Rap Genius Blog

Weekly Roundup: Lyrics Posted Since 5/14/2013

2013-05-21T14:11:26Z

Big Memes:

Actavis – Actavis to Acquire Warner Chilcott to Create Premier $11 Billion Revenue Global Specialty Pharmaceutical Company Lyrics
A$AP Rocky – Quick Ain’t Fair (Adidas Commercial) Lyrics
Barclays Premier League – Final League Table 2012/13 Lyrics
Barclays Premier League – Stats and records 2012/13 Lyrics
Beyoncé – Apology to Fans Lyrics
Blood, Sweat & Tears – Spinning Wheel Lyrics
The Breeders – Cannonball Lyrics
Bulgarian Prosecutor of the Public – Discovery of 350,000 Fraudulent Ballots in Sofia, 05/10/2013 Lyrics
Carl Sherron – The 11th Channel Lyrics
Childish Gambino – Body So Tight Lyrics
Darude – Sandstorm Lyrics
David Beckham – Retirement Announcement Lyrics
D-Dash – From The Bottom Lyrics
DeLorean – All Eyez on Me Lyrics
DeVante – Dollar & A Dream Lyrics
Donovan – Atlantis Lyrics
Eddie Winslow – Baby Lyrics
Emmelie de Forest – Only Teardrops Lyrics
Eve – All Night Lyrics
Eve – Zero Below Lyrics
Fayçal – Requiem pour encre fine Lyrics
French Montana – We Go Wherever We Want Lyrics
Gilbere Forte – Nolita Lyrics
Hot Chocolate – You Sexy Thing Lyrics
Jadakiss – Count It Lyrics
Jeff Weiss – 2pac: Victory Is Merely a Matter of Making it to the Golden Land Lyrics
Jon Connor – Rise Up Lyrics
Jonwayne – Numbers On The Hoard Lyrics
Julian Malone – IIOVIIIO Lyrics
Kanye West – Awesome (Freestyle) Roseland Ballroom Lyrics
Kanye West – Black Skinhead Lyrics
Kanye West – New Slaves Lyrics
Kanye West – Rant at Adult Swim Upfront Lyrics
Kanye West – Yeezy Season Lyrics
Lana Del Rey – Queen Of Disaster Lyrics
LCD Soundsystem – Drunk Girls Lyrics
The Lonely Island – I Fucked My Aunt Lyrics
Lupe Fiasco – Philosophy Sunday Lyrics
Lupe Fiasco – Philosophy Sunday (Free Speech) Lyrics
MJS – Off the Pole Lyrics
National Transit Safety Board – Countermeasures to Reduce Alcohol-Impaired Driving Lyrics
Oregon Health & Science University – Scientists Report First Success in Cloning Human Stem Cells Lyrics
Peter Frampton – Show Me The Way Lyrics
Queens of the Stone Age – Kalopsia Lyrics
Rep. Trey Radel (FL-19) – Comments on Rap Lyrics
Rio Ferdinand – Retirement from Internationals Lyrics
RKZ – Namaste Lyrics
Russian Federal Security Service – Russian FSB Detains Accused Member of CIA Lyrics
Sepp Blatter – Lessons have not been learned Lyrics
Smallpools – Dreaming Lyrics
Solange Knowles – Looks Good With Trouble (Remix) Lyrics
Statik Selektah – 21 & Over Lyrics
Vice President Biden – Response to Miles (7 YO) from Wisconsin about Guns Lyrics
Vic Mensa – Did It B4 Lyrics
Victoria Beckham – A Mind Of Its Own Lyrics
Wale – Love Hate Thing Lyrics
Wax Fang – Majestic Lyrics
Weekend – End Times Lyrics
The Weeknd – Kiss Land Lyrics
The White House – Statement Re: HR 45 — Repealing the Affordable Care Act Lyrics
Wu-Tang Clan – Execution In Autumn Lyrics
Yahoo! – Yahoo! to Acquire Tumblr Lyrics
The Zombies – She’s not There Lyrics
The Zombies – Time of the Season Lyrics

Runners-Up (some..):

Niro – Les mains sales Lyrics
Fayçal – Requiem pour encre fine Lyrics
Spreez the MC – Dear Mom Lyrics
French Montana – Gifted Lyrics
M!xTapper – G-Swag Lyrics
Hoobstank – The Reason Lyrics
DJ Quik – Dedication Lyrics
Kay One – Hugo Boss Lyrics
Scotch – VBT 2012 16tel RR vs. ME-L Techrap Lyrics
Sycess – Atme ein Lyrics
Scotch & Das W – Bis die Sonne sich zeigt Lyrics
Quebonafide & TomB – Blockbuster Lyrics
Kenneth Washington – Stranger Lyrics
Breaking Down Basketball – Season by Season Quick Overview (NBA) Lyrics
Dub G – I Don’t Like (Remix) Lyrics
Kanye West – Rant at Adult Swim Upfront Lyrics
ODG – No Syrige Lyrics
Kanye West – New Slaves Lyrics
Kery James – La mort qui va avec… Lyrics
Obie Trice – Bad Bitch Lyrics

Young and Beautiful: The Anomaly That is Lana Del Rey

2013-05-21T13:54:52Z

Baby, put on heart-shaped sunglasses because we’re gonna take a ride.

It’s plain to see that Lana Del Rey has become quite the pop sensation over the past year. She’s taken the internet by storm and shown Adele how to really make a theme song with The Great Gatsby’s “Young And Beautiful” (move over, “Skyfall”). But in a world where pop music has become upbeat, suggestive hooks over poorly produced EDM beats, where does someone who has described herself as the “self-styled gangsta Nancy Sinatra” fit in?

In the land of gods and monsters I was an angel living in the garden of evil.

As seen in the picture above, Ms. Del Rey often projects the most innocent Lolita-esque appearance, even describing herself as “Lolita lost in the hood.” But that image was tainted after hearing her second studio album Born to Die. Is this corrupted innocence what pop music has been lacking? Do we need someone to say things like “pick me up and take me like a vitamin,” or even the infamous “my pussy tastes like Pepsi cola?”

One would at least have to give credit with the amount of success Ms. Del Rey has had: Born to Die has received widespread critical acclaim and has sold over 3 million copies along with receiving a ton of accolades.

Now my life is sweet like cinammon

Perhaps the most inexplicable thing about Lana Del Rey is her ability to leave absolutely everything and nothing to the imagination of her listeners. It helps to make her music something that is truly fascinating. Her ability to set a scene and tell a story is unparalleled in pop music today, exampled in her emotionally gripping single “Video Games” or the bridge in “Gods and Monsters”

When you talk it’s like a movie and you’re makin' me crazy
‘Cause life imitates art
If I get a little prettier can I be your baby?
You tell me, “Life isn’t that hard.”

It is very rare to see an artist attack such heavy material, especially knowing who their target audience is (young people). Lana Del Rey has created her own niche in pop music and has fully embraced it, and listeners eat it up. They love the maturity and her ability to tell them a story that eats them alive emotionally. It’s what makes her who she is as an artist.

Not even they can stop me now. Boy, I’ll be flying overhead. Their heavy words can’t bring me down.

With all praise comes some hate, and Lana is no exception. Early last year, when she began receiving a lot of mainstream exposure, she performed on Saturday Night Live, an act which received a lot of negative response and earned Ms. Del Rey a lot of hater. But don’t all artists need an opportunity to adjust to the spotlight that comes with their newfound “fame?” Not fretting, Lana, when questioned, simply said

“I’m not a natural performer. But my fans know that.”

She’s definitely made a change over the past year and it shows in her newest single, “Young and Beautiful,” in which she sings

“I’ve seen the world, lit it up as my stage now”.

I think it’s safe to say she’ll be just fine.

Elvis is my daddy, Marilyn’s my mother, Jesus is my bestest friend.

Anyone who has listened to at least one of Ms. Del Rey’s songs can tell she has been heavily influenced by the icons of the fifties; her influences give her that vintage, throwback style that kids these days seem to enjoy. Everyone knows who Elvis is, everyone knows who Marilyn is, everyone knows who Jesus is; they were all the ultimate symbol of the intangible things they represented. This is also what Lana Del Rey is. She symbolizes an exuberant youthful freedom and the very definition of living, proving that she doesn’t need to “fit in” to the pop music culture. Lana has simply carved her own place in it.

Tell me I’m your National Anthem

Check out Lana Del Rey’s “Born to Die” on Rap Genius.

Shit Rap Genius Girls Say

2013-05-19T15:45:36Z

Do Kanye’s high tops come in girl sizes?
You would have to be a total slut to date Chris Brown
Did you know Ghostface Killa has a blog??
Ooooo is that a thug passion?
How does Beyonce dance in those shoes??
Trillllllll
Did you get the new Drake album?
Did you get the new Common album?
Did you know Drake is part Jewish?
Is Rap Genius working on your computer? I keep getting the pinwheel thingy
Lupe is Muslim…but he’s still, like, got a lot of respect for women
I think when Gucci Mane talks about making love to the money, he’s really talking about a girl
Crayyyyyy
My boyfriend says I look like Rihanna
Ohh you mean the guy from “Community”?
Donald Glover is the next Kanye…
I don’t know, he’s kind of ghetto…
This is my “thug face” (makes kissy face)
I be that pretty motherfucker.. right?

News Genius Quotes of the Week, 05/17/2013

2013-05-17T18:41:11Z

The week of May 17th, 2013 pits IRS scandals with phone hacking, Kanye West, stem cells, and David Beckham, leaving shocking news for every type of person. Though West’s ranting on stage is nothing new, the retirement of Manchester United’s legendary player beside a partial meltdown of the United States' bureaucracy is perhaps even more chaotic than the already tumultuous spring. Here are the News Genius Quotes of the Week for May 17th.

News Genius: We’ll never retire. Or be cloned. Maybe.

5 — “They used names like Tea Party or Patriots and they selected cases simply because the applications had those names in the title. That was wrong, that was absolutely incorrect, insensitive, and inappropriate — that’s not how we go about selecting cases for further review.”

Lois Lerner, IRS Selective Handling of Political Groups

Via Slate

The scandal of the week confirmed what many had suspected during the 2012 presidential election campaign: the IRS, particularly the Cincinnati office, pursued political groups outside of normal processes when considering each for 501c(4) tax status. While Lerner refers particularly to groups with “conservative,” “Tea Party,” or “patriot” in their name, the same extreme questioning was levied against liberal groups. While the issue is likely to lead to a number of resignations, misplaced Congressional hearings, and more gridlock, the defense of the IRS is inexcusable; sources note that the deputy commissioner knew of the issue as early as May 2012. Unfortunately for America, these kinds of struggles will inevitably delay action in Congress even more.

