Who rhymed "George Papadopoulos" with "Spidey in Metropolis"?
October 31, 2017 7:42 AM Subscribe
Prompted by current events, I am vaguely recalling a rap song that I heard in the early 1990s that pulled off the so-ridiculous-it's-genius rhyme of "...George Papadopoulos/...Spidey in Metropolis". But I can't remember the artist or the song. Any help?
This would have been no later than May 1994. I might have heard it on a compilation that my roommate got from BMG.
This would have been no later than May 1994. I might have heard it on a compilation that my roommate got from BMG.
Probably also too recent (2000), but there’s a Metropolis/Papadopoulos rhyme in What It’s All About.
posted by stopgap at 7:57 AM on October 31, 2017
posted by stopgap at 7:57 AM on October 31, 2017
argh I definitely have this on a tape recorded off the radio ...sooo it was big enough to be on Radio One in the UK? Will look.
posted by runincircles at 8:50 AM on October 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by runincircles at 8:50 AM on October 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
Craig Mack's 'Mainline' (released in September 1994) offers the close-ish:
More danger for metropolis we're droppin this
funk weight that's greater than George Poppadopalous
posted by box at 8:56 AM on October 31, 2017 [2 favorites]
More danger for metropolis we're droppin this
funk weight that's greater than George Poppadopalous
posted by box at 8:56 AM on October 31, 2017 [2 favorites]
(Not sure if this helps, but... any chance you are remembering a detail wrong? I ask because Spider-man does not live in Metropolis. He lives in New York. Superman lives in Metropolis)
posted by ManInSuit at 12:22 PM on October 31, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by ManInSuit at 12:22 PM on October 31, 2017 [2 favorites]
(Also not sure if this helps, but the current "George Papadopoulos" would have been a young child in 1994 and would not have been in the news. Perhaps the original rap had a similar but not identical name?) Maybe "George Stephanopoulos"?
posted by JimN2TAW at 12:37 PM on October 31, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by JimN2TAW at 12:37 PM on October 31, 2017 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: It's certainly possible that I'm misremebering this, but it's such an oddly specific thing that I'd be surprised if it came out of my own head. I would guess that it was more likely the result of a rapper who wasn't familiar with (or didn't care about) the distinction between the Marvel and DC universes.
JimN2TAW, the reference at that time was to the dad on the TV show Webster.
runincircles gives me some hope that this isn't completely a wild goose chase. Hope you can find that tape!
posted by oakroom at 1:58 PM on October 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
JimN2TAW, the reference at that time was to the dad on the TV show Webster.
runincircles gives me some hope that this isn't completely a wild goose chase. Hope you can find that tape!
posted by oakroom at 1:58 PM on October 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
weirdly, this was released just a couple years ago - https://bigalsjams.bandcamp.com/track/bringing-you-back-1983-hbo-theme
Y'all know there's no stopping this
Adopting shorties like I'm George Papadopolis
Doing battle like Kryptonians in Metropolis
And Plajring N-6-Fo till the apocalypse
posted by J0 at 2:07 PM on October 31, 2017 [2 favorites]
Y'all know there's no stopping this
Adopting shorties like I'm George Papadopolis
Doing battle like Kryptonians in Metropolis
And Plajring N-6-Fo till the apocalypse
posted by J0 at 2:07 PM on October 31, 2017 [2 favorites]
Again, a decade later than 1994 but Cam'ron (via Dipset) had "Beamer leaned it (I really mean it) / Guns really beaming, rarely miss, what's really good? / Bikes, wheelie and creaming (I really mean it) / I'm a genius / Papadopoulos, never lenient / On your Zenith (I really mean it)" on the eponymous I Really Mean It
posted by Chipmazing at 2:24 PM on October 31, 2017
posted by Chipmazing at 2:24 PM on October 31, 2017
not found it yet but that couplet comes right before a chorus that goes something like "Pick it up yo, yeah, come on" twice, if that jogs anyone's memory
posted by runincircles at 2:44 PM on October 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by runincircles at 2:44 PM on October 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Finally! Found what I think the mystery tune is.
I recorded it to mp3 and uploaded it to Dropbox here, let me know if you'd like the file sent another way.
The tune in question comes in at the ten second mark, the Papadopolous rhyme is nearer the end.
I couldn't identify the song by Googling what I could make out of the lyrics but perhaps this will jog your or someone else's mind
posted by runincircles at 5:18 AM on December 12, 2017 [2 favorites]
I recorded it to mp3 and uploaded it to Dropbox here, let me know if you'd like the file sent another way.
The tune in question comes in at the ten second mark, the Papadopolous rhyme is nearer the end.
I couldn't identify the song by Googling what I could make out of the lyrics but perhaps this will jog your or someone else's mind
posted by runincircles at 5:18 AM on December 12, 2017 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Oh, wow, that's it! Thank you thank you thank you! You went way above and beyond to find and digitize your old tape.
Your recording is a remix or something, not the exact version I recall, but hearing the chorus was enough to Google and find it:
Justin Warfield "Pick It Up, Y'all" from My Field Trip to Planet 9 (1993)
I've got words like Webster's pops did
Not Ma'am and George
But I'm down to Papadopoulis
Swinging from my drawers like Spidey in Metropolis
posted by oakroom at 6:58 PM on December 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
Your recording is a remix or something, not the exact version I recall, but hearing the chorus was enough to Google and find it:
Justin Warfield "Pick It Up, Y'all" from My Field Trip to Planet 9 (1993)
I've got words like Webster's pops did
Not Ma'am and George
But I'm down to Papadopoulis
Swinging from my drawers like Spidey in Metropolis
posted by oakroom at 6:58 PM on December 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by notjustthefish at 7:48 AM on October 31, 2017