How League of Legends’ hip-hop group, True Damage, shows where Riot Games is heading
October 4, 2018
Keke Palmer took to the big stage in Paris’ AccorHotels Arena over the weekend, performing for millions of League of Legends fans in a grand opening ceremony that rivaled any of the grandest events seen in traditional sports.
But this time, she did so as part of a music group created entirely by the league’s operator, Riot Games, specifically for one of the most dedicated gaming fanbases, which was gathered to see FunPlus Phoenix and G2 Esports duke it out in this year’s world finals.
True Damage, as the hip-hop group is known, featured Palmer alongside artists Becky G, Soyeon, Duckwrth and Thutmose, who impersonated some of League of Legend’s most popular characters. It was put together not only to promote a set of new in-game skins and a partnership with Louis Vuitton, but to also represent the Tencent-owned game developer’s ever-expanding foothold in the wider entertainment landscape.
And given the continued growth of the gaming industry – projected to hit over $150 billion in revenue this year, according to Newzoo – the 26-year-old singer-actress wasn’t the least bit surprised that she was asked to be part of a music group dedicated to a fanbase of gamers.
“I know that the gaming world is major,” said Palmer. “From when I was a kid to now, seeing how it’s grown and evolved, I know what this world is. So when [Riot] came to me, I didn’t know about League of Legends, but I knew this was the real deal.”
“Just the level of production value and how they’re transforming these characters and giving them this new face and vibe with this music, I fell in love with the universe,” she added.