4 — “I have a very high confidence that versions of this technique will work very well; it’s something that the field has been waiting for”

Dieter Egli, Successful Human Stem Cell Cloning

Via Wikimedia Commons

While stem cells are one of the most promising medical therapy techniques in the modern era, their source is far more bleak: human embryos. This barrier has made the widespread adoption of stem cell research and therapy rather limited, hindering the progress of new information that the field needs. Thus, the recent success in cloning human stem cells is a major breakthrough for the study of future therapies, a controversy-free source that promises, when perfected, to eliminate federal restrictions, claims of “baby killing,” and similar obstacles to widespread adoption. Don’t expect a Star Wars “Attack of the Clones” type future, though — this research is a far cry from fully cloning a human being.

3 — “To this day, one of my proudest achievements is captaining my country.”

David Beckham, On Retirement

Via Telegraph UK

After one of the most prolific football careers in history, one of the legends has finally retired from the sport he helped define. David Beckham — striker, model, and short term champion of American soccer — has completed his last season with Manchester United. His career placed him in the role of the UK’s hero, sending him to every championship, tournament, and college poster imaginable. He even landed a role in the title of a movie, Bend it Like Beckham. While a host of talented players, such as Messi, Villa, and Rooney, will continue to thrill, the game will certainly miss its golden child for years to come. Let’s just hope this doesn’t turn into another Favre situation; after all, it’s better to burn out than to fade away.

2 — “I ain’t kissin' nobody’s motherfucking babies — I drop your baby and you sue me and shit.”

Kanye West, Speech at Adult Swim Upfront

Via USA Today

Adding to an already prolific group of concert rants, Kanye West at a private May 15th show broke down his issues with “celebrity” and fame. While the topics — paparazzi, Saturday Night Live, and private life — were nothing new, the last line of the rant left everyone confused. Why are there babies? Is Kanye dropping an infant on purpose? The answer is more innocent: West is not a politician that picks babies from the crowd, kisses them, and poses for pictures. He is here to make music, not to show off (cough). He has no time for the camera, dropping the “baby” as soon as it gets passed to him, as he runs off to the studio. Yes, you should sue him for that. And call the police.

1 — “I am writing to object in the strongest possible terms to a massive and unprecedented intrusion by the Department of Justice into the newsgathering activities of The Associated Press.”

Gary Pruitt, Alleged DOJ Snooping into AP Activities

Via McClatchy DC

News broke this week of a long-term wiretapping case opened by the Department of Justice secretly, against the Associated Press. After the AP broke a story about the outing of a CIA agent in Turkey, the DOJ legally, but privately, acquired a warrant to tap 20 AP-associated lines, tracking the discussion of classified information related to the Turkey case and new developments. While the warrant, however corrupt, is completely legal under post-Patriot act lawmaking, the situation is entirely suspect. After revelations that the Federal Government has a hold on all digital communications surfaced last week, nothing is safe. Kids, here’s the new motto: never put it in writing or speech.

New Podcast: R.A. the Rugged Man (#41)

2013-05-14T15:41:37Z

This episode of Outside the Lines With Rap Genius, we bring you a great convo with R.A. the Rugged Man. Hot on the heels of the release of his new album, we talk to the underground legend about his open and honest lyrics, his rap idols, his friendships with Biggie and Norah Jones, and tons more.

To check out the podcast, you can listen and subscribe on iTunes, find us at liberated syndication, hear us on Facebook, or just listen below.

For more R.A., check out our annotated interview excerpts and his awesome Rap Genius verified account.

Don’t forget to “like” OTL on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Weekly Roundup: Lyrics Posted Since 5/7/2013

2013-05-14T14:10:56Z

Big Memes:

American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology – Knockout Mouse in Ya House Lyrics
Amir Khan – Comments on Mayweather Lyrics
ASAP Ferg – Work (Remix) Lyrics
Björk – Hunter Lyrics
Carole King – Beautiful Lyrics
Carole King – I Feel the Earth Move Lyrics
Carole King – So Far Away Lyrics
Carole King – Tapestry Lyrics
Carole King – Where You Lead Lyrics
Carole King – Will You Love Me Tomorrow Lyrics
Circa Survive – Wish Resign Lyrics
CJ Fly – Slow Down Time Lyrics
Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren – Unlocking Technology Act of 2013 Lyrics
Daft Punk – Give Life Back to Music Lyrics
Daft Punk – Giorgio By Moroder Lyrics
Daft Punk – Touch Lyrics
Daft Punk – Lose Yourself to Dance Lyrics
Damien Hirst – Desert Island Discs, 12th May 2013 Lyrics
Daniel Snyder – Redskins Will ‘Never’ Change Name Lyrics
Danzig – Mother Lyrics
David Moyes – Statement Upon Becoming Manchester United’s Manager Lyrics
Dessy Hinds – P.E.nlightenment Lyrics
Dizzee Rascal – Goin' Crazy Lyrics
Drake – Girls Love Beyoncé (Remix) Lyrics
Dr. Dre – Love Letter Lyrics
Dwight Gooden – No-Hitter (May 14th, 1996) Lyrics
Elizabeth Warren – Bank on Student Loan Fairness Act Lyrics
Ethelwulf & Bones – 鈍ら墓地 Lyrics
Everton Football Club – Statement on David Moyes' departure to Manchester United Lyrics
French Montana – Fuck What Happens Tonight Lyrics
Future Unlimited – Haunted Love Lyrics
Georgio – Sex, Drug & Rock'n'roll Lyrics
Golden State Warriors – 2012-2013 Roster Lyrics
Gregory Hicks – Testimony on Benghazi Before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Lyrics
Harry Fraud – Rising Lyrics
Ian Dury And The Blockheads – Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick Lyrics
Isiah Thomas – The Rose Return: When good of player, good of team collide Lyrics
Jeannie C. Riley – Harper Valley PTA Lyrics
Jeremih – Ol' Skool Pontiac Lyrics
Joke – Django Lyrics
Josh Groban – You Raise Me Up Lyrics
Kery James – Vent d'État Lyrics
Lois Lerner, Internal Revenue Service Exemptions Office – Remarks on IRS Targeting of Tea Party and Other Non-Profit Groups Lyrics
Mac Miller – Watching Movies Lyrics
Madonna – Like A Virgin Lyrics
Manchester City FC – Statement on Roberto Mancini’s Dismissal Lyrics
Marco Rubio – Call for Nonexistent IRS Commissioner to Resign Lyrics
Matty Rico – Black Enough Lyrics
Moth (ghostimothious) – Sheepgoat Lyrics
Musa Okwonga – Paul Scholes: A Tribute Lyrics
Musa Okwonga – Sir Alex Ferguson – half man, half momentum Lyrics
News Genius – Benghazi Timeline Lyrics
Nick Antosca – Rat Beast Lyrics
Raekwon – Son Of Sam Lyrics
Scorzayzee – Great Britain Lyrics
Shawn Chrystopher – Minding My Business Lyrics
Sir Alex Ferguson – Retirement reactions Lyrics
Sir Alex Ferguson – Retirement Statement Lyrics
Sir Alex Ferguson – ‘Typical Germans’ Interview Lyrics
Sonic Youth – Catholic Block Lyrics
Sonic Youth – Tuff Gnarl Lyrics
Steve Miller Band – Abracadabra Lyrics
The-Dream – High Art Lyrics
TomArts – Dont Blame Me Lyrics
Tottenham Hotspur – 2012–13 Tottenham Hotspur Squad Lyrics
Treach – Tall Midget Lyrics
United States Department of Agriculture – Report on Honey Bee Health Lyrics
Vladimir Putin – Victory Day Speech, May 9 2013 Lyrics
Wildchild – Stuck in Norway Lyrics

Runners-Up (some..):

E.R – Message From The Block Lyrics
Logic – Thrist Mail (Skit) Lyrics
Horseshoe G.A.N.G – Homeless / Real Talk Lyrics
Georgio – Où est mon Dieu ? Lyrics
Tottenham Hotspur – 2012–13 Tottenham Hotspur Squad Lyrics
Danzig – Mother Lyrics
Prime – It’s Over Lyrics
Teddy Benzo – Ange et Demon Lyrics
Dubbs – Zombies Lyrics
Faith envys – Music Lyrics
Mac Miller – Watching Movies Lyrics
Nuon G.O.D – It Never Lasts feat. RAJ Lyrics
Nexuz – Fix Me Lyrics
Björk – Hunter Lyrics
ScopeY – RAP GENIUS SEASON 1 WINNER Lyrics
100s – Brick $ell Phone Lyrics
L'escouade – Les cas libres Lyrics
J. Venom – Good Evening (Remix) Lyrics
Nico Segal – You Lyrics
Ill Dominique – Thugs on Chicago Lyrics

News Genius Quotes of the Week, 05/10/2013

2013-05-10T16:53:00Z

In yet another week of insanity and far-reaching events, News Genius is back to break down the Top 5 quotes of the week, spread across sports, science, law, and international affairs. In the week of May 10th, Charles Ramsey became an internet celebrity, President Obama had a historic meeting with President Park Geun-Hye and dissed North Korea, and Daniel Snyder of the Redskins served as a reminder of the worst in all of us. News never sleeps, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the time to critique it.

News Genius: WE, TOO, CAN WRITE IT IN ALL CAPS.

5 — “Despite a remarkably intensive level of research…overall losses continue to be high and pose a serious threat”

USDA, Colony Collapse Disorder

That buzzing noise in the air isn’t from the bees: farmers, politicians, scientists, and people across the world are reeling from the recent spread of “Colony Collapse Disorder” (CCD). Due to a wide range of reasons, none conclusive, bees are dying in large numbers and greatly reducing the potential pollination vital to crop growth. Without “beez in the trap,” we cannot eat, making the finding of a solution to the disorder critical.

4 — “In short, the days when North Korea could create a crisis and elicit concessions — those days are over”

President Obama, Remarks on North Korea

Until this year, the international community has always supported vocally opposing, yet supporting in practice, the aggressive, “threat for aid” foreign policy of North Korea, citing the need to maintain peace rather than ignite war. The result? A push past the line of threat, the creation of nuclear weapons, and armed missiles on the border of the DMZ. In a joint conference with South Korea’s new leader, President Park Guen-Hye, President Obama quite bluntly drew the line: North Korea will no longer benefit from threats. The policy may be the most sound, forcing the isolated country to return to six party nuclear talks and participate in diplomatic procedures to continue to feed itself.

3 — “We’ll never change the name, it’s that simple. NEVER — you can use caps”

Daniel Snyder, Owner of Washington Redskins, on Changing the Team Name

Nothing like a dose of casual racism in 2013 to remind us all that people and ideas still persist which openly oppose basic decency. Playing on the dated term for Native Americans, “Redskins” remains one of the only institutional business names still relying on invalid racial slurs. While colleges, other NFL teams, and the world in general change such instances of long-past segregation, Mr. Snyder sits firmly on the wrong side of history. Support the team and its heart, but try not to humor bigotry.

