in Brazilian music today and has rocked mega festivals around the world from Rock in Rio to SWU, Sonar, Planet, Atlantis to Coachella.

We reached out to Emicida last week for his candid thoughts on what it's been like working on original music for the game:

"Antes de mais nada, sou fã de video games, como disse nas primeiras reuniões sobre o jogo, temos aqui na Laboratório Fantasma uma admiração muito grande pela Rockstar pois todos, sem excessão somos fãs de GTA, entre outros titulos lançados por eles. Ter a oportunidade de fazer parte do Jogo Max Payne 3 foi muito especial, compor para o jogo então, foi como um sonho, trabalhar com uma história tão densa, obscura onde temos uma trama que se passa na cidade de São Paulo, minha amada São Paulo, é nisso que eu quis me apegar, no inferno astral do personagem somado a paisagem caótica da maior cidade da américa latina, com seus contrastes e cenários, tensão, violência, corrupção, principalmente em um momento tão delicado da história de São Paulo, onde presenciamos uma onda de ataques politicos contra a população de menor renda... estou ansioso para o lançamento e vai ser foda!!" - Emicida

("Before anything else, I’m a huge fan of video games as I shared with you guys during our first meetings regarding the game. Here at Laboratório Fantasma (Records), we have a great admiration for Rockstar and we are, without exception, fans of GTA, among other titles that Rockstar has released. Having the opportunity to be part of the game Max Payne 3 was really special. Creating a song for the game was simply like a dream. We worked along a storyline that is dense, obscure and that takes place in the city of São Paulo, our beloved São Paulo. My intention was to hold on to this idea, that of an astrological inferno – when all the planets are aligned against you – of a character immersed in a chaotic landscape in the largest city of Latin America, with its contrasts and scenarios of tension, violence, corruption, and especially at this very delicate moment in São Paulo’s history where we witness a wave of political attacks against our low-income communities... I am eagerly awaiting the release of the game and it’s gonna be f***ing awesome!!! - Emicida)

We'll have more details including info and a first listen of the original song he created for the game soon...
 

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First Max Payne 3 Soundtrack Details: HEALTH Crafting the Game's Original Score

Posted: March 05, 2012 6:02PM | Author: R* S

John Famiglietti (left) and Jupiter Keyes (right) of HEALTH recording Brazilian percussion for the original score of Max Payne 3. Special thanks to Rockstar soundtrack veteran composer Woody Jackson for the use of his studio. Photo by Eric Coleman.

We received a ton of fan inquiries regarding the powerful music heard in the recent official trailer for Max Payne 3, and today we're proud to reveal the artists responsible. Los Angeles-based rock band HEALTH are currently in the process of composing for both the score and soundtrack to the game, as revealed on music website Pitchfork.com today.

"Video games are redefining entertainment and whether people like it or not, they are becoming as culturally relevant as films,” said the band's Jake Duzsik. “We feel that Rockstar’s projects have an undeniably raw and tasteful aesthetic. It's vitally important to us that we be involved in things we respect artistically. Max Payne 3 has a complex story that unfolds mercilessly and we are excited to be a part of it." 

HEALTH's distinctive style perfectly suits Max's dark story, and the band went to great lengths to ensure that unique sounds and motifs were used to represent each specific locale featured in the game. In addition to composing the dynamic in-game score, HEALTH is creating exclusive songs for the game’s forthcoming soundtrack (which you can get as part of the Special Edition package). 

Look for announcements of more soundtrack details - including contributions from some of Brazil's own, and behind the scenes information about the music's creation - here at the Newswire very soon.
 

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