Face Off: Hip-Hop Edition
Hip-hop has changed the name of the American Dream. It has transformed white-picket fences into 22” rims on a blacked-out Escalade. It has changed a dutiful wife and kids to a harem of women and a loyal entourage. Climbing the corporate ladder has become burning the corporate ladder, just to build it again, but this time with diamonds. In the same line as fast cars and quick women, hip-hop moguls rise swiftly, but fall faster. Face Off is here to pick up those tattered, dusty pieces left behind by the has-beens and once-was, polish them off, and present you with a sparkling competition.
Adam’s Pick
Kentucky has produced innumerable cool things. For example, the KFC Double Down! But before the dawning of a new age of sandwich (try explaining to your kids that sandwiches used to be made with bread!), Kentucky was home to one of the most forgotten rap groups of our time: Nappy Roots. I am not sure whether today’s youth would understand an album like Watermelon, Chicken & Gritz, whose food technology is stuck in the dark ages, but a song like “Awnaw” transcends time…and sandwich technology.
Dave’s Pick
Back in the simpler times of 2001, New Orleans popped out a rapper with so much virulent frantic ferocity in his voice he just could not settle for second place. Indeed, Mystikal did not settle, and landed his third album, Let’s Get Ready, at the very tip top of the Billboard charts. Shake Ya Ass topped the album, and reigned supreme on the summer dance floor until it faded into the backrooms of history, retaining only a cult-fueled glow of its hay-day glory.
Mystikal, too, flung himself into Hollywood for a quick 2 year jaunt with the likes of Lil’ Jon, Ludacris, and a handsome Grammy nomination. But, in an all too familiar hip-hop legend twist, by the beginning of 2004 Mystikal was behind bars, accused of sexual assault… not really surprising when his top song includes lyrics, “Hope this indecent proposal make you do somethin’ with me.” Regardless if the song is written by a pervert, no doubt it will have you shakin’ ya ass, and probably showin’ what ya workin’ with, too.
Give a shout out to your favorite forgotten hip-hop track in the comments.
My pick:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuu9eqkWyG4&feature=fvst
In light of the violence and controversy surrounding the deaths of Biggie and Pac (not to mention the extent of their posthumous productions), people tend to forget about the other late, great MC’s of 90′s: Big L, Pun, ODB, and most recently, GURU.
The duo known as Gang Starr, comprised of rapper Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal and the talented DJ Premier, was a match made in heaven. GURU’s smooth, laid-back flow complement Primo’s jazzy beats like none other. Sadly, GURU passed away last year of a heart attack. He and Primo had gone their separate ways years earlier but only after amassing “more than a decade of hits that’ll live forever.” Truer words were never spat. Gang Starr may be no more, but to those of us hip-hop nostalgics, what they accomplished during their reign will never be matched.
This is more an ode to an artist than any one song, but I’ve picked Full Clip as my song of choice because it was the first song of theirs ever to grace my ears. One of the best yet, and one of the best still. Other favorites of mine include You know My Steez, Ex Girl to the Next Girl, Mass Appeal, Zonin’, and The Ownerz.
word. can’t go wrong when your song starts with a shout out to big l. in the vein of 90′s greats, i’d add on ATCQ to your list as well, but well said, rennie
all these songs suck.
my pick “Scraper Bike” – Trunk Boiz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geIsWq5xOSE
I’m cruising on my scraper bike, I’m grooving on my scraper bike. My scraper bike goes far, I don’t need no car, going on my scraper bike.
this is clearly a more meaningful and thought-provoking song.
gotta go with adam on this one. i’ve been listening to watermelon, chicken & gritz a lot lately. sorry, dave…
my favorite forgotten hip hop track: j-kwon’s “tipsy”. vintage 2004.