GET YOUR MIND RIGHT SOME OF HIP HOP SICKEST VERSES

"All Falls Down" (third Verse) by Kanye West

"I say fuck the police, that’s how I treat ‘em/ We buy our way out of jail, but we can't buy freedom/ We'll buy a lot of clothes when we don't really need ‘em/ Things we buy to cover up what's inside/ Cause they made us hate ourself and love they wealth/ That's why shorties hollering "where the ballas' at?"/ Drug dealer buy Jordans, crackhead buy crack/ And the white man get paid off of all of that/ But I ain't even gon' act holier than thou/ 'Cause fuck it, I went to Jacob with 25 thou/ Before I had a house and I'd do it again/ 'Cause I wanna be on 106 & Park pushing a Benz/ I wanna act ballerific like it's all terrific/ I got a couple past due bills, I won't get specific/ I got a problem with spending before I get it/ We all self-conscious I'm just the first to admit it."

It seems that people are being brainwashed by the TV and news articles telling us who’s hott and who’s not. Don’t get me wrong I think Kanye got some incredible penmanship and I highly respect that he produces everything by himself, not many artist can boast that talent and acutally be good at it. But anyway, too many people are over looking Lupe and frankly I’m sick of it. This dude has got to be the sickest emcee since KRS-One. Granite he’s in the emcee league that not many people listen too, the league that consist of Talib, Common and Mos Def to name a few. This verse below is an all time best for hip-hop and if you don’t not understand why, maybe you should not be a part of our culture.


Lupe’s The Cool album track # 17 Put You On Game

Don't you know that I run this place, And I've begun this race, Must I rerun this pace? I'm the reason its become this way And their love for it is the reason I have become this praised (lemme put you on game) They love my darkness, I make them heartless, And in return, the have become my martyrs, I've been in the poem of many a poet, And I reside in the art of many a artist (lemme put you on game) Some of your smartest have tried to artictulate My whole part in this But they're fruitless in their harvestin' The drow grows from my footsteps I'm the one that they follow, I am the one that they march with
(lemme put you on game) Through the back alleys And the black markets, The Oval Offices, Crackhouses and apartments

Stupid niggas fall back, i doubt you'll understand verse!!!!!!!!!

KING LUPE
American Terrorist-

We came through the storm/nooses own our necks/ and a small pox blanket to keep us warm/own a seven forty seven on the pentagon lawn/wake up! the alarm clock is connected to a bomb/anthrax lab on a west virginia farm/shorty aint learned to walk/already heavily armed/civilians and little children is ecspecially harmed/camoflauge taurus,bibles, and glorius korans/the book says take you to heaven/ and let you met the Lord there/heavy comments interpatated reasons for warfare/we read em with blind eyes/I gurantee you there's more there/rich must be blind/cause they aint seen the poor there yeah/need to open up a park/just closed ten schools we dont need em/ can you please call the fire department/they down here marching freedom/burn down they teepees/turn they tv's on an teach em/

Lupe Fiasco aka FUTURE GOD M-CEE

ts Gotta Be KRS's Verse In Classic (Better Than I Ever Been)
"How many of y'all got - 'Criminal Minded'?
You, you, you, y'all don't be blinded
Me - I got no jewels on my neck
Why? - I don't need 'em, I got your respect
KRS-One, 20 years I rock
I do it for JMJ and Scott La Rock
This hip-hop and we is a nation
Don't you wanna hear more KRS-One on your radio station?
Instead of broadcasting how we smoke them trees
On the radio we need to hear more local emcees
Where you at?, c'mon where you at?
This is the difference between emceein' and rap
Rappers spit rhymes that're mostly illegal
Emcees spit rhymes to uplift their people
Peace, Love, Unity, havin' fun
These are the lyrics of KRS-One.."

wow. this is nothin but the truth and that verse in it owns shows how fucked up the world...naw USA really is

"...this is not the three best verses ever according to you. This is the top three verses ever according to me. Get your own column."


Stop wasting your time writing verses just 'cause you disagree with this nigga. Fuck's wrong with you people?

Gangsta - Militia

Freddie Foxxx

You niggaz owe me for my rhymes, I come to collect
For you dope fiend niggaz in rap, I here to inject, check
My style is water baby, spread it around
But when you niggaz don`t flow it right and f**k up my sound
I get down; in `89 I spit the buck in the face
of every MC that came in the place, a scar you`ll never erase
MC`s are only recognized for their flows
I`m worldwide for the bit*hes, that I turned into hoes
You heard me spit it on Jew-elz, that`s how it goes
For all them faking as* niggaz and how I bust up they nose
And while your, nose is drippin, and drainin blood
I be standing over you screamin, "Nigga, WHAT, WHAT?! Nigga WHAT?!"
Niggas feel my presence, like I`m right in they palm
Cause a stormy day is coming, when you see me so calm, it`s on
No more twin glocks, they jam up my plays
Now its twin .40 calibre Walther PPK`s
I`m in the control of my game, you must respect me like The Ref
Uh-huh, you disrespect *gun clicks* you get the tech
I turn you fake niggaz on and off, like I`m the clapper
I rob so many niggaz, they should call me Jack the Rapper
I`ll the illest nigga doing this, dead or alive
Gloria Gaynor on you motherf**kers, I Will Survive
You can try to come at me, but do you want the kick back?
You snap inside the cage of a pit, and you get bit back, huh
My war is so tight, my drama so ill
Beef with me hangs around like a unpaid bill
I push these lyrics through any MC, and make it burn
So the n…


