Satirical hip hop / rap?

February 27, 2008 5:45 PM

Is there any hip hop / rap music out there that makes fun of itself or goes completely off the wall in some way?

I realize that the tragedy of the inner city is not really a humorous topic, but then there's all the misogyny, womanizing, consumerism, and wannabe-thug themes. Has anyone tried to satirize the genre itself, aside from the usual "nerdy white guys being gangstas" angles? What's out there?

posted by mr. creosote to media & arts (39 comments total)

How about Chris Rock's 'Champagne,' or the video for The Roots' 'What They Do'? There are plenty of others, but that's a start.
posted by box at 5:49 PM on February 27, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

You mean besides the soundtracks to CB4 and FEAR OF A BLACK HAT?

FEAR OF A BLACK HAT OST, including some classic tunes as "F- The Security Guards" and "Booty Juice" is pretty awesome.
posted by Gucky at 5:50 PM on February 27, 2008

Misogyny, womanizing, consumerism and wanna-be thug themes are far from ubiquitous in hip-hop music. I'm not really sure what you mean by 'goes completely off the wall,' but I suspect that Dalek, or Mike Ladd, or Odd Nosdam, or Live Human, or Beans, or somebody else from the more artsy end of hip-hop music, would fit that description.
posted by box at 5:52 PM on February 27, 2008

And there's that Black Sheep song 'U Mean I'm Not,' which is straight-up gangsta rap parody.
posted by box at 5:54 PM on February 27, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Mike Ladd's Majesticons album, Beauty Party, is all parodies of pop-rap styles.

Prince Paul, both with De La Soul and on his solo albums, is fond of parody. Ditto Count Bass D.
posted by box at 5:57 PM on February 27, 2008

Hmm. How about D'Mite's "Read a Book"?
posted by wtdoor at 5:57 PM on February 27, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

Flight of the Conchords isn't exactly the nerdy white guys shtick. Hiphopapotamus v. Rhymenocerous is their only hip hop track, though.
posted by theiconoclast31 at 5:58 PM on February 27, 2008

Digital Underground
posted by OmieWise at 6:02 PM on February 27, 2008

So... How's Your Girl? by Handsome Boy Modeling School is very odd and self-aware, and derives its theme from an episode of Get a Life.

The Mouse and the Mask is a hip-hop album centered on the many characters of Adult Swim's Sunday Night lineup. Another really oddball record, but it has a lot of good grooves.
posted by Doctor Suarez at 6:08 PM on February 27, 2008

The Masta Ace Inc. album "Sittin On Chrome" is a pretty classic example of pretty much exactly what you're talking about, in terms of real satire. His most recent two albums have similar themes, but they're not really satirical in nature -- the form doesn't follow exactly what's being mocked. Both - "Long Hot Summer" and "Disposable Arts" are brilliant.

Prince Paul, as box said, is a great example. He had a whole album like this a couple years ago called Politics of the Business, which he intended as parody/satire of hip-hop conventions (and production).

There's plenty of hip-hop that criticizes this kind of stuff, but it isn't really satire. I think you could make a pretty good argument that some of the hip-hop that people take very literally isn't meant to be taken as such -- lord knows that Big Tymers, just to pick a random example, don't mean everything they say about bling literally. Mannie Fresh is a funny guy. That's probably another argument for another day, though.
posted by YoungAmerican at 6:09 PM on February 27, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

De La Soul did this on both 3 ft High and on Is Dead. The Coup does this regularly. Mike Ladd as both the Majesticons and the Infesticons. Heavy D, Biz Markee and whatever the hell Arsenio Hall's rap alter ego (Chunky D?) was called. Public Enemy satirizes rap tropes too.
posted by klangklangston at 6:12 PM on February 27, 2008

"What's Up Fat Lip" by Fat Lip (formerly of Pharcyde)- it's not satirical exactly, but it is pretty much the opposite of the many, many rap songs that are nothing but boasts of the singer's prowess in various arenas:

Feelin' downtrodden
Fresh kid turned rotten
I can't believe I'm like E then I'm coppin
Over the years seems like I'm gettin' dumber
Reminiscing to a time when I was younger with a hunger
Full a dreams, determination, self-esteem
But now it seems they hesitate to be on my team
You know the routine, when you winnin' and grinnin'
All up in your face, like they was which you from the beginnin'
But on the flipside,
When you washed up like a riptide
Fools clown 'bout how you slipped and let shit slide
Beside the fact
My voice is wack
Clowns is runnin' around, talkin' 'bout I smoke crack
Ain't got no homies that got my back
Yeah I'm a brotha, but some times I don't feel black
My girl is white
My game ain't tight
Niggas who ain't seen me in a while be like "Dude, you aight?

