I Do Believe Some Style Is Being Bitten
March 3, 2010 10:18 PM Subscribe
What are some examples of sort of memes within hip-hop? Content and lines that are used over in different songs?
Some links contain NAUGHTY LANGUAGE!
Hip-hop songs sometimes steal/borrow/allude to the work of other artists. What are some examples of this? I don't mean sampling, mind you. But lyrical or stylistic allusions, for lack of a better word, that spread throughout a variety of songs, regions, and even time periods.
Example: The first lines in the chorus of Geto Boys' Crooked Officer are stylistically and at least a bit lyrically used in:
Outkast - Gasoline Dreams
Lil' Wayne - Mrs. Officer
Jay-Z - Jockin' Jay-Z
And only really lyrically here:
Juvenile - Set It Off
There's another example that I can't quite remember right now, but may add later in the comments if I can think of it....
I'm much more curious about examples where the flow and stylistic parts are used and the lyrics modified than those in which the lyrics are copied, since those seem to happen more often.
Some links contain NAUGHTY LANGUAGE!
Hip-hop songs sometimes steal/borrow/allude to the work of other artists. What are some examples of this? I don't mean sampling, mind you. But lyrical or stylistic allusions, for lack of a better word, that spread throughout a variety of songs, regions, and even time periods.
Example: The first lines in the chorus of Geto Boys' Crooked Officer are stylistically and at least a bit lyrically used in:
Outkast - Gasoline Dreams
Lil' Wayne - Mrs. Officer
Jay-Z - Jockin' Jay-Z
And only really lyrically here:
Juvenile - Set It Off
There's another example that I can't quite remember right now, but may add later in the comments if I can think of it....
I'm much more curious about examples where the flow and stylistic parts are used and the lyrics modified than those in which the lyrics are copied, since those seem to happen more often.
Best answer: I have some ideas I'm too tired to write up but will tomorrow, but you can read someone else's for now: Jay-Z "recycling" Biggie's rhymes: biting, allusion, unaware, or public domain?
posted by Juicy Avenger at 11:01 PM on March 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Juicy Avenger at 11:01 PM on March 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: But lyrical or stylistic allusions, for lack of a better word, that spread throughout a variety of songs, regions, and even time periods.
Oh, and the term I've heard used for what you're talking about is signifyin'.
posted by dubitable at 11:01 PM on March 3, 2010
Oh, and the term I've heard used for what you're talking about is signifyin'.
posted by dubitable at 11:01 PM on March 3, 2010
A Beginner's Guide to 'No Homo'
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:09 PM on March 3, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:09 PM on March 3, 2010 [3 favorites]
well, as for signifyin' "sound-images", I can't help but think of all the references to the purist, bass-driven "boom bap" beats of old school hip hop, both in lyrics and actual use of the beat. I know it's an actual style itself but it's become sort of a meme to get all self-referential about it.
The first verbal reference I remember hearing was in Tribe Called Quest's We Can Get Down "with a kick, snare, kicks and high hat, skilled in the trade of that old boom bap"
and KRS One's whole album The Return of the Boom Bap.
Even Li'l Wayne does...something...with it in his song "Boom Bap".
posted by Juicy Avenger at 11:36 PM on March 3, 2010
The first verbal reference I remember hearing was in Tribe Called Quest's We Can Get Down "with a kick, snare, kicks and high hat, skilled in the trade of that old boom bap"
and KRS One's whole album The Return of the Boom Bap.
Even Li'l Wayne does...something...with it in his song "Boom Bap".
posted by Juicy Avenger at 11:36 PM on March 3, 2010
"X told me Y" is all over the place for those homages. "Wu told me cash rules everything around me"...
There are a lot of rap songs about John Ritter ("two chicks on my arm" etc).
posted by zvs at 11:52 PM on March 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
There are a lot of rap songs about John Ritter ("two chicks on my arm" etc).
posted by zvs at 11:52 PM on March 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
Definitely "throw your hands in the air" (with or without a rhyming follow-up such as "wave 'em like you just don't care"). That's the chorus of OutKast's "Atliens" and of Biggie Smalls' "Big Papa", it's mentioned in Snoop Dogg's "Bigger Business" (and maybe at least one other Snoop Dogg song, although I can't think of which one), and it's the name of a Cypress Hill song and a Mobb Deep song.
Also, Juicy Avenger mentioned "boom bap", which is also mentioned in Saul Williams' song "Black History Month".
posted by transporter accident amy at 12:31 AM on March 4, 2010
Also, Juicy Avenger mentioned "boom bap", which is also mentioned in Saul Williams' song "Black History Month".
posted by transporter accident amy at 12:31 AM on March 4, 2010
The Game - How We Do
"I was sellin rocks when Master P was sayin Unnnh"
He says the Unnnhh like Master P in his song "Make em say Uhhhh."
You can find a lot of good voice/style mocking in diss tracks. Eminem/Nas/Jay-Z/Game off the top of my head.
posted by laptolain at 12:45 AM on March 4, 2010
"I was sellin rocks when Master P was sayin Unnnh"
He says the Unnnhh like Master P in his song "Make em say Uhhhh."
