# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/61 "2009-01-18T02:06:54Z")
Da Mystery of Chessboxin has been mentioned already a few times, but the opener bears mention: Raw imma give it to ya, with no trivia raw like cocaine straight from Bolivia my hip hop will rock and shock the nation like the Emancipation Proclamation ---
**Author:** ![dogdriver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@dogdriver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogdriver)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/62 "2009-01-18T02:22:47Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Word to your moms I came to drop bombs > I got more rhymes than the Bible’s got psalms Good one ---
**Author:** ![dogdriver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@dogdriver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogdriver)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/63 "2009-01-18T02:25:54Z")
Torching and crakin’ and rhymin’ and stealin’ Robbin’ and raping - busting two in the ceiling I’m wheeling’ - I’m dealin’ - I’m drinking, not thinking Never cower, never shower - and I’m always stinking Yo ho ho and a pint of Brass Monkey And when my girlie shakes her hips - she sure gets funky Skirt chasing, free basing - killing every village We drink and rob and rhyme and pillage I’ve been drinking my rum - a Def son of a gun I fought the law and I cold won Black Beard’s weak - Moby Dick’s on the tick ‘Cause I pull out the jammy and squeeze off six My pistol is loaded - I shot Betty Crocker Deliver Colonel Sanders down to Davey Jones’ locker Rhymin’ and stealin’ in a drunken state And I’ll be rockin’ my rhymes all the way to Hell’s gate ---
**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 18, 2009, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/64 "2009-01-18T02:58:21Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > _There’s gonna be a lot of slow singin’ and flower bringin’ > If my burglar alarm starts ringin’_ Rig, I was going to post that exact phrase, but for some reason forgot to. What a coincidence that out of his entire, awesome catalog, we would both think to post those two lines. Cluricaun, I just reading that verse from chessboxin’ makes me immediately start bopping my head and reciting the rest from memory. Biggirl, I just realized that my post may have seemed like I was nitpicking your memory of the lyrics; I was actually trying to playfully show you that I remember that song by heart too, and loved it. I was being playful. I am trying not to dick ride you too hard, but I didn’t know you were a hip hop fan, and for some reason it makes me happy. ---
**Author:** ![Commander\_Keen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@Commander\_Keen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Commander_Keen)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/65 "2009-01-18T03:29:24Z")
_The tool spinners Cooking the full dinner Killing the first born of lyrical Yul Brynners_ – Jurassic 5, “Concrete Schoolyard” ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/66 "2009-01-18T05:01:31Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Biggirl, I just realized that my post may have seemed like I was nitpicking your memory of the lyrics; I was actually trying to playfully show you that I remember that song by heart too, and loved it. I was being playful. I am trying not to dick ride you too hard, but I didn’t know you were a hip hop fan, and for some reason it makes me happy. I took no offense. I really do remember lyrics wrong all the time. For the longest I wondered if Willem DeFoe was gonna sue Nelly for Ride Wit Me. You know for: _If you wanna go and take a ride with me Between Willem DeFoe and the Goldies. . . If you wanna go and get high with me Smoke an “L” in the back of the Benzee"_ ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/67 "2009-01-18T05:20:11Z")
I don’t know a lot of rap, so I must say this thread has been very interesting and entertaining. The best lyrical geniuses I know do their thing in Spanish, with Puerto Rican slang, so half the time I don’t even know what the fuck they’re on about (I’ve been comforted by the fact that some Puerto Ricans I know admit they don’t know what the fuck _Calle 13_ is on about.) But these are some of the best they offer that I reasonably understand, in a song whose title literally translates to ‘‘Without Chorus’’ and is essentially a brilliant few minutes of _Calle 13_ being amazing in a song they don’t even take very seriously. [QUOTE=Calle 13, Sin Coro] con tu lírica te crees muy fino, y al publico le hablaste chino, como la pantera rosada, no dijiste nada. “Es que nosotros los hip-hoppa somos fil’ntropos de la poesía