The Rap Year Book: The Most Important Rap Song from Every Year Since 1979, Discussed, Debated, and Deconstructed

by Serrano, Shea

  And, of course, thank you to my wife, Larami, who is smarter than me and more caring than me and more attractive than me and just better than me in basically every way. Thank you for the boys you’ve given me, the life you’ve made for me, the way you’re always deeply thoughtful and endlessly charming, the way you have supported and stood by me through all of my terrible decisions and half-baked ideas. Remember when I was going to be a professional skateboarder? Remember when I dyed the tips of my hair blond? Remember when I watched that David Blaine special and started practicing street magic? Fucking street magic. And you didn’t miss a step. You were like, “That sounds like a really good idea. I can film you.” Oh, man. I love you so much. You are fascinating and perfect. I love you so much.

  Works Cited

  FOREWORD

  4 Schoolly D. “P.S.K. (What Does It Mean).” Schoolly-D. Schoolly-D Records SD-114, album, 1985.

  4 Colors. Directed by Dennis Hopper. Orion Pictures, 1988.

  5 Public Enemy. “Fight the Power” video. Directed by Spike Lee, 1989.

  1979

  10 The Sugarhill Gang. “Rapper’s Delight.” Sugar Hill Records SH-542-A, single, 1979.

  12 David Menconi. “The Riff That Lifted Rap.” (Includes Chip Shearin quoting Sylvia Robinson.) Originally published in News & Observer, March 14, 2010. Reprinted on PopMatters.com, April 10, 2010. http://www.popmatters.com/article/123756-chip-shearin-and-the-bass-riff-that-lifted-rap.

  12 Dancing in the Street: Planet Rock. (Includes Fab Five Freddy interview.) BBC TV documentary series, season 1, episode 10. Directed by Don Letts. Originally aired in 1995.

  13 Dancing in the Street: Planet Rock. (Includes Melle Mel interview.)

  15 Paulette and Tanya Winley. “Rhymin’ and Rappin’.” Paul Winley Records 12X45-5A, single, 1979.

  1980

  16 Kurtis Blow. “The Breaks.” Mercury MDS-4010, single, 1980.

  18 Russell Simmons. Life and Def: Sex, Drugs, Money, and God (New York: Crown Publishers, 2001; New York: Three Rivers Press, 2002), 59. Citation refers to the Three Rivers Press edition.

  20 Kool Moe Dee. There’s a God on the Mic: The True 50 Greatest MCs (New York: Thunder’s Mouth Press, 2003), 117–18.

  20 Afrika Bambaataa and Cosmic Force. “Zulu Nation Throwdown.” Paul Winley Records 12X33-8A, single, 1980.

  20 Afrika Bambaataa and Soul Sonic Force. “Zulu Nation Throwdown,” Volume #2. Paul Winley Records 12X33-9A, single, 1982.

  20 David Toop. Rap Attack: African Rap to Global Hip Hop, third ed. (Boston: South End Press, 1985; London: Serpent’s Tail, 2000), 99, 115. Citations refer to the Serpent’s Tail edition.

  1981

  22 Afrika Bambaataa and the Jazzy Five. “Jazzy Sensation (Bronx Version).” Tommy Boy Records 8122-74777-1A, single, 1981.

  22 Afrika Bambaataa and the Jazzy Five. “Jazzy Sensation (Manhattan Version).” Tommy Boy Records 8122-74777-1B, single, 1981.

  26 Nelson George. Hip Hop America (New York: Viking, 1998; New York: Penguin, 2005), 18. Citation refers to the Penguin edition.

  27 Funky 4 + 1. “That’s the Joint.” Sugar Hill Records SH-554-A, single, 1980.

  27 “Deborah Harry Invited the Funky 4 + 1 on to SNL for the First Televised Rap Performance.” (Includes Chris Stein interview.) Wax Poetics, January 6, 2015. http://www.waxpoetics.com/music/videos/deborah-harry-invited-funky-4-1-snl-first-televised-rap-performance.

  1982

  28 Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. “The Message.” The Message. Sugar Hill Records SH 268, album, 1982.

