Rock This Way
May 20, 2011 2:24 PM Subscribe
Rock and Rap has had a sometimes fun, sometimes interesting, sometimes possibly regrettable relationship over the years. Artists like Kid Cudi and Lupe Fiasco continue to blur the line by releasing post-punk/electroclash/whatever style music (complete with fake British accent), learning to play the guitar, and announcing that rap is boring.
Official Japenese Cartoon site with e-mail registration required
Some classic rap/rock:
In the beginning…Blondie and Run DMC
The most controversial song ever…? Cop Killer
The King of rap/rock… General Patton vs. The Executioners
An entire album…Judgement Night
Official Japenese Cartoon site with e-mail registration required
Some classic rap/rock:
In the beginning…Blondie and Run DMC
The most controversial song ever…? Cop Killer
The King of rap/rock… General Patton vs. The Executioners
An entire album…Judgement Night
Goddammit, "Cop Killer"'is not a rap song. There is no rapping in that song. It's a rock song, a hard rock song. Period. That the guy who sings it is a rapper is irrelevant. Fucking Elvis Costello doing a Carter Family cover isn't considered "New Wave Country"! Why is "Cop Killer" considered "rap rock"?
GRAR GRAR GRAR
posted by BitterOldPunk at 2:32 PM on May 20, 2011 [13 favorites]
GRAR GRAR GRAR
posted by BitterOldPunk at 2:32 PM on May 20, 2011 [13 favorites]
Boo-Yaa Tribe are awesome. That's all.
posted by Sticherbeast at 2:39 PM on May 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Sticherbeast at 2:39 PM on May 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
Also, I got your rap-rock-metal-ambient-prog-jazz-fusion right here.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 2:42 PM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by BitterOldPunk at 2:42 PM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Does Ratamahatta by Sepultura count as rap-rock?
posted by Sticherbeast at 2:46 PM on May 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Sticherbeast at 2:46 PM on May 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
Someone has to say it, so it may as well be me: "Rapture" is goddamn awful. Frankly (and I know I'm probably in a minority position here but,) Blondie's legacy is vastly overrated. Yet Rapture has to be right at the low of Harry's career.
posted by Ufez Jones at 2:48 PM on May 20, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Ufez Jones at 2:48 PM on May 20, 2011 [3 favorites]
The Teenage Fanclub/De La Soul collaboration on Judgment Night is awesome.
posted by dortmunder at 2:56 PM on May 20, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by dortmunder at 2:56 PM on May 20, 2011 [5 favorites]
..and yet you forgot the transcendent moment of magic that is the Anthrax/Public Enemy co-performance of "Bring The Noise".
posted by mephron at 2:58 PM on May 20, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by mephron at 2:58 PM on May 20, 2011 [4 favorites]
Yeah, not to pile on, but I can't stand "Rapture" either. On the positive side, my favorite rap-rock fusion band is The Knux, who (finally) make it sound like the most natural thing in the world.
posted by furiousthought at 2:59 PM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by furiousthought at 2:59 PM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
The Barenaked Ladies covering Fight the Power? Rap, rock or the horrible miscegenated child of neither?
posted by GuyZero at 2:59 PM on May 20, 2011
posted by GuyZero at 2:59 PM on May 20, 2011
Judgement Night is such a great soundtrack and so much better than the movie.
posted by lumpenprole at 3:01 PM on May 20, 2011
posted by lumpenprole at 3:01 PM on May 20, 2011
First of all I'm not sure why you picked Fight For Your Right when the perfect example of a rock/rap crossover from The Beastie Boys was No Sleep Till Brooklyn using the riff from T.N.T. Especially since Fight For Your Right was a total parody.
