Electronic Arts, ever at the forefront of the lucrative licensing deal, has announced that along with the official release of NFL Street, the game that does for EA Sports' Madden franchise what NBA Street did for the Live series, that an impressive music agreement to coincide with the game's release.



Eschewing most of the pomp and guidelines of traditional NFL rules, NFL Street is a simple 7-on-7 game that plays more like the backyard and wherehouse pick up games us benchwarmers are more familiar with. Over 300 actual star NFL athletes from today's games that serve as highlight fodder as well as yesterday's legends like Lawrence Taylor, Barry Sanders, Walter Payton and William "Fridge" Perry can go toe to toe in eight different urban environs that boast unique surfaces like sand, turf, mud and dirt.



While the game will be shipping for all three platforms simultaneously, only the PlayStation 2 version will offer online play, something that should give exclusive-hungry PS2 fans plenty of "neener-neener" material in those oh so enjoyable console wars.



While the release of the game in stores tomorrow is certainly good news, those who find themselves uncontrollably bobbing their heads along with the game's soundtrack (which includes hits – some of them as-yet-unreleased pre-album cuts – from Korn featuring NAS, Killer Mike, Baby D featuring Bonecrusher and Dru, Bravehearts featuring Nas & Lil Jon, DJ Kayslay presents Three 6 Mafia featuring Lil Wyte and Frayser Boy, Fuel, Grafh, Jakk Frost, Lil Flip, Lostprophets, Wylde Bunch, X-ecutioners featuring Good Charlotte, and X-ecutioners featuring B-Real) or the original score crafted masterfully by the X-ecutioners will be able to listen to the soundtrack anywhere. The deal, inked between EA and Sony Music, will provide the soundtrack to retail music stores as well as birth two music videos that feature footage from the game.



"As leaders in the video game industry, EA continues to create unique and powerful music partnerships with those, like Sony Music, who have a shared vision to create unprecedented new opportunities," boasted Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive of Music for Electronic Arts.



"This project gives us the perfect opportunity to combine some of the most exciting artists working today with the fast growing -- and highly influential -- world of gaming," agreed Don Ienner, President, Sony Music U.S. "I have every confidence that this promotion will enable us to extend the reach of both our artists and NFL Street.



"This project will bring tremendous value to both EA and Sony Music," added Michele Anthony, Executive Vice President at Sony Music Entertainment. "The impressive roster of Sony Music artists contributing to the in-game soundtrack will add high levels of excitement and energy to NFL Street. At the same time our artists will be provided with a unique opportunity to expand their fan base. We look forward to working closely with Electronic Arts as we roll out this groundbreaking cross promotional campaign."



The deal reaches beyond a simple soundtrack, however, as Sony Music artists will do their part to pimp the goods by performing at NFL Street promos like the After Party that follows this year's Madden Bowl at the Super Bowl. MTV and MTV2 will air a Making the Game special on the game, and a slew of advertising bombardments across nearly all media, as well as demo discs given out along with select Sony Music albums.



The release of the game marks a rather flashy tie-in and certainly the most high profile in a long time. It remains to be seen if all this whooping will boost sales, but with the game garnering a fair share of good reviews, and the same team at EA Tiburon, the development house behind the Madden series, there's certainly plenty to look forward to. We'll have a full review in a f