There's quite a bit of repetition in the game these days, and specific lyrics tend to get overlooked (with the exception of redacted lyric leaks from Jay-Z). This is an opportunity to take a closer listen and really consider what these artists have to say. We encourage your opinions.
Keep in mind, these are the most noteworthy lyrics of the week, not necessarily the best. Also, it's hard to get everything right - if you notice any errors, don't hesitate to let us know in the comments section. Lines we're not quite sure about will be bolded.
This series is brought to you by our collaborators at gotbars.com, currently one of the most efficient providers of the latest hip-hop and R&B lyrics. Get familiar and create an account with them to continue the discussion directly:
Most Popular: Drake
1.) Most Popular: Drake ft. Sampha - The Motion (Prod. By 40 & SBTRT)
Drake dropped several new tracks last week, but this one took the cake as far as numbers go. One of his "venting" tracks, it's comparable to "The Ride," "The Calm" and "The Resistance," with Drizzy both bemoaning and accepting his lot in life. The verses are incredibly short, though.
Thoughts?
[Verse 1]
I don't have a fuck to give, I've been moving state to state
In my leather and my Timbs like it's 1998
And my dog Chubby Chub, that's my nigga from the way
On the East side of the city that's where everybody stay
Seem like everybody calling cause they want me on their song
It's like every time I touch it I could never do no wrong
When they need a favor from your man, they don't leave you alone
But I guess that's just the motion
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Most Meaningful - J. Cole ft. Nas - Let Nas Down (Remix)
Nas repurposed J. Cole's song about disappointing him shortly after the release of Born Sinner, assuring him that he in fact didn't let him down, and it struck a chord across the Hip Hop community.
How did this track affect you?
[Verse 1: Nas]
I ain't mad at you, young king, this unsung song is haunting
Along comes a one some call the offspring
The Earth spins, my Old Earth grin, sung a church hymn
She birthed in September, took my first wind, again, the Earth spins
I jumped in my first Benz, fled out, let out screams
Got in the game and took bread out
The nerve of these niggas, weak flow, yo Cole, let's murder this sequel
Freedom or jail from Fayetteville to QB, though
'Cause back when I was young there was massive niggas
But I passed them niggas, just being nasty nigga
Military hat, fatigue pants sagging, Henny'd up
Execs asking "will he live to see his own release date happen?"
Straight off the corner with the armour, Arm & Hammer
But I had a appeal, I was a charmer
Yet still, being my mama's son was my biggest honor
This shit was just kinda just a hobby in my project lobby
We was trying to be the Queensbridge Cosby's
But the street life robbed me of that, so I had to put it in raps
And who could I ask for help? Older niggas was gettin' mad
But that's the gift and the curse, that's the good and the bad
At least you got Jay, but he already one of the greats
And it's hard for the great to tell somebody how to be great
Nigga, I tried, and niggas threw that shit right back in my face
They took my cosign, but they ain't let me EP their tapes
And when they joint tanked, that's when they point blame
So point blank, young Cole, you won't be the same
The first album freedoms and them fourth album pressures
A big difference between 'em but I get why you said it
Radio records are needed, I just wanted it to bring the warning
Global warming to that cold world you was breathin'
That's some advice I never got
If I don't sell another record, I'll just steady rock
While you was writing down my rhymes I was just tryna to show you
That if you say what's on your mind, you can stand the test of time
Now I'm playin' Born Sinner loud, saw you live, rock the crowd
Like wow, you made your nigga Nas proud
Biggest Remix: Migos ft. Drake - Versace (Remix)
Yes, more Drake. His contribution to this buzzing single from Atlanta's Migos was by far the most talked-about remix of the week. The Torontonian emcee, who feels like Atlanta adopted him, takes his verse to the extremes of luxury elitism. There's really not much else to be said about it.
The remix was apparently supposed to feature Lil Reese as well. It's probably for the best it didn't, more for his sake than anything.
[Verse 1: Drake]
Versace, Versace, Medusa head on me like I'm 'Luminati
This is a gated community, please get the fuck off the property
That must be changin'
'Cause I'm at the top and there's no one on top of me
Niggas be wantin' a verse for a verse, but man, that's not a swap to me
Drownin' in compliments, pool in the backyard that look like Metropolis
I think I'm sellin' a million first week, man, I guess I'm an optimist
Born in Toronto but sometimes I feel like Atlanta adopted us
What the fuck is you talkin' 'bout?
Saw this shit comin' like I had binoculars
Boy, Versace, Versace, we stay at the mansion when we in Miami
The pillows Versace, the sheets are Versace, I just won a Grammy
I been so quiet, I got the world like "What the fuck is he plannin'?"
Just make sure that you got a back up plan
'Cause that shit might come in handy
Started a label, the album is comin' September, just wait on it
This year I'm eating your food and my table got so many plates on it
Hundred-inch TV at my house, I sit back like "damn I look great on it"
I do not fuck with your new shit, my nigga, don't ask for my take on it
Speakin' in lingo, man this for my niggas that trap out the bando
This for my niggas that call up Fernando to move a piano
Fuck all your feelings 'cause business is business, it's strictly financial
I'm always the first one to get it, man, that's how you lead by example
Versace, Versace, Versace, Versace, Versace, Versace
Word to New York
'Cause the Dykeman & Heights girls are callin' me "papi"
I'm all on the low, take a famous girl out where there's no paparazzi
I'm tryna give Halle Berry a baby, and no one can stop me
Most Conscious / Poetic: The Bullitts ft. Jay Electronica - Murder, Death, Kill
A rare verse from the elusive Jay Electronica, who's currently rolling in that Rothschild dough. This is one of several collaborations with The Bullitts, aka Jeymes Samuel, and is included on the latter's recent They Die By Dawn & Other Stories album, which was also accompanied by a short film.