Let me introduce you to a man named Gary Grice aka GZA the Genius

"Unexplained" Verse 1

I'm not caught up in politics
I'm no black activist on a so called scholar's dick
I come through with the Wu N' drop math
N' versatile freestyles bombs N' phonographs
N' deliver all things N' other in weight
Searched to death, on how livin' things relate
Cuz at a young age, I was molded in a religion I relied on
N' got caught up in superstition
Scared to split pole, duck black cats
Once in a while, threw salt over my back
But with knowledge of self from off the shelf
Made things seemed complicated now small like elves
So turn off the lights, light a candle N' have a seance
Pull the lid off the Dean Martin scandal
Witches warlocks spooks N' holy ghosts
RZA let's defraud the host

Best verse ever to me is Big Pun on Fat Joes "Don Cartegena" Album the "Hidden Hand"

My heart is cold as ice, so I know I'm sheist, Big Pun was the kid
that no one liked, my whole life, is one big roll of the dice
Payin a price twice as expensive as white kids
Destined for Riker's not knowin my existance was priceless
IT'S LIKE THIS, my soul was lifeless, I earned stripes
fightin the nicest in the crisis I slice em in half and make em dash
like hyphens, invitin any rapper to Clash With the Titan
The writing's like fighting cause rappers be biting like Tyson
I'm hypein the crowd, keepin em Loud like my label
I'm proud I'm able to lift from the bowels of the ghetto
I found me a little sanity inside a career and a family
No more wars and renderin tears to insanity
So keep the salary and tear the mic, cause I love it
There's my life, you judge it, fuck it Seis, I don't want it

Andre 3K on Hollywood Divorce. Put the pipe to ya eyes and read this...

A is for Adamsville
B is Bowen Homes
See if I give a fuck if you like me you know I don't
If she ain't got a good head on her leave that ho alone
If she do got some good head on her let her sing a song
D is for what I serve, I don't be on no curb
She ain't no junkie neither, I ain't no dope dealer
But she keep comin back three stacks must be some crack
Put that pipe in her lap, she ain't know how to act
Now that I've got your undivided attention I'm
Gonna say this and run under condition one
Promise me you gon' stack, promise me you gon' ball
Promise me you'll invest three fourths of it all
For what? So your kids, kids, kids can have some cheese
Can't get with it? Get get get get get on your knees
Cause wealth is the word
Rich is round the corner from the curb
Don't like what I write? Shoot me a bird

Nas - 'Verbal Intercourse'

Through the lights cameras and action, glamour glitters and gold
I unfold the scroll, plant seeds to stampede the globe
When I'm deceased, by then the beast arise like yeast
to conquer peace leaving savages to roam in the streets
Live on the run, police paying me to give in my gun
Trick my Wisdom, with the system that imprisoned my son
Smoke a gold leaf I hold heat, nonchalantly
I'm grungy, but things I do is real it never haunts me
while, funny style niggaz roll in the pile
Rooster heads profile on a bus to Riker's Isle
Holdin weed inside they pussy with they minds on the
pretty things in life, props is a true thug's wife
It's like a cycle, niggaz come home, some'll go in
Do a bullet, come back, do the same shit again
From the womb to the tomb, presume the unpredictable
Guns salute life, rapidly, that's the ritual


Inspectah Deck - 'Above The Clouds'


Yeah; I leave scientists mentally scarred -- triple extra large
Wild like rock stars who smash guitars
Poison bars from the Gods bust holes in your mirage
and catch a charge shake em down like the riot squad
And they deserve ruin like ancient Rome; I span the universe
and return to Earth to claim my throne
The maker, owner, plus soul controller
Ayatollah rest in the sky, the cloud's my sofa
Stand like Collossus, regardless to whom or what
Numerous attempts at my life, so who to trust
Who but us, to supply you with the fire?
The burning truth, 150 Absolut proof
On the mic like Moses spoke in golden scribe
Survivor of the oldest tribe whose soldiers died
I notified families, we shed tears and more
but our hands are the ammo cause the battle's still on
Sound the horn; we come rumblin through the function
Precise laser beam technique to touch somethin
When we die hard, to build the monument to honor us with
humungous effect in the world we could have conquered it

"Let me entertain your criminal thoughts, my brain's a digital quartz, doomsday device like the microchip of arnold swartz, i bring the final chapter, crews divide like factors, fire clappers see more spinal fractors, then chiropractors, expose suspect foes like helicopter seachlights, my words strike the Earth like Hitler's Third Reich!!!!"