  29 John Leland. “Armageddon in Effect.” Spin 4, no. 6 (September 1988): 48.

  30 Brother D and the Collective Effort. “How We Gonna Make the Black Nation Rise?” Clappers CL-12-0001-A, single, 1980.

  33 Melle Mel. Interviewed by the 21st Century, backstage at Capone’s Production’s “The Legends of Hip Hop.” Paradise Theater, Bronx, New York, May 14, 2011. SnS Productions. Video uploaded on YouTube by MainsWorld365.com, June 15, 2011. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISByDZiXCdo.

  33 Busy Bee. “Making Cash Money.” Sugar Hill Records SH 591 A, single, 1982.

  1983

  34 Run-DMC. “Sucker M.C.’s. (Krush-Groove 1).” Profile 7019A, single, 1983.

  38 Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel. “White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It).” Sugar Hill Records SHPX 130, single, 1983.

  1984

  40 Whodini. “Friends.” Jive 1-9227, extended play, 1984.

  41 Harry Weinger. “Whodini Makes ‘Friends’ at Radio, Retail.” Billboard 95, no. 46 (December 1, 1984): 61.

  42 Weinger. “Whodini Makes ‘Friends’ at Radio, Retail.” Billboard, 60.

  42 Beat Street. Directed by Stan Lathan. Orion Pictures, 1984.

  42 Jean-Claude Van Damme. Breakin’. Directed by Joel Silberg. MGM, 1984.

  43 Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo. Directed by Sam Firstenberg. TriStar Pictures, 1984.

  43 Tupac, featuring Danny Boy. “I Ain’t Mad at Cha.” Death Row Records DRW 5-A, single, 1996.

  43 Biz Markie. “Just a Friend.” Warner Bros. Records 7-22784-A, single, 1989.

  43 Sharknado. Directed by Anthony C. Ferrante. Southward Films, 2013.

  43 Sharknado 2: The Second One. Directed by Anthony C. Ferrante. The Asylum, 2014.

  43 Master P, featuring Pimp C and Silkk the Shocker. “I Miss My Homies.” No Limit Records PVL 53290, single, 1997.

  43 Young Jeezy. “Talk to ’Em.” Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101. Def Jam Recordings B0004421-02, album, 2005.

  44 DMX, featuring Magic and Val. “A’Yo Kato.” Grand Champ. Def Jam Recordings Def 15920-1, album, 2003.

  44 50 Cent and Olivia. “Best Friend.” Music from and Inspired by Get Rich or Die Tryin’ The Motion Picture. G Unit/Interscope Records 0602498866030, album, 2005.

  44 U.T.F.O. “Roxanne, Roxanne.” Select Records FMS 62254, single, 1984.

  44 Roxanne Shanté. “Roxanne’s Revenge.” Pop Art Records PA-1406, single, 1984.

  44 Ralph Rolle. “Roxanne’s a Man (The Untold Story).” Streetwise Records SW-2239A, single, 1985.

  1985

  46 Doug E. Fresh and M.C. Ricky D [Slick Rick]. “La Di Da Di.” Reality Records D-242, single, 1985.

  50 Run-DMC. “King of Rock.” Profile Records Pro 764-A, single, 1985.

  1986

  52 Ice-T. “6 in the Mornin’.” Rhyme Pays. Techno Hop Records THR-13, album, 1986.

  53 Robert Duvall and Sean Penn. Colors. Directed by Dennis Hopper. Screenplay by Michael Schiffer. Orion Pictures, 1988.

  53 Ice-T and Douglas Century. Ice: A Memoir of Gangster Life and Redemption—from South Central to Hollywood (New York: One World Books, 2012), 90.

  54 Ice-T and Douglas Century. Ice, 104.

  55 Ice-T on the Congressional Black Caucus. The Arsenio Hall Show, episode 172. Originally aired June 14, 1990.

  55 Ice-T interview. Behind the Music: Ice-T, season 4, episode 4. VH-1, originally aired August 27, 2000.

  56 Ice-T. The Arsenio Hall Show, 1990.

  56 Run-DMC. “Walk This Way.” Profile Records PRO-7112A, single, 1986.

  1987

  58 Eric B. and Rakim. “Paid in Full.” Paid in Full. 4th & B’way BWAY-4005, album, 1987.

  60 Donald Glover. “Best Time to Be Alive.” Weirdo. Comedy Central TV special. Directed by Shannon Hartman. Originally aired November 19, 2011.