Secondly, it's a crime that a post about about rap/rock crossovers didn't include the ever classic Walk This Way.
posted by Talez at 3:03 PM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Secondly, it's a crime that a post about about rap/rock crossovers didn't include the ever classic Walk This Way.
posted by Talez at 3:03 PM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Plus you forgot: Pop Will Eat Itself. The grandpas of trying to make a band out of the mix.
posted by lumpenprole at 3:04 PM on May 20, 2011
posted by lumpenprole at 3:04 PM on May 20, 2011
Pop Will Eat Itself was not only an incredible group unto itself, but it was the first appearance of film composer Clint Mansell.
posted by Sticherbeast at 3:06 PM on May 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Sticherbeast at 3:06 PM on May 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
Oh and The Beach Boys teaming up with The Fat Boys for the terrible Wipeout on the terrible Still Cruisin' album which was basically dreck to fill out an album for Kokomo.
posted by Talez at 3:06 PM on May 20, 2011
posted by Talez at 3:06 PM on May 20, 2011
The Clash's the Magnificent 7 is worth a mention.
posted by jeffen at 3:07 PM on May 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by jeffen at 3:07 PM on May 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
I always loved the build-up in this. What a pay-off. (Beware the homemade video). Goodness is from 2:51.
posted by neuromodulator at 3:20 PM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by neuromodulator at 3:20 PM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
First of all I'm not sure why you picked Fight For Your Right when the perfect example of a rock/rap crossover from The Beastie Boys was No Sleep Till Brooklyn using the riff from T.N.T. Especially since Fight For Your Right was a total parody.
Secondly, it's a crime that a post about about rap/rock crossovers didn't include the ever classic Walk This Way.
posted by Talez at 5:03 PM on May 20
B) Walk This Way was included in the more inside part of the post
A) As much as I kind of dislike the guy, Rick Rubin gets more credit for No Sleep (and Licensed to Ill as a whole) than the Beasties do. Reason #12 I like to think they didn't really begin to find their voice until Paul's Boutique (and yes, credit to the Dust Bros. is due there).
posted by Ufez Jones at 3:33 PM on May 20, 2011
Secondly, it's a crime that a post about about rap/rock crossovers didn't include the ever classic Walk This Way.
posted by Talez at 5:03 PM on May 20
B) Walk This Way was included in the more inside part of the post
A) As much as I kind of dislike the guy, Rick Rubin gets more credit for No Sleep (and Licensed to Ill as a whole) than the Beasties do. Reason #12 I like to think they didn't really begin to find their voice until Paul's Boutique (and yes, credit to the Dust Bros. is due there).
posted by Ufez Jones at 3:33 PM on May 20, 2011
..and yet you forgot the transcendent moment of magic that is the Anthrax/Public Enemy co-performance of "Bring The Noise".
I was just coming to make this comment as well; RUN DMC and Aerosmith certainly cast the mold, but I really think that it was Anthrax and Public Enemy, each with their well established fan bases that created the true crossover moment. Prior to that song I was pretty much living in a world of rock, metal, and industrial, and suddenly there was Chuck D telling me shit I needed to hear.
It was transformative.
(it should also be noted that prior to Bring the Noise, Anthrax did some weird rap experimentations with songs like I'm the Man, which laid the groundwork for their fans to accept that "this Rap thing can be kind of fun, you know?")
posted by quin at 3:46 PM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
I was just coming to make this comment as well; RUN DMC and Aerosmith certainly cast the mold, but I really think that it was Anthrax and Public Enemy, each with their well established fan bases that created the true crossover moment. Prior to that song I was pretty much living in a world of rock, metal, and industrial, and suddenly there was Chuck D telling me shit I needed to hear.
It was transformative.
(it should also be noted that prior to Bring the Noise, Anthrax did some weird rap experimentations with songs like I'm the Man, which laid the groundwork for their fans to accept that "this Rap thing can be kind of fun, you know?")
posted by quin at 3:46 PM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Also, Mike Patton dropped "Get up, Punk" (for which someone has apparently made an insanely bad video) during the Peeping Tom tour, which no one expected and made the crowd go nuts.
posted by neuromodulator at 3:51 PM on May 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by neuromodulator at 3:51 PM on May 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
Oh and The Beach Boys teaming up with The Fat Boys for the terrible Wipeout on the terrible Still Cruisin' album which was basically dreck to fill out an album for Kokomo.