Mr. Voodoo - Natural Elements


Please don't stop this column...you should do like 10 of these joints, I love reading them. First of all the way you break down each verse is incredible, sometimes I see and hear shit I never did before. And you also don't 'dickride' an artist, you just rate the verses for what they are---art. And I also love seeing how many people hate on it and write gay ass comments that nobody reads (like this one) haha, keep it going my nigga


Ima have to say the one of the best verses of all time has got to be nas verse on the main source joint live at the barbecue


Street's disciple my raps are trifle
I shoot slugs from my brain just like a rifle
Stampede the stage I leave the microphone split
Play Mr. Tuffy while I'm on some Pretty Tone shit
Verbal assassin my architect pleases
When I was twelve, I went to hell for snuffin Jesus
Nasty Nas is a rebel to America
Police murderer, I'm causin hysteria
My troops roll up with a strange force
I was trapped in a cage and let out by the Main Source
Swimmin in women like a lifeguard
Put on a bulletproof nigga I strike hard
Kidnap the President's wife without a plan
And hangin niggaz like the Ku Klux Klan
I melt mics till the sound waves over
Before steppin to me you'd rather step to Jehovah
Slammin MC's on cement
Cause verbally, I'm iller than a AIDS patient
I move swift and uplift
your mind shoot the gift when I riff in rhyme
Rappin sniper, speakin real words
My thoughts react, like Steven Spielberg's
Poetry attacks, paragraphs punch hard
My brain is insane, I'm out to lunch God
Science is dropped, my raps are toxic
My voicebox locks and excels like a rocket


I feel most of the comments here, but i think you need to go back a few years to the golden era of hiphop. Most of the new stuff is just adaptations of old classics, KRS1 philsophy, Ice Cubes verse on straight outta compton, Kool Keith, Camp Lo - Lunchie, DAS E FEX to mention a few. Lyrics should move you and give you a visual e.g. Cannabis - Spartibus. My favorite verse of all time right now and is changes daily is by scarface (Geto boys) My minds playing tricks on me.

Day by day its more impossible to cope
I feel like Im the one thats doing dope
Cant keep a steady hand because Im nervous
Every sunday morning Im in service
Playing for forgiveness
And trying to find an exit out of the business
I know the lord is looking at me
But yet and still its hard for me to feel happy
I often drift while I drive
Havin fatal thoughts of suicide
Bang and get it over with
And then Im worry-free, but thats bullshit
I got a little boy to look after
And if I died then my child would be a bastard
I had a woman down with me
But to me it seemed like she was down to get me
She helped me out in this shit
But to me she was just another bitch
Now shes back with her mother
Now Im realizing that I love her
Now Im feeling lonely
My mind is playing tricks on me

Lupe Fiasco - Switch

Gotta hear the flows to really appreciate this madness.

Switch.
You you you, yes let the words woo you
till you woozy.
Let the lyrics subdue you,
massage and sooth you,
move you till conscience lose you.
Lu now rules you,
you do what Lu do and you'll do beautiful.
Switch.
I'm the meanest.
You the meanest?
I'm the meanest
and I mean this.
now I don't mean this
to sound fiendish,
but I'm a genious.
You a genious?
And the cleanest.
Never seen this
as clean as
my cleanest.
From on top,
from underneath,
from behind
or in between.
Switch.
I'm a hustler creeping with my hat low.
Niggas know I pack so,
what they gonna do that for?
Niggas got my back though
like answering the back door.
Catch you I'm a slap you, leave you redder than the bat phone.
Switch.
With a little bit of this and a little bit of that.
That.
Mixed with a little bit of pimp,
and a little bit of mac
and a little bit of limp
and a whole lotta gangster lean.
I can't be seen.
I ain't the King, but a nigga is strengthening
to paint the scene
and take the thing over
like a soldier caught in a polo gather hood like a cobra nigga thank a teen
Switch.

[Background:]
Switch nigga, this is how I got it, I switch like hydraulic cars, switch like the barge nigga. Switch.[Background]
[Interlude: Lupe talking]
Aight, now remember that, that's a, that was a part of the experiment. I had to set it up so. So don't worry I know what your thinking, I was thi…

[LL Cool J from 4,3,2,1 (the only good joint on the Phenomenon album in '97]
When young sons fantasize of borrowing flows
tell little shorty with the big mouth the bank is closed (yeah, word up)
The symbol on my arm is off limits to challengers
You hold the rusty swords I swing the Excalibur
How dare you step up in my dimension
Your little ass should be somewher cryin on detention
Watch your mouth better yet hold your tongue
I'ma do this shit for free this time this one's for fun
Blow you to pieces, leave you covered in feces
with one thesis ("LL Cool J is hard")
Every little boy wanna pick up the mic
and try to run with the big boys and live up to the real hype
But that's like pickin up a ball, playin with Mike
Swingin at Ken Griffey or challengin Roy to a fight
Snappin, you ameteur MC's
Don't you know I'm like the Dream Team tourin overseas
For rappers in my circle I'm a deadly disease
Ringmaster, bringin a tiger cub to his knees (uhh)
In the history of rap they've never seen such prominence
Your naive confidence gets crushed by my dominance (word up)
Now let's get back to this mic on my arm
If it ever left my side it'd transform into a time bomb
You don't wanna borrow that, you wanna idolize
And you don't wanna make me mad nigga you wanna socalize
And I'm daring every MC in the game
to play yourself out position, and mention my name
I make a rhyme for every syllable in your name
Go platinum for every time your grimy ass was on the train
Watch …

