Skip to main content

Get interactive with Run The Jewels’ new VR video Crown

This Thursday! Crown in Virtual Reality! #VRTJ
Virtual Reality is slowly-but-surely making its way into multiple forms of entertainmennt, including the music industry. Adding an edge to music videos, hip-hop duo Run The Jewels have incorporated the technology into their new music video for Crown, premiering on The New York Times VR app.

Currently working on their third studio album, Run The Jewels 3, the duo released an immersive video in support of their latest track. Directed by Oscar-nominee Peter Martin, whose previous video work includes acts like Nick Cave, M.I.A, and Janelle Monae, the video takes viewers on a 360-degree ride with people screaming in the background, while thunderstorms and weapons add a dark feel.

For the video, the Jewels (Killer Mike and El-P) teamed up with VR production company Wevr to finish off the 360-degree views. “Run The Jewels was at the top of our list to work with in VR because they tell immersive stories set to music and art. I believe their brand of hip-hop will lead VR in the right direction and we’re stoked to be collaborating with them to bring VR to a larger audience,” says Wevr co-founder Anthony Batt on an NME interview.

Crown comes as a part of the Times’ new Music Issue, featuring another VR video by the neo-soul band The Internet. The Times is approaching one year of experimenting with the technology. The publication began creating short films last April but didn’t release its first VR film until November 2015.

The VR video is also the first from VRTJ, Run the Jewels’ upcoming platform that will showcase their VR content. Crown is available for iOS and Android users in its entirety via the New York Times VR app. Run the Jewels will be preparing a special edition Google Cardboard headset to coincide with Record Store Day on April 16th.

Editors' Recommendations

Maria Mora
Maria Mora is a creative, media professional fusing a background of audio production with editorial writing. Technology…
Apple’s AR/VR headset gets one step closer to a reality
Apple VR Headset Concept by Antonio De Rosa

Apple's rumored first step into AR and VR has been hush-hush, but a new report indicates that the mixed-reality headset may be getting closer to its grand unveiling.

As reported by Bloomberg, Apple's board got a sneak peek at the company's upcoming mixed-reality headset at a quarterly meeting. This meeting was attended by "eight independent directors" and CEO Tim Cook.

Read more
Apple’s VR headset could get these surprise iOS features
A person wearing a virtual reality headset.

Recent weeks have brought some interesting revelations about Apple’s upcoming mixed-reality headset, including details on its realityOS operating system. Now, a new report says the device could use two staple features of iOS: Memoji and SharePlay.

The news comes from reporter Mark Gurman, who has a history of providing accurate leaks and rumors regarding Apple devices. In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman explains that Memoji and SharePlay will enable Apple’s headset to provide a FaceTime experience similar to what Apple users already get on iOS and MacOS.

Read more
Two new ‘game-changing’ VR headsets could arrive at HTC’s ViveCon next week
HTC Vive Pro Eye virtual reality headset

HTC has been teasing that a new virtual reality headset could launch at its Vivecon conference next week, but the company may have more up its sleeve. We are hearing reports that HTC has several VR headsets in the works. The company is expected to launch at least two new headsets at ViveCon on May 11, and it will likely use the venue to talk about the recently leaked Vive Air.

The two headsets rumored to be launching at ViveCon are the HTC Vive Pro 2 and the Vive Focus 3 Business Edition. HTC's sports-focused Vive Air was leaked late last month, but the company quickly debunked speculation that this particular model will be launching any time soon. Instead, HTC said that the Vive Air is just a concept.

Read more