Lyrical Nirvana? Deconstructing Rap's Bizarre Kurt Cobain Obsession
By Insanul Ahmed, Felipe Delerme, Julian Pereira | Apr 5, 2011 | 12:47 pm | Permalink
Rappers have a long and storied history of rhyming about things that they have very little personal knowledge of, the most obvious examples being selling drugs and murder. Not much further down the list you'll find "living like a rock star" and more specifically, Kurt Cobain. As one of the clearest examples in recent memory of the perils of the rock and roll lifestyle and leader of a band as complicated as it was jamming, it makes sense that rappers would call Cobain's name when they want to seem a little more worldly. But what exactly are they saying?
The Nirvana frontman tragically committed suicide 17 years ago today (April 5, 1994), and rappers are still regularly using Cobain's name in their lyrics whenever they want to reference suicide or drug addiction. But for all the talk of his substance abuse and untimely end, some of Cobain's hip-hop shout-outs have just been plain confusing. To celebrate one music's most misunderstood superstars, we try to deconstruct 10 of rap's oddest Kurt Cobain references...
Danton April 5th, 2011 at 01:28 PM
You missed Exhibit A by Jay Electronica "i spit that wonder ryhmer shit me and my conglomerates shall remain anonymous caught up in the finer shit get that type of media coverage obama get spit that Kurt Vonnegut that blow your brain kurt cobain that nirvana shit" i only mention this because that verse is dope.
Incilin April 5th, 2011 at 03:34 PM
But Jay's reference isn't bizarre. Blowing your brain like Kurt Cobain makes perfect sense. Unlike the rest of these lines. Besides, trust me there are WAY more Cobain refs than these 10, most of which are preceded by or followed with the phrase "blow your brain."
Moreness April 5th, 2011 at 01:28 PM
Jay Electronica's Exhibit A "Get that type of media coverage Obama get, spit that Kurt Vonnegut That blow your brain Kurt Cobain, that Nirvana shit..."
Brandt April 5th, 2011 at 01:59 PM
Kurt Cobain and Layne Staley changed my life with their music. I paid homage to them on the anniversary of their death today with my portraits of them on my artist’s blog at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2011/04/in-memoriam-kurt-cobain-and-lane-staley.html Drop by and tell me how you were influenced by their work and lives.
RapingHypeBeast April 5th, 2011 at 02:40 PM
RAP isFilled withFollowers Jay-Zsays KurtCobain&Basquiat InA DopeRhyme (i.eHot97) thenEverybody want2 beA Rockstar&Artist orConnoisseurOf NothingWrong withBeing Cultured butDon'tBe aPoser
Oh!!& p.sRapingHypeBeast April 5th, 2011 at 03:00 PM
iKnow heWasn't the1rst 2Mention thoseNames butEverSince ThereHas Been aSurge of...
clif April 5th, 2011 at 04:04 PM
"Most kings get driven so insane .. That they try to hit the same vein.. that Kurt Cobain did "... HOVA - MOST KINGS - 2010
Jay April 5th, 2011 at 06:58 PM
The Game also had one. In the song My Life ft. Lil Wayne.
ocyris April 6th, 2011 at 07:37 AM
obviously the author of this page is an idiot and is talking about something that he so hypocritcally states about rappers. though most may have not killed someone they grew up around that type of shit drugs, murders, gangs what have you. Also to say that a rapper probably used google to find out Kurt's birthday is the same as his seems kind of racial to me, who is to say he wasn't a fan? because he raps? so thats all he was exposed to? anyway its an interesting article and in most of these rappers defense why wouldn't you want to mention such a great artist who had such an untimely death? what because it's rap they should only mention Biggie and Pac? open your mind and stop being such a moron.
Aaron May 11th, 2011 at 06:13 PM
I've read a couple of these list's this website posts and I find things in them that just amaze me at how stupid n almost mainstream they seem. Kurt Cobain made a whole CD called Cobainiac and of course he calls HIMSELF the Ghetto Edgar Allen Poe. Why the fuck would he call Cobain the Ghetto Edgar Allen Poe? Like I feel like if they are gonna write about King Gordy at LEAST listen to a couple of his songs. And House of Pain had the Song Legend that has a line in it about blowin' out your brain like Kurt Cobain.