Now
Would she remain in the same spot?
The gunshots rang, they came from the cane spot
Now look here
I see her clutching her son
In her arms she hurt
Her heart bleeding as she watched her seed die in the dirt
Fulfill prophecy
But who could stop the grief?
I walk around trying to hold the world up on top me
Probably be an innocent man
But still I'm the victim of a curse
What could be worse?
Nothing but pain
Since my birth, taught me functions at the pen
Cause everybody's in paying back society
I'm guilty of a life of sin
I watched the drama occur
My eyes blurred 'fore I jet it
I wonder why we all have to die for we get it
Though we shed tears
So many peers I done buried
Worried and scared
Knowing I'ma see the cemetery
Must be prepared in this cold world
No-one cares
No it ain't fair
But we all there
And do our share
In this land of underhanded schemes and plans
Vivid dreams of a nigga having g's in hand
Mamma told me not to be a punk
Fuck what you talking about coward
What you niggas want?
Pac - Man there's so many verses dis man did its so hard to choose which one is his best,but no matter wat de verse dey r hotter dan any rappers'

About me:
Now I'm lost and I'm weary, so many tears I'm suicidal, so don't stand near me My every move is a calculated step, to bring me closer to embrace an early death, now there's nothin left There was no mercy on the streets, I couldn't rest I'm barely standin, bout to go to pieces, screamin peace And though my soul was deleted, I couldn't see it I had my mind full of demons tryin to break free They planted seeds and they hatched, sparkin the flame inside my brain like a match, such a dirty game No memories, just a misery Paintin a picture of my enemies killin me, in my sleep Will I survive til the mo'nin, to see the sun Please Lord forgive me for my sins, cause here I come... tupac(so many tears)

Ayo the streets got me heated, stress got me weeded, i got a hunger for your money im bout to feed it, eat it, every last crumb cause i need it, believe it, the 40 wit the laser i squeeze it, and my men spark guns, in the shootout you be the first down like ten yard runs(A TEN YARD RUN IS A FIRST DOWN), so when i shoot ima out em, youll get ya face split like nelly on that sweat suit album(THE COVER OF THE CD HIS FACE IS SPLIT IN TWO), you get read all over like newspapers, even bitches got guns now look at the tomb raider, move hater, my gang blast foes, and leave ya team rocked like dame dash clothes(WHEN DAME DASH OWNED ROCAFELLA CLOTHES THEY SAID TEAMROC), you fuckin wit boom you wanna be dead, you might as well put 2 guns to ya head, CLICK CLICK, the heat'll spray, you will lay in blood, ruger pop, you will lose ya top, like lisa ray in players club(THE MOVIE PLAYERS CLUB LISA RAY PLAYS A STRIPPER SO SHE TAKES HER TOP OFF), i need b-i-g cash, its a party in hell im givin out a v-i-p pass, BLAOW BLAOW see how we blast, shots to ya face you will d-i-e fast, and the gun allergic to dickheads, so it'll sneeze on you if you dumb and you get bread, i put you in a sick bed, emergency haul ass, wit a box that sound like the emergency broadcast BEEEEEEEEEPPPPPP (AS IN A FLATLINE), now ya body chilly chill, i rug rats wit twin gats call em phil and lil(PHIL AND LIL FROM THE SHOW RUGRATS AND THEY WERE TWINS), you could feel the steel, im riding for the cheddar, ill open ya chest ……

With that being said, I'm gonna write the opening bars from a verse I wrote, that I will prolly never use, because when I spit it my team tells me its dope, but too much to digest for the average listener, But today on DX it just seems relevant that I leave it here for those who might care about lyrics:

Nowadays the game fractures the youth,
A fraction o truth,
And manufactured myth is re-enacted in booths,
Corporations put us back in a noose,
And we hate em,
But we smile at the money like its hackin us loose,
If you ignorant then raps an excuse,
To hop on a track,
And pop bottles bout a crack addicts abuse,
The sad part is that we had it to lose,
They called us monkeys then put us on T.V.
To see and gather the proof.
Yea, ya flow bin bannanas,
And it’s the food they hand us,
To keep us in mental slammaz,
Outlandish, but yet we managed
To Brandish freedom o speech,
Not knowin promotin cancers,
And no one knows any answers,
But everyone knows da dances?