You can find a lot of good voice/style mocking in diss tracks. Eminem/Nas/Jay-Z/Game off the top of my head.
posted by laptolain at 12:45 AM on March 4, 2010
"It's your birthday"?
posted by arianell at 3:27 AM on March 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by arianell at 3:27 AM on March 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
AutoTune...some use it, some talk about using it, some ridicule those that do use it.
posted by nineRED at 4:12 AM on March 4, 2010
posted by nineRED at 4:12 AM on March 4, 2010
My knowledge of hip hop skews old (guys are quoting Master P now? Christ I'm getting old), but stating that you or your group were "in effect" or "in full effect" at least used to be popular.
Think Flavor Flav...PE in full effect, booeeyy!!
posted by hiteleven at 4:58 AM on March 4, 2010
Think Flavor Flav...PE in full effect, booeeyy!!
posted by hiteleven at 4:58 AM on March 4, 2010
Lyrics By Rakim or Slick Rick are repeated all the time in other songs.
posted by jasondigitized at 5:10 AM on March 4, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by jasondigitized at 5:10 AM on March 4, 2010 [2 favorites]
The language/imagery/ideology of The Nation of Gods and Earths is prevalent in hip-hop. (An essay from 1997).
posted by generalist at 5:25 AM on March 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by generalist at 5:25 AM on March 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
James Brown
posted by toodleydoodley at 5:32 AM on March 4, 2010
posted by toodleydoodley at 5:32 AM on March 4, 2010
Another big thing (still big, I believe) is to make reference to the current year. It's nearly obsessive how often the year of production comes up in hip hop lyrics.
Again with Flavor Flav...PE, 1990, and all that!!
posted by hiteleven at 5:33 AM on March 4, 2010
Again with Flavor Flav...PE, 1990, and all that!!
posted by hiteleven at 5:33 AM on March 4, 2010
Best answer: Yes, yes y'all.
And it don't stop.
posted by milarepa at 5:34 AM on March 4, 2010 [5 favorites]
And it don't stop.
posted by milarepa at 5:34 AM on March 4, 2010 [5 favorites]
Best answer: "Here's a little story," "My name is X and I'm here to say," "Straight outta Y," "Straight from the underground," "You know what I'm about," "I'm a hustla"...
Fun one: Ice Cube did a song called 'Jackin' For Beats,' about how he's such a badass that he'll steal other people's tracks (which, in those days, were constructed almost entirely of samples) and rhyme over them, sometimes in their styles. Years later, Sticky Fingaz, of Onyx semi-fame, did a remake of 'Jackin' For Beats,' where he pilfered some modern instrumentals and parodied Cube's rhymes (additionally, many, many other people have done 'Jackin for Beats' versions for mixtapes and freestyle shows and stuff like that) (and Cube did a St. Ides radio spot where he jacked his own rhymes like John Fogerty).
posted by box at 5:50 AM on March 4, 2010 [3 favorites]
Fun one: Ice Cube did a song called 'Jackin' For Beats,' about how he's such a badass that he'll steal other people's tracks (which, in those days, were constructed almost entirely of samples) and rhyme over them, sometimes in their styles. Years later, Sticky Fingaz, of Onyx semi-fame, did a remake of 'Jackin' For Beats,' where he pilfered some modern instrumentals and parodied Cube's rhymes (additionally, many, many other people have done 'Jackin for Beats' versions for mixtapes and freestyle shows and stuff like that) (and Cube did a St. Ides radio spot where he jacked his own rhymes like John Fogerty).
posted by box at 5:50 AM on March 4, 2010 [3 favorites]
Best answer: In Nelly's Ride Wit Me he sings "I like the way you brush your hair/I like those stylish clothes you wear". I'm pretty sure I've heard this repeated or echoed (either in its distinctive sing-song melody, or in its lyrics/cadence) in a handful of pop-hip-hop songs since then (which is weird, because it's not particularly memorable), but of course now I can't remember them. The one I can remember is that in Rihanna's recent song Rude Boy she sings "I like the way you touch me there/I like the way you pull my hair" with the same cadence, which is, if not a conscious echoing, pretty uncanny. Any help with remembering any of the others? Tell me I'm not crazy.
posted by threeants at 5:56 AM on March 4, 2010
posted by threeants at 5:56 AM on March 4, 2010
One more layer of 'Jackin for Beats': there's a music video for the Ice Cube version (ah, golden age of sampling), and the video is all about Cube and his crew taking revenge on some bootleggers. Layers, man.
posted by box at 6:01 AM on March 4, 2010
posted by box at 6:01 AM on March 4, 2010
The language/imagery/ideology of The Nation of Gods and Earths is prevalent in hip-hop. (An essay from 1997).
