Murder Ballads with a beat?
January 15, 2008 9:46 AM Subscribe
I'm looking for hip-hop songs that function as crime fiction, like "Shaky Dog."
I'm looking for more songs that tell a linear narrative and have details, as opposed to general gangster rap "I shoot people all the time." ("Gold" by GZA is another example). I have a pretty good grasp on 90s hip-hop, so more current examples would be preferred.
I'm looking for more songs that tell a linear narrative and have details, as opposed to general gangster rap "I shoot people all the time." ("Gold" by GZA is another example). I have a pretty good grasp on 90s hip-hop, so more current examples would be preferred.
Best answer: How about "The Setup" by Obie Trice?
posted by good in a vacuum at 10:01 AM on January 15, 2008
posted by good in a vacuum at 10:01 AM on January 15, 2008
Children's Story by Slick Rick is a classic.
posted by burnmp3s at 10:05 AM on January 15, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by burnmp3s at 10:05 AM on January 15, 2008 [2 favorites]
That reminds me...
Morcheeba - Women Lose Weight (feat. Slick Rick)
posted by cowbellemoo at 10:07 AM on January 15, 2008
Morcheeba - Women Lose Weight (feat. Slick Rick)
posted by cowbellemoo at 10:07 AM on January 15, 2008
Best answer: Mayor by Pharoahe Monch
Crime Story by DMX
Dance with the Devil by Immortal Technique
Also, Nas has several tracks spread out across nearly all of his albums that qualify.
posted by nameless.k at 10:14 AM on January 15, 2008
Crime Story by DMX
Dance with the Devil by Immortal Technique
Also, Nas has several tracks spread out across nearly all of his albums that qualify.
posted by nameless.k at 10:14 AM on January 15, 2008
uh... R Kelly
Trapped in Closet
or is that not really a "song"?
posted by clh at 10:16 AM on January 15, 2008
Trapped in Closet
or is that not really a "song"?
posted by clh at 10:16 AM on January 15, 2008
Ice Cube - "A Chick From The Projects" from his first solo album.
posted by Jofus at 10:18 AM on January 15, 2008
posted by Jofus at 10:18 AM on January 15, 2008
Ugly Duckling, The Confrontation (I believe that's the right one, no lyrics online).
posted by yerfatma at 10:22 AM on January 15, 2008
posted by yerfatma at 10:22 AM on January 15, 2008
Hardly current, but "Midnight" by Ice-T seems to fit the bill.
posted by thinman at 10:41 AM on January 15, 2008
posted by thinman at 10:41 AM on January 15, 2008
rewind by nas
warning by biggie
the professional by dmx
the damien series across the dmx albums... (the omen with manson is my fav)
here we go again by dmx
posted by robotdog at 10:42 AM on January 15, 2008
warning by biggie
the professional by dmx
the damien series across the dmx albums... (the omen with manson is my fav)
here we go again by dmx
posted by robotdog at 10:42 AM on January 15, 2008
Best answer: Big L, "Casualties of a Dice Game" and "The Heist".
posted by creasy boy at 10:44 AM on January 15, 2008
posted by creasy boy at 10:44 AM on January 15, 2008
Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx is essentially a full-album arc that plays out like a ghetto Scarface. Although there is probably only one song that fits the idea of a full-cycle narrative across three minutes ("Spot Rusherz"), the album itself can be loosely read in terms of a rise to crime glory by a couple of young "Knuckleheadz" (track two on the disc).
Raekwon's slang is reasonably impenetrable at times, but it's hard to miss the way the lyrical realities and aspirations get bigger and bigger from the point of view of the protagonists as the album progresses. Source magazine gave it five mics (although not right away), and I'd give it six if such a thing existed. It's a desert album hip-hop CD for me, to be sure.
posted by peacecorn at 10:45 AM on January 15, 2008
Raekwon's slang is reasonably impenetrable at times, but it's hard to miss the way the lyrical realities and aspirations get bigger and bigger from the point of view of the protagonists as the album progresses. Source magazine gave it five mics (although not right away), and I'd give it six if such a thing existed. It's a desert album hip-hop CD for me, to be sure.
posted by peacecorn at 10:45 AM on January 15, 2008
Also on "Bloody Chain" MF Doom and some guy Poison Pen tell a story from two different perspectives.
posted by creasy boy at 10:45 AM on January 15, 2008
posted by creasy boy at 10:45 AM on January 15, 2008
Seconding Immortal Technique's Dance With The Devil.
posted by kidbritish at 10:54 AM on January 15, 2008
posted by kidbritish at 10:54 AM on January 15, 2008
You may already be familiar with this given your handle on nineties hip hop, but Prince Paul's A Prince Among Thieves is an entire album that covers the story of an aspiring rapper who enters the drug trade in order to raise money for a demo tape. The album has tracks by: Kool Keith, Big Daddy Kane, Chubb Rock, Biz Markie, De La Soul, Everlast, Sadat X, Xzibit, Kid Creole, Special Ed, Chris Rock, RZA and Buckshot.
