Rap Radar

What a week. If you missed it, below is the recap of our annual lists.

(more…)

Bandz will certainly make her dance, but it was Juicy J’s stripper anthem that kept the pussies poppin’ on a handstand. Embedded over Mike Will Made It’s hypnotic beat, Juicy J opens up the track and even welcomes the ratchet ones (“You say no to ratchet pussy, Juicy J can’t”). As a frequent customer at King of Diamonds, Tunechi even serenades Big Booty Judy (“What’s ya real name, and not your stripper name?”). But when it was all said and done spent, it was 2 Chainz energetic delivery that gets the standing ovation (“Pocket full of money, money! Young nigga getting head while the engine running”). Claps all around. Literally.

Previously: #10 Lupe Fiasco “Bitch Bad” l #9 E-40 Ft. YG, iamSu & Problem “Function” l #8 Future “Same Damn Time” l #7 Meek Mill x Drake “Amen” l #6 G.O.O.D. Music “Mercy” l #5 2 Chainz x Drake “No Lie” l #4 French Montana Ft. Rick Ross, Drake & Lil Wayne “Pop That” l #3 Nas “Daughters” l #2 Rick Ross Ft. Drake x French Montana “Stay Schemin“

Kurtis Blow wrote the hook. Nas flipped it. And French Montana sold it. It’s an undisputed fact that Rick Ross’ Rich Forever single set hip-hop 2012 off and even ignited a beef with Drake and Common. Y’all know how we feel about Drizzy’s performance but Frenchie’s verse was also noteable since folks struggled to comprehend his opening bars. Fanute? “From the hoopty coupe to the ghost dawg.” I ride for Rozay and producer Beat Bully’s smash. Salute!

Nas’ seed is a big girl now. And for his single “Daughters”, he reflects on his own child’s growth and development. Backed by No I.D.’s soul samples, Esco  evaluates his parenting skills with honesty (“Plus she’s seen me switching women, pops was on some pimp shit”), confusion (“One day she’s ya little princess, next day she talking boy business”) and even a lil’ regret (“I’m too loose, I’m too cool with her”). Carmen would disagree, but hey, father knows best.

French Montana isn’t the best rapper. But when grouped with others, the results can be promising. Such is the case with his single, “Pop That”. Propelled by Luke’s “I Wanna Rock” and a funky drum pattern, French and his affiliates update a rump shaking classic. If the sample wasn’t memorable enough, Weezy’s “Suck a nigga dick for some Trukfit” line probably was.

Truth be told, 2 Chainz made no mistake to push his duet with Drake as his debut’s lead single. Over Mike Will Made It’s smooth production, 2 Chainz keeps his boisterous tone, but slow walks through his unorthodox flow (“I take ya girl and kidnap her/Feed her to my mattress/A skeleton in my closet, it’s probably one of these dead ass rappers”). Champagne Papi’s guest verse may be the center of attention, but it’s his infectious hook that’s truly irresistible. No bullshittin’, this may very well be B.O.A.T.S.’ most favorable track. Sorry, Kanye.

These days, posse cuts may seem oversaturated and underwhelming, but Cruel Summer‘s lead single was the complete opposite. Over a chopped up hook and a Fuzzy Jones soundbwoy-sample, Yeezy’s collective individually delivered. Big Sean takes off from the starting line with his repetitive flow while the metaphors from Pusha T soon followed behind (“I’m red leather, I’m cocaine, I’m Rick James, ho”). As the Scarface theme music slowly creeps in, Kanye pulls up with his boastful raps. However, it’s 2 Chainz’ closing verse that’s the song’s true blessing (“I’m drunk and high at the same time, drinking champagne on the airplane”). Oh, mercy me. Now that’s the true champion sound.

Whether you’re religious or not, Meek Mill took folks to church with his Dreamchasers 2 mixtape cut turned Dreams & Nightmares single. Over Key Wane and Jahlil Beats’ organs, Meek not only praised the man above, but the wealth and the bottles and models he blessed him with. Even Drake catches the holy ghost with his impressive preach (“Talking bout those other rappers getting old is even getting old/Worrying ’bout your followers, you need to get your dollars up”). Rebuke that boycott.

All summer long, Future’s guilty pleasure tune from Pluto had everyone dancing or annoyed, at the same damn time. The Atlanta rapper’s cadence has its shine occasionally, but the song’s success derives from the infectious hook and the hard-hitting sounds from one of the A’s shining producers, Sonny Digital. Not only did it spawn a few renditions by the likes of many, but Luda and the guy who invented the remix got on board, “I say ooh, I think she like me cause I cop Maybachs like white-tees”, raps Diddy. So gaudy. So hood. At the same damn time.

The Bay experienced a bit of a resurgence last year courtesy of E-40′s “Function”. Featuring YG, Problem, and IamSu, a monotone bass liquidates 40 Water’s spit (“I’m tossing this sloppy, offa my broccoli, Bacardi/On fifty one out of my body, I’m about that green like wasabi”). I’m just sayin’ man, “Function” was the kind of event we all wanted to attend.