cultural doctorizada únicamente autorizada para ser entendida por gente educada” Educada en qué?, en qué?, si tu también comes bistec, y desayunas corn flackes con panques, yo canto pa’l pueblo, pa’ to’ el mundo, pa’ que me entiendan en casa, popular pop para toda la raza, pa’ la mezcolanza, pa’l reggaeton, pa’ la salsa, esto esta hecho con pan y con masa, enjuagado con grasa, directo a tu panza. [/QUOTE] My shitty non-native translation: _With your lyrics you think you’re so fine And you spoke so beautifully to the public Like the pink panther You didn’t say anything ‘‘It’s that we the hip-hoppers are indoctrinated philanthropists of cultural poetry only authorized to be understood by the educated.’’ Educated in what, in what? You also eat steak And have cornflakes with pancakes for breakfast But I sing for the people, for all the world So that those at home understand me Popular pop for every race For the mezcolanza, for the reggaetón, for the salsa This is done with bread and dough Rinsed with grease, direct to your stomach_ Ok, and I have to include this one, because it’s funny. The premise of the song is hitting on an American girl in a club: [QUOTE=Calle 13, Atrévete-te-te] ¿Que importa si te gusta Green Day? ¿Que importa si te gusta Coldplay? Esto es directo, sin parar, one-way Yo te lo juro de que por ley Aquí to’a las boricuas saben karate Ellas cocinan con salsa de tomate Mojan el arroz con un poco de aguacate Pa’ cosechar nalgas de 14 quilates [/QUOTE] _Who cares if you like Green Day? Who cares if you like Coldplay? This is direct, without stopping, one-way I swear to you by law Here all the Puerto Rican women know karate She cooks with tomato sauce Wets her rice with a little avocado In order to produce a 14-carat ass_ They lose a lot in translation, but these guys just blow my mind with their ability to be funny and smart and musical all at once. ---
**Author:** ![Mississippienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mississippienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mississippienne)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/68 "2009-01-18T05:44:49Z")
Some of my favorites are from the great muMs da Schemer. > [@](#): > > Kidnap the President’s wife without a plan? > Yeah, I gotta plan, > it’s etched with a knife in the center of my hand. > So I guess I’ll have to keep my fist clenched, > walk around DC in the rain till my wears is drenched. > Wait for that motherfucker to take out the garbage, > do a press conference on what great shape this country in, > and when them welfare cuts gonna begin. > And when he pat his dog and kiss his wife goodbye, > that’s when I move in. I throw that silly ho in a headlock, > muffle her grill so her screams stop. I whisper to her, > “Your man ain’t here to protect you, baby. He gone.” > I dial up my nigga O-North, tell him meet me with the caddy on the white lawn. > I toss her in the backseat, I cover her head with a black sheet, > put the steel to her grill piece, be like, “If you don’t shut up, > I’ma let two shots off in your dome piece!” > Watch her have fits. > If she don’t understand, I give her a quick lesson in ebonics. > “I’ma shoot you. Baby.” > I’ma take her to my hideout, in the low-income houses down the street. > I replace her Joan and David’s with purple Reeboks on her feet. > I give her four hungry kids, no job, no ambition, no family support, and a last welfare check. > I give her crappy ass Medicaid, and an ill kinda growth growing out the side of her neck. > I tell her, “Fend for yourself. Keep you and them shorties in proper health.” > Then after sufficient time on that hype, I introduce her to the… Crack Pipe! > Yeah! I let her feel its soothing effects as she tries to forget about the absence of them checks. > I make her sell her jewels for it, I make her pay her dues for it. > And then I’ll come to her late at night, and I’ll be like, > “Yo, everything ain’t gonna be all right.” > “You ain’t gonna be able to go quietly into that good night.” > “Peace ain’t gonna come till your death be done.” > And then I’ll lead her up to the roof, and I’ll show her all the shit she don’t own. > I’ll lead her over to the edge, > and leave her there all alone. ---