Once again, just proves you are right. People don't want me to spit bars like this, so I keep these for my circle, while I give the public something they can digest. It's just business. The rhyme wraps up with lines like:

And we cant complain,
Cuz we as the fans is to blame,
So when you crucify my lyrics,
And call em hypocritic,
Ima call you stripper bitch trick,
Dick wit no brain...

Myspace. Com/slysolomon

Man, I love this article/editorial or whatever you’re trying to do. Allot of dumb niggers (notices the way I used the word with the “er” on the end) won’t understand. We are talking bout verses with meaning, not just bars niggaz spit just to make a song. Were talking about the merit of the EmCee, the thought into the verse, what’s going on around you……TRUE HIP HOP. I also understand that just because you picked this verse 2nd doesn’t mean that it is the second best……I love what your doing…..I love the verse……keep it up and I will stay tuned…….fuck the silly hater niggers are saying.

This is the often negated 2nd verse off of one of the greatest tracks of all time, "CREAM" by Wu-Tang Clan. I think that alot of folks tend to ignore this verse because it was not as violent as Rae's. Don't get me wrong, his verse was tight, but Deck ripped this joint to shreds! And it was very introspective which is part of what incredible lyricism is! Peep Game:
Inspectah Deck
"It's been 22 long, hard years of still strugglin'
Survival got me buggin', but I'm alive on arrival"

In this bar, he is talking about how the stress and strife of poverty is driving him crazy, which is all too often the norm in the black community. We are greatful to be alive, as he notes, but alot of the time are actions don't reflect that. We are "buggin'".

"I peep at the shape of the streets
And stay awake to the ways of the world 'cause shit is deep"

While "survival has him buggin", like a scientist he examines his surroundings and recognizes that the world is unforgiving and unkind. Especially in the environment where he and many other disenfranchised youth are forced to grow up in. THings are deep because in this environment, it truly is survival of the fittest.

"A man with a dream with plans to make C.R.E.A.M.
Which failed; I went to jail at the age of 15
A young buck sellin drugs and such who never had much
Trying to get a clutch at what I could touch"

His attempt to make money to financially support his dream failed because he was caught extremely young. He w…

THIRD VERSE ON "TROUBLE" OFF KINGDOM COME BY JAY-Z

you little niggaz ain't deep you dumb, you niggaz ain't gangsta you gum, I chew little niggaz
hock-too, spew little niggaz, I can only view little niggaz like little niggaz
but in lieu of little niggaz trying to play that boy, I phew phew little niggaz with the latest toy
unlike you little nigga, I'm a grown ass man, big shoes to fill nigga, grown ass pants
prolly hustled with your pops, go ask your parents its apparent you're staring at a legend
who, put a few little niggaz in the they place before trying to eat without saying they grace before
blasphemous bastard get your faith restored you're viewing your version of the lord god
mc little nigga, applaud, or forever burn in the fire that I spit at y'all I rebuke you little nigga
the meek shall parish, ill roof you little nigga, Im a project terrorist, cute you little niggaz
think you in my class subsitute little niggaz soon feel my wrath, I mute you little niggaz
you a little nigga, I shall abuse you little nigga, I'm a ill nigga, now shoot you little niggaz
go somewhere and play, cuz the day I loose to you little niggaz, no day

honorable mention to Canibus' verse on "Beast from the East"

i'm at myspace dot come slash capitalz
holla @ the G.O.A.T.

HEY HERES AN IDEA MAYBE MORE BLACK PEOPLE GO TO JAIL CAUSE BLACK PEOPLE COMMITT MOR CRIMES!! OR HOW BOUT THE FACT EVERYONE THESE DAYS WANTS TO BE FROM THE HOOD FACT IS WORST HOODS ARE MAJORITY BLACK AND THEREFOR MORELIKE TO FALL INTO A LIFE OF CRIME BUT OF COURSE I KNO THATS THE WHITE MANS FALT OR THE GOVERNMENTS FAULT EVEN THO THEY HAND OUT A RIDICULOUS AMOUT OF WELFARE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITTY MAYBE IM A BLACK AN FROM THE HOOD AND I GOT MY LIFE ON TRACK MAYBE IF U SPENT LESS TIME BLAMIN OTHER PEOPLE AND MORE TIME DOING SOMETHIN ABOUT IT LIKE GOING O SCHOOL OR WORKIN(SELLIN CRACK IS NOT WORKIN) THEN MAYBE WE COULD ACTUALLY CHANGE THINGS

What is the criteria for having one of the best verses of all time? There seems to be too many arbitrary qualities that come to mind, and it seems from your choice of "All Falls Down" that you are focusing on the struggle of Black-Americans. If this is the case, then as you stated Dead Prez and practically all Nas joints are qualified to make this top 3 list along with several other Emcees.

If you break down what being an Emcee is all about, however then there are certain attributes that are always common in stringing together great verses. I rank the following attributes in the order of importance. I see that these are the overall umbrella qualities, if you think there are more, let me know.

