Song with similarities to Hamilton's Cabinet Battle #1

August 20, 2020 12:10 PM

While listening to the Hamilton soundtrack, the end of Hamilton's piece during the first cabinet battle drops the backing music and is just him spitting fire. There another song, mainstream rap I believe, that has the same spoken-word drop off after the chorus. Does anyone recognize that effect and know other songs that employ it? Lyric in question below the fold as it's a bit nsfw.

The specific line I'm referring to is: "Sitting there useless as two shits, turn around, bend over, I'll show you where the shoe fits", in particular it's the end of Hamilton's monologue and drops the background music to add to the effect.

posted by Behemoth, in no. 302-bis, with the Browning to Media & Arts (7 answers total)

Best answer: I checked the genius lyric annotations, and found this:

This is also how the last battle ends on “8 mile.” The music stops and he continues to keep rapping after his time is over.[credit AlexanderReeves]

So that's one song, and a suggestions as to what the effect is/is intended to communicate (which is further outlined in the comment above the one I quoted) -- that Hamilton's time is up but he just can't stop himself from going on.
posted by kalimac at 12:23 PM on August 20, 2020 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Thanks for the link, that is the effect I was referring to, but definitely not the exact song. It may have had a female vocalist, now that I think of it!
posted by Behemoth, in no. 302-bis, with the Browning at 2:10 PM on August 20, 2020 [1 favorite]

Maybe something by Missy Elliot?
posted by Kitchen Witch at 3:12 PM on August 20, 2020

Best answer: The last few lines of Ice Cube's "When Will They Shoot?" [nsfw] do this particular thing.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 5:02 PM on August 20, 2020 [1 favorite]

Have no idea if this is relevant but the credits and acknowledgements for this song say "Contains elements of 'The Message' written by " [a bunch of names I can supply if needed]
posted by DanSachs at 5:51 PM on August 20, 2020

"Contains elements of 'The Message' written by " [a bunch of names I can supply if needed]

Joseph Saddler, Melvin Glover, et al.

You don’t have the votes
/ You don’t have the votes
/ Aha-ha-ha ha! / You’re gonna need congressional approval and you don’t have the votes / Such a blunder sometimes it makes me wonder why I even bring the thunder

Don't push me / 'cause I'm close to the edge / I'm trying not to lose my head / Ah-huh-huh-huh-huh / It's like a jungle sometimes / It makes me wonder how I keep from going under
posted by zamboni at 10:17 PM on August 20, 2020 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Thanks for all your help - I was thinking of Nicki Minaj's verse on Kanye West's Monster. The background music drops off to just a base beat from 4:46-4:56, as she finishes her verse with a bang.
posted by Behemoth, in no. 302-bis, with the Browning at 10:12 AM on August 21, 2020