Man, being a Beach Boys fan is fucking tough. My instinct is to blame this all on Mike Love, but Carl and even Brian actively participated in this travesty (though Brian was most likely manipulated by Dr. Landy so he could score some more royalties).
posted by TrialByMedia at 4:16 PM on May 20, 2011 [3 favorites]
Man, being a Beach Boys fan is fucking tough. My instinct is to blame this all on Mike Love, but Carl and even Brian actively participated in this travesty (though Brian was most likely manipulated by Dr. Landy so he could score some more royalties).
posted by TrialByMedia at 4:16 PM on May 20, 2011 [3 favorites]
I honestly expected the "regrettable" link to go to Dee Dee Ramone's ill-considered solo album.
posted by ardgedee at 4:35 PM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by ardgedee at 4:35 PM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Nice call, Splunge, I was just off finding this.
posted by Ice Cream Socialist at 4:47 PM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Ice Cream Socialist at 4:47 PM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Man, being a Beach Boys fan is fucking tough. My instinct is to blame this all on Mike Love, but Carl and even Brian actively participated in this travesty (though Brian was most likely manipulated by Dr. Landy so he could score some more royalties).
If you think that's bad, you've obviously never heard Brian Wilson's "Smart Girls" (warning: worst song ever written)
posted by to sir with millipedes at 4:54 PM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
If you think that's bad, you've obviously never heard Brian Wilson's "Smart Girls" (warning: worst song ever written)
posted by to sir with millipedes at 4:54 PM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Ahh, so glad you linked to Lupe Fiasco's "Kick Push", I haven't heard it in forever. It really is a stunning song - a unique coming of age skateboarder-love story done over a gorgeous beat, all lush and cinematic strings. If at any point you lost your faith in hip hop, please listen to Kick Push - it's one of Lupe's best and a personal favorite.
posted by windbox at 5:14 PM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by windbox at 5:14 PM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Did someone say Beastie Boys and Paul's Boutique and rap rock?
posted by Hoopo at 5:18 PM on May 20, 2011
posted by Hoopo at 5:18 PM on May 20, 2011
Every time I hear Cop Killer referenced I have to take a time out.
Cop killer, I know your family's grievin'
(fuck 'em)
Having a few police in my family and all that.
posted by Splunge at 5:21 PM on May 20, 2011
Cop killer, I know your family's grievin'
(fuck 'em)
Having a few police in my family and all that.
posted by Splunge at 5:21 PM on May 20, 2011
I got my black shirt on.
I got my black gloves on.
I got my ski mask on.
This shit's been too long.
I got my Google.
I got my spell check turned off.
I'm 'bout to bust some bon mots off.
I'm 'bout to dust some favs off.
Thread killer, better you than me.
Thread killer, f**k mod brutality!
Thread killer, I know your favorites grievin'
(f**k 'em)
Thread killer, but tonight we get even.
I got my brain on hype.
Tonight'll be your night.
I got this long-assed quote,
and your post looks just right.
My adrenaline's pumpin'.
I got my stereo bumpin'.
I'm 'bout to kill me somethin'
A mod deleted my thread for nuthin'!
Thread killer, better you than me.
Thread killer, f**k mod brutality!
Thread killer, I know your favorite's grievin'
(f**k that)
Thread killer, but tonight we get even.
Die, die, die thread, die!
F**k the posters
posted by Splunge at 5:48 PM on May 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
I got my black gloves on.
I got my ski mask on.
This shit's been too long.
I got my Google.
I got my spell check turned off.
I'm 'bout to bust some bon mots off.
I'm 'bout to dust some favs off.
Thread killer, better you than me.
Thread killer, f**k mod brutality!
Thread killer, I know your favorites grievin'
(f**k 'em)
Thread killer, but tonight we get even.
I got my brain on hype.
Tonight'll be your night.
I got this long-assed quote,
and your post looks just right.
My adrenaline's pumpin'.
I got my stereo bumpin'.
I'm 'bout to kill me somethin'
A mod deleted my thread for nuthin'!
Thread killer, better you than me.
Thread killer, f**k mod brutality!
Thread killer, I know your favorite's grievin'
(f**k that)
Thread killer, but tonight we get even.
Die, die, die thread, die!
