# Cleverest turn of phrase in rap/hip hop? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 17, 2009, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694 "2009-01-17T02:36:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/41 "2009-01-17T17:30:09Z")
_Ma, Ma–look what i did, Ma. Look what i did to my hands, I broke 'em. You gave me the stone, gave me the chisel, didn’t say how to hold 'em. Didn’t say to give away every piece of the puzzle ‘til i was left with nothin’. But i took it upon myself to crush it up and distribute the dust._ – Sage Francis, _Sea Lion_. One of my favorite rappers. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/42 "2009-01-17T18:03:50Z")
> [@mshar253](#): > > I can’t think of a specific example off the top of the head, but I know, I **know** that the **correct** answer is something by Biggie or the Wu-Tang. I know it, and I’ll try to find the best example later today. I wracked my brain trying to choose both a Biggie and some more Wu, but I couldn’t choose. I was so eager to post something in this thread, that I went with some stuff that was in my regular rotation right now. ---
**Author:** ![shefDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@shefDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shefDave)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/43 "2009-01-17T19:02:57Z")
_“Me and Gutter had two spots, The two-for-five dollar hits, the blue tops, Gotta go, Coolio mean it’s gettin’ ‘Too Hot’ If Fay had twins she’d probably have two 'Pacs, … Get it, Tu-Pacs?”_ Notorious B.I.G. - Brooklyn’s Finest Consider the gangsta and macho world of rap. Consdier that Tupac had just made one of the most bitter, bile-spewing diss records ever, directed at Biggie, bragging about how Tupac slept with his wife. What did Biggie do in response? Made a pun about it. He would have probably been a Doper. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/44 "2009-01-17T20:11:31Z")
Glad to see Sway in here already, although I was going to post [another verse](http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=SZGyQb0dPxU): _Hype Boys Hype Boys Everyone’s a killer, drug dealer with a nine miller That’s not sensible, and I can sense the bull That’s why these rappers couldn’t see me comin’ Even if they were vaginas, with spectacles And I’ve got the testicles to testify the truth Half of these rappers are only gangsters in the booth_ Comic timing while rapping? Nice work. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/45 "2009-01-17T20:40:51Z")
_Dead in the middle of little Italy, little did we know that we riddled some middleman who didn’t do diddly_ [It’s right near the start](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0Jhf2AMOxU) ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/46 "2009-01-17T20:49:22Z")
I got more rhymes than Abe Vigoda. All of the Beastie Boys rhymes are sick yo! ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/47 "2009-01-17T20:59:03Z")
Running from the law the press and the parents “Is your name Michael Diamond?” “No, my name’s Clarence!” - “Shake Your Rump,” Beastie Boys Rappinin’ is what’s happenin’ Keep the pockets stacked and the hands clappenin’! “Da Mystery of Chessboxin’,” Wu-Tang Clan (ODB) ---
**Author:** ![shefDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@shefDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shefDave)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/48 "2009-01-17T21:11:07Z")
_“Well I’m a sire, I set the microphone on fire Rap styles vary, and carry like Mariah”_ Da Mystery of Chessboxin’ - Wu-Tang Clan (Inspectah Deck) ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/49 "2009-01-17T22:12:50Z")
I always liked this line from Talib Kweli in Black Star: “My rhymes are like shot clocks, interstate cops and blood clots, My point is your flow gets stopped.” I also liked the first track on Nas’ latest album, “Queens Get The Money”: Let us make man in our image, spit it, I’m Huey P. and Louie V. at the eulogy throwing molotovs for Emmett You ain’t as hot as I is All of these false prophets is not messiahs You don’t know how high the sky is The square mileage of earth or what pi is I’m the shaky hand that touched George Foreman in Zaire The same hand that punched down devils that brought down the towers I’m sure there are others that are not in the front of my mind right now. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/50 "2009-01-17T22:13:00Z")
Brother Ali is an albino rapper. In his song “When The Beat Comes In” he raps: _Shake awake the walking dead Lazarus With off-the-head narratives, it’s embarrassin’ I mean I’m the albino but y’all pale in comparison_ From Notorious B.I.G.'s “Warning”: _There’s gonna be a lot of slow singin’ and flower bringin’ If my burglar alarm starts ringin’_ ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/51 "2009-01-17T22:17:08Z")
