Suggestions for "urban espionage" tunes

September 5, 2008 7:52 AM

MusicFilter: help me find some "spy rap" songs!

So imagine a film like The Bourne Identity, with Ice Cube playing the lead.

I'm looking for songs that would fit in such a film; techno, bass-and-synth heavy, espionage and action overtones, but with rap lyrics and breakbeat themes. Sort of Hybrid-meets-50Cent.

Suggestions from the hive mind?

posted by angry.polymath to media & arts (20 comments total)

Ghost Dog used RZA for the sound track. So I'd have to put my vote in for Wu-Tang.
posted by piedmont at 8:08 AM on September 5, 2008 [1 favorite]

Check this youtube video out. Call of Duty 4's "Deep and Hard"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PDqZW2T064&feature=related

This song was the ending credits from Call of Duty 4. Not exactly espionage, but has a military theme and was performed by someone on the staff. If you've played the game it's actually not bad.
posted by OuttaHere at 8:15 AM on September 5, 2008

It's more of a "revolucion!" tone, but I've always thought Control Machete's "Justo 'N" would be great over the opening credits of an action film. Particularly if it takes place in Mexico.
posted by Koko at 8:15 AM on September 5, 2008

The Firm - Phone Tap

(not 100% sure of the video in the link, it came up on Google but I cannot access YT at work)
posted by smitt at 8:30 AM on September 5, 2008

Deltron 3030 - concept album set in a distant, dystopic future. More sci-fi than spy-fi, but it's heavy on action and the music is very synth and sample-heavy.
posted by cowbellemoo at 8:38 AM on September 5, 2008

A Chinese rap that samples from the James Bond Theme, Will Wuha - X Spy
posted by geekyguy at 9:29 AM on September 5, 2008

Raekwon (with Deck, Ghost, and GZA) - Guillotine (Swordz) - This song is just packed with an air of confidence, deliberateness, and competence along with an eerie but strong beat from RZA.

Ice Cube - Down for Whatever - Office Space used this for the virus uploading mission montage.
posted by ignignokt at 9:31 AM on September 5, 2008

Of course there's the theme from Mission Impossible 2 by Limp Bizkit.
posted by jourman2 at 9:33 AM on September 5, 2008

Digable Planets. Dial 7 (Axioms of Creamy Spies)
posted by Mrs. Buck Turgidson at 9:36 AM on September 5, 2008

It may not be exactly what you're looking for musically, but I can't not mention Sabotage by The Beastie Boys!
posted by jluce50 at 10:00 AM on September 5, 2008

Spies like us (video) by Styles of Beyond

no relation to the Paul McCartney song from the movie Spies Like Us
posted by zippy at 10:35 AM on September 5, 2008

I think Photek has the sound you want, but it's not rap (no vocals, really).
posted by exogenous at 10:56 AM on September 5, 2008

Special Ed - The Mission
posted by Bobby Bittman at 11:01 AM on September 5, 2008

Ghostface - Winter Warz
posted by Bobby Bittman at 11:04 AM on September 5, 2008

Ghostface feat. Jadakiss - Run

This is the one. I can feel it.
posted by Bobby Bittman at 11:05 AM on September 5, 2008

Spooks - "the agency"
posted by jenbeee at 11:53 AM on September 5, 2008

Spooks - I think the name of the song is "safe house"
posted by jenbeee at 11:55 AM on September 5, 2008

check out the song "Mission Improbable" by The Herbaliser off their Very Mercenary album...

also, it's not all rap, more big beat & such, but you'd probably like the Propellerheads album Decksandrumsandrockandroll

(they're the ones that did Spybreak, the music that plays in the lobby fight scene in the Matrix)
posted by jammy at 2:58 PM on September 5, 2008

I would probably go with some Aesop Rock. N.Y. Electric, for example.

Also,

Aim - Ain't Got Time to Waste

Cage - Left It to Us

Dizzee Rascal - Paranoid

Dizzee Rascal - Sirens

Killah Priest - How Many

Lady Sovereign - Public Warning

Le Peuple De L'Herbe - Yep
posted by sveskemus at 4:16 AM on September 6, 2008

J. Rawls f. J-Live - The Great Live Caper
posted by box at 6:30 PM on September 6, 2008