2 — “There is no good reason to execute anyone without performing the testing that could definitively prove guilt or innocence”

Mississippi Innocence Project on the Execution of Willie Manning

Willie Manning, on death row since 1996, has been the center of an intense legal and public battle over the validity of forensic science in the processing of his double murder case. After being found guilty and sentenced to two separate death penalties, Manning and supporters challenged a single hair forensic analysis that ended up overextending science and breaching common practice. The Mississippi Innocence Project, a group in support of a full review of the case, successfully petitioned this week to stay Willie’s execution, an extraordinary event that is sure to set a precedent. N.W.A. was right: sometimes, the police actually are sus.

1 — “I’ve been here a year. You see where I’m coming from? I’ve BBQ’d with this dude! We eat ribs and what not — and listen to Salsa music!”

Charles Ramsey, Amanda Berry Kidnapping

While the Amanda Berry story unfolded dramatically with the arrest of her three kidnappers and the release of several missing women, the brightest star of the day was none other than Charles Ramsey, a neighbor and future internet celebrity. After dropping a hilarious, if not so helpful, 911 call, Ramsey delivered one of the best interviews of the year. It takes a lot to make everyone smile in the middle of an extremely tense situation, but that ability is what makes Ramsey endearing. Plus, you never know when the guy you used to eat ribs with will turn around and lose it.

Skylar Grey x RG x Gigg "Final Warning" Verse Contest

2013-05-08T15:19:29Z

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=b-Dp9f9D7VI#

We recently premiered verified artist Skylar Grey’s snippet for “Final Warning” with Skylar’s personal breakdown of the track’s lyrics. But But that was only the beginning, because now Skylar is looking to her fans to lay the track’s rap verse. If you think you’ve got bars that are dope enough to kill the competition, then submit your verse on Gigg.

But beware, the first entry comes from none other than RiFF RaFF himself and we’re warning you, it’s a lot to stand up to…

Top Ten Meditation Raps: An Introspective Look

2013-05-07T17:55:52Z

By Adisa Banjoko

More than a decade back, I interviewed Russell Simmons, Afu-Ra, Shaolin Monk Shi-Yan Ming and others for Yoga Journal about the impact yoga and meditation were having in their lives.

Shi-Yan Ming told me, “When people dance and listen to Hip-Hop, they are happy. This is also meditation. RZA, when he writes songs, uses philosophy to help people. He is giving people meditation.”

Honestly, I didn’t understand it, or really believe it. That was a fault of my own immaturity and lack of knowledge.

At the time, I was (and still am) a rogue yogi. I use basic hatha postures and breathing methods. I took some formal classes and did the rest on my own. At times I fuse standard techniques with Tibetan Yantra postures.

I first began meditating in the quest to improve my jiu jitsu after watching Rickson Gracie in the movie Choke. I took a hatha yoga class and began meditating on my own, in silence with no instruction. I never told anyone about it, but recently I learned that I had inadvertently adopted the Zen way of meditation. Later, I meditated using the Islamic zikir method. Then, about two years ago, I began learning Transcendental Meditation. My main instructors are Matt Dixon and Matthew August. Mr. August is an avid hip-hop fan and a deeply dedicated Kung-Fu practitioner from New York. Since training in TM, I have attained a new sense of inner peace and grown mentally and spiritually.

Soon afterwards, I met technology icon Shawn Fanning. Fanning hipped me to the power of binaural beats, which led to me experimenting with Tibetan bowls. Over time, TM became the guiding force behind a book on jiu jitsu I wrote called The Iron Hook Scroll.

In the Holy Bible, Genesis 24:63 mentions Isaac meditating in a field in the evening. Psalm 104:34 says “May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.” Students of Islam also know that the Archangel Gabriel came to the the Prophet Muhammad with Qu’ranic revelation after Muhammad meditated consistently in a cave on Mount Hira. The Buddha’s many followers have found centruries of wisdom and peace through the art of meditation as well. In short, meditation is a global tradition with many variations, but the same goal: connection within and without.

Some meditate with the spoken word, others by writing with the pen or the paint brush. Some meditate to music, many meditate in complete silence. Stillness comes as it comes.

The funny thing is, hip-hop has been talking about the importance of meditation for many years. This came from the influence of martial arts movies. Some references are just in passing, others deeply sincere, but it’s always there. The words of Shi-Yan Ming ring even more true in 2013 than they did when I first heard them over a decade ago.

One day, Matthew August and I were were talking about all the rappers who mention the need and impact of meditation. I put this list together to thank him and all those who have influenced me in understanding the power of meditation.

10. Zion I, “Sunshine Beatz and Rhymez”

For sure, mature, insight
Deep into the night
My man, meditate on beats
I rhyme right
Sunshine, beats and rhymes
Yo, we motivate while your mind state climbs

Zion I is always amazing, positive without politically boring. They remain spiritually inviting without any off-putting dogmatism. This song is a perfect testament to hip-hop having a meditative purpose. Even the boom bap-style beat helps you zone in.

9. MF Doom, “Vomispit”

Well edjumacated, he heard it when he meditated
In deep theta had her hate the create plata

MF Doom is dope. He drops a line about meditation but, just to prove he’s got his knowledge on, he mentions “deep theta”. Sounds to me like MF Doom really gets his meditation on!

8. Black Star, “Definition”

My presence felt, my name is Kweli from the Eternal Reflection
People thinkin MC is shorthand for “misconception"
Let me meditate, set it straight, came to the conclusion
That most of these cats is featherweight, let me demonstrate

What’s not to like here? We’re talking Black Star! These two are so treacherous on the mic, its hard not to just jump around. Despite the fact that “meditation” here means something closer to “think deeply about” than a more formal practice, the lyric is still dope.

7. NWA, “Express Yourself”

I’m expressing with my full capabilities,
And now I’m livin' in correctional facilities,
Cause some don’t agree with how I do this.
I get straight, meditate like a Buddhist

Clearly we all see the irony of Dre moving from this to the Chronic — especially given the part of this song where he disavows marijuana. However, if you notice he explicitly mentioned meditation and Buddhism. I promise, you few people in the hood knew about meditation outside of those who watched Kung-Fu movies. One of the beautiful things about meditation is that it does make one more complete within themselves and willing to express themselves with less fear of judgement of being mocked. Much respect to Dre for being a pioneer in yet another aspect of hip-hop.

6. Shamako Noble, “The Quest”

Meditating on summits and in pastures
Facing trials blindfolded to disarm and resist masters
Grappled within, mastered the Zen to live with the yin yang
Slayed a renegade brigade because my teacher was betrayed

Shamako Noble is a nationally known battle MC. Over the past few years though, he has made quite a name for himself as a community activist. This track is from his first album, The Return of the Coming of the Aftermath. This particular track is simply one of the best battle related tracks out there. For the entire song, he speaks as the spirit of war itself taking you from ancient Egypt and India into Japan and China, Europe, America — its a masterful look at the history of battle itself.

The song is one of the finest examples of how the path of the battle MC and the way of the warrior are one in the same, and both require meditation to excel. If you are going to “grapple within, master the zen to live with the yin yang” you are one some Kung Fu Panda 2 ish. You gotta respect that. This is something Bruce Lee would bump all day if he were still alive.

5. Game feat. Lil Wayne, “My Life”

I need some meditation so I can lead my people
They asking why? Why did John Lennon leave the Beatles?
And why every hood nigga feed off evil?

Game never quite gets enough props for his lyrical depth. A friend from my past first made me stop and take Game more seriously after he teamed with Nas for “Letter to the King”. But Game did not there. He gave us a pretty raw human moment right here. A lot of our pain in some way, is rooted in our parents treatment of us. Then we become parents and become the source of a new kind of pain. Game longed to have his fathers love, but that love was roadblocked by drug addiction. That loney state might lead some people to suicide. However, for Game, he wanted to look inside in hope of being a leader for others like him.
Though he follows the line with more questions, ultimately meditation over time removes the need for answers. Reality is is sufficient for the consistent meditator.

4. Big K.R.I.T. Meditate

Let’s hope this journey that we take
All these moves that we make
Are the right ones, while I meditate

This song is amazing. First of all the groove and the hook is so melodic that he could have rapped about anything! Life has a way of taking over our brains with so many distractions you simple cannot see straight. The opinions of doubters, feelings of being underrated, not enough love in the house, too many worthless items in your home, a quest for joy though alcohol and getting high (only to find out it does not help us in the end). After all those things come and go, some time alone meditating clears the way for us to find and maintain the true self, the one we are afraid to be 99% of the time. Big K.R.I.T. made it so plain here.

3. 50 Cent, United Nations

They thought I’m going down — now look I’m levitating
I’m with Deepak, meditating
In Somalia and Kenya with United Nations

50 Cent is a hard man to understand. He came in the game tearing the industry up and making everybody who claimed to be hard shook. He ended a lot of peoples careers with what he did to them on the mic and on the streets. The most interesting thing about him, though, is his ability to change. 50 was recently on Katie Couric’s show telling her how he learned to meditate from Deepak Chopra, who is a well-respected teacher of meditation. The transformative impact of meditation is what strikes me here. Despite all the money talk and gangster vibe that we expect, he closes the verse talking about eradicating world hunger. It makes me wonder how much meditation and connecting to his African roots could get him to use his money and influence towards doing something good for the world.

2. T.I. Hallelujah

I felt the panic when they locked me in that cell again
I had to pray and meditate, control my breath again*

Here, Tip speaks to two things that constantly come up in rap and in martial arts — meditation and breath control. Breath control comes up in the closing of Ghostface Killah’s “Mighty Healthy”, as we hear a Monk speaking to his pupils about its importance. Breath control is essential for jiu jitsu students as well as for anyone seeking to master their emotions.

1. RZA, Samurai Showdown

Kept his mind focused, meditation position half lotus
Abbot’s sword novas couldn’t match his magnum opus
Deluxe stroke, son move like a ghost
Struck in an instance, unnoticed like a lamp post
Radar sharp precision gunfire, explode
Till his clips unload, it’s a samurai code

The Abbot of Wu-Tang always delivers. This is a violent tale of urban samurai culture, something luckily many of us do not have to live in. Men like Miyamoto Musashi, Mas Oyama, and others simply could not have been the men they were without meditation. On the chessboard, in the dojo, in the hood we must meditate. It is the way of the warrior. You don’t believe me? Ask Ghost Dog.