F**k the posters
posted by Splunge at 5:48 PM on May 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
Thank you for making me listen to some Bodycount. And Faith No More. Good shit son!
posted by molecicco at 5:50 PM on May 20, 2011
posted by molecicco at 5:50 PM on May 20, 2011
As a Pennsylvanian, I've always been fond of the Bloodhound Gang.
posted by Robin Kestrel at 7:01 PM on May 20, 2011
posted by Robin Kestrel at 7:01 PM on May 20, 2011
We don't need no water let the motherfucker burn!
Funny shit the censored version here used a donkey hee-haw in place of motherfucker so we got "burn HEEEE-HAAAAAW".
posted by Talez at 7:09 PM on May 20, 2011
Funny shit the censored version here used a donkey hee-haw in place of motherfucker so we got "burn HEEEE-HAAAAAW".
posted by Talez at 7:09 PM on May 20, 2011
I always thought Korn was a good example of this genre, though maybe short on rap and long on metal
posted by Redhush at 7:15 PM on May 20, 2011
posted by Redhush at 7:15 PM on May 20, 2011
The winners lose was the best Body Count song. Well that and Evil Dick.
posted by cashman at 7:21 PM on May 20, 2011
posted by cashman at 7:21 PM on May 20, 2011
1. Public Enemy's "It takes a nation of millions to hold us back" is basically the best punk album ever. Seriously, listen to that back to back with some Bad Religion or Propagandhi or one of the other bitter 80s political punk bands. Same spirit, different technique.
2. Lupe Fiasco's Kick, Push is awesome, but it's even better with Kick, Push II off the same album. Light and darkness.
3. As it becomes harder and harder to clear samples, and to afford 'em even if you can, I wonder how long it will be before rap goes COMPLETELY underground, or everybody goes the way of the Roots and starts playing their own samples?
posted by ivan ivanych samovar at 7:43 PM on May 20, 2011
2. Lupe Fiasco's Kick, Push is awesome, but it's even better with Kick, Push II off the same album. Light and darkness.
3. As it becomes harder and harder to clear samples, and to afford 'em even if you can, I wonder how long it will be before rap goes COMPLETELY underground, or everybody goes the way of the Roots and starts playing their own samples?
posted by ivan ivanych samovar at 7:43 PM on May 20, 2011
Um... excuse me. But the best real punk album ever was "The Great Rock and Roll Swindle". But thanks for playing.
posted by Splunge at 8:08 PM on May 20, 2011
posted by Splunge at 8:08 PM on May 20, 2011
But, upon further drunken thought, the greatest band in the world is still the Pork Dukes.
posted by Splunge at 8:18 PM on May 20, 2011
posted by Splunge at 8:18 PM on May 20, 2011
Deffo more towards the rap end than the rock end, but I think just about qualifies by virtue of sampling the Maiden - Young Dro, House on Me.
posted by Dim Siawns at 11:06 PM on May 20, 2011
posted by Dim Siawns at 11:06 PM on May 20, 2011
If this were an AskMe looking for good rap-rock, I'd recommend Mexico Or Bust by New Kingdom yt (which is straight-up one of my favourite songs of all time).
And it would be the WRONG ANSWER, and you would get no BEST ANSWER, because you neglected the rest of the brilliant masterpiece that is Paradise Don't Come Cheap. SHAME!
1. Public Enemy's "It takes a nation of millions to hold us back" is basically the best punk album ever. Seriously, listen to that back to back with some Bad Religion or Propagandhi or one of the other bitter 80s political punk bands. Same spirit, different technique.
Dude, that was hip hop. It's a great album, but it's not punk. Even allowing for most conceivable arguments the best punk album came out well before 1988. Chuck D had a lot of political poetry over beats to draw from before punk existed.
I'm also a little disappointed no one mentioned the Goats, let alone the later output from the Roots.
As much as I kind of dislike the guy, Rick Rubin gets more credit for No Sleep (and Licensed to Ill as a whole) than the Beasties do. Reason #12 I like to think they didn't really begin to find their voice until Paul's Boutique (and yes, credit to the Dust Bros. is due there).