1) Flow
2) Metaphors
3) Content

Based on this, I would have to say Biggies first verse on Victory is perhaps the illest verse of all time. It is not necessarily the best content and uplifting music, but based on flow, metaphors and the fact that he delivers such vivid imagery on the subject matter he chooses makes this verse unreal. (Note: This song is probably one of my favorite songs of all time as well.)

Its really hard to pick top verses, as it all depends on the subject matter I think. If I were to choose "gangsta lyrics" there would be a lot of Prodigy// Mobb Deep, Dre, NWA, Ice Cube etc. but if we were talking intellectual rap there would be a lot of Nas, Lupe, Common, Immortal Technique etc. Then there is the entire flow/ swagger side to verses which would g…

"every year millions of black and brown men and women get sent-up (many as repeat offenders) for petty crimes; a constant fuel for the growing prison industrial complex in this country. On second thought, I will hit you with the numbers. Based on 2001 statistics1 the lifetime chances of a person going to prison are higher for blacks (18.6%) and Hispanics (10%) than for whites (3.4%). Based on current rates of first incarceration2, an estimated 32% of black males will enter state or federal prison during their lifetime, compared to 17% of Hispanic males and 5.9% of white males. Meanwhile, black or African Americans made up only 12.3% of the population and Hispanics accounted for 12.5%. White Americans made up 69.1%."


stop committing crimes and you'll stop getting locked up... smh
the "real hip hop" haters are hilarious! I love real hip hop too but some of ya'll are fronter's and i don't think actually know what "real hip hop" is! you just know what you've heard people say is "real hip hop" and clearly can't make decisions on your own!! I say that because... KANYE IS REAL HIP HOP you idiots! Your "real hip hop" card doesn't get revoked just because you go platinum a few times...that just means that we should all stand up and applaud someone like kanye west who stayed true to what he believes in and STILL made it to the highest level possible! HIP HOP DX we need to do a feature based off of this comment and im sure you guys can go further in depth with it. These guys are killing the chances of "real good hip hop" having a chance to ever get the amount of ears the genre should get! think a little bit people...all of these artists that have never went gold that you are ranting and raving about if they were asked about kanye west they would say.....HE'S HIP HOP AND GREAT! for once in your life don't jump on things late....actually you already are but don't miss the train entirely....peace!

Hey.
Like last time I do like your dissecting approach to rap. I do think you should post your criteria for a good verse though. Personally I disagree with you on your two choices so far based on the following:
1. Rhymes. I don't think neither of the verses so far have impressed me with their rhyme schemes.

For Jay: He had a lot of weak rhymes (by that I mean in terms of assonance) like how he used the words: five, eyes, mine/rhyme, mom, McDonald's, Mac on you, Packin, me

For Kanye: He was worse on this matter, like rhyming crack on that? (I know it's normal nowadays, but it still sucks), and Benz and again.

Also you seem to value the fact that they cover many things in one verse. That's not necessarily a quality in my book. If they do it well, it can be. Jay just didn't do it to well. Sure he gave us an autobiography in a verse (which he's done many many times), but that's just not that impressive. I'd be more impressed if he could describe one thing so intensely that I'd be forced to think and feel it. (Kanye is a tad better there, but compared to "Dance with the Devil" - Immortal, "Dance" - Nas, "Daydreaming" - Lupe, "Picket Fence" - Brother Ali, "Dear Mama" - Tupac, perhaps himself on "Hey Mama", he's far from the best).

Last thing up is the depth of metaphors. Here I feel they both fail to deliver top quality goods. "Fried Chicken" is (to use a new example) far more intricate in its use of metaphors. You can find plenty that goes deep/deeper

-Nas- N.Y. State of Mind- Verse 1
-Nas- One Love- Verse 3
-Nas- Life's a Bitch- Verse 2
-Nas- Hero- Verse 3
-Nas- Street Dreams- Verse 1
-Nas- Get Down- Verse 1
-2Pac- Me Against the World- Verse 3
-2Pac- Ambitionz As a Ridah- Verse 1
-Common- Be Intro
-Eminem- Rock Bottom- Verse 1
-Eminem- Rabbit Run
-Eminem- The Real Slim Shady- Verse 1
-Eminem- Till I Collapse- Verse 1
-Jay Electronica- Eternal Sunshine- Verse 1
-J. Ivy- Never Let Me Down (Kanye West song)- Verse 3
-Kanye West- Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix)- Verse 1
-Lil Wayne- Tha Mobb
-Kenn Starr- Starr Status Intro
-Kenn Starr- Against the Grain- Verse 1
-Kenn Starr- If- Verse 1
-Kev Brown- If- Verse 2
-Talib Kweli- Going Hard- verse 1
-Talib Kweli- Hostile Gospel- Verse 1
-Talib Kweli- Say Something- Verse 1
-Tech N9ne- One Good Time- Verse 1
-Raekwon- Guillotine (Swordz)- All
-Mobb Deep- Shook Ones pt. II- All
-Lupe Fiasco- The Coolest- Verse 1
-Lupe Fiasco- Dumb it Down- Verse 1
-Lupe Fiasco- Gold Watch- Verse 1
-Lupe Fiasco- Put You On Game
-Rakim- I Aint No Joke- Verse 1
-Rakim- My Melody- All

