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5. "On that shit, take a whiff/ Move in silence like a .gif," -- Childish Gambino, "Fuck Your Blog" Lyrics
Leave it to Donald Glover to find the humor in what is perhaps the web's most unfunny invention: those small, soundless moving pictures known as .gif files. Here, Gambino nods to all of the terrible "American Idol," "Martin" and "Twilight" excerpts with "funny" captions that people try to pass off as amusing.
4. "I'm the silent assassin of the four-headed dragon/ Black Hippy blasting a .50 out of the Benz wagon," -- Jay Rock, "Black Lip Bastard (Remix)" Lyrics
Jay Rock may not get as much credit as his Black Hippy brethren Kendrick Lamar and Ab-Soul, but he deserves his share of praise, too. He outshines his groupmates on this number, and this couplet is the best of the lot. Then again, maybe we're just scared that he'll turn his .50 caliber rifle on us unless we shout him out.
3. "Super Nitty, I'm a full-time juggler/ Juggernaut aiming for the jugular," -- Nitty Scott, MC, "Hands on the Wheel Freestyle" Lyrics
Nitty Scott, MC has lately been a pal to the site, even joining us at a tony Yale University event. Here, she shows why we love her, finding appropriate use for three "jug" words in two lines.
2. "Cool frames don't qualify as sunblock/ The coolest shades ain't never made the sun stop," -- Yasiin Bey, "Chop Chop" Lyrics
The artist formerly known as Mos Def has taken a more abstract turn with his lyrics in recent months, making the already brainy rapper's lyrics more poetic than normal. Here, he speaks in metaphor so clearly and directly that you wonder why this phrase wasn't already a folk saying. The inability of consumption to satisfy real spiritual cravings has rarely been more simply and beautifully stated.
1. "But thanks to Reaganomics, prisons turned to profits/ 'Cause free labor is the cornerstone of U.S. economics/ 'Cause slavery was abolished unless you are in prison/You think I am bullshitting, then read the 13th Amendment/ Involuntary servitude and the slavery it prohibits/ That's why they giving drug offenders time in double digits," -- Killer Mike, "Reagan" Lyrics
There is so much in Mike's ode to our 40th President that is awesome -- we could have chosen practically anything in the second verse. This segment in particular deals with the ugly and too often-ignored dynamics of prison labor, and its unacknowledged but huge role in our economy. Reagan is often (and rightly) a sort of hip-hop boogeyman, but rarely have his crimes been so epically documented as in this number. For those interested in more about the relationship between rap and Reagan, check out our blog post on the topic.
Hot Songs of the Week
Mann - "Intro (Freshmann on Varsity)" Lyrics
Killer Mike - "Reagan" Lyrics
Childish Gambino - "Fuck Your Blog" Lyrics
See Worst Hip-Hop Jobs
- Lil Wayne's Wikipedia "Discography" Updater
- Snoop Dogg's Tour Bus Driver
- Guy Who Cleans Up After a Rap Show
- Bodyguard for Jay-Z & Beyonce's Daughter Blue Ivy
- Tax Attorney for Lil' Kim, Big Boi, MC Hammer, Nas & Many More
- Birdman's Car Washer
- Nicki Minaj's Hair Stylist
- The Weed Carrier
- Pras
- Disappointing Album Covers
- Missy Elliott, 'Da Real World'
- Foxy Brown, 'Chyna Doll'
- 50 Cent, 'The Massacre'
- R. Kelly, 'R. Kelly'
- E-40, 'In a Major Way'
- Drake, 'Take Care'
- Tyrese, '2000 Watts'
- Chris Brown, 'Exclusive'
- Lil Wayne, 'Lights Out'
- Ciara, 'Evolution'
- Hip-Hop Quiz
- 1. Which of these jobs best describes your daily 9-to-5?
- 2. When you wake up in the morning, the first thing you throw on is:
- 3. You've just won the lottery. The first car you run out and buy is:
- 4. The person you'd want most to sit shotgun in your new ride is:
- 5. Your idea of a fun night on the town is:
- 6. Your idea of a "classic" video is:
- 7. Your drink of choice is:
- 8. In your spare time, you'd most likely be spotted:
- 9. Upon seeing your date get hit on at the club, you calmly:
- 10. You'd prefer to prove your hip-hop cred by:
- Eminem
- Jay-Z
- Nicki Minaj
- Mixtape Timeline
- 1973
- Mid-'80s
- 1986
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- November 1995
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- 1998:
- 1998
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- Jan. 16, 2007
- February 2009
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