  61 Chairman Mao. “The Microphone God.” Vibe 5, no. 10 (December 1997/January 1998): 134.

  61 “Five-Percent Nation.” Wikipedia. Last modified May 2, 2015. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five-Percent_Nation.

  62 Eric B. and Rakim. “My Melody.” Paid in Full, 1987.

  62 Mao. “The Microphone God.” Vibe, 135.

  62 Boogie Down Productions. “9mm Goes Bang.” Criminal Minded. B Boy Records BB 4787 JBM, album, 1987.

  1988

  64 N.W.A. “Straight Outta Compton.” Straight Outta Compton. Ruthless Records SL-57102, album, 1988.

  65 “Hip-Hop�
��s Greatest Year: Fifteen Albums That Made Rap Explode.” Rolling Stone, February 12, 2008. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/hip-hops-greatest-year-fifteen-albums-that-made-rap-explode-20080212.

  67 Ice-T on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Originally aired March 17, 1990.

  68 Slick Rick. “Children’s Story.” Def Jam Recordings 44 68223, single, 1988.

  1989

  70 Public Enemy. “Fight the Power.” Motown MOT-1972, single, 1989.

  72 “Up from the Underground.” The History of Rock ’n’ Roll, vol. 10. (Includes Chuck D interview.) Time-Life Videos/Warner Bros. Entertainment B0002234XQ, 5-DVD box set, 2006. Originally released on VHS, March 21, 1995.

  72 Samuel G. Freedman. “New York Race Tension Is Rising Despite Gains.” New York Times, March 20, 1987. http://www.nytimes.com/1987/03/29/nyregion/new-york-race-tension-is-rising-despite-gains.html?page-wanted=1.

  75 Chuck Klosterman. I Wear the Black Hat. (Includes Ice Cube quote.) (2013; New York: Scribner, 2014), 105. Citation refers to the 2014 edition.

  75 Tone Loc. “Wild Thing.” LMc-ed After Dark. Delicious Vinyl DV3000, album, 1989.

  1990

  76 A Tribe Called Quest. “Bonita Applebum.” People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm. Jive ZL74548, album, 1990.

  81 Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest. Directed by Michael Rapaport. Rival Pictures, 2011.

  81 LL Cool J. “Around the Way Girl.” Def Jam Recordings 44 73610, single, 1990.

  1991

  82 Geto Boys. “Mind Playing Tricks on Me.” We Can’t Be Stopped. Rap-A-Lot Records SL 57161, album, 1991.

  83 Jon Pareles. “Distributor Withdraws Rap Album Over Lyrics.” (Includes Bryn Bridenthal interview.) New York Times, August 28, 1990. http://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/28/arts/distributor-withdraws-rap-album-over-lyrics.html.

  85 Isaac Hayes. Three Tough Guys. Directed by Duccio Tessari. Paramount, 1974.

  86 Bushwick Bill. Interviewed by Billy Jam. Put the Needle on the Record. KUSF, San Francisco, 1991. Uploaded on YouTube, October 26, 2012. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LaX9ijjRKY.

  86 Bushwick Bill interview. The Howard Stern Radio Show. Originally aired April 24, 1999.

  86 Kmurphy. “Full Clip: Scarface Breaks Down Geto Boys & Solo Catalogue.” Vibe, August 6, 2010. http://www.vibe.com/2010/08/full-clip-scarface-pg-2.

  86 A Tribe Called Quest. “Check the Rhime.” The Low End Theory. Jive 1418-2-J, album, 1991.

  1992

  88 Dr. Dre, featuring Snoop Dogg. “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang.” The Chronic. Death Row Records/Interscope PI 57128, album, 1992.

  90 Rhyme & Reason. (Includes Dr. Dre interview.) Directed by Peter Spirer. Asian Productions/City Block Productions, 1997.91 Beastie Boys. “So What’cha Want.” Check Your Head. Grand Royal/Capitol CDP 7 98938-2, album, 1992.