Ay yo I'm skinned up, Nike's is scuffed
Still buggin' earlier around four how I escaped the bust
The way I fell cracked the face of my watch
My mans chantin' me on like "Run son! Don't go up in the spot"
Jettin' through bushes and backyards, neighbors is rattin' me out
Dogs is barkin' all you hear is the car's sirens
I'm tryin' to think and toss the iron
Bomb in my sweats got me runnin' funny, you think I'm lyin'
May God strike me if he don't like me, I'm tired and I'm out of breath
The weed got me paranoid, my heart's poundin' through my chest
Tryin' to focus up and make progress
That's what I get for slingin' in them projects
Next thing you know I'm in this bitch's crib chillin'
Told her my story and like this I had her legs in the ceiling
Cookin' me fried fish sticks, hot side of them biscuits
While she doin' this, the bitch still slidin' on lipstick
Now I got the fat stomach on, she crackin' a dutch
I'm playin' with her pussy on the couch, I'm ready to fuck
Like come here miss lady wop, where you put the condom box?
She finished off the last one, oh shit I hear the cops
Handcuffs and talkies, I mashed her white Yorkie
Jettin' up the stairs, them pigs want revenge like Porky's
So I slid, hid behind the wall, opened the door
Like ooo I seen my man Meth goin' in raw
So he jumped up balls out, I hid in the closet
I'm dyin' laughin', he said "Yo Starks be quiet!"

YOLANDAS HOUSE-GHOSTFACE KILLAH BITCH!

Nas 1st verse on Live At The Barbeque

Big L - Ebonics
IceCube - Straight Outta Compton
Chuck D - Black Steel in the hour of chaos
Snoop - Nuthin' But a G Thang

Anything within the last 5 years or so can't come close to the classic shit!

I made your life a living hell
With my infidelity
Remember your telling me
All I give a damn about
Is weed stems and melodies
Remember you
Spent 30 minutes in the hospital parking lot
Crying
When the blood test read
The baby of another woman was mine
99.99
You should've left
Along time ago like Mary J. say
Just let it go like Ray J.
Con't
I know your mamma heard
You yelling mayday
Spent my life trying to R-A to the P
You sick of me
Always bein' B to the R-O-K to the E
Now there's nothin'
Else left of me
I was a bum
But you still wanted some
Through the rain, snow and thunder
Foul ups , bleeps and blunders
But no man shall tear asunder
Is what you said
You should've put multi bullets
In my head
When you found that evil
Instinct was a song
Where the events actually went on
This is the letter
To my homie, my friend
Who put up with me for 8
So now to take me
Really quickly is my fate
I'm sorry
For making it hard
I know your scarred
I'm losing my mind
So now it's time
Sincerely sign
N9ne

Soulja Boy Off In This Hoe
Watch me Lean And Watch Me Rock?
Super Man Dat Hoe
Then Watch me Crank Dat Robocop?
Super Fresh, Now Watch Me Jock
Jocking On Them Haterz Man
When I Do Dat Soulja Boy
I Lean To The Left And Crank Dat Dance
(Now You)
I'm Jocking On Yo Bitch Ass
And If We Get The Fightin
Then I'm Cocking On Your Bitch
You Catch Me At Yo Local Party
Yes I Crank It Everyday
Haterz Get Mad Cause
"I Got Me some Bathing Apes"

It doesn't matter what u say, someone will always hate. All these people with there "naw fuck that, Kanye.." or "I think you're smoking..." and stupid shit.

Everyone has their own criteria for what makes a given verse great to them. What makes a verse special is what the listener can relate and attach to. I'm sure that some of these "illest verses" that other people list, people would dismiss and racist, ignorant, superficial, or fucking stupid.

Maybe some of you should be thinking what makes verses stand out in your head, and why you're so attached to them.

For me, I find poetic justice in Jay-Z "In my lifetime" remix. EVERYONE SHOULD HEAR THIS SONG!!In this song, through the 3 verses, Jay-Z talks about his conscious decision to walk the path of crime, the way the fame & fortune change his life, and the consequences, seen and unforseen, of his decision.

To me, this song is so important because I recall times in my life when I made the decision to "say goodbye to the straight & narrow" based on fucked up priorities. I know how certain decisions changed my life, and how there are always events that happen that I couldn't foresee. It's just powerfule how Jay, although through a totally different stream of events, is able to convey his story in a way that I can fully understand and relate to.