Adisa Banjoko is founder of the Hip-Hop Chess Federation (www.facebook.com/hiphopchess). On May 8th he will host a panel in St. Louis with the World Chess Hall of Fame on chess, hip-hop and nonviolence. To see the live stream visit www.bishopchronicles.com.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnSuJuUj51I

Weekly Roundup: Lyrics Posted Since 4/30/2013

2013-05-07T14:10:20Z

Big Memes:

2 Chainz – We Own It Lyrics
50 Cent – Tupac Shakur — Rolling Stone Entry Lyrics
Ace Hood – Bugatti (Remix) Lyrics
Adam Horovitz – Adam Horovitz Speaks At Adam Yauch Park Ceremony Lyrics
Barack Obama – Call to Close Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp (April 30, 2013) Lyrics
Barack Obama – Ohio State Commencement Speech 2013 Lyrics
The Bee Gees – New York Mining Disaster 1941 Lyrics
The Bee Gees – To Love Somebody Lyrics
BigMo – Clarification Lyrics
Blanco – Cruising USA Lyrics
Built to Spill – Center of the Universe Lyrics
Carole King and James Taylor – You’ve Got a friend Lyrics
Chainsaw – I’m Done Lyrics
Chance The Rapper – Lost Lyrics
Chance The Rapper – Cocoa Butter Kisses Lyrics
Chill Moody – Right Under My Nose Lyrics
Complex – The 15 Most Ridiculous Lists on Complex Lyrics
Daudi Abe – 6 ‘N the Morning (“A Mind Full of Rhymes…”) Lyrics
Daudi Abe – 6 ‘N The Morning (“Apparently the Police Have Been…”) Lyrics
Daudi Abe – 6 ‘N The Morning (“Enter the Mainstream”) Lyrics
Daudi Abe – 6 ‘N The Morning (“If They Ask You If I’m Def…”) Lyrics
Daudi Abe – 6 ‘N the Morning (“You Are Now About to Witness…”) Lyrics
DeStorm – Tell ‘Em Lyrics
Donna Kelly Pratte – Statement on the Death of Chris Kelly of Kris Kross Lyrics
The Eagles – Desperado Lyrics
Federal Bureau of Investigation – Dick Gregory Mob Hit Memo Lyrics
Federal Bureau of Investigation – Malcolm X “Assassination” Memo Lyrics
Federal Bureau of Investigation – Jean Seberg Memo Lyrics
Freddie Scott – (You) Got What I Need Lyrics
French Montana – Trouble Lyrics
Guardian – Cleveland, Ohio abductions: three women missing for a decade found alive Lyrics
Guardian – Eight footballers say ‘we’re gay’ but keep quiet in fear of fans Lyrics
Harry Fraud – Yacht Lash Lyrics
Ill Camille – Nothin' in Common Lyrics
Joe Esposito – You’re the Best Lyrics
Joey BADA$$ – Beyond A Reasonable Doubt Lyrics
Jonathan Ringen – Dr. Dre — Rolling Stone Article Lyrics
Jon Connor – Michigan Shit Lyrics
Kanye West – Mercy (RL Grime & Salva Remix) Lyrics
Kevin Abstract – ANGELS Lyrics
Lauryn Hill – Neurotic Society (Compulsory Mix) Lyrics
Leonard Cohen – Everybody Knows Lyrics
Lil Wayne – Emmett Till Apology Lyrics
Mac Miller – Funk Flex Freestyle Lyrics
Mamie Till Mobley Memorial Foundation – Response to Pepsico’s (Mountain Dew) decision to cut ties from Lil Wayne Lyrics
Mariah Carey – #Beautiful Lyrics
Megan Burns – Hollygrove (Day 10) Lyrics
Mikal Cronin – Weight Lyrics
Mississippi Innocence Project – Letter to Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant to stay Willie’s execution and order DNA testing Lyrics
Modest Mouse – Bankrupt On Selling Lyrics
Modest Mouse – Out of Gas Lyrics
Najee The 1 – Side Chick Lyrics
Npower Championship – Final League Table 2012/13 Lyrics
President Lyndon B. Johnson – The Great Society Speech Lyrics
Rangers Football Club – Rangers: the way forward Lyrics
Robin Thicke – Give It To You Lyrics
Rob Kelly – Fire In The Booth Lyrics
Rudimental – Powerless Lyrics
Savages – Shut Up Lyrics
Slonk Donkerson – The Edifice Lyrics
Slonk Donkerson – The Shape of Faith Lyrics
Talib Kweli – Rocket Ships Lyrics
Thomas Dekker – The Merry Month of May Lyrics
Tito Puente – Señor Burns Lyrics
What Up Mang – Lone Wolf Lyrics
The Wow – Whittier Blvd. (Remix) Lyrics

Runners-Up (some..):

Nazar – Batman’s Vater (Exclusive) Lyrics
Sinan G – Ihr seid keine Männer Lyrics
Marc Goone – 25 Bills Lyrics
Cee & Bekah – The Final Chapter (Intro) Lyrics
Chance The Rapper – Lost Lyrics
Fabri Fibra – Che tempi Lyrics
2Pac – Cradle 2 The Grave (‘Tru Gee 79’ Remix) Lyrics
Gjertrud Schnackenberg – Snow Melting Lyrics
Jermiah jamar hutchinson – Diz ynic Lyrics
S.K. – Story To Tell Freestyle Lyrics
Masta Ace – Style Wars Lyrics
Fabri Fibra – Frank Sinatra Lyrics
Young Eek – Realize Lyrics
Nisha Denise – Thank You Lyrics
AGE – 4. Pixel Lyrics
L'algérino – Tireur de coup-franc Lyrics
What Up Mang – Lone Wolf Lyrics
The Wow – Whittier Blvd. (Remix) Lyrics
Yung Trae – SEXTVPES Lyrics
Dinos Punchlinovic – Bouchées triples Lyrics

R.A. the Rugged Man Legends Never Die Contest!

2013-05-07T04:12:19Z

To celebrate the release of R.A.’s new album, RG and Nature Sounds have put together a challenge. The person with the most Rap IQ points on R.A.’s new album Legends Never Die by 12:00 AM EST on Tuesday, May 14th, will win a huge prize package!

The winner will get:

Legends Never Die on CD or 2LP vinyl
11" x 17" Poster
Official Legends Never Die stickers
Legends Never Die T-Shirt
Download card with exclusive, never-released R.A. material and past R.A. classics
Legends Never Die military hat
R.A. The Rugged Man official dog tag with chain
Autographed “rhyme book” with all album lyrics

What are you waiting for? Get to annotating!

The Rap Genius Guide to Gucci Mane's Arrests

2013-05-06T15:41:57Z

Last Friday, Gucci “Guwop” Mane was released from jail. He announced his freedom with the following tweet:

IM BACK!!!!!!!!! #BURRRRR!!!!!!!! instagram.com/p/Y1hC8XS6mb/
— Gucci Mane (@gucci1017) May 3, 2013

Gucci had been incarcerated for smashing a champagne bottle over the head of a fan who asked him for a photograph. “I wanted to get a picture with Gucci Mane,” said the fan, “and Gucci Mane hit me in the head with a bottle. As I looked at him in the shock of why, one of his friends hit me in the side of my face.”

He posted $75,000 bond for that charge, but found himself locked up again within 24 hours for an unrelated probation violation. There’s been no word yet on the second aggravated assault charge he might face for punching another fan in the jaw a mere two days after the alleged bottle incident.

The rapper seems to be as prolific of a criminal as he is a musician: he’s been arrested at least once every year since 1999. His issues seem to center around the fact that he just can’t stop beating people up. While the full listing is available online, let’s take a look at some of Guwop’s more notable arrests:

The Pool Stick Incident

“I did six months, incident with a pool stick / they found a n—ga guilty, still say I didn’t do shit” -Gucci Mane, “I Move Chickens”

In 2005, a concert promoter came to the offices of Gucci Mane’s label, Big Cat Records, to pick up a CD. For whatever reason, Gucci and him got into a heated argument. When the promoter turned his back, Mane struck him in the back of the head with a pool stick and proceeded to assault him with the help of others in the room. Gucci served six months in jail for the incident and was sentenced to an additional 6-½ years of probation.

The Murder of Pookie Loc

“Robbing me unlikely, last time dropped him / hollow tip stopped him, I ain’t have time to box him” -Gucci Mane, “24 Hours”

That same year, Gucci Mane and Jeezy got embroiled in a beef that went too far. Disputes over their collaboration song “Icy” had led to Jeezy putting out a $10,000 bounty on Gucci Mane’s chain. One day, five men decided to try and serve out that bounty. One of them, Pookie Loc, was a rapper signed to Jeezy’s CTE record label.

While Gucci Mane was hanging out with a stripper at her house, they stormed the residence, wearing all black and toting brass knuckles and guns. After a brief struggle, gunfire erupted, and when the smoke cleared, the men were seen sprinting out of the house, minus Pookie Loc. Loc’s body was later found buried in the woods near a middle school.

Shortly after the incident, Gucci did an interview with Mad Linx, where he proceeded to call Jeezy various names, including “bitch", “pussy,” and “oreo.” Later in the interview, the camera zoomed in on his stomach as he patted it and exclaimed, “I got a fat-ass stomach!”

The murder charges against him were eventually dropped for insufficient evidence.

The State vs. Radric Davis…Literally

“D.A. nailed me, watch them jail me…” -Gucci Mane, “Classical”

In September 2008, Gucci Mane was arrested yet again. This time it was for completing only 25 hours out of the 600 hours he was assigned for his conviction on the 2005 assault charges.

He was sentenced to a year in jail, but ended up only serving six months for good behavior. His incarceration caused him to miss the release of his major-label debut album, The State vs. Radric Davis.

A Lane of His Own

“I don’t have no time talk / I’m a let my nine talk / catch you walking I just might put my car on the sidewalk” -Gucci Mane, “Lil Friends”

Many rappers claim to be in a lane of their own, but in November 2010, Gucci proved that he literally was. He was arrested for multiple vehicular offenses, including driving on the wrong side of the road, not stopping at a stop light, damaging government property, obstruction of justice, and driving with no license. Officers “reportedly had to use pepper spray” to subdue Guwop.

He was deemed “too mentally incompetent for trial,” and while the charges were dropped against him, he was forcibly admitted to a mental institution following a judge’s recommendation.

Breakfast in Bed

“First you get her name, then you get her number / then you get some brain in the front seat of a Hummer” -Gucci Mane, “Freaky Gurl”

In 2011, Gucci Mane approached a woman at a mall, inviting her to eat breakfast with him. But it was all a ruse: after she agreed and got into his Hummer, he started driving to a hotel, not an IHOP. After she turned down his offer of $150 in exchange for sex, he opened the passenger door and threw her out of his moving vehicle. For his actions, he was sentenced to six months in jail. To try and get his sentence reduced, he offered to perform for free at the DeKalb County Battered Women’s Shelter, but his request was turned down by the judge. Shortly after his release for the incident, he told XXL Magazine “this is the last time I think I’ll ever be in jail."

