Based on highly-scientific research, our team of slang editorialists was able to compile the four most unpopular terms that have been nominated for dismissal. Now we face the difficult part – determining which ones to dead…and enforcing it!
Hall of Fame:
Dope
Wack
Ill
Fresh
Which Slang Term Should Be Removed From This Corner of The Internets?
Freestyle Professors feat. Stanley Grimes - ‘Luv U!’
Taken from the forthcoming Gryme Tyme LP, due early ’09. You might remember Grimes from back when he called himself Page The Hand Grenade and did ‘Check Me Out Baby Pah’ with Lord Finesse.
When Rick Rubin broke north of Def Jam and started a new label in 1988, it was initially titled ‘Def American’, but when he saw the word ‘def’ in the dictionary five years later he decided that it was now “against the anti-establishment image that he was trying to project for the company” and proceeded to hold a funeral for the word. Cheap publicity stunt? Sure, but Rick did have a point. There are a number of slang terms that have long outstayed their welcome in the rap world, and before Mary Hart from Entertainment Tonight starts throwing them around like ‘bling’ I think it’s best that they get respectfully laid to rest.
‘Boom Bap’ - When KRS-One introduced this into the lexicon back in ’93, it made a lot of sense. Now it’s just another cliche to be used and abused by clueless publicists and toy record reviewers.
‘Random Rap’ - I enjoy obscure Philly records from 1987 as much as anyone, but what the fuck is ‘random’ about any of it? Blame ebay.
‘Gully’ - I still kinda like this one, but Dallas Penn recently informed me that it’s been replaced by ‘Hardbody’ around his way, and who am I to argue?
‘Brolic’ - As above. Does anyone use this anymore?
‘Ill’ - I’m guilty of throwing this around on occasion, and if it’s a choice between keeping this or ‘dope’ it’s a no-brainer.
‘Fresh’ - No one has said ‘funky fresh’ for the last 20 years, but I guess it still has some use in describing lettuce.
‘John Blaze’ - Blame Method Man. Then blame the clothing line that hired him to hawk this shit.
‘Illmatic’ - I like how a few Queens rappers tried to act like this was an actual word for a minute.
‘Grown Folk Music’ / ‘Grown Man Rap’ - Fuckouttahere.
M.O.P. will be here forever, regardless of whether or not they ever release an ‘official’ album ever again. The Kings of Shout Rap continue to deliver on these five new/recent tracks, all of which are certified to make you wanna “bust shots like Chi-Ali”.
You first caught him on The War Report, but it was when Imam THUG teamed-up with Tragedy for the Iron Sheiks material that he really made rap fiends take notice. In the words of our British chums, dude is “straight bonkers”. The “Alluminati” joint in particular is some bugged-out slice of conspiracy-theory madness. combined with religious iconography and bizarre historical references – nothing less than mentalist brilliance. As Trag predicted, “1999 – numb refined/Internet Web control ya whole mind”…and who am I to argue?
Any self-respecting Bridge resident has been involved in at least one remake of MC Shan‘s anthem, right? Imam has done two! I’ve already discussed ‘The Bridge 08′, but the recreation of said landmark for the Y2k version is one of the all-time greatest tracks ever, as Marley adds some music from Scarface and brutal guitar stabs to proceedings. As for the infamous Tony Toca appearance, what more can be said than, “Where that Henny at? Where that weed at?”.
A couple of years ago Imam connected with the P Brothers for “Across The Planet”, and recently recorded a track with another Notts resident (and Unkut Dot Com regular) ED209 called “Karma 360″ (which is available as a limited-edition vinyl pressing here), proving that Queensbridge USA and Nottingham, England make for a good combination like whiskey with a beer chaser.
These two go back like “Taylors and Chinese mock-necks”, so hearing ‘em on a track is a great moment in the history of Tough Guy Rap. Taken from DJ RevolutionsKing Of The Decks LP.
DJ Revolution feat. Blaq Poet & Bumpy Knuckles - ‘Damage’
The original version of Pritt‘s “20 pounds to make a beat challenge” is available to watch on his site now. Filmed between 1999-2000, it features P Brothers, The Creators, The Nextmen, Unsung Heroes and Beyond There all embarking on beat digging on a strict budget. Once they’ve chosen their records, they hit the lab and make a track out of it. King of the Beats 2 should be available on DVD soon.
NAME:The Rap Bandit (Real name Peter Goldman, stage name Danny Ozark aka ‘The Aging Wigga’).
AFFILIATIONS: Grew up with The Source founder Jon Schecter in Philly. Part of the original Mind Squad at The Source magazine, where he also penned the ‘Media Watch’ section under the name Pistol Pete. Later moved the column to Vibe magazine.
CLAIM TO FAME: Pioneered the art of making fun of rappers. One of the rare columns to actually move from one magazine to another.
CURRENT STATUS: On the rise in the stand-up comedy scene in Philly, and also gaining notoriety through frequent guest appearances on the highly rated Kidd Chris Show on WYSP-FM. According to the host Michael Cerio, ‘I’ll be honest he is into some crazy shit. Drugs, gambling, gay sex, STDs, trannies, you name it. All that being said he remains the nicest guy on the planet. I worry for him a lot but I guess that’s what makes him Danny.’ Was involved in a bizarre panty raid on NBC10 investigative reporter Lu Ann Cahn in 2007.
Robbie: What was the inspiration to start The Rap Bandit? Were you already writing for The Source?
Danny: I was writing for The Source under the name ‘Pistol Pete’. I was doing the media watch and was actually one of the first writers they had. See I grew up with Jonathan Schecter – he was the co-founder and original editor-in-chief of The Source. Then he went to Harvard and they started The Source there, and I would just do little articles, ‘cos I’m a writer too – I’ve written for the Phildalphia Enquirer and a bunch of different magazines. At the time we started it, hip-hop was semi…not in it’s infancy, but I think the Rap Bandit column debuted in ’92, and let’s say rap – for general purposes – didn’t really become known until ’81, ’82, and then sorta picked-up steam the great summer of ’88. A lot of times when something like that starts, the principals – all the rappers and all that stuff – they’re just revered, so The Source was good because it wasn’t just those cheesy rap magazines that were out anymore. From that, then you want to get into humor, so we started the Rap Bandit column and it was a really cool way to make fun of rappers because the reality at the time was…like ’92, I’m 26…in real life I was just a typical nerdy Jewish guy, and my real name’s Peter Goldman. As Peter Goldman, you’re not really gonna be able to make fun of rappers and be taken seriously… (more…)
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