**Author:** ![Tanaqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Tanaqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanaqui)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/69 "2009-01-18T06:01:50Z")
Somewhat in the vein of the last posted song… :eek: damn. This song makes me uncomfortable and angry and sad and it made me think a whole lot. I can’t bring myself to listen to it for entertainment but it is so honest I keep remembering it. The “n word” is so vilified that I don’t know if I should even post this but censoring it would be ridiculous… I’m not sure if it’s a clever turn of phrase in the typical way but it is well written and well rapped so here you go! A nigga write nigga in a lyric, expect the white boy to omit it, The white boy spit it like he spit it, Recite it to his friends who, by the way, ain’t niggas, And say nigga, nigga, nigga, my favorite rapper did it, And non-nigga friends got it with him, Incorporate this lyric to their everyday living, Until a black friend kinda hear it, just a tidbit, He thinks Aw, forget it, its so insignificant and little, The white boy sees this as a clearance, now its Nigga, nigga, nigga, every single day, And that little nigga nigga, thinks its okay, And he’s the only nigga in this particular grade, And it begins to phase him more each day, The things they say went a little too far, He couldn’t tell the difference between an a or er, So they just keep going, saying nigga in his face, There’s nothing he can do, he let it get away Wale - the Kramer (it opens with that horrible racist rant by the title character) In a less serious vein… the entirety of Lupe Fiasco’s “[And He Gets the Girl](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47_bDU3Qt08).” Awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/70 "2009-01-18T06:24:04Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Cluricaun, I just reading that verse from chessboxin’ makes me immediately start bopping my head and reciting the rest from memory. Heh, I hate to sound like a nerd, but me too. 36 Chambers is one of my favorite albums of all time, in any genre, and that’s one of my favorite songs on it. ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/71 "2009-01-18T08:02:45Z")
I agree actually with you guys as well. 36 Chambers is one of those CLASSIC albums for me, regardless of genre… ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/72 "2009-01-18T10:12:54Z")
I’m very happy to see ICP getting some love in this thread. Also from “Neden Game”: Violent J: I walked into a barn and there he was Standing up on a bucket Trying to fuck it It was a big fuckin’ smell ass farm llama! Shaggy 2 Dope: Damn dog, are you gonna dis your momma? From “Down With the Clown” What if I grew another fuckin’ head And his name was Violent… Ed And he’d headbutt me every time I cussed I would need two microphones when I bust Would you show me love even with another head? Or would you be like “Fuck you and Ed!” From “Southwest Voodoo” A non-believer once started to laugh So I launched a fireball up his punk ass Then everybody heard him squeal “This voodoo shit’s for real!” From the Dark Lotus album “Tales from the Lotus Pod”: I could have cocaine cum with a crack pipe dick and I couldn’t get a basehead to buff my shit How about some old school Snoop Dogg? I ain’t holding nuthin’ back And muthafucka I got five on that twenty sack Lil Wayne has a bunch. From “The Carter”: I’m the boss of my own shit I’m my own clique I would say fuck ya But go and get your own dick From “The Carter II”: Career crook get ya career took I’m back like a brassiere hook Some classic Digital Underground from “Sons of the P”: “Figure this too the bitch is down for my dirty drawers Find another ho to go for yours.” He said “But I like her” I said “You must be a rookie Now figure this three…” He cut me off and stepped to Cookie Said “How do you feel about this my dear?” I said “Nigga you don’t check my bitch like I ain’t standing here! Now I told you that the woman sells pussy for me You and her ain’t the two and we ain’t the three And most of all nigga I ain’t the one… Now back the fuck up off me son!” ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/73 "2009-01-18T10:17:23Z")
I’m violent Jay and I’m back like vertebrae. ---
**Author:** ![Panurge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@Panurge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panurge)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/74 "2009-01-18T14:38:25Z")
Unfortunately I am absolutely horrible at remembering lyrics (unless I hear the tune at the same time), so this post is more for inspiration. Good lyricists have been mentioned already (36 Chambers is playing on my technics right now), but surely we are missing someone. KRS-One, Rakim (already mentioned by **Nzinga** , Masta Ace, Q-Tip, Kool Keith, The Pharcyde are all worthy of mention in a thread like this. And what about Jeru the Damaja (from _Mental Stamina_): “Challenge my verbal gymnastics Vanacrobatics Vocabulary calisthenics Can’t understand the mathematics are esoteric Watch the style but also peep the lyrics, my lightning, my thunder Way back I stomped out Her-cu-les But now I stomp out MC’s Can’t chill, because the Sun don’t freeze Heavy metal, hard like titanium Alchemist, I turn wax into platinum” ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/75 "2009-01-18T14:57:11Z")
