Thanks to the magic of Old Mouf Rap Twitter I was able to recall ten examples of rapping over mouth organs. Nullus.
Three Times Dope – ‘Straight Up’
EST should be mentioned in all discussions about great rappers. Also, Chuck Nice > J. Dilla.
Geto Boys – ‘Life in the Fast Lane’
The day that Houston rappers stopped kicking rhymes over harmonicas is the day I stopped listening to them (with the obvious exception of Devin The Dude).
MF Grimm – ‘‘Words’
Heavy Stevie vibes on this one but not an actual Wonder flip.
Poor Righteous Teachers – ‘Rock Dis Funky Joint’
That time that the late Tony D claimed that Naughty By Nature bit his Jackson 5 loop.
Arrested Development – ‘Mama’s Always On Stage’
The only decent thing these hacks ever did outside of that Showbiz remix.
DJ Yoda feat. Jungle Brothers – ‘Afrika’
I don’t think I’ve heard someone say ‘crap’ in a rap in decades.
Nas – ‘Bridging the Gap’
Trust ol’ mate to rap over the most obvious blues harp loop imaginable. No wait, blame Salaam.
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo – ‘Trilogy of Terror’
The greatest rapper of all time rapping over the best harmonica loop ever.
Bubba Sparxxx – ‘Jimmy Mathis’
Isn’t this the dude who wrestled a pig in his first video? Thanks for nothing Timberland, you just bit Marley (who possible bit Mantronik).
Mantronix – ‘Listen to the Bass of Get Stupid Fresh Part 2’
Did MC Tee quit rap to join the airforce after reading Robert Christgau’s review of the album in the Voice?
Bonus: Doug E Fresh takes a break from auditing his engrams to beat box with his trusty harmonica on stage.
I see all your picks and raise you:
2Pac “So many tears”
Smellington Piff “Rap Junkies”
Count Bass D “Seem phoney”
The Aspects “The way she speaks”
cypress hill “ain’t goin out like that”
The funniest thing is so many of the famous harmonica raps are all sampling the same record: Kool G Rap, Mantronix, Kings of Swing, Bubba Sparxx (which I just heard for the first time here), Sway & Tech, T Isaam & Magic Mike… I don’t know what it is, but it’s all the same source.
Here’s two more
Cappadonna & Raekwon “Dart throwing” (it’s clearly a keyboard “harmonica” patch but that still counts)
Kid Frost “ya Estuvo”
@werner von wallenrod: the harmonica sample is borrowed from an old track by a country group named area code 615 … I can’t remember the track title, and I’m too lazy to locate the album since my record collection is not really organized…
Spearhead “Positive”
You missed the greatest harmonica rap of all time:
De La Soul – “Potholes in My Lawn”
Prince Paul hooked up Lee Oskar & WAR’s “Magic Mountain” lovely.
Yeah the G Rap/Mantronix etc loop is this one: ‘Stone Fox Chase’
@ab: Can’t believe I forgot that one. For shame.
Cracking post, back in form Robbie…
I’m originally from Philly, but Chuck Nice over Dilla is blasphemous…3XD are great though…and no shade, but where did Doug E. Fresh get enough dough to be a Scientologist??
Young MC’s “Non Stop” was the first Rap song to use that harmonica sample from Black Sabbath’s “The Wizard”.
OutKast’s “Rosa Parks” and D12’s “Purple Pills” both have harmonica solos.
Husalah’s “Talk It Out” makes good use of a very wistful harmonica sample from The Carpenters’ “Rainy Days & Mondays”.
Howlin’ Wolf has loadsa ill harmonica that’s ripe for sampling, but his music is damn near untouched by Rap producers.
“auditing his engrams” Hahahahaaa!
Isn’t Scientology illegal in Australia?
@TM: I knew I was forgetting something…Young MC be damned.
Mo Thugs – “Ghetto Cowboy”
@Foster Garvin III: Nah, they’re still doing their thing down here.
LeJuan Love “Everybody Say Yeah”, on Skywalker records circa 87/88
Here’s three more for yous:
Professor X “What’s up G?” https://youtu.be/6yCyoKwzyQ0
Atmosphere “Give me” https://youtu.be/mIPfGA74Hfc
Drake “Doin it wrong” https://youtu.be/RfiSW3jfJhA
Slick Rick – “Samson”