Repetition remains a reality in the rap game, and specific bars tend to get overlooked. 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 sure about will be bolded.
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Hypest: ScHoolboy Q - Man Of The Year
"Man Of The Year" is ScHoolboy Q's contribution to the NBA Live 14 soundtrack, intended to hype players up, not intellectually stimulate them.
Q's a West Coast gangster rap revivalist. No need for anything overly complicated here.
[Excerpt]
Yeah, home of the party and the trees
Sunny land of the G's
Please let a nigga breathe
Tank top, top down for the breeze
Burnt lips, got a blunt full of weed
Peace, love, enemies
Nigga, I ain't come for the beef
You ain't know she came for the skeet?
Got bite for the cheeks
Nigga, I'm the life of the beat
Bump this shit, gotta eat
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Realest: Snake Hollywood - Radio Silence
"I rap a scripture to snatch a soul through a halo."
For those unfamiliar, Snake Hollywood is a hip-hop recording artist out of Brooklyn. His latest offering, produced by NY Bangers, finds him bemoaning the state of rap on the radio, and perhaps music on the radio in general. He pledges to forever remain true to his beliefs, unforgivingly dissecting the flaws of the mainstream. It doesn't get much realer than this.
Note the Ab-Soul name drop at the 3:00 minute mark. Before joining TDE, Soulo was in a group called A51 (Area 51) with Snake. We're not quite sure what their relationship is at this point (Soul appeared on Snake's previous track, "Choke"), but it seems a bit complicated.
Snake's new album My Condolences: Addendum is slated to drop on November 29th. Stay tuned.
[Excerpt]
When you lyrical, they try to say you retro
The interference from critics got all the spitters lookin' for gimmicks
Siftin' through every rack in the kitchen for trap lyrics
That and passionate raps for the women, but...
Fuck nigga, my language is anguish - pain, suffering and rage mixed
Do the math, its triggernomic, grandaddy exotic leaf from out the street
Please pray with me, father
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Darkest: Danny Brown - Sweeney Song (Prod. By Mndsgn)
Sweeney Kovar, owner of extinct rap blog "Classic Drug References", is compiling a box set of the same name featuring new music from Ras G, Blu, Knxwledge and more. This collaboration between Danny Brown and Los Angeles producer Mndsgn, named after Sweeney himself, will also be included.
"Sweeney Song" finds the old Danny Brown spitting ruthlessly over a disjointed but effective instrumental from Mndsgn. Throughout the song, the inimitable Detroit emcee paints vividly nightmarish images that border on disturbing. For those quick to hate, the intent here clearly wasn't to make you feel comfortable.
(Head over to iTunes to pre-order Classic Drug References Vol. 1, if you wish.)
[Excerpt]
And I used to spend late nights starin' at the ceiling
Pitch-black dark, but I had that feelin'
Vision of killin' niggas, bein' labelled a villain
Because these labels passed, I'mma make these niggas pass
[Excerpt]
These rap niggas see my face in they dreams
They worst fuckin' nightmare wearin' fuckin' skinny jeans
Wake in cold sweat, my reflection in the mirror
Put a curse on a Freshman 10, watch how it end...
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Most Popular: Timbaland - Know 'Bout Me
Feat. Drake, Jay Z & James Fauntleroy
The first single from Timbaland's upcoming Shock Value 3 project, featuring Drake with minimal contributions from Jay Z and James Fauntleroy. As is often the case in the "Most Popular" category, these lyrics are pretty lackluster, especially in Timbaland's case (although the production is solid). We would've preferred a full verse from Hov in his stead, à la "Pound Cake".
Oh well.
[Excerpt: Jay Z]
We gotta sell these niggas the dream, my nigga
It's like Walt Disney around this bitch
[Excerpt: Timbaland]
I'm on a motherfuckin' binge
Just might go and buy a Benz
Trade a car for your friends
Oh yeah, we playin' with the M
[Excerpt: Drake]
I been singin' and rappin', I make a killin' in both
If I had to choose a Jackson, man, I'm feelin' like Bo
Fresh down to the socks, team look like the Raiders
I don't take shit for granted, I'd like to thank my creator
[Excerpt: James Fauntleroy]
Imagine straight from work to the plane, ain't no baggage claim
Don't need to change your clothes, girl, or your last name
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Most Reflective: Raekwon - A Rainy Day
Despite Raekwon's alleged absence from the new Wu-Tang album recording sessions, he stays dropping music. "A Rainy Day" finds him reflecting on a failed relationship over an emotive sample flip from RoadsArt, and the resident slang master doesn't miss a beat.
