"How do you tell the story of 50 years of hip-hop?"

July 20, 2023 1:00 PM

50 Rappers, 50 Stories (Jon Caramanica and Joe Coscarelli for the New York Times (archive.org))
posted by box (27 comments total)

And of course one of the rappers interviewed was 50 Cent.
posted by NoxAeternum at 1:02 PM on July 20, 2023 [1 favorite]

(Comments goal: a link to a song from every one of these rappers.)
posted by box at 1:25 PM on July 20, 2023

Cam'ron - Oh Boy
Eve - Love is Blind
LL Cool J - Going Back to Cali
Roc Marciano - The Horns of Abraxas
A Tribe Called Quest (Q-Tip) - Show Business
posted by box at 1:35 PM on July 20, 2023 [2 favorites]

The archive link doesn't work for me. I can see the title and the list of artists, but you have to click on a name to see their story, and that part isn't working.
posted by The_Vegetables at 1:44 PM on July 20, 2023 [1 favorite]

Big Boi - General Patton
50 Cent - How to Rob
posted by isauteikisa at 2:00 PM on July 20, 2023 [3 favorites]

The Cold Crush Brothers (Easy A.D.) - Punk Rock Rap
Run-DMC (DMC) - Beats to the Rhyme
MC Lyte - Poor Georgie
UGK f Outkast (Bun B) - Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)
dead prez (Stic) - Hip Hop
posted by box at 2:11 PM on July 20, 2023 [2 favorites]

And of course one of the rappers interviewed was 50 Cent.

Yes? He's one of the biggest rap stars of the last few decades. If you're trying to "tell the story of 50 years of hip-hop" you can't really talk about 2000s rap without him.
posted by star gentle uterus at 2:22 PM on July 20, 2023 [1 favorite]

Busta Rhymes - Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check
E-40 - Tell Me When to Go
Lil Wayne - A Milli

Slug's hard to do solo - I like his verse (the first) on Evidence - Late For The Sky
posted by isauteikisa at 2:24 PM on July 20, 2023 [3 favorites]

Yes? He's one of the biggest rap stars of the last few decades. If you're trying to "tell the story of 50 years of hip-hop" you can't really talk about 2000s rap without him.

I think it was meant as a joke or a continuation of a theme, ie: 50 years of hiphop with 50 artists, one of them being 50 cent.
posted by The_Vegetables at 2:24 PM on July 20, 2023 [5 favorites]

Uncle Luke is best known as a member of 2 Live Crew and for his work as a producer: solo, I think he's best known for I Wanna Rock (Doo Doo Brown)
posted by isauteikisa at 2:43 PM on July 20, 2023 [2 favorites]

DMX f Jay-Z and The Lox (Styles P) - Blackout
posted by box at 2:48 PM on July 20, 2023 [2 favorites]

Oh, I'm going to debate the Doo Doo Brown. Uncle Luke wants to rap about your Birthday.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 2:54 PM on July 20, 2023 [2 favorites]

Noname - Self
posted by Hot Like Your 12V Wire at 3:07 PM on July 20, 2023 [3 favorites]

I think it was meant as a joke or a continuation of a theme, ie: 50 years of hiphop with 50 artists, one of them being 50 cent.

Yeah, it was meant as "They're using the number 50 too much to not include him."
posted by NoxAeternum at 3:18 PM on July 20, 2023 [2 favorites]

Kool Keith - Rockets on the Battlefield
Treacherous Three (Kool Moe Dee) - At the Party
(Bonus: Busy Bee Starsky vs Kool Moe Dee)
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 3:39 PM on July 20, 2023 [3 favorites]

Keep ‘em coming, box. You’re not just posting the obvious ones I keep wanting to post!
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 4:07 PM on July 20, 2023 [2 favorites]

Digable Planets (Ladybug Mecca, final verse) - 9th Wonder
Phonte - Life of Kings
The Coup (Boots Riley) - Fat Cats, Bigga Fish
Earl Sweatshirt - 2010
posted by SoundInhabitant at 4:18 PM on July 20, 2023 [4 favorites]

Less seriously, '.. 30 years of hip-hop history in 5 minutes...'
posted by MtDewd at 4:32 PM on July 20, 2023

Oh, I'm going to debate the Doo Doo Brown. Uncle Luke wants to rap about your Birthday.

How is "Me So Horny" not part of this discussion? My friend's older brother switching out cassettes between 2LiveCrew and Eazy-E's "Eazy-Dun-It" on the drive to school.
posted by SoundInhabitant at 4:34 PM on July 20, 2023 [1 favorite]

Roxanne Shante - The Def Fresh Crew
Roxanne Shante vs Sparky Dee
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 4:49 PM on July 20, 2023 [1 favorite]

Ice Cube - Jackin' For Beats
Notorious BIG f Bone Thugs-n-Harmony (Krayzie Bone) - Notorious Thugs
Outkast f Goodie Mob (a twofer, Big Boi and Big Gipp) - Git Up, Get Out

Gotta happen, sooner or later: Vanilla Ice - Roll 'Em Up
posted by box at 5:25 PM on July 20, 2023 [2 favorites]

Gravediggaz (RZA) - Nowhere to Run
Eminem - Any Man
Odd Future (Earl Sweatshirt) - Oldie

Ditto: Three 6 Mafia f Insane Clown Posse and Twiztid (Violent J) - Just Anotha Crazy Click
posted by box at 5:31 PM on July 20, 2023 [2 favorites]

Mike Jones f Slim Thug and Paul Wall (Paul Wall) - Still Tippin’
posted by box at 5:47 PM on July 20, 2023 [1 favorite]

The Coup (Boots Riley) - Fat Cats, Bigga Fish

I had never seen this video. I wish I could give more than 1 like.
posted by DigDoug at 5:32 AM on July 21, 2023 [2 favorites]

Trina f Ludacris - B R Right
Lizzo f Cardi B (Cardi B) - Rumors
Ice Spice & Nicki Minaj - Princess Diana
posted by box at 8:12 AM on July 21, 2023 [1 favorite]

Azealia Banks - 1991
posted by box at 9:34 AM on July 21, 2023

Spotify playlist with the songs I could find on there.
posted by isauteikisa at 3:34 PM on July 21, 2023 [2 favorites]