And that brings us to today, where after a whole year of staying out of trouble, the rapper must eventually return to court to face the 2 aggravated assault charges against him. With over 19 arrests since 2005, the future looks grim for Gucci. As he states in his song “Tragedy”: “Lord knows I don’t want to be in a penitentiary / but that is my reality / that shit might be a tragedy.”

A tragedy indeed. But with over 50 mixtapes to his name, and an album, “Trap House III,” coming out in July, at least we’ll have no shortage of his music while he’s gone.

Follow Zach Schwartz on Twitter @zach_two_times and read his blog at www.zachtwotimes.blogspot.com.

(below: a collection of Gucci Mane’s many mugshots, 2005-2013)

Rap Genius Season 1 (Week 15)

2013-05-04T00:38:37Z

Rap Genius Season 1 will consist of 15 weeks, starting on 1/21 and going until 5/6

The Geniuses

(explanations-transcriptions) wins-losses-ties

Archon (948/2042) 11-2-0
Beanhead (663/390) 9-4-0
BBDS (1201/534) 9-4-0
Dyaz (1149/1112) 9-4-0
Liquid_NitroJeanne (262/530) 8-5-0
MikeMorg (259/4) 5-7-1
Mitha (66/181) 6-7-0
palacelight (1892/297) 8-5-0
pizza-n-mandolino (388/40) 8-5-0
Porsborg (733/332) 7-6-0
ScopeY (941/4766) 11-2-0
FakeGenius (508/2776) 8-5-0
SvenTheImmortal (687/439) 7-6-0
thom (465/280) 7-6-0
TomiFischer (1102/918) 4-6-0

Points:

2 per explanation (gotta be dope)
2 per transcription (without explanations)
4 per transcription (must have at least two dope explanations on it)
If you’re going to do transcriptions, not only do they have to be correct for the most part and formatted correctly, but you’ve gotta email me a LIST of the songs you put up so I can check them all and give you points accordingly (tomi@rapgenius.com, link to every song)

Rules:

No half-ass explanations: if you’re caught trying to cheat the system you will be disqualified
Transcriptions must be legit: this will be determined on a case-by-case basis, but if they aren’t good or are too short be prepared to have them not count
No upvoting/downvoting bullshit: if you’re caught with a bunch of suspicious upvotes/downvotes or upvoting/downvoting other people to make them look suspicious, you’ll get disqualified (just don’t do it please)
No mass deleting another user’s shit just because: if you’re caught being a dick as an editor, deleting someone’s explanations so that you can win, you’ll be de-editored and disqualified
Overall, just don’t be a dick and have fun: if you’re caught not having fun, I will be sad for you
Participate: if you go 2 weeks without a SINGLE explanation/transcription done, you’re out of the competition (unless you let me know ahead of time)

The way it works:

At the beginning of each week I’ll make a blogpost similar to this one
During that week, you will be facing off against one other user to see who can get the most points
The user with the most points at the end of the week when I count up the scores (around midnight EST on the following Sunday) wins
The person with the best record at the end of the season wins!

Prizes:

1st place: RG stickers + 2 RG shirts + grand prize
2nd place: RG stickers + 2 RG shirts
3rd place: RG stickers + 1 RG shirt

Get at it peepsssss!!!

Week 15:

Archon -8/33 (50)
Vs.
ScopeY 29/257 (1028)

Beanhead 7/13 (40)
vs.
Dyaz 31/41 (144)

BBDS 95/1 (192)
vs.
Liquid_NitroJeanne 23/17 (80)

MikeMorg 3/0 (6)
vs.
Mitha 0

palacelight 90/7 (194)
vs.
StephenNiday 33/7 (80)

pizza-n-mandolino 8/0 (16)
vs.
Porsborg 0

SvenTheImmortal 2/53 (110)
vs.
thom 47/10 (114)

News Genius Lines of the Week, 05/03/2013

2013-05-03T20:27:47Z

The world never sleeps: continuing an April filled with life-altering, traumatic events, the start of May brings more change and sometimes, more of the same. From Jason Collins’ public declaration of his sexuality to Lil Wayne’s ill-timed and very poor joke about Emmett Till, every day is a new dose of reality. Here are the top 5 quotes from this week’s biggest stories, broken down using the crowd-sourced knowledge of News Genius.

News Genius: it’s like Reddit, except without wrongfully accusing 5 random people of terrorism.

5 — “Poachers, aided by game rangers, have killed every single rhino in Mozambique”

-International Fund for Animal Welfare, Rhinos Extinct in Mozambique

You read that correctly. Mozambique’s rhino population lived entirely in Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a reserve that until recently was thought to be an example of conservation. Instead, tempted by money, rangers and poachers alike ravaged the remaining, highly endangered rhino population. While the species lives on, this final group of 15 rhino were part of the 300 total slain in Mozambique since 2002.

4 — “I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay.”

-Jason Collins, Jason Collins Comes Out

Think of the world of sports how you like, but any way that you slice it, the field has a past that is low on both tolerance and progress. Thankfully, things are looking up. Collins, a center for the Wizards, decided to lead the cause, opening the conversation and paving the way for a mass relaxation of normal secrecy in teams. Most important is the reaction from the fans: “can he play?” Progress may be here after all.

3 — “The FDA today announced that it has approved…Plan B One-Step for use without a prescription by women 15 years of age and older.”

-United States Food and Drug Administration, Plan B for All

Sex happens, even for 15 year olds. Somehow, ignoring this fact of life has let one of the most revolutionary medicines to date, one capable of interrupting impregnation long before actual reproduction, was left locked behind counters for minors. As a result, even those 16, above the age of consent in many states, and without a prescription were screwed. Twice. Even President Obama recently supported the science of the FDA decision. Still, don’t rush out just yet: the Justice Department is likely to still seek a formal reversal of the decision before it really takes effect.

2 — “It is a recruitment tool for extremists. It needs to be closed.”

-President Barack Obama, Obama Demands Closure of Guantanamo Bay

Following up on a campaign promise made in his first term, President Obama in an April 30th press conference reiterated his position on the Guantanamo Bay prison. Seeing the perpetual imprisonments and semi-legal detainment as a weapon against peace, the President looks now to Congress to force the closure of the facility. Meanwhile, a large group of prisoners carry on a long-term hunger strike, force fed and denied a trial, making us all wonder exactly who the real extremists are.

1 — “I would like to take a moment to acknowledge your hurt, as well as the letter you sent to me via your attorneys.”

-Lil Wayne/Epic Records, Lil Wayne’s “Apology” to the Family of Emmett Till

In the battle between making a hot rhyme and not offending every person who hears it, only few come out on top. Emmett Till, a 14 year old brutally murdered in Mississippi after being accused of “flirting” with a white woman in town, is one of those “hands-off” cases. Apparently Weezy missed the memo, dropping the line “beat that pussy up like Emmett Till” satirizing what to many is part of an ongoing civil rights struggle. The family, for the record,rejected Wayne’s apology, fairly calling it a cheap, detached attempt to duck the issue. If you have to rely on shock tactics to push a track, at least back it up with substance, not just autotuned hooks.

Feds Name Assata Shakur "Most Wanted Terrorist"

2013-05-03T17:27:41Z

The United States Government announced yesterday it has placed Assata Shakur on its “Most Wanted Terrorists” list. Shakur, a member of the Black Panther Party, is currently in exile in Cuba after escaping from prison in 1979. She is accused by the government of having killed a police officer in 1973, for which she was convicted and imprisoned until her escape and flight.

Assata is revered as a hero among many in Hip hop. The federal government’s war on the Black Panthers and the civil rights movement more generally (known as COINTELPRO) sheds no small amount of doubt on whether the goverment’s charges are legitimate. It is believed that COINTELPRO, though allegedly disbanded after its abuses came to light, continued in another form into the 1980s. Huey Newton, founder of the Panthers, was killed in 1989 in what the authorities say was a drug deal gone bad. 2pac disagreed in his hit “Changes”:

“It’s time to fight back,” that’s what Huey said;
Two shots in the dark, now Huey’s dead.

It is curious that the Feds would up the ante on their hunt for Assata at a time when normalization of relations with Cuba is under discussion. Rap fans recall that just last month Jay-Z visited the island nation and challenged in his “Open Letter” the longstanding US embargo against the country. It is the estrangement and isolation of Cuba that has kept Assata protected from those who wish to return her to custody of the US government. The case also highlights the irony of Washington’s accusation of Cuba’s problem with political prisoners, when the United States' own history of political imprisonment is so well known.

Check out Common and Cee-Lo’s “A Song for Assata” for a detailed defense of Shakur. Common also penned his own missive on Jay’s “Open Letter” beat. The list of rappers who have shouted Assata out is long and diverse, including: Killer Mike (twice), Talib Kweli, Sean Price, and even Mr. Muthafuckin eXquire.

News Genius has also posted Assata’s 1998 Letter to Pope John Paul II and the FBI’s announcement of their new stance toward Shakur.

Assata Shakur in her own words:

The Beastie Chronicles, 1b — MCA Day Edition

2013-05-02T21:17:58Z

Well, let me reintroduce myself on this cut. In the inaugural edition of The Beastie Chronicles, we sat down with Andrew Katz. Andy’s illustrations of hip-hop and sports legends (Beasties, PE, Grandmaster Flash, Rod Carew, et al) continue to amaze in exclusive exhibitions, and his work has become a focal point for the upcoming MCA Day ‘13.

When we left off, we promised to give you an unprecedented interview with someone who worked for the Beasties for over a decade. Some top-secret ish, mind you. Technical problems are finally being resolved… In the meantime, this wasn’t planned, but since we’ve taken so long to get started, we feel like we owe ya’ll something.

For anyone who has ever been inspired by the BBoys, NOTHING could be more important right now than MCA Day.

On Sat, May 4, 2013—at 11am—fans from around the world will gather at Brooklyn’s Littlefield to celebrate the life of Adam “MCA” Yauch. In fact, Beastie fans are going to be rocking MCA Day in LA, Chicago, Denver and all galaxies.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K9Ksimonms So, now we’re proud to present a little Q&A with the special individual who is responsible for bringing us MCA Day.

Ben Lifland: Who are you and where are you from?
MK: My name is Mike Kearney. I’m from North Weymouth, Massachusetts, about 10 miles south of Boston. 

