As part of the new Rollingstone series, Nas created a top 10 list for the “Best Lyrical Hip Hop” songs of all time.
There are a few suspect choices here….
To those who follow the 7th Boro: PLEASE tell me YOU can come up with a better playlist…if so, PLEASE leave a comment with YOUR playlist
“When I said ‘hip-hop is dead’ a few years ago, I felt we’d gotten away from the great wordplay and storytelling,” says Nas. “There’s a place for the party shit and a place for the gangster shit. I focus on the guys that are always pushing themselves forward.”
1. “My Downfall” – Notorious B.I.G., 1997
The lyrics are about how he’s acing the shadows of death, despite all of his success, and he’s giving it to you in a way that makes it seem so real.
2. “If My Homie Calls” – 2pac, 1991
He’s just saying to his boys that he’s going to be a friend no matter how big he gets.
3. “Road To The Riches” – Kool G. Rap & DJ Polo, 1989
The way we’re rhyming now? He was already doing it then.
4. “A Bird In The Hand” – Ice Cube, 1991
5. “Paid In Full” – Eric B. & Rakim, 1987
6. “I’m Single” – Lil Wayne, 2010
I’m recently divorced, so I feel what he’s saying.
7. “Tears of Joy” – Rick Ross, 2010
Ross is at the pulpit here.
8 “The Moment I Feared” – Slick Rick, 1988
It’s cinematic. He’s at a hip-hop show and ices this girl who played him, then he’s in prison getting violated by some dude. This was unheard of.
9. “Empire State of Mind” – Jay-Z, 2009
This song is huge. It sounds like Broadway. It’s New York’s modern anthem.
10. “Queen Bitch” – Lil’ Kim, 1996
At the time, females rappers didn’t appeal to the street, but Kim came with the vulgarity, sexuality and gangster shit.
Definitely some suspect joints cmon Wayne n Ross….ughh Nas disappoints at times just like his choosing his beats for past 5 albums! Anyways, here’s my list
1. The message grandmaster flash.. Melle just paints such a vivid Real NYC at that time!
2. Cosign Paid in full Rakim is just 2 clever on this short song. I always wished the song was 5 minutes longer full of lyrics.
3. Special Ed.. I got it made, just on the strength of Ed being so young and writing those lyrics
4. Definitely Cosign KGR road to riches… One of the anthems of my adolescent yrs
5. Intelligent Hoodlum arrest the president, tragedy just gave it raw to the devil Bush (pause)
6. Tragedy Khadafi permanently scarred..just deep lyrics
7. Slick Rick runaway dope flows in storytelling
8. Krs UNO my philosophy (nuff said)
9. OC times up.. These lyrics changed the game
10. Nas memory lane sitting on da park..I chose this one cud it’s a Queens heads favorite
11. Public enemy shut em down..honorable mention Chuck D without even trying evokes sop much emotion with this one.
Wow sooo many songs to choose from can be broken down into eras but I’ll stick to these!
I thought of these songs in about 10 minutes on the ride home from work lol
Peace
L, I was baffled by that choice too! What joints would you have chose? I think I’m going to make that a blog topic.
GoodConvo,YOU don’t wanna’see my list.I said a few weeks ago lyric for lyric line for line-look@year he pen’d-’86-’87,Then go delivery,content,length(pause)of quality&KGR’s as Bob and i agreed on ONCE in’90&then in2010,20yrs.from first convo“MEN@WORK,stands-up as lyrical CHAMPION,no mc(w/out f’n w/KGR’s cadence*read bit*)can touch.imvho.
KRS-UNO,“part time-sucker”noone was close to this VOCABULISTIC wordplay in f’n’88.L,yo “MyPhilosophy”,i got Poetry(is really the pt.1 to “my philosophy”,1st track battle rhymes to set pace for Genius to follow,all my choices,are b-sides,rmx’s,or LPtracks.I Have the BALLS for this discussion,if it’s done in forum,let me know.Otherwise,i’m not gonna’ish on ONE man’s taste.MILLS,like what you like!!!!I’ma put Gil-Scott-Heron,ah,Narrow scope(s),it’s your boro though.
damn where’s life’s a bitch at? AZ.and that’s on your own album son.what!
&Let the dude NAS be NAS,i’m pure as pure gets,i have big problem(pause)with not just leaving wack alone,and concentrate on what’s dope.
@DjRaulCee,Trk.Lst.for your fiyahhhhhhhhh!!!!in a min.,some testing of ligaments(or lack there of)&i’m 5g’s.After 30days,like RUN-DMC,by way Run&D are lyrical.Let’s gather mindsquad@the boro@A SET TIME,&BUILD.we’ll come(pause)up w/a list(TRUST ME,if not all bredren,after1000 symposium’s@NMS,still my fav event.Outside90%of RSC anny’s&def UZN anny’s.Let’s really do this correct,a newsletter to subscibers w/picks of 20-40yr.old’s people need to see the younger heds ARE paying attn.&some are know it alls,MINDSQUAD time dunny,lol.
