Hip-hop is poetry.
Yes, this is a lifestyle/fitness blog, but we have no rules. We respond to our environments and get in moods. As such, I’m sitting in a Phoenix coffee shop, working, writing and reflecting. The speakers are pumping mid 1990’s hip-hop, the greatest era ever for the genre, hands down. I deem it apropos to illuminate some of the best lyrics/verses ever laid down, regardless of year. As always, add to the list in the comments section below.
Strong mind,
Kap
6) “Politics as Usual”- Jay-Z
Politics as us-ual… I took my
Frito to Tito in the district, blessed me with some
VS somethins I can live with, stop frontin
And for the dough I raise, gotta get shit appraised
No disrespect to you, make sure you word is true
I’m takin wages down in Vegas just in case Tyson
have a major night off, that’s clean money, the tax write-off
You ain’t seen money in your life, when it
comes to this cheese y’all like Three Blind Mice
A smokin bro, who pump Willie Ike spokes
The furthest you Chiles been is the Pocanos
5) “Renegade”- Eminem
Since I’m in a position to talk to these kids and they listen
I ain’t no politician but I’ll kick it with’em a minute
Cause see, they call me a menace and if the shoe fits I’ll wear it
But if it don’t, then ya’ll swallow the truth grin and bear it
Now who’s the king of these rude ludicrous lucrative lyrics?
Who could inherit the title, put the youth in hysterics?
Using his music to steer it sharing his views and his merits
But there’s a huge interference, they’re saying, “You shouldn’t hear it.”
4) “Notorious Thugs”- Notorious BIG
Armed and dangerous
ain’t too many can bang with us
straight up weed no angel dust, label us notorious.
3) “New York State of Mind”- Nas
Rappers I monkey flip em with the funky rhythm I be kickin
Musician, inflictin composition
of pain I’m like Scarface sniffin cocaine
Holdin a M-16, see with the pen I’m extreme, now
Bulletholes left in my peepholes
I’m suited up in street clothes
Hand me a nine and I’ll defeat foes
Y’all know my steelo with or without the airplay
I keep some E&J, sittin bent up in the stairway
Or either on the corner bettin Grants with the celo champs
Laughin at baseheads, tryin to sell some broken amps
2) “Me Against the world”- Tupac
Can you picture my prophecy?
Stress in the city, the cops is hot for me
The projects is full of bullets, the bodies is droppin
There ain’t no stoppin me
Constantly movin while makin millions
Witnessin killings, leavin dead bodies in abandoned buildings
Can’t raise the children cause they’re illin
Addicted to killin and the appeal from the cap peelin
Without feelin, but will they last or be blasted?
Hard headed bastard
Maybe he’ll listen in his casket – the aftermath
More bodies being buried – I’m losing my homies in a hurry
They’re relocating to the cemetary
Got me worried, stressin, my vision’s blurried
The question is will I live? No one in the world loves me
I’m headed for danger, don’t trust strangers
Put one in the chamber whenever I’m feelin this anger
Don’t wanna make excuses, cause this is how it is
What’s the use unless we’re shootin no one notices the youth
It’s just me against the world baby
1) “Love Me”- Eminem
There’s a certain mystique when I speak,
that you notice that it’s sorta unique,
cause you know it’s me, my poetry’s deep,
and I’m still matic the way I flow to this beat,
you can’t sit still, it’s like tryin to smoke crack
and go to sleep, I’m strapped,
just knowing any minute I could snap,
I’m the equivalent of what would happen if Bush rapped,
I bully these rappers so bad lyrically,
it ain’t even funny, I ain’t even hungry,
it ain’t even money, you can’t pay me enough
for you to play me, it’s cockamamie,
you just ain’t zany enough to rock with Shady,
my noodle is cockadoodle, my clocks cuckoo,
I got screws loose, yeahhh, the whole kitten-kaboodle,
I’m just brutal. It’s no rumor, I’m numero uno, assume it,
there’s no humor in it no more, you know
Jason K says
So many more to choose from. Thanks for your posts… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6hgmNqtxu4
Chris H. says
Gabe (and community who appreciate this post), you may like this vid explaining why Emimem’s rhyme schemes are savant-level: https://youtu.be/ooOL4T-BAg0
Slick says
Kappyyyyyyy! Speaking my language today! Em is the GOAT and renegade is just ridiculous. How bout Gang Starr – Dwyck……
I’m infallable, not into failure
Like a rhinocerus, my speed is prosperous
And pure knowledge expands from my esophagus
I write here tonite to bring truth to the light
My dialogue is my own cause Smooth B will neva bite.