All of this damn arguing, when we should be recognizing the greatness in all of our emcees, Jay-Z, Blackthought, Andre 3000, and many others... these are our scholars,…

especially; Alive on Arrival
best storyteller ever-

Down @ da vet spot/ its me and JD /and they sellin mo birds than pet shot/ the spots hot/ and everybody nervous/ thats when the blue car served us/ oh why did fools have to let loose/ heard 6 pops from a duece duece/ Big Tom had to push us/ 13 niggas runnin str-8 2 the bushes/ for they gats so they can draw down/ but why a mofo like me had 2 fall down/ not knowin why i dropped out/ fuck it, still cant afford to get popped out/ so I gotta jet/ only ran 1 block but my shirt is soakin wet/ tryin 2 see if we got em/ looked down @ my sweatshirt's red @ the bottom/ didnt panic but I still looked cracked-out/ I yelled 2 my homies then I blacked-out.

Woke up in the back of a trey/ on my way/ to MLK/ thats the county hospital jack/ where niggas die ova a lil scratch/ sittin the trauma center/ In my back is where the bullet entered/ yo nurse i gettin kinda warm/ bitch still made me fill out the fuckin form/ coughin up blood on my hands and knees/ then heard Freeze
Nigga dont move

Yo,I didnt do a thing/ dont wanna go out like my man Rodney king/ still got gaff-led/ internal bleeding as the bullet starts to travel/ now im handcuffed/ being asked information/on my gang affiliation/I dont bang I write the good rhymes/ and Im a victim of neighborhood crimes/
skit
I need to see an M.D./and yall mofos givin me/ the 3rd degree/ look @ the waitin rm/ its filled 2 the brim/ like a county jail day rm/ nobody gettin help/ since w…

my favrite verses could change daily, so i commend this guy for picking some and backing them up. Great article.

I just read last months and I hve to say if I picked one from Jay-Z it would have been from D'Evils. The br for bar cause & effect format was just too clever yet simple...

D'Evil's (verse2)
We used to fight for building blocks
Now we fight for blocks with buildings that make a killing
The closest of friends when we first started
But grew apart as the money grew, and soon grew black-hearted
Thinkin back when we first learned to use rubbers
He never learned so in turn I'm kidnappin his baby's mother
My hand around her collar, feeding her cheese
She said the taste of dollars was shitty so I fed her fifties
About his whereabouts I wasn't convinced
So I kept feedin her money 'til her shit started to make sense
Who could ever foresee, we used to stay up all night at slumber parties
Now I'm tryin to rock this bitch to sleep
All the years we were real close
Now I see his fears through her tears
Know she's wishin we were still close
Don't cry, it is to be
In time, I'll take away your miseries and make 'em mine, D'Evils...

Yeah, K.West had a nice verse. Maybe that is top 3 to you. But for me, I'd have to submit the following by Mos Def off of this Black Star track called "Little Brother"
Yo

On the corner, units stormed out
Ghetto lookin bombed out
Police waited to roll, for those who walk the wrong route
Shorties goin all out, they got they swords drawn out
Ready to brawl out, gettin fought til they fall out
Black like Morehouse, 40 o'z is tossed out
For brothers that they mourn bout, get wrecked til it's dawn out
Whether they broke or flossed out, honeys pass they draws out
Lookin for a ticket out the poor-house
A jungle out here
Lions keep they claws out, fangs and jaws out
Weak just get forced out
Names is called out, ghetto-fame is sought out
You wanna be the man that they talk bout
I walked out
I had some things on my mind to sort out
I thought bout the wild circumstance we born out
Remember myself at your age, when I was just like you
If that was now, I don't know what I would do
My answer's? closest to me
So what I say to you is goin for me
Son we both still growin indeed
But where you at, I was, and where you been, I left
Utilize my experience to guide your step
Some people get love but don't command respect
It's somethin that you can't ride with a check
Over-rollin your lex or icy links that hang from your neck
If it's real, who need to deal with the special effects

I think that was a mean verse from kanye on all falls down it said alot about our people and culture and what we may think is important but really isnt I agree with that. The verse I love from Kanye isnt popular few people have heard it but it was when I really knew this dude was an official MC. The song is called Lets Try by Dwele featuring Kanye. I think its one of the most creative verses I ever heard.

Im gettin SPINS all day in L.A/
look we can go to the D where Dwele Dwell/
DC, P, G, or Atl/
back in the Chi me and my life like a MAGAZINE/
HONEY wana know the DETAIL about my EBONY/
well thats X X L/
as far as the PENTHOUSE yeah thats UPSCALE/
MADEMOISEL got a hell of a BLACKTALE/
Im feelin her VIBE her BODY and SOUL/
I heard you stay in a METROPOLITAN home/
Well lets kill all the pollyin/
I offer you a COSMOPOLITAN/
lets JET out the club gets some OXYGEN/
Your friends claim Im a PLAYER you'll be LUCKY to keep me/
But you know people gone be talkin bout USWEEKLY/
My car be in a ROB RE P O R T/
but what important to me/
is that you...

I listen to this for like two months not really realizing that the whole theme of his verse were magazines. Every word in all caps is a magazine and the titles fit with in the subject thats crazy thats creativity.