BL: How would you describe your experience listening to the BBoys? 
MK: I think I’m part of a generation whose lives closely coincided with different Beastie Boys albums. Licensed to Ill came out when I was building forts and riding big-wheels. When Check Your Head came out, I was skateboarding and really starting to view myself as an individual, which I think is a huge theme on that album. Then I reached back an album and discovered Paul’s Boutique. I was reading all these eclectic lyrics and hearing all these crazy samples I’d never heard before. I was captivated. You couldn’t help but adopt the obscure references, the confidence, and the playful nature of those albums into your everyday existence. If I found myself in Check Your Head and Paul’s Boutique, I built myself off Ill Communication and Hello Nasty. When Yauch started talking about Tibet and Buddhism, I remember thinking that there must be something in there to check out, something bigger going on. Like many fans, I can pinpoint the Ill Communication album and Yauch’s involvement with Tibet as allowing me to really start to think not just about myself, but about other people and how we’re connected to one another. I see all of their albums as loose blueprints for self-discovery. It’s up to fans as individuals to take these positive messages and awareness and apply them to their own lives. That’s what makes Beastie Boys music so unique. They shared their lives and struggles with us and we can use that music as a bottomless source of inspiration and positivity in our own lives. 

BL: Where did the idea for MCA DAY come from? 
MK: I was studying for finals in Grad Skool last year when the news dropped on May 4th. I put everything on hold and just stared at my computer screen for a couple days, reading everything I could. Finally, I got sick of reading and started thinking about what I could do. At first, I just thought about going to NYC, posting up somewhere in public and listening to his music in the city that inspired him. Then I started thinking some other people might want to join me. This vision merged with a table & easels as some way for fans to write down their thoughts…

Within a matter of minutes, a loose vision of what it could look like and the event name popped in my head. I immediately committed myself to the idea. In my experience, it’s very BOSTON and very BEASTIE to be “impulsively proactive” if you will. While most people are weighing pros and cons, we’re already making things happen. We’re already doing it. For me, putting on MCA DAY became inevitable. It’s been one of the greatest experiences of my life. 

BL: Have you always been this motivated? 
MK: Hells no. I took a 6-year sabattical and moved to San Diego in my 20’s. I think it’s important to get out and see even a little bit of the world beyond your typical borders, and experience new cultures and new people before settling. Motivation… I definitely played a bunch of dominoes & horseshoes on the beach and laid back a bit, but I was also exposed to arguably the most transient city in the US and I got to meet a lot of cool people from all over the world. Now I’m back in Boston, making up for “down-time” and putting my experience to good use. I’m a School Adjustment Counselor during the day, fulltime grad student, and bartend a few nights a week in South Boston. I’ve been involved with Big Brothers of Boston for a few years. I also teach breakdancing to elderly couples at a domino hall on the south shore called “Break N' Bones”. You should see my Aunt Mal do the Windmill, it’s amazing. 

BL: Have you been surprised by the success of MCA Day? 
MK: More inspired than surprised. True Beastie Boys' fans are incredibly unique. The people that I’ve crossed paths with as a result of hosting this event has been amazing. I’ve talked with so many people from all over the world, with all kinds of stories about how Yauch’s life and music has changed their lives
for the better. It’s been extremely inspiring. It’s the exact reason why I was motivated to put together another event this year. After last year’s event in Union Square went down, having the awesome turnout, meeting all these incredible people, having my brother bail on his wedding shower day-of to come support me, and then having Horovitz show up…

I was adamant about not doing another one. The day was too perfect, couldn’t be topped. In the following months, I heard these incredible stories from people that couldn’t make it, but who really wanted to come out, and the power of a year of reflection on both Yauch’s life and our own without him… It became apparent that I needed to create that space again for people and give them a vehicle to express their Gratitude. That’s what MCA DAY is all about. 

BL: What can people expect at this year’s event? 
MK: A bigger radio, some amazing artwork, and my brother-in-law, Tommy McCarthy. I also forged two incredible friendships at last years event with photographer Michelle “Shutterbug” Lawlor and Nicole “Mah Dukes” Minervino (pictured below with Mike K, and Mike D) to form our supergroup, “3 The Hard Way”.

I brought them on board to help me organize this year’s event. We’ve been wearing many different hats and just making it happen for the last few months leading up to this week. Between lining up DJs, organizing a fan-based art gallery, contacting politicians, and layering the event as a whole… I couldn’t have done it without them. What can people expect this year? A space. A space for people to gather to celebrate the life of Adam Yauch. Through his music, through art, and through the common bond that fans of Yauch and the Beastie Boys share with one another. A bond of compassion for the fellow man, of appreciation for music and art and built on Gratitude for Yauch, a man who dedicated his dynamic life to helping others. He deserves this day and we’re gonna light it up for him.

~Namasté~

Here’s the info. on MCA DAY LA, featuring Pollywog Crew & What’s That Noise

Chicago… featuring She’s Crafty,

And San Antonio

Trap Geniuses: Why Selling Rap is like Selling Crack

2013-05-02T16:45:47Z

“Somehow the rap game remind me of the crack game…”
-Nas, “Represent”

Columbia University isn’t the usual place to hold a panel where drug dealing and rap music are two of the featured topics of the night. It also isn’t the usual place where a panelist at said panel would invite the attendees to come smoke kush with him in Malibu. Yet last week, Mahbod Moghadam, co-founder of Rap Genius, did just that, during a panel called “The Business Lessons in Hip-Hop” that I moderated. The event was a hit; I did a write-up of it on my blog.

One of the questions asked that night was why so many business lessons were found in rap music. Shawn Setaro from Rap Genius, who also spoke at the event, answered: it’s because a a lot of rappers grew up in the dope game. When they transitioned to rap, and had to make business decisions, they used principles from the industry they knew best. Thus the rap game came to resemble the crack game. For example, the South used to be an under-served market, both in rap and in drugs. With lower supply comes higher prices, and when distributors realized that, they started shifting their activity towards the South. Eventually, the South became the hotbed of rap and drug activity it is today.

“So we, cook it, cut it, measure it, bag it…put the CD on your tongue, yeah that’s pure man” -Kanye West, "Crack Music”

There are many, many more ways that the rap game emulates the dope game. The song “Rap Game Crack Game” by Jay-Z lays it out best. In any business—legal or illegal—there’s the producers, the middle-men, and the consumers. In the crack industry, those roles are filled respectively by the crack chemists, the dealers, and the junkies. In rap, they’re filled by the artists, the music distributors, and the fans.

While artists and fans stay constant in their production and consumption duties, the music distributors change over time. As “Rap Game Crack Game” spelled out, the main distributor of music used to be the radio. Consumers could get a taste of an artist on the radio, and then go to a show or buy an album from there. But when the Internet came around, it became easier for people to get music without paying for it. The Internet also served as a platform where up-and-coming artists, desperate to get their name out, could release their music for free.

With the sudden surplus of free music, established artists had to adapt. The game became no longer about careful, measured output. It became about putting out enough material to captivate this ADD generation, which moves from one artist to the next in waves, forgetting artists by the day. A single or two could have motivated somebody to buy an album in the past, but now artists needed to show and prove. They had to build up a loyal fanbase before their album dropped, so people were motivated to actually buy it, instead of just downloading it online for free. To create that fanbase, a new tool was needed: the modern mixtape.

“It’s a beautiful day…when you can flood the streets” -Young Scooter, “Beautiful Day”

Although mixtapes are as old as rap, the contemporary, internet-distributed mixtape is a recent invention. Lil Wayne and Gucci Mane were the mid-2000‘s innovators of the mixtape market, by taking a cue—once again—from drug dealing. In the drug world, there’s a saying, “flooding the streets.” It means supplying the streets with so much of your product that any junkie is going to encounter it at one point and get hooked. Lil Wayne and Gucci flooded the market with mixtapes and guest verses, building hype and gaining fans. Their prolific work ethic pushed other artists to release more content. And with artists like Big KRIT consistently pushing out album-quality mixtapes, it pushed other artists to release better content. When KRIT releases a mixtape, he’s essentially setting numbers on the dope, releasing quality material for free.

The music itself can be compared to a drug. Whenever a new drug hits the market and succeeds, it’s because it gives junkies a new and different high. Same with music. There’s a reason it’s called a “hook” in rap music—because if it does its job right, you get hooked. Just like the basement chemists trying to come up with the next party drug, bedroom emcees spend days and years trying to come up with the next sound.

The different genres of rap—trip-hop, club music, and stoner rap—correspond to the different types of drugs—psychedelic drugs, party drugs, and marijuana, respectively. And crowds tend to stay within the genre they like: Bricksquad fans like Bricksquad artists and do drugs that Bricksquad promotes. Stoners like stoner rappers and smoke a ton of weed.

“I’m your pusher, but I don’t be on no corners / put me in your nose, inhale my aroma” -ASAP Rocky, “Get High”

Some rappers are like sativa marijuana. Sativa is known for its head high, felt more in the mind than the body. Sativa rappers are the lyrical rappers who stimulate your mind and make you think—rappers like Kendrick Lamar who focus on wordplay and intricate flows. Some rappers are more like indica marijuana. Indica is known for its body high. Indica rappers make music that is like an experience in itself. Kid Cudi is an Indica rapper (he even titled his album after it). He pays more attention to the overall musical package than the words themselves—you can just sit back and absorb his music without thinking too much about it.

ASAP Rocky, whose output is relatively modest, is like that rare strain of purple chronic your dealer only has sometimes, but that you still ask about anyways because it’s so damn good. Lil B is like the mids of rap music: his low-quality music is easily available, and just as likely to make someone happy as it is to give someone a headache. Waka Flocka Flame is like PCP: listening to him makes you want to murder somebody.

Record labels are even run like gangs, claiming to ride for each other. Think about Young Money, Bricksquad, MMG. You have the godfathers—the Jay-Zs, the Birdmans, the Gucci Manes—who may or may not be as involved with the creation of the product anymore, but are still behind the scenes pulling strings. Gangs beef because they’re trying to target the same markets. Record labels beef because they’re trying to do the same thing (but it obviously isn’t as serious, at least anymore).

The rap game is molded after the drug game, from the distribution of the music, to the record labels, down to the very artists themselves. Since so many rappers came from a drug-dealing background, when they legitimized themselves through their art, they were able to excel in business as well. Think about it: the rapper slash businessman is a unique cultural phenomenon. Throughout history, artists have been artists, and businessmen have been businessmen, and that was that. Even today, you don’t see indie rock artists selling headphones, or pop stars selling vodka. Spearheaded by Jay-Z, rappers were able to take over the industry, demand better contracts, and become their own bosses. And this was done because rappers brought to the business world—a world dominated by WASPS and old money—a street mentality forged in the crucible of the crack epidemic.