The verse is a brief but potent one, with Electronica poetically reflecting on the world's ills, both global and interpersonal.
Thoughts?
[Verse 3: Jay Electronica]
From Bourbon to Bexhill - it's murder, death, kill
The Earth is like a ferris wheel, we all just sit still
Satan's drill, oil spilled all into my gills
What a world, what a world we leave for the children to rebuild
But that's another time, another project
Another budget, another rhyme, another purpose
Another circus, another clown car, another mind
On the other line, I heard a voice that cried as if I hurt her soul
The decision cut across my throat between my ears, was surgical
From 90 degrees vertical, to a 180 flatline
From all these and those, I just wish I could take back that time
You know the one
Where you did the thing, and you know you shouldn't of done that
The pain was like a boomerang that karma always brung back
A woman scorned is a page torn, a bridge burned, et cetera
A picture's worth a thousand words, so welcome to the cinema
In the words of Rex Mills:
"The cemetery of love is filled with murder, death, kill"
Most Reflective: Jon Connor ft. Smoke DZA & Chris Webby - When I Was Young
A choice cut from Jon Connor's new Unconscious State album, which samples Supertramp's "The Logical" and finds the three emcees reflecting on their respective come-ups and struggles both in life and the music industry. They remind us that, no matter the level of success you may achieve, it's important to remember where you came from.
Can you dig it?
[Verse 3: Jon Connor]
When I was young, nobody told us or showed us, crooked promoters
Flint, Michigan, General Motors held the weight on our shoulders
Until the shops started closing, felt like ain't nobody want us
Our parents worked to the bone, now they ain't got a bone to throw us
Now see how many kids is daydreaming about a label
Yep, this rap shit is a bitch but the only one that was faithful
Make it or die trying, at times it almost got fatal
My niggas was moving 'caine in the times they was barely able
Brothers killin' brothers, shit goin' on all around me
Genesee County would ground me and teachers would try to clown me
'Cause I had heart that was bigger than my surroundings
I got flooded with hate, but no way I could let 'em drown me
Picture this one:
I used to go to sleep at night listening to "It Was Written"
Then fastforward, Nas is tellin' me "nigga, you gifted"
If you fall, just shake it off
Now they sayin' it's my time, but time just caught up with my thoughts
Realest / Best Storytelling: Machine Gun Kelly - Dark Side Of The Moon
The closing track on Machine Gun Kelly’s new Black Flag mixtape is both moving and intense. The tragic stories of two troubled teens are separated by a hook that simply but vividly illustrates the darker side of life. "This was one of the quickest songs I’ve ever written. It flowed so easily out of my pen onto paper that night. I sat down and didn’t move or even get up once until the song was done," says MGK of the track in a verified Rap Genius annotation.
Can you relate?
[Verse 2]
Hailey's in love
But Hailey's in 7th grade entertaining and dating a 21 year old scrub
Hailey's in love
Bailing on class to give him some action
In the back of his daddy’s old truck
Now Hailey threw up
A couple weeks after their interaction
Guess her man didn’t use no glove
Hailey knew but
Couldn’t bear it to watch the parents she loved and cherished
See their little girl knocked up
Hailey's school bus
Got the word about what happened
Now even the faculty is whispering that she’s a slut
Hailey's in love
But Hailey's more afraid of being hated
Now her and her baby brainless in the tub, damn...
Most Braggadocios: Ace Hood - We Them Niggas
The words to the latest leak from Ace Hood's upcoming Trials & Tribulations album were among the most popular of the week. What the track lacks in lyrical complexity it makes up for in posturing of biblical proportions, and finds Hood further solidifying his presence among the elite.
Thoughts?
[Verse 2]
I let them haters keep talkin' while the money pile up
I pull up in a two-seater, you see him with a badass bitch
Lil' nigga, that's a must
Good Lord! Good Lord!
Man, her ass so retarded it belong on a short yellow bus
And she rollin' with them niggas, but she knew that already
Yeah, we heavy in this bitch like "what?"
Now where you from, where you from?
Don't nobody else matter but your day one niggas from the jump
Yeah we started from the bottom with a dream and a dollar
Keep it real, shorty, I know you wanna fuck
Amen! Amen!
Swear this watch that I'm wearin' on my wrist
Man, this shit is pretty rare
Everything I do big, all I do is set trends
You can try it, don't nobody really care
Don't nobody really care
I can show you my committee, in my city
Boy, I'm treated like the mayor
Way the bezel gold is shining on a 100 grand Rollie
Boy, it really ain't a choice but to stare
I'm just keepin' shit player...
No Comment: Ying Yang Twins: Miley Cyrus
The latest track from the Ying Yang Twins is a "tribute" to Miley Cyrus, and will appear on their upcoming Ass In Session mixtape. We'll let y'all be the judge of this one...
[Verse 2]
These girls don't twerk? They think it's a gimmic?
P-pop like crack rock, a real epidemic
Tell the DJ, beat it out the speaker
Open up the club, in come the geekers
And it ain't got shit to do with color
They go into the club and shake in that motherfucker
So pop your pussy, bitch, do a split, make it thick
Show them ma'fuckas what it mean when they say "twerkin' it"
Miley Cyrus, ooh she wildin'
The way she shake her ass keep a nigga smilin'
She's so amazing, she work the stage
Hypnotize minds, so she's gettin' paid
With her camel toe, she steals the show
Put her pussy in your face like a freaky hoe (yup)
Smell like Bath & Body Works
So it’s alright, you twerk... bitch