List of DJ Hero 2 musicians has been revealed

The list of artists expecting to appear in the sequel to Activisions nightclub-infused rhythm game sports a healthy dose of Daft Punk, Kanye West and many more

Last year’s DJ Hero was a well-received if somewhat undersold new franchise from a money-hungry Activision keen to expand their invasion of the music game genre. Silly plastic peripherals aside, the game was surprisingly deep and rewarding even if it lacked the party-centric vibe offered by Rock Band and other group-friendly music.

Well, as part of Activision’s ‘milk it until it’s dead’ business model, we have a new DJ Hero game set to release just a year after the original. Snide pot-shots at Activision aside, the new title boasts an impressive set list of artists just perfect for the new music game:

* 2Pac
* 50 Cent
* Adamski
* Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force
* Armand Van Helden
* A-Trak
* B.o.B.
* Basement Jaxx
* BlakRoc
* Bobby Womack
* Bruno Mars
* Busta Rhymes
* Calvin Harris
* Chamillionaire
* Chic
* Chris Willis
* Clinton Sparks
* Colby O’Donis
* Daft Punk
* Damian Marley
* David Guetta
* Deadmau5
* Deee-Lite
* Dillinja
* Diplo
* Dizzee Rascal
* DJ Shadow
* Donna Summer
* Dr. Dre
* Drake
* Edwin Starr
* Eminem
* Estelle
* Flo Rida
* Gorillaz
* Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
* Harold Faltermeyer
* House Of Pain
* Iyaz
* Jackson 5
* Janet Jackson
* Justice
* Kanye West
* Kaskade
* Kelis
* Keri Hilson
* Kid Cudi
* Kool & The Gang
* Lady Gaga
* Lil Jon
* Lil Wayne
* LL Cool J
* M.I.A.
* M|A|R|R|S
* Major Lazer
* Malcolm McLaren
* Mase
* Melle Mel & Duke Bootee
* Metallica
* Missy Elliott
* Mos Def
* MSTRKRFT
* N.O.R.E.
* Nas
* Nate Dogg
* Naughty By Nature
* Nelly
* New Boyz
* New Order
* Newcleus
* Nightcrawlers
* Orbital
* Pharoahe Monch
* Pirate Soundsystem
* Pitbull
* Puff Daddy
* Pussycat Dolls
* Rihanna
* Robin S.
* RZA
* Salt N Pepa
* Sam Cooke
* Sam Sparro
* Sean Paul
* Skibadee
* Sneaky Sound System
* Snoop Dogg
* Snow
* Soulja Boy Tell Em
* Sparfunk & D-Code
* Static Major
* Stevie Wonder
* Talib Kweli
* The Chemical Brothers
* The Crystal Method
* The Egg
* The Notorious B.I.G.
* The Prodigy
* Tiësto
* Tiga
* Timbaland
* Tweet
* Walter Murphy
* Warren G
* Wayne Smith
* Will.I.Am
* Yeah Yeah Yeahs
* Young Jeezy

I’m delighted to see some Prodigy and DJ Shadow in there, but as with the first DJ Hero, the fun is in realising just how richly layered some otherwise disposable chart-topping pop songs can be. DJ Hero 2 might be a bit premature, but there’s enough juicy new music here to keep plenty of people interested.

DJ Hero 2 is penciled in for a Q4 release to grab the holiday market. Put money on a November release.

Source: Entertainment Weekly