Remembered another one from the track [If you Must](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0xDGXotGIE)by Del tha Funkee Homosapien Nigga check yourself, respect yourself And wash your motherfuckin’ body ‘fore your sweatshirt melt ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/76 "2009-01-18T16:49:10Z")
I got a Faygo in the fridge but it tastes ill, 'cause it’s flatter than a bitch on a big wheel I never thought I’d meet someone who likes both ICP and Lil Wayne. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/77 "2009-01-18T17:37:15Z")
\*\*Atmosphere \*\*isn’t bad either. Lyrics below are from the song “Fuck You Lucy.” She say that she still wants a friendship She can’t live her life without me as a friend I can’t figure out why I give a damn to what she wants I don’t understand the now before the then Most of this garbage I write that these people seem to like Is about you and how I let you infect my life And if they got to know you, I doubt that they would see it They’d wonder what I showed you how you could leave it A friend in Chicago said that I should stay persistent If I stay around I’m bound to break resistance Fuck you Lucy for defining my existence Fuck you and your differences ---
**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 18, 2009, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/78 "2009-01-18T19:57:14Z")
Young MC - He’s got Know How! _I got juice like the president, I’m makin’ rappers hesitant Invite me to your house and I’ll be chillin’ like a resident Yes, cuz I’m that type of man Cuz I make myself at home no matter where I am I got it rollin’ like thunder, makin’ y’all wonder Why I’m on top with all the other rappers under I make no errors, mistakes or blunders It’s like a wedding, let no man put asunder My name is Young MC, I like to rock mic well Cuz when I get up on the mic I just release my spell It’s no hocus-pocus, I’ll just get you into focus And swarm all over you just like a horde of locusts Smooth operator, female persuader Spot a fly girl and in a week I’m gonna date her I got the kind of style for the here and the now And I can do it cuz I got know-how, you know what I’m sayin’?_ Class! ---
**Author:** ![SuntanTigerTamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@SuntanTigerTamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanTigerTamer)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/79 "2009-01-18T20:52:42Z")
Lloyd Banks - Some Random Freestyle: “I got your bitch blowing on me like nintendo games” 40 Cal - “Guerrilla Truck Music” “I rock an iceberg chain, it’s colder than cold the only time I tuck it in is when I go to parole cause when my PO see it, she know that its dough she want to see my pay stubs and go to my home i tell her this construction loot the way i move bricks and stomp niggas out with construction boots and the Union is Local 40 you the posterchild so hang up my poster for me” Jadakiss - Random Freestyle “Ayo them thugs should warned you when them bullets is in you it feels like the iron is plugged up and is on you niggas got they eyes on me and I aint talking bout the BM when I say I got 7 45’s on me a couple of chains a couple of watches moved up from the top 5 a couple of notches a couple of L’s a couple of Ox’s put a couple of your loved ones up in them boxes whole front row in black dresses and mock necks after that they gone throw a party and pop X” ---
**Author:** ![SuntanTigerTamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@SuntanTigerTamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanTigerTamer)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694/80 "2009-01-18T21:03:18Z")
Oh, and this one: it’s Styles P describing robbing your house while you’re away and your girl is at home. Disgusting, but clever Styles P ft Jadakiss - I Got Money “My little man want to fuck her, then cum in her asshole and I’m thinkin ‘why I even give a gun to this rascal’ now, you don’t want to know that type of hassle I know you’re the king but I done run up in your castle you know Ima load um up point um out Ill hold um up like a newborn baby I’ll fuck around and throw um up” I think it’s the “you don’t want to know that type of hassle” line that kills me. He’s saying that you think you got problems, shit, he’s gotta keep these crazy ass dudes in line. Also, describing a psychopathic rapist as a “rascal” gets me too. Funny stuff. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleverest-turn-of-phrase-in-rap-hip-hop/481694.md?page=5)