The power of the force has always been strong with hip-hop. When the first Star Wars debuted in 1977, it turned the world upside down. No matter what country you’re in, the residents know the most famous movie line of all time: "no, I am your Father!” Even people who refuse to watch the Star Wars movies can name at least three characters; whether it be Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Yoda, Han Solo, Princess Leia, or Chewbacca, the heroes and villains of Star Wars are legendary. So much so, that rappers have used Star Wars' characters time and time again to help illustrate their stories. There are a plethora of rap lyrics that shout out George Lucas’ brainchild, from back in the early days of hip-hop all the way up to today’s current artists. There is even a rap group called Jedi Mind Tricks, which is the ultimate ode to Star Wars.
Both hip-hop and Star Wars influenced me heavily as a child, so when Busta Rhymes compared himself to Han Solo on “Woo Hah! Got You All In Check,” I was enthralled. The conflict between good and evil fits perfectly with the rap game, and artists are quick to draw parallels between themselves and George Lucas' creations; maybe Kanye really felt like a hero turned villain when he rapped, “If they ever flip sides like Anakin/ You’ll sell everything including the mannequin.”
The force knows no bounds, and Star Wars: The Last Jedi is sure to create enough hype for rappers to draw new comparisons and create even more outlandish punchlines. There’s no doubt that Disney will be cranking out Star Wars movies long after we're dead, but while they bask in the success of their latest effort, let's take a look back at some of the best Star Wars references in hip-hop.
2016 - "Story With No Title" - Denzel Curry
"Who said Jesus can't be a black guy? / even Luke Skywalker's father was on the dark side"
2013 - “Rhyme Or Reason”- Eminem
“Follow you must, Rick Rubin my little Padawan/ A Jedi in training, colossal brain and thoughts are entertainin'.”
2013 - “I. Pink Toes”- Childish Gambino ft. Jhene Aiko
“She on my back about it/ C3PO, C3PO, C3PO.”
2011 -“The Ride”- Drake featuring The Weeknd
“You niggas getting older, I see no threat in Yoda/ I’m out here messing over the lives of these niggas that couldn’t fuck with my freshman floater.”
2010 - “Party No Mo’”- Ludacris Featuring Gucci Mane
“My Chevy's outside and it's sittin' on Kobe's/And I keep the hood with me like Obi-Wan Kenobi.”
2009 - “Big Screen”- GLC featuring Kanye West
“I'm back in your life, Return Of The Jedi/ L.A. for a night, then return on the red eye.”
2009 - "The Stand" - Childish Gambino
"I never touch a kilo/ opposite Al Pacino/ I keep a lightsaber like I fuck around with Greedo"
2009 - "Stay Wide Awake" - Eminem
"Jump out on you now like I was Jawa from f*cking ‘Star Wars’ / Jabba the Hutt, beddy-bye-bye, beddy-bye-bye. It’s time to die-die"
2008 - “Rockin’ With The G.O.A.T.”- LL Cool J
“LL the boss, like Luke with the force.”
2008 -“Annakin’s Prayer”- Jay Electronica
“She ain’t know, that innocent shit with Obi-Wan/ Behind a Jedi back can turn Anakin to Vader.”
2007 - "What It Is" - Pharoahe Monch
"Raps like Star Wars, only the stars die, it's no sequels / Beat three cases, see three POs"
2005 - “Failure”- Lupe Fiasco
“Gave me the green light like Yoda knife/ So I'ma force my will/ Like the Force I wield/ Of course you will.”
2005 - “Gone”- Kanye West featuring Cam’ron and Consequence
“But If they ever flip sides like Anakin/ You’ll sell everything including the mannequin.”
2005 - "Air Em Out" - Ras Kass
"645 Coupe the same color Chewbacca is/And you's a nigga everybody hates like Jar Jar Binks/ That clown at the bar buying hot bitches drinks"
2004 - “Hoe Cakes”- MF Doom
“Look like a black wookie when he let his beard grow/ Weirdo, brown skin'ded always kept his hair low.”
2004 - “Star Wars”- Nas (originally recorded in 1994)
“The shots ring out, whenever we clash it's Star Wars.”
2003 - “Happy Valentine’s Day” - Andre 3000
“But if you ain't a sweety, indeedy I won't endorse/ Han Solo 'til I'm hit by the bullet so may the force/ be with you and I'll hit you when better time permits/For now show me samples, examples of why you're the shit.”
1999 -“Rap Phenomenon”- Biggie Smalls featuring Method Man & Redman
“Star Wars I’m Han Solo, with three egos/ and three charges, I got to “see-three-P.O.’s.”
1998 -“Thieves In The Night”- Black Star
"'Suppose it’s, just another Jedi Mind Trick/ That they been running across stars through all the time with.”
1997 - “Wild Hot”- Busta Rhymes & A Tribe Called Quest
"No, 'cause he move like the wind, in-flight/ Counter-attack like a Jedi Knight.
1997 - “Hellz Wind Staff”- Wu-Tang Clan
“Lethal weapon, step through your section/ With the force like Luke Skywalker/ Rhyme author, orchestrate mind torture.”
1997 - “Hypnotize”- Biggie Smalls
“Hit 'em with the force like Obi/ Dick black like Toby/ Watch me roam like Romey/ Lucky they don't owe me/ Where the safe? Show me, homie.”
1996 - “Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check”- Bust Rhymes
“Coming through like G.I. Joe/ Star Wars moving ill like Han Solo.”
1994 - “Recharge”-The Fugees
“Shades of a black man, maybe the Black Panther/ Makin' MC's run when it come to rappin' I'm the Darth Vader.”
1988 - “He’s The DJ, I’m The Rapper”- DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
“Or maybe like Commando, or like Lando/ Calrissian, cause you know he was down with the Force/ Fresh Prince is the source, I feel no pain or remorse.”
1988- “Just Rhymin’ with Biz”- Big Daddy Kane featuring Biz Markie
“Once knew a girl by the name of Rhoda/ I watched Star Wars just to see Yoda/ or R2-D2 driving down the BQ.”