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

Original annotation: Fe is the chemical symbol for iron, getting iron pumped into your heart means a bullet was shot into your heart

Complex’s critique: For an annotation to be effective, one must first be able to understand what exactly one is annotating. If that does not happen, you get what we have here. T.I. is not threatening to pump iron into someone’s heart, he’s simply talking about scaring ‘em a little in his characteristic Southern twang. (Note to annotator: The “Fe” couplet is completed by a line with the words “near and dear"—does that rhyme to you?)

Our response: Okay, so the lyrics were wrong. But we got the annotation right (the science, too) and by the way — the couplet also has the words “heart” and “hearing” which rhyme with just as well and allow the listener to misinterpret T.I.’s iconic drawl

Original annotation

Complex’s critique: To whoever attempted to annotate this Lil Wayne line: Good effort. While we’ll never know what was whirling around Weezy’s head as he spit his woozy verse, this doesn’t strike us as some sort of complicated metaphor. Considering the context and the following lines—him describing the seats and and paint of said wide-bodied car—it’s safe to say Mr. F. Baby was simply talking about a car.

Our response: Here, Complex directly doubles back on their belief — that there’s no guaranteed explanation, but they then go on, “it’s safe to say” that about which Weezy is speaking (note to Damien/Jason: it’s whomever..)

This line currently has no annotation.

Complex’s critique: To be fair, there is a disclaimer for this one: “This explanation hasn’t yet been reviewed by the Rap Genius editors.” So it stands to reason that when they do review it, this halfhearted attempt at an an explanation will be deleted or, at the very least, voted down. But since it’s still here, let’s look at what it provides: nothing. No explanation as to what Jeezy’s euphemism is referring to. Sure, we know that the Snowman is slyly referring to getting topped off, but you wouldn’t know that from this annotation.

Our response: Using head as slang for fellatio is one of the most common tropes in hip-hop, so playing off the lyric and instead making a joke is a better use of the annotation

Original annotation

Complex’s critique: When speaking to Mass Appeal about the opening track from Supreme Clientele, Ghostface admitted that he sometimes makes songs that are completely incapable of being deciphered. “Cause yo, if I wanted to write something down that you wouldn’t understand, yo, I'ma do it,” said Ghost referring to “Nutmeg.” “I’m the first one that did it and made songs that made no sense to nobody. That’s me.” So while you may think you know what rap’s Ironman is talking about, you probably have no idea.

Original annotation

Complex’s critique: How, we wonder, has no one voted down this “annotation”? Let’s ignore the fact that out of all of Cam'ron’s rhymes, which are usually heavy with internal rhymes and sometimes unintelligible slang, this one is as straightforward as they come.

Let’s instead focus on the fact that there’s nothing here but a quip that would upset the poor soul seeking further clarification on Killa’s gun-carrying techniques.

Our response: Apparently Damien and Jason have never tried to stuff two guns in one sock — the annotation serves as a warning, not an explanation

Original annotation

Complex’s critique: Where’s that guy who thought Lil Wayne’s car line was actually about him finding a place in the rap game? We need him, because this is straight-up ridiculous. We get it: The person tried to be funny. But if you’re going to crack jokes, try to be on point with the knowledge you’re trying to kick. What’s more puzzling is that the poster obviously understands what the line means because he or she links to another Lil Wayne line about his swagger being “so bright.” This is what happens when you let the inmates run the prison.

Our response: Yo! The importance of drinking lots of water cannot be overstated. Don’t appeal to science when you ain’t hydrated, homes

Original annotation

Complex’s critique: Not every rap lyric needs to be deciphered and annotated. Some turns of phrases and metaphors are as clear as the fake diamonds on Lil Scrappy’s chain. Take, for example, this line by J. Cole. Even when taken at face value, it’s easy to understand that Cole’s line is a warning shot; he’s about to metaphorically kill who ever stands in his way. But, no, what we get is a tangential, tenuous-at-best link to a Jay-Z line also about a funeral. One that, coincidentally, also doesn’t need to be annotated.

Our response: if RapGenius is a repository for rap lyrics, then what’s the harm in linking similar lines? (especially when Jigga and Cole have such a relationship)

Original annotation

Complex’s critique: In scholar bell hooks' seminal essay “Eating the Other: Desire and Resistance,” she examines how, when white men enter into the cultural space of another ethnicity, the idea becomes appealing because primitive fantasies arise. So the notion that by stressing urr, Kanye is trying to “mock some bourgeois black peoples' fetish with ghetto pronunciation of words” is untrue.

That RG believes bourgeois black people fetishize about pronouncing words with a certain accent is also pretty absurd. This is what hooks might interpret as the “consumption of otherness,” whereupon whites place narrow-minded restrictions on “the other” through the occupation of a particular cultural space. In truth, Kanye probably just liked the sound of “insecurr” and felt the need to stress the pronunciation in the subsequent lines to pull off his playful rhyme scheme.