Bahamadia’s“TotalWreck”,if being fair.She’s splitting wigs in’93,when JEAN GREASY was rhyming in front of my crib w/OBS(OriginalBadSeed,&my mello LFudge,who’s quite wicked himself.For all this PAID IN FULL,i say HUH!?!?RAKIM’s greatest lyrical contribution,the whole LargePro/PaulC 2cavas masterpieces of “Let the Rhythm…”&Follow the Leader-go back&listen to trk.,noone’d mention “No Competition”,followed by “Put your Hands Together”on the latter this one line takes many out,“Seven holes in my face as i’m lookin out my window,..”in’88!!!!or’08.UNTOUCHABLE.then go listen to Scarface’s(&know ones more NY-Centric*read admitedly,a lil’regionally biased than moi)but for pure EMOTION,coupled w/the skill(think KGR,born in 5thWard of Houston)“Now I Feel You”&for pure accuracy,w/in a specific content(ie,VietnamWar,in this case)peep RA’S“UncommonValor” if after listening to(it’s on a JediMindTrick’sLP,I’LL HAVE TITLE D-LOADED TO MY MEDULA,CEREBRAL CORTEX by next post,lol)Before blog’s existed(&i still have them)i did something similar on POSTER BOARD,i would take DopestRhymeOfMonth,reviews w/quotables,etc.and give them to my A,B,&C-ALIKES.As far as “Life’s a Bitch”one more verse apiece it’s in thier.On ILLMATIC(&he was playing humble.Which in person,i’ve interviewed in’96.after i felt IT WAS WRITTEN was reviewed unfairly.Strees mag was leary,that he would think we’d jump on sabatoging bandwagon,until i assured him via cordless phone,lol.I’m of opinion that it’s a great follow-up.Loved-it in’96,and love-it now.I asked him w/this exact sentence,Can you take me on a physical tour of 40&41st sides thru the eyes that have been responsible for 2 of(illmatic&infamous)hiphop’s best LP’s ever in an 18 mo.span.HE REFUSED.point being,NAS’is an f’n enigma!imho.That being said Raul,“NYSOM”other than/&including original STREET’S DESCIPLE,kgr’s“Streets of NY”&L-Gato’s#1,“THE MESSAGE”both once the great MelleMel,@LQ said to KRS,on stage(you’ll enjoy this)“let’s battle(it was’86,&“S.BX.”was only joint KRS had out,“TheBridge is Over”wasn’t even out yet.)said to KRS,whom was backed 50deep,with trueJamaican’s.not Jafakin’s,lol.“Let’s battle for$100!?!?”,KRS laughed,going into the leather pockets,of the BDPcrews many UNI’s,a15yr.old D-NICE,also there playing“the human tr808”,SERCH had just bravely rock,shocked many Non-belivers,for the last time.(talk about brave,dues-payer,true-schooler.Many*&most of NAS’roads lead directly to McSerch*so KRS proceeded to struggle,as if he was broke&fighting lint-balls(pause)to get to spare-change,then,ALWAYS one(krs)for flair for the dramatical,then goes in matching BDPjacket pocket,&goes“THERE it is!”with many unable to see him,a fever pitch was reached as he called for the Spotlight on him(never one,ha.to be SHY)he then(&keep in mind Feb.’86 this for anyone except a DD,is/was alot of loot)pulls-out(pause)a NOT that was 5stacks minimum,and looks at MelleMel,w/that look.and goes“Make it a thousand”!!!!,live&direct,Melle hung,his hed til’chin touched his usual shirtless chest.Ask around,100%unadaulterated story,my point is.I lost some respect for MelleMel,off that.He’s a Grandmaster,a title not many emcees(Caz,)can claim.Also,it solidifies Nas’“NYSOM”,especialy being 6verses&80barrs deep,the most vivid account of how it is,was,&may always be.“laughing@baseheds tryin’ta sell some broken amps”sounds simple,nah.He gives you visuals we’ve all scene,inside of the VISUAL.the lyrics of “Halftime”alone take-out many mc’s.truely gifted ones whole lp’s.I’D love to have 5-7 of us in a simultaneous discussion,&INVITE,your fans/followers to join us.Being i’m one of all3.fan/follower/contributor(i try to!)
Wow, Nas really f’d that one up big time. Here’s my list, in no particular order.
1.)You Must Be Out Your F*ckin’ Mind by Fat Joe. Kool G Rap’s verse.
2.)Life’s A Bitch by Nas
3.)I Can’t Wake Up by KRS-One
4.)Fly On Paper by Daniel Joseph
5.)Ebonics by Big L
6.)Vital Nerve by Company Flow
7.)One Day by Jeru The Damaja
8.)Runaway by Slick Rick
9.)Let It Slide by O.C.
10.)Cab Fare by Souls Of Mischief
I have many more to add to this, but these are the ones that popped into my mind. Still greatly disappointed in Nas’ options. Especially considering how many people’s list he’s made it on to.
Finaly did a qk.list&mon.blues on a tues.,this f’n wii lost memory,like f’n amnesiac,and it didn’t post and that sucks.Think you’d have enjoyed.Stroy,i made it to end(pause)you think salvageable,if not i’ll tryin’redux exact,YOU can’t recreate same magic.feel like bufoon.Was just ready to hit button“POST”,&BONG!