The Chef's still got it.
[Excerpt]
I did you wrong 'cause I was fucked up, lost
They caught me in the Porsche store, cryin' "divorce!"
Aye yo, my jewelry look tough on you, it's over, they lost
And then you did this to me, picture me crossin' you
You was never there when I was grindin', just flossin'
I had you in school like "daddy, we bossy"
And now you wanna cry "it's over"? It exhausts me...
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Best Freestyle: Crooked I - Shady Dynasty Pt. 2
"Labels better put a vest on the chest of my enemies."
The sequel to Crooked I's "Shady Dynasty" freestyle is just as potent as the original, if not more so. His approach is both ruthless and worldly.
Very few are on Crooked's level when it comes to raw rap.
[Excerpt]
I'mma be wherever hip-hop need me at
Mega lyrical and then I get political
Like Fela Kuti bringin' his dashiki back
I love listenin' to white boy's spittin'
I've been doing that shit ever since I first heard Beasties rap
Black, yellow, white, brown, purple
I don't care, just body a beat, remember
It's always somebody better than you
And you better believe that somebody is me, remember
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Honorable Mention: AWKWORD - Go!
Feat. Slug, Joell Ortiz & Maya Azucena
"A song about perseverance, survival and success."
"Go" is a new track from NYC emcee/activist AWKWORD's international, for-charity hip-hop album World View, which is coming soon. Joell Ortiz, Slug (of Atmosphere) and Maya Azucena join him, and the chemistry is surprisingly on-point. Not only are these bars solid, they're for a good cause, and are worthy of mention here.
Hit up http://www.awkwordrap.com/ for more information on AWK's World View.
(The track has been co-signed by Chuck D of Public Enemy, by the way.)
[Excerpt: AWKWORD]
I watched my mom die, I wanna go too, but I won't
My girl kicked me out, left me homeless and alone
Sold my car for cash, spent it on booze and dope
Guy on the couch, barely moved for the phone
Truth is, I was born emotionally broke
And music's how I handle all the ominous tones
[Excerpt: Slug]
I'm in a lazy Thunderbird, with some Minnesota plates
Scrapin' up the curb, just to get up in ya face
Ain't you heard? Probably, maybe
We beat the breaks off the novelty break beats
[Excerpt: Joell Ortiz]
Ya still tryna chase that deal? Aight, guys
I'm chillin', got a nice little spot in a high rise
Execs still telling ya'll all the laws got "bye-bye"
That sucks, just bought a truck and new bike that I ride
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No Comment: Lamar Odom - Freestyle
Professional basketball forward Lamar Odom's summer was incoherent, to say the least. He was reported to have been using crack cocaine, and was prone to reclusivity, abandoning his wife Khloe Kardashian for days at a time. He's since been working with a trainer in Long Island, though, and is being eyed by both the Clippers and the Lakers despite the controversy.
Unfortunately, TMZ got their hands on this freestyle video featuring Odom (presumably shot during the summer), and it isn't pretty. Seeing as this cypher has left us speechless, we'll leave the commentary up to all of you.
Stay tuned for next Friday’s Lyrics of the Week, and thanks for joining the discussion.
(Shout-out to BallOverAll for the tip.)
[Excerpt: Lamar Odom]
Fuck all that... I'm still on a chase
And I'm far from a jake...
Keep the grass cut so I can always see the snakes
And the boy right here - I got good taste
What would Yeezus do?
Straight off Kanye's bracelet (spiritual)
[Excerpt: Anonymous]
You know what it is, we the QU pimps
Ask any of your shorties, we ran through they cribs
Up in them hills, down to the hills, over in East L.A.
Take us to the jungle and we A-ok
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