Original annotation

Complex’s critique: While this would be a welcomed part of a longer annotation, it does not help the reader understand what exactly it is that Kane is saying. Just imagine, for a moment, that you don’t know what “stepping” to someone means and reading that some another group spit the same line years later. Yeah. No dice.

Original annotation

Complex’s critique: The troubling aspect of this particular annotation—aside from its completely wrong interpretation—is FlyPelicanFly and MCSmith automatically linking Common’s lyrics to with what they deem to be hood tendencies. I wouldn’t go as far to say there is “rampant drug and alcohol abuse in the hood.” After all, most hoods don’t mirror The Wire.

Jeremy, another user, later points to the correct understanding, and yet his analysis remains lower. Which annotation should an unfamiliar reader believe?

But the larger point here is this: Rap is more than lyrics, as Stephen Kearse of RESPECT. magazine so aptly put it. And it’s definitely more than fools attempting to explain it.

FlyPelicanFly’s response: This annotation was worked on by two people, so I do not know if it was he or I who wrote the latter half. In the song, Common criticizes ills he sees in the world; my explanation was an attempt to highlight the fact that Com was being critical of drunk nights, rather than celebratory.

Original annotation

Complex’s critique: Either there are not enough Redman fans on Rap Genius, or people truly have a difficult time sorting out The Funk Doc’s rhymes. Peruse the lyrics from his first few albums and you’ll see very few annotations. When you do, it’s usually shallow fare like the entry above. What’s troubling is that this isn’t even one of Redman’s dense lyrics—it’s actually not dense at all. Maybe this one should have gone unannotated as well.

Original annotation

Complex’s critique: Herein lies another problem with Rap Genius: Not every line deserves annotation. 50’s proclamation is nothing more than a personal preference in his dealings with the fairer sex. No further analysis is needed because the line speaks for itself. And yet the unnamed RG scholar felt the need to make a bad joke, adding no clarity to the overall understanding of the song at all.

Maboo, AbominableHoMan, and LEMON, respectively

Original annotation

Complex’s critique: We agree, doctors deserve credit for all the great work they do. But the annotation is completely wrong. Game’s proclamation has nothing to do with giving props to the doctor who birthed his son, but instead is a reference to the line before it (“They say everytime somebody die, a child is born”). RG user edb94 points this out, and yet the main annotation remains. Which brings us to another shortcoming in RG’s mission: With such an extensive and ever-growing collection of rap songs to annotate, who acts as gatekeeper? Who dictates a good annotation from a bad one?

Original annotation

Complex’s critique: Oh, dude, really? We bet when Biggie was chilling in Primo’s studio penning the verses for this track, he was totally thinking of those times in college when he ran out of weed. Wait, what? Biggie didn’t go to college? Oh, the track’s called “Unbelievable”? I wish someone would have put that in that annotation.

Our response: It should be noted that this explanation came from Maboo himself, and never has Mr. Wallace said that the inspiration for this line was his college (or lack thereof) experience

Original annotation

Complex’s critique: While true—it is indeed a fat ass—the photo fails to acknowledge Mos Def’s precise illustration: The ass is so fat that you can see it from the front. The photo depicts a pair of massive rear ends from the back instead of the logical choice of a frontal view.

The jocular tone of the annotation also points to another flaw in RG’s grand experiment: There is no common thread of examination; analysis ranges from serious to playful, often with no real assessment at all.

Our response: Complex makes a positive statement when they say that the asses in question are fat. What is “fat”? Does Mos mean “obese” or just “plump”? Does an objective standard for the fatness of an ass exist separate from human perception?

Original annotation

Complex’s critique: In his now infamous blog post, investor Marc Andreessen noted that Rap Genius would set out to create the “Internet Talmud.” But, it should be noted, that scholarship—if indeed Andreessen and RG’s founders intend to develop the “definitive online community of rap aficionados"—should never be taken too lightheartedly.

While this annotation is correct in its analysis of Nas' desire to escape the streets of New York City’s urban enclaves (Queens specifically), the line “swagged out Ghanaian king” indicates a poor understanding and utter lack of respect for the cultural importance of traditional tribal garb. Reducing the history of African ceremonial dress to two words—"swagged out"—is lazy at best.

Our response: Just last year, Dictionary.com added “swagged out” to ceremonial’s list of synonyms

T.I. rolls with a rowdy group of cowboys who have no problem using intimidation as a means to get what they want. “Pumping” describes the job of the heart (to oxygenate the body), but it also conjures up the image of a shooting gun

This line’s original explanation was described by Complex as one of RG’s worst