They were kinda crossing into rap rock back on Cookie Puss before Rubin though. I guess they weren't rapping, but it was a rap/disco beat. Beyond that, Paul's Boutique was undoubtedly a huge step forward for the Beasties and easily one of their best, but I think Check Your Head is the album where they best find their "voice", it mixes their own musicianship with the samples and loops seamlessly and effortlessly and stands as the epitome of Beastie-ness.
Also, anyone wanna fight me for saying the new album is pretty awesome? Cuz it's their best since Ill Communication and just cuz I have some grey hairs now doesn't mean I can't take you.
posted by Hoopo at 11:18 PM on May 20, 2011
And it would be the WRONG ANSWER, and you would get no BEST ANSWER, because you neglected the rest of the brilliant masterpiece that is Paradise Don't Come Cheap. SHAME!
1. Public Enemy's "It takes a nation of millions to hold us back" is basically the best punk album ever. Seriously, listen to that back to back with some Bad Religion or Propagandhi or one of the other bitter 80s political punk bands. Same spirit, different technique.
Dude, that was hip hop. It's a great album, but it's not punk. Even allowing for most conceivable arguments the best punk album came out well before 1988. Chuck D had a lot of political poetry over beats to draw from before punk existed.
I'm also a little disappointed no one mentioned the Goats, let alone the later output from the Roots.
As much as I kind of dislike the guy, Rick Rubin gets more credit for No Sleep (and Licensed to Ill as a whole) than the Beasties do. Reason #12 I like to think they didn't really begin to find their voice until Paul's Boutique (and yes, credit to the Dust Bros. is due there).
They were kinda crossing into rap rock back on Cookie Puss before Rubin though. I guess they weren't rapping, but it was a rap/disco beat. Beyond that, Paul's Boutique was undoubtedly a huge step forward for the Beasties and easily one of their best, but I think Check Your Head is the album where they best find their "voice", it mixes their own musicianship with the samples and loops seamlessly and effortlessly and stands as the epitome of Beastie-ness.
Also, anyone wanna fight me for saying the new album is pretty awesome? Cuz it's their best since Ill Communication and just cuz I have some grey hairs now doesn't mean I can't take you.
posted by Hoopo at 11:18 PM on May 20, 2011
Kick Push is good but I prefer my rock without modern influences. If Craig Finn makes that rap album people want him to make I may change my mind.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 12:40 AM on May 21, 2011
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 12:40 AM on May 21, 2011
Wow Lupe Fiasco sounds like a Stereo MCs/Stone Roses/Tricky combo now. Not to say that's a bad thing --it's actually kind of awesome-- but when I first heard this song I didn't realize it was him or new.
posted by Hoopo at 1:34 AM on May 21, 2011
posted by Hoopo at 1:34 AM on May 21, 2011
California Über Alles by Michael Franti's Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy (featuring Jello Biafra).
posted by Mike Mongo at 8:19 AM on May 21, 2011
posted by Mike Mongo at 8:19 AM on May 21, 2011
Television by the Beatnigs featuring Michael Franti and Rono Tse.
posted by Mike Mongo at 8:22 AM on May 21, 2011
posted by Mike Mongo at 8:22 AM on May 21, 2011
> Also, anyone wanna fight me for saying the new album is pretty awesome? Cuz it's their best since Ill Communication...
Really? I haven't heard it yet, and I want to believe...
posted by The Card Cheat at 9:52 AM on May 21, 2011
Really? I haven't heard it yet, and I want to believe...
posted by The Card Cheat at 9:52 AM on May 21, 2011
I can't see Rage Against The Machine anywhere here, is this off limits in the subject area for some reason?
Evil Empire is one of the greatest albums of all time, and they didn't have a single bad release. Their live show is incredible.
posted by tomphillips at 3:26 PM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
Evil Empire is one of the greatest albums of all time, and they didn't have a single bad release. Their live show is incredible.
posted by tomphillips at 3:26 PM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
Holy crap you're right tomphilips that's quite the oversight
posted by Hoopo at 4:15 PM on May 21, 2011
posted by Hoopo at 4:15 PM on May 21, 2011
Rage was mentioned in the first article, albeit casually
posted by Redhush at 8:07 PM on May 22, 2011
posted by Redhush at 8:07 PM on May 22, 2011
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