Especially in groups affiliated with the Zulu Nation or Native Tongues, in particular Brand Nubian.
posted by electroboy at 6:12 AM on March 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
Especially in groups affiliated with the Zulu Nation or Native Tongues, in particular Brand Nubian.
posted by electroboy at 6:12 AM on March 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: in a handful of pop-hip-hop songs since then (which is weird, because it's not particularly memorable)
Pretty sure it is originally from DeBarge - I Like It. (1982)
posted by cashman at 6:22 AM on March 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
Pretty sure it is originally from DeBarge - I Like It. (1982)
posted by cashman at 6:22 AM on March 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: It's definitely signifyin. Artists are basically giving a hat tip to some group or artist they like or respect, or want to call attention to. If I think about it, it has probably been used in a clever way to diss people as well. There are some easy disses that come to mind - like Kanye said "gotta rip it up and wax the stage like a candle....that's some wack shit vanilla ice said" - but that's not really clever at all. Another one that I can't figure out is RA the Rugged Man using Audio Two's "I like to drink...milk...it helps me grow and think like a champ....suckas I vamp". Milk is arguably one of the worst lyricists of all time (I have the cassette tape to prove it), while RA is one of the greatest of all time. Seems like a positive thing more than a diss. Kind of a 'you really have to know your hip hop to know what I'm talking about' thing.
In "Off the Wall", Cocoa Brovaz (Smif n Wesson) used multiple twists on "I got a letter from the government, the other day, I opened it and read it, it said they were suckas", which is obviously from P.E.'s Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos. Tek first, with "I got subpoenaed by the government, the other day, I opened it and read it, it said they were suin", then Steele comes in with "I got a letter from the corporate, the other day, I opened, and read it, they said they was suin".
posted by cashman at 6:48 AM on March 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
In "Off the Wall", Cocoa Brovaz (Smif n Wesson) used multiple twists on "I got a letter from the government, the other day, I opened it and read it, it said they were suckas", which is obviously from P.E.'s Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos. Tek first, with "I got subpoenaed by the government, the other day, I opened it and read it, it said they were suin", then Steele comes in with "I got a letter from the corporate, the other day, I opened, and read it, they said they was suin".
posted by cashman at 6:48 AM on March 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Rakim (1987): It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you, without a strong rhyme to step to
Digital Underground (1998): It's been a long time, DU shouldn't have left you, without a heated beat you could step to
T Love (1998): It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you; sorry for the wack shit you slept through
Timbaland (2000): It's been a long time, we shouldn't have left you, without a dope beat to step to
Ras Kass (2001): It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you, but Priority Records be fuckin' up, nephew
Timbaland (2003): It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you, without some little nieces and nephews
Warren G (2003): It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you, without a west coast rhyme to step to
Pete Rock (2004): It's been a long time, we shouldn't have left you; It's the S move, crushin' your best dude
UGK (2007): It's been a long time... I shouldn't have left you, without some real trill shit to go left to
Busta Rhymes (2009): It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you; but now I came back to step through
...and on and on
(till the break of dawn)
posted by aiko at 7:00 AM on March 4, 2010 [18 favorites]
Digital Underground (1998): It's been a long time, DU shouldn't have left you, without a heated beat you could step to
T Love (1998): It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you; sorry for the wack shit you slept through
Timbaland (2000): It's been a long time, we shouldn't have left you, without a dope beat to step to
Ras Kass (2001): It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you, but Priority Records be fuckin' up, nephew
Timbaland (2003): It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you, without some little nieces and nephews
Warren G (2003): It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you, without a west coast rhyme to step to
Pete Rock (2004): It's been a long time, we shouldn't have left you; It's the S move, crushin' your best dude
UGK (2007): It's been a long time... I shouldn't have left you, without some real trill shit to go left to
Busta Rhymes (2009): It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you; but now I came back to step through
...and on and on
(till the break of dawn)
posted by aiko at 7:00 AM on March 4, 2010 [18 favorites]
C.R.E.A.M.
In Snoop Dogg's Lodi Dodi, he includes a takeoff of Notorious BIG's "Hypnotize" ("Doggy, Doggy, Doggy, can't you see / Somehow your words just hypnotize me / And I just love your jazzy ways / Doggy Dogg, your love is here to stay)
posted by oinopaponton at 7:02 AM on March 4, 2010
In Snoop Dogg's Lodi Dodi, he includes a takeoff of Notorious BIG's "Hypnotize" ("Doggy, Doggy, Doggy, can't you see / Somehow your words just hypnotize me / And I just love your jazzy ways / Doggy Dogg, your love is here to stay)
posted by oinopaponton at 7:02 AM on March 4, 2010
Mobb Deep signified by Fabolous - "I got you stuck off the realness, the name's fabolous."
Run DMC signified by CL Smooth - "Two years ago, a friend of mine, asked me to say some emcee rhymes, so I said this rhyme I'm about to say, the rhyme was mecca and it went this way."
posted by cashman at 7:13 AM on March 4, 2010
Run DMC signified by CL Smooth - "Two years ago, a friend of mine, asked me to say some emcee rhymes, so I said this rhyme I'm about to say, the rhyme was mecca and it went this way."
posted by cashman at 7:13 AM on March 4, 2010
Before anyone corrects me: apparently I know even less about rap than I thought, because "Lodi Dodi" is originally by Slick Rick.
posted by oinopaponton at 7:14 AM on March 4, 2010
posted by oinopaponton at 7:14 AM on March 4, 2010
A lot of these come from classic opening lines. There was a blog post a long time ago that talked about how a lot of songs that are classics are made classic by the opening lines. I couldn't find that post, but here's one with a bunch of opening lines. The ones in the post itself suck, but the comments have some.
posted by cashman at 7:17 AM on March 4, 2010
posted by cashman at 7:17 AM on March 4, 2010
(Speaking of Slick Rick) "Once upon a time not long ago"
posted by box at 7:18 AM on March 4, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by box at 7:18 AM on March 4, 2010 [2 favorites]
You also may want to check out Da Ali G. Show for the longest stream of rap and hip-hip cliche uttered in one intro by a human bein', yo.
