Rap Reviews

Ti esrever dna ti pilf nwod gnaht ym tup i. The first single from Missy Elliott's 2002 album Under Construction. The track has Missy throw shade at the mistreatment of artists in the music industry whilst flexing both her ability to rap and simultaneously  be a symbol for sex. Not only is this track remembered for it's reversed lyrics but also for popularising the term 'badonkadonk'. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A track released for the stoner comedy flick 'How High' that Meth and Red star in, 'Part II' is a merry affair not concerned with artistic pursuit, quite like the movie. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Poached? Soft boiled? Scrambled? Sunny side up? Over easy? This track by underground NYC MC kingpin Wiki, produced by Madlib, has little to do with eggs. Tune in as we attempt to poach and unscramble its meaning. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The humble N95. A class of a face mask that become an essential accessory since 2020. What metaphor is Kendrick attempting to draw here? Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe listening to this episode will help you form a thesis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We hop across the pond to East London and an MC that has been a part of the grime scene since the beginning. In this track, Ghetts and friends implore people not to fall victim to following blindly. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An OG of the Soundcloud Rap migrogenre, Playboi Carti's lyrics don't offer us the usual rich tapestry of lyrics to annotate. Tune in as we stumble through the mumble rap. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

T and Ye. The powerhouse collaborators need no intro. In this track off his newly released fourth album, Pusha T reflects on his current position in rap's hierarchy in a typically boastful but amusing fashion. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mr. Baklava comes under the microscope this week as we look at his petty breakup song 'Baby Blue'. Featuring a verse from none other than Chance the Rapper, the duo rap about the stage of a breakup marked by revenge and ill-wishes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is "that thing"? Is it sex? Is it power? Is it money? Is it an extraterrestrial entity from a 1982 John Carpenter film? Listen in and make up your own mind. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For our 50th episode, we decided to wind the clock back into hip hop's ancestral history and look at a much beloved track by one of the forefather's of MC'ing. If you want to know where rap's conscious messaging became more widely known, look no further than Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The dispenser of lyrical viagra, Lil Kim's style is no doubt an influence on modern hip hops themes of sexual liberation and promiscuity. We take a look at a track off her first album which talks all things quintessential 90's rap - murder, power, wealth, sex. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MC, actor, DJ, fool actor. Luda can do it all. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Big L was known for his freestyle ability and technical prowess. Sadly, he was taken from us too early and never reached the soaring heights of the hip hop world that his talent would have no doubt taken him. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Rap Reviews team comes back after a covid filled Christmas to look naughties hip hop juggernaught Lil Wayne aka Weezy. 6 foot 7 foot referring to the size of his prison cell in Rikers Island, this is the first single dropped by Weezy after his release from this notorious New York prison. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whilst not the most vocabulary dense of comparable rappers, the energy and style that DMX brought with his rhymes is what has earned him accolades during his life and what will be remembered. 'Party Up' is a diss track which is arguably pointed at an individual, but the majority of the Rap Reviews panel believes this is a broader diss of traits displayed by too many of X's peers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to gritty New York gangsta rap, it would be remiss not to mention this track, album and artist in shining examples of the genre and the geography. Shook Ones Pt. 2 paints the grim reality of life in Queensbridge and serves as a warning to anyone thinking of crossing Prodigy and Havoc. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To conclude our focus on Odd Future alumni, we go to one of the most beloved and enigmatic artists of the 2010's, Frank Ocean. In 'Pink Matter', Frank explores the early stages of acknowledging his sexuality and embracing it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Continuing on with our recent dive into the world of Odd Future, we look at another integral member of the collective - Syd. Whilst you might be more inclined to label her music as closer to R&B than hip hop, the themes she explores in 'All About Me' and the rest of her debut album Fin are ones that are universally seen in hip hop. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We make no attempt to hide what fanboys we are of Earl Sweatshirt. One of the most hyped rappers of the 2010's and rightly so. We look at 'Hive' off Earl's debut album which was recorded following his return to LA after being sent to boarding school in Samoa. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After 4 months in lockdown, we're back and hungry to talk all things rap. We return to the studio to examine a track by arguably the most influential alternative hip hop artist's of the 2010's. 'Massa' is off Tyler's most recent LP Call Me If You Get Lost and has him reflecting on his personal and artistic journey so far. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.