It also includes the fantastic line by Chubb Rock:
From East to West whether your thin or thick
Whether your girl sucks lollis or just pure dick
Mario Puzo said that I'm the don
W W I'm the shit dot com
Sure there should be three "w"'s in there, but who's counting?
posted by buddha9090 at 10:54 AM on January 15, 2008
It also includes the fantastic line by Chubb Rock:
From East to West whether your thin or thick
Whether your girl sucks lollis or just pure dick
Mario Puzo said that I'm the don
W W I'm the shit dot com
Sure there should be three "w"'s in there, but who's counting?
posted by buddha9090 at 10:54 AM on January 15, 2008
MC 900 Ft Jesus' "Adventures In Failure"
Public Enemy "Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos"
Ice-T "Midnight"
posted by waraw at 11:10 AM on January 15, 2008
Public Enemy "Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos"
Ice-T "Midnight"
posted by waraw at 11:10 AM on January 15, 2008
6 in the morning by Ice-T
Murder was the case by Snoop
posted by neilkod at 12:14 PM on January 15, 2008
Murder was the case by Snoop
posted by neilkod at 12:14 PM on January 15, 2008
Nas has a lot of them. I know that you are up on your 90's hiphop but many of them were not released on his albums, like "Wanna Play Rough," "The Hardest Thing To Do Is Stay Alive," "Tales from the Hood" Etc. (If you don't have these unreleased songs, but want them, mefi mail me.)
posted by milarepa at 12:38 PM on January 15, 2008
posted by milarepa at 12:38 PM on January 15, 2008
I have to make sure you know about "Addicted to Danger" by Ice-T. That, to me, is one of the greatest crime drama raps ever.
More recent - Nas has a few off of the first disc of Streets Disciple, as was alluded to.
How about Taco Day (Jean Grae) (2001)?
Progress of Elimination (Boss)
Murder Ink (Dr. Dre) (2001)
Trilogy (Pharoahe Monch (2007)
And when you get the list, can you please post it? I'd love to make a mixtape of the titles (sans R. Kelly, natch). Also, throw in U Mean I'm Not from Black Sheep.
posted by cashman at 12:42 PM on January 15, 2008
More recent - Nas has a few off of the first disc of Streets Disciple, as was alluded to.
How about Taco Day (Jean Grae) (2001)?
Progress of Elimination (Boss)
Murder Ink (Dr. Dre) (2001)
Trilogy (Pharoahe Monch (2007)
And when you get the list, can you please post it? I'd love to make a mixtape of the titles (sans R. Kelly, natch). Also, throw in U Mean I'm Not from Black Sheep.
posted by cashman at 12:42 PM on January 15, 2008
Slick Rick - Children's Story
Black Rob - Thug Story
Ghostface Killah - Run
Killah Priest - Science Project
Pastor Troy - Ain't No Sunshine
Notorious B.I.G. - Me & My Bitch
Method Man - Mr. Sandman
Busta Rhymes - Things We Be Doin' for Money
Warren G - Regulate
Prince Paul's "Prince Among Thieves" album
Raekwon's "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx" album
posted by rxrfrx at 2:59 PM on January 15, 2008
Black Rob - Thug Story
Ghostface Killah - Run
Killah Priest - Science Project
Pastor Troy - Ain't No Sunshine
Notorious B.I.G. - Me & My Bitch
Method Man - Mr. Sandman
Busta Rhymes - Things We Be Doin' for Money
Warren G - Regulate
Prince Paul's "Prince Among Thieves" album
Raekwon's "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx" album
posted by rxrfrx at 2:59 PM on January 15, 2008
Response by poster: Thanks for all the answers. To give an answer to my own question, I'd also add "Walk Around" on the new Ghostface.
posted by Bookhouse at 4:20 PM on January 15, 2008
posted by Bookhouse at 4:20 PM on January 15, 2008
Jay-Z - "Friend Or Foe '98"
MURS - "The Night Before"
MURS - "Risky Business (juvenile party while parents aren't home crime)"
Ice Cube & Dr Dre - Natural Born Killaz
posted by oblio_one at 4:25 PM on January 15, 2008
MURS - "The Night Before"
MURS - "Risky Business (juvenile party while parents aren't home crime)"
Ice Cube & Dr Dre - Natural Born Killaz
posted by oblio_one at 4:25 PM on January 15, 2008
Common -- Testify. Not necessarily about the crime, but about the court trial.
posted by flibbertigibbet at 5:09 PM on January 15, 2008
posted by flibbertigibbet at 5:09 PM on January 15, 2008
KRS-One: - "9mm Goes Bang", "Love's Gonna Get'Cha"
Classics.
posted by xbalto at 10:09 PM on January 15, 2008
Classics.
posted by xbalto at 10:09 PM on January 15, 2008
Some of the Horrorcore genre is like this. 'season of da siccness' by Brotha Lynch Hung especially
also Stan by Eminem.
posted by softlord at 6:25 AM on January 16, 2008
also Stan by Eminem.
posted by softlord at 6:25 AM on January 16, 2008
Tales From The Crackside - K-Solo
Renee - Lost Boyz
Renee - K-Solo
Scent of A Robot - Pete Miser
posted by 31d1 at 8:38 PM on January 16, 2008
Renee - Lost Boyz
Renee - K-Solo
Scent of A Robot - Pete Miser
posted by 31d1 at 8:38 PM on January 16, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by majick at 9:59 AM on January 15, 2008