Big ups to ya!
posted by Cookbooks and Chaos at 7:39 AM on March 4, 2010
Big ups to ya!
posted by Cookbooks and Chaos at 7:39 AM on March 4, 2010
The "Hotel, Motel, Holiday Inn" phrase has showed up in a couple of songs. At very least Chingy's original song "Holiday Inn", and Pitbull's more recent "Hotel Room Service". There're other songs after Chingy's which I'm pretty sure some variation of that line comes up in, but I can't quite bring the titles to mind.
posted by codacorolla at 7:55 AM on March 4, 2010
posted by codacorolla at 7:55 AM on March 4, 2010
"Bend over to the front, touch your toes" - I think this is a L'il Jon line, as every song I can think of with this line features him.
I've also heard some variation of "lady in the street, freak in the bed" in several songs (Ludacris uses it at least once, I think), and both that and the toe-touching make an appearance in Usher's "Yeah!".
posted by timetoevolve at 8:03 AM on March 4, 2010
I've also heard some variation of "lady in the street, freak in the bed" in several songs (Ludacris uses it at least once, I think), and both that and the toe-touching make an appearance in Usher's "Yeah!".
posted by timetoevolve at 8:03 AM on March 4, 2010
Best answer: Snoop signified by Nas: "With so much drama in qbc, it's kinda hard bein Escobarro."
Wu-Tang(GZA): "Try to flex, tell me who is him? I blow up his fuckin prism, make it a vicious act of terrorism." Jay Electronica - "I'm gettin busy with the 1-2 stick 'em, let the rhythm hit 'em, shine like a prism...who is him."
Also, someone changed P.E.'s "Yes, the rhythm, the rebel, without a pause, I'm lowering my level", to "Yes the rhythm, the rebel, without a pause, I'm buckin at the devil" but I can't remember who it is. I thought maybe it was Mr. Lif, but I can't find the song.
The "Hotel, Motel, Holiday Inn" phrase has showed up in a couple of songs. At very least Chingy's original song "Holiday Inn"
That's actually originally from Rappers Delight (which was actually stolen itself).
posted by cashman at 8:06 AM on March 4, 2010 [3 favorites]
Wu-Tang(GZA): "Try to flex, tell me who is him? I blow up his fuckin prism, make it a vicious act of terrorism." Jay Electronica - "I'm gettin busy with the 1-2 stick 'em, let the rhythm hit 'em, shine like a prism...who is him."
Also, someone changed P.E.'s "Yes, the rhythm, the rebel, without a pause, I'm lowering my level", to "Yes the rhythm, the rebel, without a pause, I'm buckin at the devil" but I can't remember who it is. I thought maybe it was Mr. Lif, but I can't find the song.
The "Hotel, Motel, Holiday Inn" phrase has showed up in a couple of songs. At very least Chingy's original song "Holiday Inn"
That's actually originally from Rappers Delight (which was actually stolen itself).
posted by cashman at 8:06 AM on March 4, 2010 [3 favorites]
Kids these days, thinking Chingy invented hotel, motel.
posted by electroboy at 9:38 AM on March 4, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by electroboy at 9:38 AM on March 4, 2010 [2 favorites]
Even though it's a sample in these cases, the changing meaning of the following I just love--
Rich Boy "Throw some D's on that bitch" from "Throw Some D's" D's meaning rims.
Soulja Boy "Throw some D's on that bitch" from "Report Card" D's meaning grades.
Kanye West "Throw some D's on that bitch" from his remix. D's meaning implants.
There are other songs referencing this that I'm less familiar with.
posted by haveanicesummer at 10:09 AM on March 4, 2010 [2 favorites]
Rich Boy "Throw some D's on that bitch" from "Throw Some D's" D's meaning rims.
Soulja Boy "Throw some D's on that bitch" from "Report Card" D's meaning grades.
Kanye West "Throw some D's on that bitch" from his remix. D's meaning implants.
