NEED FOR SPEED UNBOUND'S OFFICIAL SOUND REVEALED
Ride to a Genre-Defying Soundtrack with Songs from Trailblazing Global Artists and Original Score from Electronic & Hip-hop Icon Brodinski
Find Freedom in the Flow
Self-expression starts with self-discovery. You cannot know who you truly are or the endless possibilities of who you can be without exploring the world around you. Music opens us up to those worlds, and its people, communities and cultures.
Music is one of the ultimate vessels to self-discovery, and has long been an important element in every Need for Speed™ experience. Next to our customizable rides, our in-game soundtracks have brought us closer to reality, and you closer to your dreams.
Need for Speed Unbound’s soundtrack is a +70-track ride through hip-hop culture around the world – a lens into different musical perspectives and interpretations. It’s about expression through discovery. The global soundtrack was designed to deliver on a distinct vibe that’s uniquely Need for Speed, while still remaining eclectic in genre, intensity and emotion. There is a special emphasis to introduce music created by incredibly talented artists who are non-English speaking, female and/or BIPOC, to millions of NFS players around the world who may not have heard them otherwise.
Chase Straight, Need for Speed’s Senior Brand Manager who led the music direction for NFS Unbound, pointed out: “The most immediate thing that players will notice is the emphasis on global expressions of hip-hop. Nearly half of our soundtrack is non-English, putting a spotlight on art and artists that are making waves in their region of the world that we hope to give a global platform to.”
A$AP Rocky and his creative agency AWGE’s new track “Sh*ttin’ Me'' will be a licensed track in the game. The multi-hyphenated artist, entrepreneur, actor and fashion icon, premiered this awesome new track in the Need for Speed Unbound reveal trailer. Oh, and to top it off, all of AWGE is also represented on the soundtrack, including songs from Kelvin Krash, Slowthai, Smooky MarGielaa, Thoto, and ICYTWAT, plus A$AP Mob favorites A$AP Ant and A$AP Ferg.
When players aren’t vibing to up-and-coming artists in NFS Unbound, they can immerse themselves in the original genre-blending score composed by Brodinski, the French electronic and hip-hop producer and founder of the French electro label Bromance Records. Brodinski’s keen ear for new and inspiring sounds around the globe helped develop an original score that encourages both discovery and expression, while also providing additional tunes that amplify the different moods and experiences within NFS Unbound.
Over the years Brodinski has formed a close relation with the underground rap community in Atlanta and has dedicated his career to mentoring and promoting the region’s young, talented rappers. Make sure to check out his collaborations with Tohji, JMK$ and Peewee Longway in the soundtrack while you’re cruising through the streets of Lakeshore.
NFS Unbound’s soundtrack and score is also equipped to get you lit up when you’re white-knuckling in a race. Criterion Games audio director Nathaniel Daw is there to make sure the audio experience is just right in NFS Unbound: “We doubled down on the connection between the street racing scene and music. Players will hear the bass pounding from the meetups, and as they race, we bring the music to the forefront, timed and mixed to deliver the energy and thrill of the moment. Every track in a race has been specially cut to make sure the start and finish are as big as they can be. We've made sure that when the countdown hits 0, the music is always arriving at the perfect moment to kick start your race.”
With self-expression at the core of Need for Speed Unbound, we’re giving you decals from a selection of artists on the soundtrack to customize your rides. This is a first for us in the NFS franchise. You can finally let your rivals know the beats you’re listening to when you leave them in your dust.
So while you and your car may be confined to the streets of Lakeshore City, the music will take you around the world and back.
The real question is why wait until launch to start your global journey of hip hop discovery? Check out and bump to Need for Speed Unbound’s full licensed tracklist here.