“I do this in my sleep / I sold kilos of coke, I’m guessing I can sell CDs” -Jay-Z, "Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)

The rap game is like the crack game, and that’s why there’s so many “business lessons in hip-hop.” Jay-Z came up in the crack game, the hardest business to excel in, a business where a split-second decision can literally be the difference between life or death. So when he finally entered the much safer legal world, he was built to win. Same with 50 Cent or any other of the trapper-turned-rappers. If you listen to their music, they’re teaching you lessons from the one of the hardest jobs in the world. They’re not telling you to sell drugs. As Hov said, he did that, so hopefully—if you can take away the right lessons from his music—you won’t have to go through that.

Follow Zach Schwartz on Twitter @zach_two_times and read his blog at www.zachtwotimes.blogspot.com

If You Want to Go to the Tip-Top, Stop the Violence...

2013-04-30T21:08:39Z

I am a product of the public education system. I attended Texas public schools from kindergarten through high school graduation. My mother dedicated thirty years as an elementary educator — I was privileged to watch the joys and struggles that she experienced trying to give all she could to each student that came through her classroom door day by day. She instilled in our family the belief that education was vital to the future success of this nation. My mother truly loved the students she worked with and through that example, I became a public school teacher, as did my older brother and my younger sister.

This is my tenth year as a public school teacher and I truly love my job. I am saddened though by the recent rhetoric from some public officials concerning arming public school teachers as a deterrent to horrendous tragedies like the one at Sandy Hook Elementary School. As a teacher, I refuse to accept that a teacher carrying a gun is the answer and I do not want to work in a building where my colleagues are armed. What lesson are we teaching our students by saying that the only solution to violence is to respond with violence? I believe that our schools must be safe environments for our students and bringing more weapons onto the campus does not make it safer. Although it seems rather intuitive, research proves — incontrovertibly — that an increased number of firearms heightens the odds of a student or teacher being injured.A study by the New England Journal of Medicine showed that a person is 75% more likely to be injured by a firearm if one or more are kept in the home. What would happen if there were multiple firearms at a school where unfortunately tensions can sometimes run high between students and teachers?

Every year, we as a nation stop our normal routines to celebrate the life Martin Luther King, Jr., a man who was instrumental in reforming the cultural attitudes of American society by using his passionate belief in non-violence. At the heart of the gun debate today is a desire by both sides to find a way to address the ills of a culture that is obsessed with violence. I believe it’s time for us to reflect upon Dr. King’s message during a similar time in our nation’s history where society seemed to resort to violence all too frequently. I repeat today what Dr. King said in his Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech, “I refuse to accept despair as the final response to the ambiguities of history. I refuse to accept the idea that the ‘isness’ of man’s present nature makes him morally incapable of reaching up for the eternal ‘oughtness’ that forever confronts him.” As a society, we ought to be able to sit down at a table and show our children that differences can be worked out rationally and peacefully. Instead of despairing and saying that more guns is the only response to stopping gun violence, we need to be willing to listen to all sides and reach for the “oughtness” of human nature that says we can find a peaceful solution to the crisis that confronts us. Let us make a stand for a future in which our children learn to peacefully solve their differences. Let us all work together to make our society safe by working to keep these weapons out of the hands of people who would commit such horrific crimes. Let us all work towards fostering an environment of acceptance where students do not feel so alienated that they would want to revert to violence against their peers. Dr. King faced the violence of water hoses, police dogs, unruly mobs, and a government that too often looked the other way but he did not revert from his core beliefs by giving in and reacting with the tools of violence.

Let us honor Dr. King’s legacy in our schools. “Civilization and violence are antithetical concepts” and the future generations are watching how we will respond to each other. The lessons we teach now will either lead to new civilization that “rejects revenge, aggression, and retaliation” or we will continue to accept and embrace a society that allows 30,000 fellow humans to die each year due to the availability of firearms. Our children are watching.

National Poetry Month on Rap Genius

2013-04-30T20:57:55Z

HAPPY NATIONAL POETRY MONTH. April’s almost over, so you’ve probably heard all your cool friends wish you that already. Well, now you’ve heard it from your coolest friend, Rap Genius.

But that’s not all we’ve got for you, thanks to our Poetry Genius movement…

We’ve been featuring a metric ton of Verified Poets lately, including Ed Pavlic, Rachel B. Glaser, Mike Young, Adam Clay, and our latest, Ryan Ridge (featuring: Chatbot).

See what we did up there? A metric ton?

#poetryjokes

We’ve also served up a crazy salad of classic and contemporary poems, from a riddle-valentine by Poe to a non-love poem by 2013 Pulitzer winner Sharon Olds, from Gwendolyn Brooks’s “Sadie and Maud” to Pablo Neruda’s “The Names,” from Gil Scott-Heron’s “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” to J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Tom Bombadil’s Song.”

And of course, it being the cruelest month and all, we had to re-feature our version of T. S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land.” Also, the “Notes on the Waste Land.” Also, President Obama’s analysis of “The Waste Land.”

NaPoMo may be drifting to an end, but next up is what Eliot referred to in another poem as “depraved May.” (The guy apparently loved to diss months.) We’ll keep the momentum going with plenty more poetry, and maybe a little depravity.

Rapper's Flow Encyclopedia - Big Boi

2013-04-30T16:50:04Z

If you haven’t read any of the analysis on Rapgenius before, like my articles on MF DOOM, Busta Rhymes, Notorious B.I.G., Andre 3k, Mos Def, Kanye West, and Eminem, 2pac, Pharoahe Monch, Jean Grae, and Talib Kweli, well, I’ve got just one question for you:

Where you been man?

In today’s analysis though, we are going to go into somewhat uncharted territory for my analysis. This time, we’ll be taking a look at the Dirty South – Big Boi aka Daddy Fat Saxxx aka Sir Lucious Left Foot aka Francis the Savannah Chitlin Pimp (and more.) But today, I’m gonna switch up styles on you: we’re gonna take a look more at the musical rhythms of Big Boi’s verses on “Aquemini”, rather than what could be called the verbal rhythms of his verse, the words and such. To that end, I am going to walk you through the whole process: from the basic rhythms that happen in rap music, to some variations on them, and then on to how a rapper can combine all these different techniques to come up with very distinct, subtle rhythms.

I know “subtle” is not the first word that comes to mind for you when you think of Big Boi, but some of his flows are so specific that it is really the only adjective that works. I’ll keep the long reading to a minimum as much as possible and show you rather than tell you with lots of videos and audio. At the end, we’ll finally see what contributes to Big Boi’s southern-feeling flow, and that kind of swing, jazz feel that the listener gets from him. And answer the question: just what IS he doing when he talks so damn fast?

The song is on youtube below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pjHlizcXI8

The Rapgenius lyrics are here.

To get our answers, we’re going to need to go through some basic music theory. Now, there is a good amount of simple math in here, but if you just read through it the videos will demonstrate it for you much better.

Now, for rap music, the time signature is 4/4. A time signature is what organizes musical time. The number is not a fraction – 4 is not divided by 4. Instead, the top number signifies how many beats there are in a measure, and the bottom number signifies what rhythmic duration gets the beat. So from that 4/4, we know that there are 4 beats to a measure, and the quarter note gets the beat. A measure, also called a bar in rap music, is simply a length of musical time. It is similar to a minute in that way, but unlike a minute, a measure can last a differing amount of seconds depending on how fast a song is. And just like a minute is made up of seconds, a bar is made up of a smaller time duration: a quarter note. 4 of them, to be exact. Musicians use the beat defined by the time signature to keep track of musical time instead of seconds because, as you know from your own experience, sometimes music is slow and sometimes it is fast. A rapper or producer needs to be able to count to themselves where they are in the music so that they place their musical idea in the right place. This is what makes musical sounds musical – they are all organized in strict time relationships to each other. That’s why the jangling of your keys or running water doesn’t sound musical, but Dre’s beat on “How We Do” does – they are all separated from each other according to divisions of that same beat.

So, all of a song’s musical events – for instance, in the song we’ll be examining, “Aquemini,” the guitar, the synth, the sung chorus – can all be placed in musical time according to divisions of that beat. (Note that this use of the term “beat” is different from what is sometimes called the beat in rap music, which definition refers to the musical backing of a song’s track — everything besides a rapper’s words.) Music notation represents this concept very well, and that is why I’ve chosen to use it.

The video below plays the beat, which remember, is 4 quarter notes in a measure in rap music. Those black round circles on the line with the vertical line connected to them represent the musical duration of a quarter note, and are played by the high triangle. The squiggly things in between them are called quarter note rests – they last the same amount of time as a quarter note, but instead represent that no note is supposed to play on them. For every video, you will get a bar of rest from the triangle, represented by that square thing on the line, and a bar of the bass kick being played.

In the video below, the lower bass drum you hear is playing the quarter note of the 4/4 time signature. Thus, it plays on every quarter note in a bar. Then, we have the triangle playing all those quarter note beats, lining up exactly with the bass kick drum. Just ignore the blank music line in the middle for now. Check it out for yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhkByiWm_QM

In the next video, we have that quarter note split in half, which is called, logically, an 8th note (¼ divided by 2 = 1/8.) The 8th note musical duration is represented by those same black circles with vertical lines like a quarter note, but this time they are connected across the top with a horizontal line, called a beam. Thus, in the video below, we have 2 8th notes followed by a quarter note, and then another 2 8th notes followed by a quarter note. Then, we have a whole bar of 8th notes. You can tell for yourself that each 8th note lasts half a quarter note. You can also tell that 8 8th notes take up the same amount of time as 4 quarter notes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klw0efC0hXQ

What would you expect we can do with 8th notes? That’s right, cut them in half too. And that gives us 16th notes (1/8 divided by 2 = 1/16.) And 16 16th notes last the same amount of time as 8 8th notes that last the same amount of time as 4 quarter notes. (Notice a pattern yet?) In the video below, 4 16th notes, represented by the double horizontal lines above the notes connecting each other, are played, followed by a quarter note, all happening twice. You can tell for yourself that 4 16th notes last the same amount of time as 1 quarter note, which, again, is being played by the bass kick drum. Then, after the full bar rest by the triangle, there is a full bar of 16th notes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcdxTeqIAmc

Now, we could divide 16th notes again into 32nd notes, but that makes the notes even faster and are very hard to rap. So, most rap happens at the level of the 16th note. We can combine all of these – quarter notes, 8th notes, and 16th notes – to make interesting rhythms, because doing the same rhythmic level all the time would be really boring. So, we might get something like the following:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJhWQBt__zY

However, we still need a little more spice. Why do the triangle notes always have to land at the same time as every bass kick drum hit? Well, they don’t. When notes skip that underlying beat playing the bass kick drum, which is present in all music even if no notes are hitting it, then we call that syncopation. That’s demonstrated below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BPO7ZobDxE

But that’s still a little too robotic. How about we turn to a master, Notorious B.I.G., in the following 4 bars. They are the first 4 of Biggie’s verse on “Hypnotize”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FRrm_u8JWo

There, you see he’s combined all the metric levels: he opens with syncopation off the bass kick drum with “pop”, 4 16th notes on the 2nd beat (“sicker than your”), 2 8th notes (“average”), 2 16th notes with an 8th note (“papa twist”), and so on. A combination of those levels of rhythm with syncopation is what gives a rapper’s rhythms spice.