  92 Beastie Boys. “So What’cha Want.” Check Your Head. Grand Royal/Capitol CDP 7 98938-2, album, 1992.

  1993

  94 Wu-Tang Clan. “C.R.E.A.M.” Enter the Wu-Tang Clan (36 Chambers). Loud Records/RCA 07863 66336-1, album, 1993.

  95 Brandon Perkins. “Wu-Tang: Widdling Down Infinity.” URB magazine (July/August 2007). Reprinted in Best Music Writing 2008, ed. Nelson George, Daphne Carr (Boston: Da Capo Press, 2008), 62–63.

  98 The RZA and Chris Norris. The Wu-Tang Manual (New York: Riverhead Freestyle, 2005), 76.

  98 “Ol’ Dirty Bastard Gets Paid.” MTV, originally aired March 30, 1995. Text quoted in Kathy Gilsinan, “Wu-Tang Forever: Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s Role in American Welfare Reform,” with video post. Atlantic, November 13, 2014. http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/11/wu-tang-forever-ol-dirty-bastards-role-in-american-welfare-reform/382679.

  98 “Ol’ Dirty Bastard Gets Paid,” MTV. Video posted in Gilsinan.

  99 The Pharcyde. “Passin’ Me By.” Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde. Delicious Vinyl 14221-1, album, 1992.

  1994

  100 The Notorious B.I.G. “Juicy.” Ready to Die. Bad Boy Entertainment/Arista Records 78612-73000-2, album, 1994.

  105 Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. “Thuggish Ruggish Bone.” Ruthless Records 88561-5527-1, single, 1994.

  1995

  106 Tupac. “Dear Mama.” Me Against the World. Interscope Records IND 92339, album, 1995.

  107 Juice. Directed by Ernest R. Dickerson. Island World, 1992.

  108 Billy Garland interview. “True Blood: Billy Garland, Tupac’s Father, Speaks [Feature from the Sept. 2011 Issue].” XXL, September 10, 2012. http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2012/09/true-blood-billy-garland-tupacs-father-speaks-excerpt-from-the-sept-2011-issue.

  108 Michael Eric Dyson. Holler If You Hear Me: Searching for Tupac Shakur (orig: 2001; New York: Basic Civitas Books, 2006), 41.

  108 Tupac interview. Bill Bellamy. MTV, 1996. As uploaded on YouTube, “MTV Interview 1996: Tupac Shakur & Dr. Dre,” April 30, 2012. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmnZfBtf-G8.

  110 Tupac: Resurrection. Directed by Lauren Lazin. Amiru Entertainment/MTV Films, 2003.

  110 Mobb Deep. “Shook Ones Pt. II.” The Infamous. Loud Records/RCA 07863 66480-1, album, 1995.

  1996

  112 Tupac, featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman. “California Love.” All Eyez on Me. Death Row Records/Interscope 314-524 204-2 (524 205-2), album, 1996.

  115 Tim Sanchez. “The Story of How Tupac Appeared on ‘California Love.’” (Includes Chris Taylor interview.) LA Weekly, August 22, 2014. http://www.laweekly.com/music/the-story-of-how-tupac-appeared-on-california-love-4996082.

  115 “Music News: Suge Knight on the Origins of Tupac’s ‘California Love.’” BET.com, video, season 2014 (April 17, 2014). http://www.bet.com/video/musicnews/2014/suge-knight-on-the-origins-of-tupac-s-california-love.html.

  116 Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. “Tha Crossroads.” Ruthless Records 663195 2, single, 1996.

  1997

  118 Puff Daddy, featuring Mase. “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down.” Bad Boy Entertainment BBDP-9081, single, 1996.

  123 Missy Elliott, featuring Timbaland. “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly).” Supa Dupa Fly. East West Records 62062-1, album, 1997.

  1998

  124 DMX. “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem.” It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot. Def Jam Recordings Def 224-1, album, 1998.

  125 Ralph Basui Watkins. Hip-Hop Redemption: Finding God in the Rhythm and the Rhyme, Engaging Culture series (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2011), 84.

  126 DMX and Smokey D. Fontaine. E.A.R.L.: The Autobiography of DMX (2002; New York: HarperEntertainment, 2003), 56. Citations refer to the 2003 edition.