There are other songs referencing this that I'm less familiar with.
posted by haveanicesummer at 10:09 AM on March 4, 2010 [2 favorites]
Best answer: From Wikipedia--
Kweli's stature continued to grow, particularly fueled by a line from the track "Moment of Clarity" on Jay-Z's 2003 record, The Black Album: "If skills sold, truth be told/I'd probably be, lyrically, Talib Kweli." Kweli responded to this in his track "Ghetto Show" on his 2004 album The Beautiful Struggle by stating "If lyrics sold then truth be told/I'd probably be just as rich and famous as Jay Z."
posted by haveanicesummer at 10:16 AM on March 4, 2010 [3 favorites]
Kweli's stature continued to grow, particularly fueled by a line from the track "Moment of Clarity" on Jay-Z's 2003 record, The Black Album: "If skills sold, truth be told/I'd probably be, lyrically, Talib Kweli." Kweli responded to this in his track "Ghetto Show" on his 2004 album The Beautiful Struggle by stating "If lyrics sold then truth be told/I'd probably be just as rich and famous as Jay Z."
posted by haveanicesummer at 10:16 AM on March 4, 2010 [3 favorites]
Best answer: "I'm the nigga ya love to hate"--Ice Cube
"I'm still the thug that you love to hate"--Tupac
"I'm still the fat one that you love to hate"--Fat Joe
"It's that ignorant nigga ya love to hate"--Beanie Siegel
"I'm the chick y'all love to hate"--Kelis
"The new Ice Cube--motherfuckers hate to like you"--Eminem
(Not even close to a complete listing)
posted by box at 10:17 AM on March 4, 2010
"I'm still the thug that you love to hate"--Tupac
"I'm still the fat one that you love to hate"--Fat Joe
"It's that ignorant nigga ya love to hate"--Beanie Siegel
"I'm the chick y'all love to hate"--Kelis
"The new Ice Cube--motherfuckers hate to like you"--Eminem
(Not even close to a complete listing)
posted by box at 10:17 AM on March 4, 2010
Another 'Deep Cover' reference from Fat Joe:
Creep with me, as I cruise in my Beemer/
All the kids in the ghetto call me Don Cartagena
posted by box at 10:19 AM on March 4, 2010
Creep with me, as I cruise in my Beemer/
All the kids in the ghetto call me Don Cartagena
posted by box at 10:19 AM on March 4, 2010
"If you're X, I'm Y" and variations is a meme that appears in countless rap songs.
Lauryn Hill: "I was on the humble, you on every station"
Jay-z: "You push dimes and he sell weight" (pushing dimes is a meme in itself)
Cypress Hill: "Cypress Hill worldwide, you just a local" (Worldwide/local being another)
Lil Wayne: basically every song "If you're the shit, then I'm sewer rich" , "You're a pussy, boy. I'm your doucher" , "This is our fate, I'm yours" and on and on.
Just a few examples that were easiest to source.
posted by domographer at 10:21 AM on March 4, 2010
Lauryn Hill: "I was on the humble, you on every station"
Jay-z: "You push dimes and he sell weight" (pushing dimes is a meme in itself)
Cypress Hill: "Cypress Hill worldwide, you just a local" (Worldwide/local being another)
Lil Wayne: basically every song "If you're the shit, then I'm sewer rich" , "You're a pussy, boy. I'm your doucher" , "This is our fate, I'm yours" and on and on.
Just a few examples that were easiest to source.
posted by domographer at 10:21 AM on March 4, 2010
haveanicesummer's reminded me of Evidence flipping Diddy - "Diddy's blithe dismissal of the issue— "Don't worry if I write rhymes/I write checks"—on "Bad Boy for Life" became shorthand for the perversion of hip-hop by commerce. Dilated Peoples' Evidence issued this rejoinder: "Don't worry if I write checks/I write rhymes. (VV) Plus the video is sick.
posted by cashman at 10:24 AM on March 4, 2010
posted by cashman at 10:24 AM on March 4, 2010
A ton of artists have signified James Brown's - "Give the Drummer Some!" My favorite has to be Phonte (Little Brother) flipping it like "Give the Drummer Some....pipe down, give the plumber some!" Of course a ton of other artists have gone that route as well.
A bunch of people have signified The Real Roxanne's "You are now rockin with the best"
posted by cashman at 11:12 AM on March 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
A bunch of people have signified The Real Roxanne's "You are now rockin with the best"
posted by cashman at 11:12 AM on March 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
Oh oh, I thought of another one:
Eric B. & Rakim, "I Know You Got Soul," referenced by Mos Def, "Love"
I start to think and then I sink
Into the paper like I was ink
When I'm writing, I'm trapped in between the lines,
I escape when I finish the rhyme...
Also, random side question, what is up with lyrics sites not letting you cut and paste?! Like, fuck you, seriously. That shit is bullshit.
posted by dubitable at 11:33 AM on March 4, 2010
Eric B. & Rakim, "I Know You Got Soul," referenced by Mos Def, "Love"
I start to think and then I sink
Into the paper like I was ink
When I'm writing, I'm trapped in between the lines,
I escape when I finish the rhyme...
Also, random side question, what is up with lyrics sites not letting you cut and paste?! Like, fuck you, seriously. That shit is bullshit.
posted by dubitable at 11:33 AM on March 4, 2010
Response by poster: I just best-answered the bejeezus out of this, but keep them coming.
Cashman gets 800,000 points, and Juicy Avenger gets special thanks for that Jay-Z essay.
These are great! Thanks!
posted by papayaninja at 1:39 PM on March 4, 2010
Cashman gets 800,000 points, and Juicy Avenger gets special thanks for that Jay-Z essay.
These are great! Thanks!
posted by papayaninja at 1:39 PM on March 4, 2010
How about "it ain't trickin' if you got it." (Mostly Southern -- T.I., Lil Wayne off the top of my head, and Google says Gorilla Zoe has a song subtitled as such.)