> [@Rubystreak](#): > > I always liked this line from Talib Kweli in Black Star: > > “My rhymes are like shot clocks, interstate cops and blood clots, > My point is your flow gets stopped.” My favorite one-liner from him is “my name is in the middle of equality.” I’m sure he probably thought of it when he was 10, but it’s clever to me. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/52 "2009-01-17T22:19:10Z")
> [@Headrush042](#): > > Messed up the link to Party at My Place – it’s [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__q12SwQCCQ). > > PS – I can understand censoring “nigga” out of the clean versions – but “cocaine” and “AK-47”? What the fuck? They censor any drug or gun reference on the radio these days. One of the more interesting censored lines I’ve heard though is from Notorious B.I.G.'s “Juicy” where he raps: _Time to get paid, blow up like the World Trade_ Now of course this came out in the 90’s and was a reference to the _first_ WTC bombings. After September 11th, they actually censor the words “World Trade” when they play this song now. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/53 "2009-01-17T22:22:05Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > They censor any drug or gun reference on the radio these days. One of the more interesting censored lines I’ve heard though is from Notorious B.I.G.'s “Juicy” where he raps: > > _Time to get paid, blow up like the World Trade_ > > Now of course this came out in the 90’s and was a reference to the _first_ WTC bombings. After September 11th, they actually censor the words “World Trade” when they play this song now. I saw _Notorious_ last night, and that line was (creatively) censored in the movie, too. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/54 "2009-01-17T22:30:51Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > I saw _Notorious_ last night, and that line was (creatively) censored in the movie, too. That really fascinates me. I guess to people who don’t know the timeframe of the context it could seem much cruder than it really was. I wonder if 20, 30 years from now they’ll decide enough time has passed that they can de-censor it again. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/55 "2009-01-17T22:47:25Z")
_What’s in your alleyway Recycling bins or bullet cases?_ From “Rise” by Flobots. I like it because it immediately puts a picture in your head. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/56 "2009-01-17T23:03:45Z")
From the brink of madness comes one desolation to the souls of the weak have begun Heart of a jackal, murder when i break man-shackles shatter with sound with both splinter crackles 25 gun salute, you stand resolute pick up your chest, dead brute we set the standards, suckers wanna ban us for cavorting round a hardcore banner _25 Gun Salute - Gunshot_ The best of British. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/57 "2009-01-17T23:14:51Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > They censor any drug or gun reference on the radio these days. One of the more interesting censored lines I’ve heard though is from Notorious B.I.G.'s “Juicy” where he raps: > > _Time to get paid, blow up like the World Trade_ > > Now of course this came out in the 90’s and was a reference to the _first_ WTC bombings. After September 11th, they actually censor the words “World Trade” when they play this song now. What’s interesting is how it tries to redact the World Trade Center from culture. Far more disrespectful than BIG’s line, as it denies that it existed and had a history and was a part of the culture. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/58 "2009-01-17T23:54:56Z")
_This is the Soul-Jam victory chafer Your whole camp quick to see anger but behold tramp pick the remainder That old damn trickery changed the game Put it in danger, givin it major fame My task is tryna’ excell past The hell masks that glamour and glitz can sell cats And through the foul trash absorb the shell blast Like I was the most bombed hotel in Belfast! BOOM!_ ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/59 "2009-01-17T23:57:15Z")
I’m partial to Biz Markie: G-goobely-goo Ah-h-h-hm Ah yeah Now check it out I would walk into the bathroom to take a crap I sit down, and then I write me a toilet stool rap Whether I’m constipated or have diarrhea I always come out with a funky fresh idea “Toilet Stool Rap” Joe ---
**Author:** ![Paladud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Paladud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paladud)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/60 "2009-01-18T00:07:30Z")
From “I’m Bo Yo” - Bo Burnham You’re playing with your breasts, excuse me, can I try it ma’am? You’re pushin’ em together like a titty Venn Diagram His “New Math” is much funnier but doesn’t qualify for the thread. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694.md?page=4)