That hip-hop started in the days of yonder Focus… (Ft. Phonte, Royce da 5'9" & Stat Quo) – Homage to Premier
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After the legendary Queensbridge natives Marley Marl and MC Shan of the Juice Crew put it down for their Borough, Nas was the next representative for Queensbridge.
He compares his skill to theirs, and one can infer he is stating the belief that he will be just as monumental to Queensbridge music (which ended up being oh so true).
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This is the verse that put AZ on the map. Many, such as Talib Kweli, consider this to be one of the greatest hip hop verses of all time.
Nas also said the following about AZ’s verse:
I love AZ’s verse on Illmatic. That verse just opened up the song and put light into an album that started off dark. The album starts off dark but AZ starts his rhyme on ‘Life’s a Bitch'—it’s the first sunlight that happens on the album.
The hook I had written… After the hook was there, they was like, “Damn, you gotta spit, dawg.” I was like, “Aight, fuck it. If you like it, you like it. You don’t, you don’t.” I did it, and everybody liked it. That was it. It was history made.
Here’s a breakdown of the multisyllabic and internal rhymes that make this verse sound so good.
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Group Home is a hip hop duo, composed of members Lil' Dap and Melachi the Nutcracker. They are members of the Gang Starr Foundation which is led by DJ Premier. DJ Premier produced Group Home’s first album
Like this! Focus… (Ft. Phonte, Royce da 5'9" & Stat Quo) – Homage to Premier
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What is this?
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What is this?
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What is this?
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“Four nickel” ( or fo') is slang for gun. .
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Referring to the Gang Starr song and album of the same name.
this was the fifth studio album by Gang Starr
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Referring to Rakim’s song It’s Been a Long Time which appeared on his first solo release The 18th Letter. The song was produced by DJ Premier
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