... which I've never understood, because, really, isn't trickin' always trickin'?
posted by the NATURAL at 2:23 PM on March 4, 2010
... which I've never understood, because, really, isn't trickin' always trickin'?
posted by the NATURAL at 2:23 PM on March 4, 2010
The "Hotel, Motel, Holiday Inn" phrase has showed up in a couple of songs.
I can't quite bring the titles to mind.
also in R Kelly f/Cassidy, Hotel
posted by citron at 2:53 PM on March 4, 2010
I can't quite bring the titles to mind.
also in R Kelly f/Cassidy, Hotel
posted by citron at 2:53 PM on March 4, 2010
Best answer: Mos Def & Kweli (Blackstar) signified BDP's "Stop the Violence" with the "1-2-3!" chant, flipping it to "1-2-3! Mos Def and Talib Kweli-i-i".
I remember who did the "yes! the rhythm! the rebel!" intro. It's Zion I from the search and seizure mixtape, on "Rebel" - a cover of Public Enemy's Rebel Without a Pause.
Now, bringing that up, that brings up a whole other category that got alluded to during the reference to Snoop's cover of Lodi Dodi. Snoop covers the song but changes a few of the lyrics. There are a couple of rap artists that have "covered" other rap songs, but they change a lot of the lines while leaving in a lot of the lines. Do artists in other mainstream genres do this? I'm sure there must be some examples of that, but since rap typically has the most text to replicate, I'm guessing it ends up working best in rap.
So some other examples of that besides Snoop (Lodi Dodi) and Zion I (Rebel Without a Pause) - Pharoahe Monch covers P.E.'s "Welcome to the Terrordome" - once again, leaving the opening verses basically intact, but changing most of the lyrics in his blistering 3rd verse.
So doing a search brings up this post which has some covers - most of which I haven't heard (the new versions). But I do remember that Scarface "cover" of BDP's #1 and Kidz in the Hall – “Wheelz Fall Off (cover of 93 til infinity). Same type of deal.
It's like the (newer) ultimate form of signifying, adding new lyrics helps you simultaneously avoid the charge of biting and riding off someone else's fame, and then dropping dope lyrics over the track and/or flipping the lyrics adds to the respect you're showing the artist(s).
Thanks for the points and damn you for starting this thread. I just know I'm going to be sitting in bed tonight and more of these are going to come to my mind.
posted by cashman at 5:05 PM on March 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
I remember who did the "yes! the rhythm! the rebel!" intro. It's Zion I from the search and seizure mixtape, on "Rebel" - a cover of Public Enemy's Rebel Without a Pause.
Now, bringing that up, that brings up a whole other category that got alluded to during the reference to Snoop's cover of Lodi Dodi. Snoop covers the song but changes a few of the lyrics. There are a couple of rap artists that have "covered" other rap songs, but they change a lot of the lines while leaving in a lot of the lines. Do artists in other mainstream genres do this? I'm sure there must be some examples of that, but since rap typically has the most text to replicate, I'm guessing it ends up working best in rap.
So some other examples of that besides Snoop (Lodi Dodi) and Zion I (Rebel Without a Pause) - Pharoahe Monch covers P.E.'s "Welcome to the Terrordome" - once again, leaving the opening verses basically intact, but changing most of the lyrics in his blistering 3rd verse.
So doing a search brings up this post which has some covers - most of which I haven't heard (the new versions). But I do remember that Scarface "cover" of BDP's #1 and Kidz in the Hall – “Wheelz Fall Off (cover of 93 til infinity). Same type of deal.
It's like the (newer) ultimate form of signifying, adding new lyrics helps you simultaneously avoid the charge of biting and riding off someone else's fame, and then dropping dope lyrics over the track and/or flipping the lyrics adds to the respect you're showing the artist(s).
Thanks for the points and damn you for starting this thread. I just know I'm going to be sitting in bed tonight and more of these are going to come to my mind.
posted by cashman at 5:05 PM on March 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
Thinkin' of a master plan...
posted by Never Better at 5:34 PM on March 4, 2010
posted by Never Better at 5:34 PM on March 4, 2010
Great ones so far... I'd submit that the use of simile in general is all over rap... "Cuz I'm X like Y..."
posted by Rykey at 6:58 PM on March 5, 2010
posted by Rykey at 6:58 PM on March 5, 2010
Word to Herb, yo, if you can't swing this (P.E.) - Word, but who the fuck is Herb? (Ice Cube)
Alicia Keys try and talk some sense in him, 30 minutes later seen there's no convincin him (Kanye) - Keisha Shantel tried to talk some sense in him, same day realize - there's no convincin him. (L.E.G.A.C.Y. on Little Brother's "Boondock Saints")
Kanye West made "Late", Phonte covered it (as per the aforementioned way, leaving some classic lines intact while inserting new lyrics) with "Hate". Has the hilarious line "What would you do for a threesome? I mean a Halle Berry, Sanaa Lathan and Free-some. Ooh, they'd have love for that." They might show up raw dog with no glove for that. He also reprised Kanye's "Hater _'s marry hater _'s and have hater kids" line.