  127 Behind the Music: DMX. (Includes Lyor Cohen interview.) VH-1. Originally aired June 7, 2010.

  127 DMX interview on MTV Diary, 1999. Uploaded on YouTube, December 21, 2012. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyKXX8ptjTM.

  127 Behind the Music: DMX. (Includes DMX interview.)

  129 Juvenile. “Ha.” Cash Money Records/Universal Records U8P 1326, single, 1998.

  1999

  130 Eminem. “My Name Is.” The Slim Shady LP. Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope Records D128121/INTD-90287, album, 1999.

  131 Ice-T. The Oprah Winfrey Show, 1990.

  133: Real Stories: Eminem. (Includes Carson Daly interview.) Channel 4 music documentary, series 3, episode 1. Hosted by Dave Berry. Originally aired in December 2011.

  133 Bobbito Garcia. “Bobbito’s Sound Check: Bobbito Garcia Plays the Tracks; Q-Tip States the Facts.” Vibe 2, no. 6 (August 1994), 122.

  133 Labi Siffre. “I Got the (Blues).” Originally released 1975. Reissued on Shaolin Soul, Episode 2. Delabel/Hostile Records 7243 8488172 6, France, album, 2001.

  134 JT Money. “Who Dat.” Priority Records PVL 53472, single, 1999.

  2000

  136 Jay Z, featuring UGK. “Big Pimpin’.” RocA-Fella Records DEFR 15069-1, single, 2000.

  137 Jay Z. Decoded (2010; New York: Spiegel & Grau, 2011), 112, 113. Citations regard the 2011 edition.

  137 Jay Z. Decoded, 113.

  140 Roni Sar
ig. Third Coast: OutKast, Timbaland, & How Hip-Hop Became a Southern Thing. (Includes Pimp C interview.) (Boston: Da Capo Press, 2007), 58.

  140 Jake Rohn. “Bun B: Doing ‘Big Pimpin’’ Was the Best Decision We Ever Made.” BET.com, October 1, 2014. http://www.bet.com/news/music/2014/10/01/bun-b-doing-big-pimpin-was-the-best-decision-we-ever-made.html.

  140 Outkast. “So Fresh, So Clean.” LaFace Records LFDP 4543, single, 2000.

  2001

  142 Jay Z. “Takeover.” The Blueprint. Roc-AFella Records 314 586 396-2, album, 2001.

  142 Nas. “Ether.” Stillmatic. Columbia C2 85736, album, 2001.

  145 Nas. “We Will Survive.” I Am . . . Columbia C2 68773, album, 1999.

  146 Memphis Bleek, featuring Jay Z. “My Mind Right (Remix).” The Understanding. Roc-A-Fella Records 314 542 587-2, album, 2000.

  146 DJ Clue, featuring Nas. “Eye 4 an Eye (Freestyle).” Recorded 2000. Featured on Best of Clue: The Freestyles Part Two. BQE Recordings, digital album, 2009.

  146 Nas. “Stillmatic (Freestyle).” No label (ZZ series) ZZ-031, single, 2001.

  148 Jay Z, featuring Eminem. “Renegade.” The Blueprint, 2001.

  2002

  150 The Clipse. “Grindin’.” Arista 07822-15078-1, single, 2002.

  151 The Wire, TV show. Created by David Simon. HBO, aired June 2, 2002–March 9, 2008.

  151 Omar Little quote. “Lessons.” The Wire, season 1, episode 8. Directed by Gloria Muzio. Teleplay by David Simon. HBO, originally aired July 28, 2002.

  152 Stringer Bell quote. “Time After Time.” The Wire, season 3, episode 1. Directed by Ed Bianchi. Teleplay by David Simon. HBO, originally aired September 19, 2004.

  152 Avon Barksdale quote. “Homecoming.” The Wire, season 3, episode 6. Directed by Leslie Libman. Teleplay by Rafael Alvarez. HBO, originally aired October 31, 2004.

  152 Cutty quote. “Hamsterdam.” The Wire, season 3, episode 4. Directed by Ernest Dickerson. Teleplay by George Pelecanos. HBO, originally aired October 10, 2004.