Lamont’s Lists June 2009 What’s up peeps. Here is my attempt at capturing the 10 greatest lyrical performances of all time. This was really an impossible task. Clearly I have not heard every rap song ever recorded. So I am sure I have missed quite a few gems from lesser-known artists and from B-Sides material from some of my favorites MC’s. I also realize that this is a highly subjective exercise. What sounds fresh to one person may be absolutely grating to the next. But I am taking a stab nonetheless. Somebody has to do it, so why not me? There are a few important ground rules to note however: These are not the BEST SONGS ever made (that list would surely include “Nuthin’ But A G-Thang” and “Top Billin’) - These are just songs that contain the best lyrics These are SOLO PERFORMANCES – Group efforts and cameo appearances are excluded To avoid the “fallacy of recency” (I made that up). I have excluded songs that were released after 2006. Remember what constitutes great ...
Jay-Z's "Empire State Of Mind" , featuring the vocal stylings of Alicia Keys is a big wet kiss shout out to New York City. Extolling all that is righteous about New York, Jay's occasionally clever punchlines save the track from itself when it threatens to go from anthemic to sappy. Seeing Jay-Z perform this song several times over the past few weeks got me to thinking about the many other rap songs that have been dedicated to rappers' love of the big city. Ever since the dawn of hip hop, MC's have felt the need to confess their love for the city that invented the art form. Jay-Z himself has dedicated a half-dozen or so songs and countless verses to his beloved Brooklyn. Verbally representing one's borough has become so ingrained in rap vernacular that we no longer even notice this peculiar form of civic pride. Why are all these rappers trying to one-up the next man on how oppressive and bleak their home towns are? Is this really something to be proud of? I...
Some mourn in silence, some celebrate by dancing to classic tunes. I write rap lists. Here is my List of the 10 Best Rap Songs to sample Michael Jackson. Enjoy. Lamont Lamont's Lists June 2009 The Top 10 Rap Songs That Sample Michael Jackson 1. Izzo - Jay-Z (From " I Want You Back " / Produced by Kanye West) - This is the song that ignited Kanye's career, setting off a string of hits where he would leverage sped up soul classics to great effect. Jay-Z matched Kanye's clever idea by bringing forth some of his most captivating rhymes: some outlandish ("Can't leave rap alone the game needs me"), some humble ("I do this for my culture") and surely his most unforgettable hook ever ("H to the Izzo"). 2. It Ain't Hard To Tell - Nas (From " Human Nature " / Produced by The Large Professor) - Nas got his start from a cameo appearance on "Live at the BBQ" from a Main Source album. So it's only fitting that the ...
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