Who am I kiddin', who am I foolin'
When they be like "What's up Fatlip?," and I say "Coolin'"
Who am I kiddin', who am I foolin'
When they be like "What's up Fatlip?," and I say "Coolin'"
Who am I kiddin', who am I foolin'
When they be like "What's up Fatlip?," and I say "Coolin'"
Who am I kiddin', who am I foolin'
When they be like

[Fat Lip]
Blowin' like a sucka almost every day
In the back of your mind you prob'ly thinkin' I was gay
But naw, I'm just a bitch ass nigga
The type that get jacked above the ribs ass nigga
See I been a loser just about all my life
Type that try turn a ho to a housewife
What do you expect
I give respect
And feel for hoes niggas keep in check
I'm far from hard
Emotionally scarred
On Pico Boulevard
I was regarded as a retard
I make myself sick
Get on my own nerves
Immature, insecure,
Grown up nerd
Has-been MC
On a label that's unstable
Choppin' bliggy on a table

Who am I kiddin', who am I foolin'
When they be like "What's up Fatlip?," and I say "Coolin'"
Who am I kiddin', who am I foolin'
When they be like "What's up Fatlip?," and I say "Coolin'"
Who am I kiddin', who am I foolin'
When they be like "What's up Fatlip?," and I say "Coolin'"
who am I kiddin', who am I foolin'
when they be like "What's up Fatlip?"
posted by Oobidaius at 6:17 PM on February 27, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

There's a lot of Afrofuturist stuff that could be considered off the wall, although I don't know how much of it is satirical. Kool Keith aka Dr. Octagon aka Black Elvis comes to mind.
posted by billtron at 6:22 PM on February 27, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

As far as going completely off-the-wall, but not necessarily in a humorous way, there's Deltron 3030. It's sci-fi rap. Their one album is a concept album telling the story of a rapper in the year 3030. It is an outside look at rap in some ways.
posted by ignignokt at 6:23 PM on February 27, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Nerdcore hip hop from MC Frontalot & mc chris come to mind along with aforementioned De La Soul, Prince Paul, P.E., Digital Underground, and H.B.M.S. The first link (from Wikipedia) cites some other artists in the genre.
posted by bonobo at 6:24 PM on February 27, 2008

This is a very sensitive subject...

From the moment I heard Frau say I had a clone
I knew that I'd be safe cause I'd never be alone
An evil doctor shouldn't speak a lot about his feelings
My hurt and my pain don't make me too appealing
I hoped Scott would look up to me
And run the business of the family
Have an evil empire, just like his dear old dad
Give him my love and the things I never had
Scott would think I was a cool guy
Return the love I have, make me want to cry
Be evil, but hide my feelings too
Change my life with Oprah and Maya Angelou
But Scott rejected me, Cest La Vie
Life is cruel, treats you unfairly
Even so, a God there must be
Mini Me, you complete me.

Just the two of us
We can make it if we try
Just the two of us
Just me and you, just me and you
Just the two of us
Building castles in the sky
Just the two of us
You and I.

Just the two of us...
Daddy loves you,
Daddy loves you.

Just the two of us,
you and I.
posted by forthright at 6:25 PM on February 27, 2008

Party Fun Action Committee's Let's Get Serious is similar in concept to Beauty Party, but I think it's a lot funnier.
posted by subclub at 6:35 PM on February 27, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Arsenio's alter ego was Chunky A, natch. He was large and in charge.
posted by box at 6:35 PM on February 27, 2008

Busdriver is pretty off the wall.
posted by the dief at 6:38 PM on February 27, 2008

MC Paul Barman is white, but Prince Paul produced his It's very stimulating, which is a classic. He's got a style all his own and writes some bizarre, funny rhymes.
posted by waraw at 6:52 PM on February 27, 2008

Madlib's side project Quasimoto is pretty far out.
posted by waraw at 6:53 PM on February 27, 2008

How about Sarah Jones' "Your Revolution" [Will Not Happen Between These Thighs]? A little googling turned up a post with a link to the mp.3 here.
posted by shelbaroo at 6:57 PM on February 27, 2008

Have you tried Pigeon John? Some of his are pretty straight-up satirical, others are just not what you'd expect to hear if mainstream thug stuff is what you're familiar with.

