The Fortnite world has gotten a little more exciting with an unexpected collaboration: a tribute to the late West Coast rapper Nate Dogg. However, the community has reacted rather… let’s just say, polarizingly. The new ‘Gangsta Walk’ emote hit the item shop, and anyone making their first purchase on the web platform received it for free. It is a topic of divided opinion whether this homage is either on point or way off for this community.
It’s a walk with bounce and exaggeration to a remixed rendition of Nate Dogg’s iconic flow. Some very much vibed to this West Coast old-timer, whereas others were having a blast blasting the animation. “This ain’t gangsta. ts stupid af,” said one player, while another player jokingly commented, “More like goofy walk 😂✌️.” More objections have been coming from players who are saying that the gun-dance did not carry that hardcore brand of energy from the song-one even saw it as “a disrespect to Nate Dogg.”
Inevitably, in such debates, a few will speak in defense of the Eminem-Fortnite collaboration. Some were actually feeling this lighthearted take: “I love the new adaptation. They couldn’t add ‘smoke weed everydayyy’ so this will do! 🔥🤣.” Another one added to the laughter: “The skin is funnier than the dance in real life.”
Then you add the remixed track into the mix and things get even more heated – A lot of comments are whining about Epic for not using the original, with one bluntly stating, “this remix is so ass bro shouldve used the original.” Others just have no clue about the whole concept – “WHAT THEY DO TO MY DOGG NATE???” is one such all-caps reaction.
Fortnite’s interpretation of hip-hop culture has created ripples throughout the years. Remember the “Tidy” emote that made the Milly Rock look like something your grandma would do at a wedding? The game’s family-friendly slant does lend itself to very watered-down versions of street dances that usually don’t go down too well with the people who know an original context.
Interestingly enough, all this uproar did not put off some of the new suggestions coming in. “we need a Till I Collapse Eminem emote with the Nate Dogg hook,” one player sourced, so it remains clear that a demand still exists for rap done right. Others are just glad to get the name Nate Dogg being recognized in any way. “Fortnite really bringing the West Coast vibes with this one.”
Should the emote sell well despite the roasting on Twitter, the real test remains on this emote’s sales performance, and far more hip-hop legends are to get the treatment from Fortnite. From one person’s point of view, however, “It’s been an hour and 47 minutes, and I haven’t seen anyone use this emote once in Murder mystery,” might never join the official ranks of iconic Fortnite dances anytime soon.
In the end, one more occasion of Fortnite doing what Fortnite does-they take cultural touchstones into their colorful and chaotic world. Whether this is a good thing or not remains entirely up for debate on Twitter. One thing that is in no doubt is that Nate Dogg killing some crooning on a Fortnite build was a collab no one even questioned for coming in 2024.