However, who says we have to always divide the beat by half, into 2 8th notes?

Well — again, we don’t.

What if we divided it by 3? Then, you’d get what we call “triplet” 8th notes, while what we described above – quarter notes, 8th notes, and 16th notes – are called “duplet” 8th notes. And what makes Big Boi’s flow so unique is that it occurs at a metric level where the triplets and duplets are actually equivalent to each other, and can flow back and forth between each kind of division, by 2 or 3.

Played below is the quarter note beat, still played by the bass kick, divided into three by the triangle. After a bar of rest from the triangle, you’ll then have demonstrated how the 3 triplets and 4 16th notes last the same amount of time – the length of a beat, still played by the bass kick. Then, you’ll have a full bar of triplets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgspOI045uU

And we can do with those triplets what we did with the 8th notes: cut them in half. This gives us what we call “sextuplets”, since 3 x 2 = 6. In the first half of the first bar of the triangle playing in the video below, I give you a full beat of 3 triplet 8th notes. In the second half of that bar, I divide the first triplet 8th note, which falls on the beat, by 2, making 2 triplet 16th notes. They are represented still by those 2 horizontal lines connecting above the notes, and that “3” above the bracket.

In the next bar, I divide the 2nd triplet 8th note into 2 triplet 16th notes as well, just like we did with the first triplet 8th note, so that there is just one full triplet 8th note left at the end.

In the 3rd bar, I divide that last triplet note by half so that all 3 triplet 8th notes are split in two, and we get 6 16th notes per beat. I place a quarter note between those full sextuplet beats.

Finally, I give you a full bar of those 6 16th notes. You can still hear that 6 sextuplets take up the same amount of time as the quarter note played by the bass kick drum.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2T-kbcDvhs

However, we can also arrive at sextuplets from the rhythmic duration of the duplet 8th note. What if we had the musical duration of a duplet 8th note, equal to half of one quarter note, divided by 3 instead of 2 like before, just like we divided the quarter note beat into 3 8th notes instead of 2 8th notes?

That’s what I walk you through in the video below: I start out with a full bar of 2 duplet 8th notes played against a single quarter note in the bass kick.

In the 2nd bar, I divide one of the 8th notes divides into 3. Again, that duplet 8th note + 3 triplet 16th notes = 1 quarter note, as you can hear against the bass kick.

Next, just like above, I split both duplet 8th notes into 3, so that you get the same 6 sextuplets per beat that we had above. I play 6 sextuplets to a beat followed by a quarter note twice, and then fill a full bar with sextuplets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1wyIFmL72w

Just think about it for yourself: 6 can be divided by 3, or 2, and you still arrive at a whole number.

The easiest way to see this is to apply it to the rap of Big Boi. In the video below are the first 2 bars of his rap. The bass kick is still playing the quarter note level. Listen to all of the rhythmic levels we have described so far occur in Big Boi’s rap:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLDUBUVEAYg

In the above, we get the sextuplet level during the first beat “Now is the time to…”, and the 4 16th notes to a beat in the second bar (“get your work and…”).

But now let’s listen to the same 2 bars with the 8th note level represented as well, this time by the higher snare drum hit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVjkgsaiRm0

There, we can hear the 2 16th notes to an 8th note (on the words “like spike”, or “Lee said,”) and the 3 16th notes to an 8th note there (“get on the”.) Listen for yourself how each lasts the same amount of time as the 8th note snare, which is itself half of the quarter note beat played by the low bass kick drum.

But, as we established above with the syncopation and the example from Biggie’s “Hypnotize”, you don’t always need to fill the entire beat full of notes. That’s what he does here on the words “get on”, where he hits on only the first 2 16th notes of the triplet 16th note level, or on the words “is a”, where he hits on only the last 2 16th notes of the triplet 16th note level.

So, sometimes Big Boi makes the sextuplet play on the 4-16th-notes-to-a-beat level, which, remember, are called duplet 16th notes. He does this below, on the words “you on that dust” (3 triplet 16th notes, represented by that 3 over the words, plus the duplet 8th note of “dust”, equals 1 beat of the bass kick drum), or “familiar with that” (3 triplet 16th notes + 2 duplet 16th notes = 1 beat of the bass kick drum.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYyRlJWgqFE

But in the same 2 bars, he also plays on the triplet level of the sextuplet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YylZKQUQOxs

In the above, he does this on “smack man”, “green stuff”, “sack man”, and “pac man”, and “that man.” You can hear that those rhythms are close to, but not quite, the duplet 16th note rhythms. Because the rhythm on the words “smack man, the” is not this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCZmUO3yf5A

Or this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whrwwY7ZDxs

But this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN14F4mUemk

Although this is impressive in itself, the flawless way in which Big Boi moves between these 2 levels of rap is what’s most impressive. Consider the next 4 bars:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRln_o0GGZE

Notice how he moves between the full sextuplet level, which is both duplet and triplet together (“ready to bust on”, “any nigga like”), to the triplet level (“that man”), back to sextuplet (“me and my nigga we”), to the duplet level (“roll to-“), to the 16th note triplet level (“-gether like”), back to the triplet level + sextuplet level (“bat man and”,) and so on.

This equivalency of rhythmic level between the triplet and duplet can be represented by the fact that sextuplets, the intersection of the triplet (“three”) and duplet (“2”) can be notated in a number of ways (3 x 2 = the “6” of sextuplet,) as I’ve done in the music you’ve seen. Notice that the rhythms in the video below in the first bar all sound the same, and that the rhythms in the second bar all sound the same.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gjqd8JxANvw

Each separate notation simply represents a different rhythmic level, either the triplet, the duplet, or the triplet and duplet together, called the sextuplet. You can tell that they still all last the same amount of time. What notation you choose is simply which one most accurately reflects the rhythmic level of the music being played, or the rap.

Now, listen to his whole 1st verse and 2nd verse combined and try to hear all of these changes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZV41rVqtz0E

These rhythms are, for me, the defining style of Big Boi’s rap. He uses them in tons of songs, not just this one. And, conversely, his rhymes are rather unremarkable. Not that they aren’t good, it’s just that I literally do not have much to say about them. They are mostly single syllable rhymes, both inside and at the end of the sentence. His sentence structure is varied in that it doesn’t always end and start at the bar, but it’s nothing we haven’t seen before.

Thanks for reading!

-Martin

If you enjoyed this article, like the Composer’s Corner facebook page here or check out Martin’s blog, “Composer’s Corner”, found at www.rapanalysis.com, for more analysis on Nas, Eminem, Notorious B.I.G., Jean Grae, Common, Pharoahe Monch, and more. The Composer’s Corner blog deepens a listener’s appreciation for rap by showing exactly how it is one should listen to rap, and what to listen for in it. The blog features rap analysis, rap sheet music and notations, and more. Martin is a 2012 graduate of Duke University with a degree in music theory, and works as a freelance blog writer, composer, and producer. You can follow Martin on Twitter @composerscorner, or email him with questions or comments at martinedwardconnor@gmail.com.

Rap Genius Blog

Weekly Roundup: Lyrics Posted Since 5/14/2013

Big Memes:

Runners-Up (some..):

Young and Beautiful: The Anomaly That is Lana Del Rey

Shit Rap Genius Girls Say

News Genius Quotes of the Week, 05/17/2013

5 — “They used names like Tea Party or Patriots and they selected cases simply because the applications had those names in the title. That was wrong, that was absolutely incorrect, insensitive, and inappropriate — that’s not how we go about selecting cases for further review.”

4 — “I have a very high confidence that versions of this technique will work very well; it’s something that the field has been waiting for”

3 — “To this day, one of my proudest achievements is captaining my country.”

2 — “I ain’t kissin' nobody’s motherfucking babies — I drop your baby and you sue me and shit.”

1 — “I am writing to object in the strongest possible terms to a massive and unprecedented intrusion by the Department of Justice into the newsgathering activities of The Associated Press.”

New Podcast: R.A. the Rugged Man (#41)

Weekly Roundup: Lyrics Posted Since 5/7/2013

Big Memes:

Runners-Up (some..):

News Genius Quotes of the Week, 05/10/2013

5 — “Despite a remarkably intensive level of research…overall losses continue to be high and pose a serious threat”

4 — “In short, the days when North Korea could create a crisis and elicit concessions — those days are over”

3 — “We’ll never change the name, it’s that simple. NEVER — you can use caps”

2 — “There is no good reason to execute anyone without performing the testing that could definitively prove guilt or innocence”

1 — “I’ve been here a year. You see where I’m coming from? I’ve BBQ’d with this dude! We eat ribs and what not — and listen to Salsa music!”

Skylar Grey x RG x Gigg "Final Warning" Verse Contest

Top Ten Meditation Raps: An Introspective Look

10. Zion I, “Sunshine Beatz and Rhymez”

9. MF Doom, “Vomispit”

8. Black Star, “Definition”

7. NWA, “Express Yourself”

6. Shamako Noble, “The Quest”

5. Game feat. Lil Wayne, “My Life”

4. Big K.R.I.T. Meditate

3. 50 Cent, United Nations

2. T.I. Hallelujah

1. RZA, Samurai Showdown

Weekly Roundup: Lyrics Posted Since 4/30/2013

Big Memes:

Runners-Up (some..):

R.A. the Rugged Man *Legends Never Die* Contest!

The Rap Genius Guide to Gucci Mane's Arrests

Rap Genius Season 1 (Week 15)

The Geniuses

Points:

Rules:

The way it works:

Prizes:

Week 15:

News Genius Lines of the Week, 05/03/2013

5 — “Poachers, aided by game rangers, have killed every single rhino in Mozambique”

-International Fund for Animal Welfare, Rhinos Extinct in Mozambique

4 — “I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay.”

-Jason Collins, Jason Collins Comes Out

3 — “The FDA today announced that it has approved…Plan B One-Step for use without a prescription by women 15 years of age and older.”

-United States Food and Drug Administration, Plan B for All

2 — “It is a recruitment tool for extremists. It needs to be closed.”

-President Barack Obama, Obama Demands Closure of Guantanamo Bay

1 — “I would like to take a moment to acknowledge your hurt, as well as the letter you sent to me via your attorneys.”

-Lil Wayne/Epic Records, Lil Wayne’s “Apology” to the Family of Emmett Till

Feds Name Assata Shakur "Most Wanted Terrorist"

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Chicago… featuring She’s Crafty,

And San Antonio

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National Poetry Month on Rap Genius

#poetryjokes

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