Also, he's a rapper who wears vests, without really kidding. And he makes it work.
posted by echo target at 7:07 PM on February 27, 2008

How about the Everyday Normal Guy rap song by Jon LaJoie. A classic...
posted by SciGuy at 7:46 PM on February 27, 2008

DJ Format and Abdominal has a couple of funny songs a few years ago.
posted by LobsterMitten at 7:52 PM on February 27, 2008

I don't think the "Pull Your Pants Up" rap is meant to be satirical, but....
posted by foxydot at 8:11 PM on February 27, 2008

Dream Warriors: 'My Definition Of A Boombastic Jazz Style' might fit the bill. Main sample is the theme from Definition, the TV show.
posted by Rumple at 8:15 PM on February 27, 2008

2nd the CB4 soundtrack. Straight Outta Locash is pretty much exactly what you are looking for, I think.
posted by jtfowl0 at 8:15 PM on February 27, 2008

cLOUDDEAD and Themselves are pretty off the wall. Parts of their songs are rather nonsensical and have almost nothing to do with gangsta rap, but are pretty clearly influenced by nineties hip-hop.

Aesop Rock has some amazing rhymes, but they sound like he speaking a completely different language than any rapper I have ever heard.

Who's that walking with a hole in his head?
Bazooka Tooth, Gemini, I came to break bread.
What's a troop's recipe for treacherous times?
I tell 'em fast cars, danger, fire and knives, lets go
Fast cars, danger, fire and knives...
I got her majesty Athena riding shotty wide-eyed
posted by rabbitsnake at 8:16 PM on February 27, 2008

Absolutely can't believe you guys missed this one.
posted by crunch buttsteak at 8:17 PM on February 27, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

I'd second Quasimoto (he is a blunt smoking creature that likes to throw bricks) and add MF Doom as well.

MF Doom and Madlib – the man behind Quasimoto – teamed up in 2004 to become Madvillain - really amazing and spaced out hip-hop. Think of Madvillain as the bastard son of Sun Ra and Redd Foxx - that's pretty far out there. Here's Madvillain's ALL CAPS.
posted by cinemafiend at 9:13 PM on February 27, 2008

Whoops, here is Madvillain's ALL CAPS
posted by cinemafiend at 9:14 PM on February 27, 2008

Is there any hip hop / rap music out there that makes fun of itself or goes completely off the wall in some way?

checks current hip hop tracks @ billboard.. I mean, Missy Elliott can be pretty off the wall (more so on her first couple records).. she is funny, lil Wayne is funny, TPain is hilarious, Kanye is funny.. I'm just saying.. it's not like hip hop is wanting a sense of humor.

Cosign on Handsome Boy Modeling School though.
posted by citron at 10:28 PM on February 27, 2008

cinemafiend: MF Doom as well.

MF DOOM is amazing, and in particular his Viktor Vaughan persona does tracks that satirize aspects of the rap universe (and often himself). The record "Vaudeville Villain" has a couple of tracks, Open Mic Night Pt. 1 and Open Mic Night Pt. 2 that are pretty hilarious. The record didn't get great reviews but it's one of my all-time favourite rap records.
posted by loiseau at 11:43 PM on February 27, 2008

For going off the wall I've always enjoyed when ODB starts giving shout-outs to the Eskimoes and the submarines in Big Baby Jesus.
posted by Space Coyote at 1:40 AM on February 28, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Check out Camp Lo. I don't think their music is intended to be satire but it's definitely off-the-wall. Their lyrics are amazing, described in Wikipedia as "Blaxploitation-style Dadaist slang." This is a good example. (I'd recommend listening to the music alone first without watching the video; the lyrics are the key.)
posted by fuse theorem at 5:11 AM on February 28, 2008

If you're looking for what I think you're looking for, I must strongly recommend Tim Fite's I've been shot.
posted by Richard Daly at 8:57 AM on February 28, 2008

Goldie Lookin Chain might be what you're looking for. They look like the nerdy white guys you are trying to avoid, but some of their stuff manages more than that.
posted by Jakey at 9:18 AM on February 28, 2008

Princess Superstar
posted by dizziest at 1:51 PM on February 28, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]