posted by cashman at 6:58 AM on March 6, 2010
Alicia Keys try and talk some sense in him, 30 minutes later seen there's no convincin him (Kanye) - Keisha Shantel tried to talk some sense in him, same day realize - there's no convincin him. (L.E.G.A.C.Y. on Little Brother's "Boondock Saints")
Kanye West made "Late", Phonte covered it (as per the aforementioned way, leaving some classic lines intact while inserting new lyrics) with "Hate". Has the hilarious line "What would you do for a threesome? I mean a Halle Berry, Sanaa Lathan and Free-some. Ooh, they'd have love for that." They might show up raw dog with no glove for that. He also reprised Kanye's "Hater _'s marry hater _'s and have hater kids" line.
posted by cashman at 6:58 AM on March 6, 2010
Snoop on "All I do is Win", signifying BDP's 'Stop the Violence'. KRS: "Time and time again as I pick up the pen, as my thoughts emerge, these are those words" Snoop - "Time and time again, while I'm sippin on this gin."
Also, just as a note DeBarge's previously mentioned lyrics also appear as the hook on POS' 'Bleeding Hearts Club'.
posted by cashman at 2:16 PM on March 9, 2010
Also, just as a note DeBarge's previously mentioned lyrics also appear as the hook on POS' 'Bleeding Hearts Club'.
posted by cashman at 2:16 PM on March 9, 2010
(Danger)Doom signifying Lil Wayne - "More spots than a leopard. Then he had to stop, the block was hot peppered".
Sharkey, on Sharkey's "The Moment Before Crazy" featuring Vast Aire & C-Rayz Walz: "Oh you aint know you was gonna see me? Shiiit. I'm the Sun-Ra of this shit!" signifying ODB's classic intro to Wu-Tang's "Triumph" - "What chall thought yall wasn't gone see me?! I'm the Osiris of this shit!"
posted by cashman at 8:16 AM on March 11, 2010
Sharkey, on Sharkey's "The Moment Before Crazy" featuring Vast Aire & C-Rayz Walz: "Oh you aint know you was gonna see me? Shiiit. I'm the Sun-Ra of this shit!" signifying ODB's classic intro to Wu-Tang's "Triumph" - "What chall thought yall wasn't gone see me?! I'm the Osiris of this shit!"
posted by cashman at 8:16 AM on March 11, 2010
50 cent signifying UTFO - "Hate it or Love it": "From the beginning to the end....losers lose, winners win." signifies UTFO's "From beginning to end and...to beginning... I never lose because I'm all about winning" in "Roxanne, Roxanne".
More, with Kidz in the Hall signifying Will Smith's "You can't speed through, 2 miles an hour, so everybody sees you" line from Summertime - "2 miles an hour, so everybody sees me"*.
Then just after that in the same song, Kidz in the Hall signifies the refrain in OutKast's "Elevators (Me and You)". "How about me and you, hit the sto and get some brew...."
*Though I prefer the remix where El-P follows with "the world is burnin' down kids, watch it on the TVvvvv".
posted by cashman at 9:22 AM on March 11, 2010
More, with Kidz in the Hall signifying Will Smith's "You can't speed through, 2 miles an hour, so everybody sees you" line from Summertime - "2 miles an hour, so everybody sees me"*.
Then just after that in the same song, Kidz in the Hall signifies the refrain in OutKast's "Elevators (Me and You)". "How about me and you, hit the sto and get some brew...."
*Though I prefer the remix where El-P follows with "the world is burnin' down kids, watch it on the TVvvvv".
posted by cashman at 9:22 AM on March 11, 2010
Jay Electronica signifying Rakim's classic "I'll take 7 emcees" verse from "My Melody". Jay Elec turns it into "Bring seven emcees, put 'em in a line. Go get seven more cornballs who think they can rhyme. It'll take seven more before I go for mine, that's 12 sucka _ with a gash in they perm, plus nine other mothafuckas drastically burned...it's a horrible lesson indeed but has to be learned". I know that "7 emcees" line has been signified a bunch of other times as well.
Now, what's interesting about the Rakim lyric is that he (pre)signified himself using this verse. On Eric B & Rakim's Paid in Full album, My Melody (with the 7 emcees line) appears as song #3. The 1st song on the album is "I Aint no Joke", and contains a reference to the "7 emcees" line - "So when you see me come up, freeze...or you'll be one of those 7 emcees." I could be off with this, or it could just be a rearranging of the songs, but since it happened on Follow the Leader too, perhaps it isn't just a missed reference on my part, or an accident. Pretty sweet.
It would be better referenced by Ra as "or you'll be one of those 21 emcees", but this is the same cat who uses "ditect" (detect). Which, by the way, has been signified by gravediggaz, Jay Electronica, Jadakiss, Wu-Tang and others. Unless that's NY slang and I just didn't pick it up.