Mikeyyyyyyyyyy
Gabe Kapler says
Can’t tell you how much I love you. Of course you chime in on this post….of course.
bill says
Good Lord! Where’s your John Denver, Dan Fogelberg, and Neil Diamond! Mark my words young man, your day will come!
gavin says
So many of us in limbo, how to get it on, it’s quite simple
3 stones from the sun, we need a piece of this rock
Our goal indestructible soul, answers to this quizzin’
To the brothers in the street, schools and the prisons
History shouldn’t be a mystery, our stories real history
Not his story, we gonna work it one day
Till we all get paid the right way in full, no bull
Talkin’, no walkin’, drivin’, arrivin’ in style
Tell him, soon you’ll see what I’m talkin’ ’bout
‘Cause one day
The brothers gonna work it out
Read more: Public Enemy – Brothers Gonna Work It Out Lyrics | MetroLyrics
Dodger Central says
as much as i love 90’s rap and i really love it, i’ve come to really enjoy the new christian hip hop movement, a lot of them came out that 90’s era and there’s a lot of parallel’s. Its like the lyrical awesomeness of the 90’s and the music of today. Even if you aren’t a christian (i know some non christians who love it) you can get with it.
Hollie Hamilton says
Love 90’s rap. Eminem is just one of the most brilliant men to ever exist, I can’t choose one song.
Eric Galvan says
Big fan of the music posts, as part of my personal belief is that music makes the world go round. However, how could you NOT include anything from either Dr. Dre’s “The Chronic” or Snoop’s “Doggystyle,” arguably two of the greatest, and seminal, albums of all time? Killing me! Still, solid list.
Mike Dieguez says
Kap
Gotta go with mid 80’s. Big Daddy Kane, Eric B and Rakim, Public Enemy.
~Al~ says
Lord have mercy, father help us all
Since you supplied your phone number, I can’t help but call
Time for action, conversating, we relaxing, kicking back
Got you curious for Thug Passion, now picture that
Tongue-kissing, hand full of hair, look in my eyes
Time to make the bed rock, baby look how it rise
Me and you moving in the nude, do it in the living room
Sweating up the sheets, it’s the Thug in me
I mean no disrespecting when I tongue-kiss your neck
I go a long way to get you wet, what you expect?
Late night, hit the highway, drop the top
I pull over, getting busy in the parking lot
And don’t you love it how I lick your hips and glide?
Kiss you soft on your stomach, push my love inside
Got you lost in a love zone, stuck in the lust
I got the bedroom shaking, back-breaking, when we’re tossing it up
Tupac
John Lofflin says
My body stunk / but I kept my funk — Rod Stewart (of course)
jphoornstra says
On poetry value, here’s one of my favorite verses:
Get the gage, cock it back
Empty your pockets Jack
Or I’ma send you flying like a rocket pack
Murder you for a bag of chips and a chocolate snack
Break into your crib steal your shit and lock it back
Ten-year-old kids be standin’ on the block with gats
Just for living nowadays’ll get you flogged with bats
-Eminem, “We Shine”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0Q7uxzEpt4
Aaron Polanco says
“I’m Rollin’ with a swollen bowlin’ ball in my bag.” Haha! I was in backpacking in Europe when you posted this and almost missed gold. You’re already pretty high on my list of cats I totally respect, but the fact that you threw Em’s verse from Love Me on here. Damn you are THE man Kap.
Hey check out Yelawolf’s new album Love Story. You dig real lyricists and even recently admitted your affinity for country music… His album has it all.