Sometimes r&b artists signify back - Alicia Keys signifies ODB on "Girlfriend", because the backing for the song was an interpolation/sample of ODB's "Brooklyn Zoo". She sings "It's enough to make a _ go crazy", signifying ODB's opening lines. I instantly liked her because of that.
posted by cashman at 10:29 AM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
Now, what's interesting about the Rakim lyric is that he (pre)signified himself using this verse. On Eric B & Rakim's Paid in Full album, My Melody (with the 7 emcees line) appears as song #3. The 1st song on the album is "I Aint no Joke", and contains a reference to the "7 emcees" line - "So when you see me come up, freeze...or you'll be one of those 7 emcees." I could be off with this, or it could just be a rearranging of the songs, but since it happened on Follow the Leader too, perhaps it isn't just a missed reference on my part, or an accident. Pretty sweet.
It would be better referenced by Ra as "or you'll be one of those 21 emcees", but this is the same cat who uses "ditect" (detect). Which, by the way, has been signified by gravediggaz, Jay Electronica, Jadakiss, Wu-Tang and others. Unless that's NY slang and I just didn't pick it up.
Sometimes r&b artists signify back - Alicia Keys signifies ODB on "Girlfriend", because the backing for the song was an interpolation/sample of ODB's "Brooklyn Zoo". She sings "It's enough to make a _ go crazy", signifying ODB's opening lines. I instantly liked her because of that.
posted by cashman at 10:29 AM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
Uffie signifying Audio Two's "Top Billin" on "Pop the Glock". The entire song is basically a cover, lyric-wise.
posted by cashman at 12:32 PM on March 12, 2010
posted by cashman at 12:32 PM on March 12, 2010
Kanye signifies OutKast. Andre 3000 rapped the classic "I hope we feel like this forever...foreva? For ever ever? For ever eva?" on "Ms. Jackson". Kanye signified that verse with his opening lines on the remix to Teairra Mari's "Make her feel good": "It's Kanyeezy with Teairra arra...Teairra arra...Gucci sweater....Louie leather..."
posted by cashman at 7:54 PM on March 13, 2010
posted by cashman at 7:54 PM on March 13, 2010
Eric B & Rakim (Paid in Full) - "Aint nothin funny, stop smilin, and still don't nothin move but the money"
Black Moon (I Got Cha Opin) - "It's never sunny, still don't nothin' move but the honey"
Cocoa Brovaz (The Cash) - "It's all about the cash (still don't nothin move but the money)...still don't nothin move but the dough)
Das Efx (PMD's Rough Rugged & Raw) -"Nothin move but the green, my team be on the shine"
posted by cashman at 9:53 AM on March 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
Black Moon (I Got Cha Opin) - "It's never sunny, still don't nothin' move but the honey"
Cocoa Brovaz (The Cash) - "It's all about the cash (still don't nothin move but the money)...still don't nothin move but the dough)
Das Efx (PMD's Rough Rugged & Raw) -"Nothin move but the green, my team be on the shine"
posted by cashman at 9:53 AM on March 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
Snoop (on Dre's 'Nothin' But A G Thang'):
One, Two, Three and to the Four
Snoop Doggy Dogg and Dr. Dre is at your door
Ready to make an entrance, so back on up
Before I have to pull the strap out the cut
Blahzay Blahzay ('Medina's In Da House')
It's like one, two, three and to the four
Medina's in the house kickin' down your fuckin' door
Ready to make an entrance, so back on up
Because Brooklyn about to rip shit up
Rock (on Boot Camp Clik's 'Casualties of War'):
Hold up, it goes, one, two, three and to the four
Hold on, dog, you know the four hold three more
So, yo, one, two, three more into the four-four
Mr. Capone-E ('Don't Get It Twisted')
One, two, three and to the four
Capone-Double E, strong arm at your front door
Back with that gang-banger limo
With the legend Eazy's son, so the real just entered
posted by box at 10:31 AM on March 14, 2010
One, Two, Three and to the Four
Snoop Doggy Dogg and Dr. Dre is at your door
Ready to make an entrance, so back on up
Before I have to pull the strap out the cut
Blahzay Blahzay ('Medina's In Da House')
It's like one, two, three and to the four
Medina's in the house kickin' down your fuckin' door
Ready to make an entrance, so back on up
Because Brooklyn about to rip shit up
Rock (on Boot Camp Clik's 'Casualties of War'):
Hold up, it goes, one, two, three and to the four
Hold on, dog, you know the four hold three more
So, yo, one, two, three more into the four-four
Mr. Capone-E ('Don't Get It Twisted')
One, two, three and to the four
Capone-Double E, strong arm at your front door
Back with that gang-banger limo
With the legend Eazy's son, so the real just entered
posted by box at 10:31 AM on March 14, 2010
Oh gosh - I didn't realize you were looking for just the major ones, that spread throughout, and I've been listing those that are just individual references. I'll stop unless you want more.
The one I was about to do is Eminem signifying Wu-Tang's classic skit off Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), with part of his third verse on "Get U Mad".
posted by cashman at 12:36 PM on March 14, 2010
The one I was about to do is Eminem signifying Wu-Tang's classic skit off Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), with part of his third verse on "Get U Mad".
posted by cashman at 12:36 PM on March 14, 2010
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This is one of the reasons hiphop reminds me of jazz so much, I don't see this as so different from Charlie Parker referencing a Lester Young riff...I'm sure others smarter than I have written term papers on the stuff too.
posted by dubitable at 11:00 PM on March 3, 2010 [1 favorite]