You know what's missing from rap these days? Bonnie and Clyde raps. Songs featuring a male rapper and a female rapper expressing love and devotion to one another when shit gets hot. Who's gonna be there when they kick the doors down? Your boys? Nope. It's gonna be your baby moms laying next to you with cold in her eyes and the baby screaming while the pigs serve you a warrant at six in the morning. We take a look at some in the Best Bonnie and Clyde Raps.
Angel Diaz is a staff writer for Complex Music. Follow him @ADiaz456.
The Notorious B.I.G. and Lil' Kim “Get Money” (1995)
We miss this Lil' Kim so much. She had just as much of an aura as Biggie did and was half his size. Funny how the "Get Money" video was a shot at his then-wife Faith Evans and featured the girl that was always a threat to her. Kim put work in and deserved her spot. Her verse tells of a rags-to-riches story and was filled with Biggie subliminals. She was fed up but still loved him. What could've been.
Nas f/ the Firm “Affirmative Action” (1996)
Her math was wrong, but you can teach that. What you can't teach is loyalty, and Foxy was about her bread and about her team. Catch me in the Nautica van rolling an El as me and Foxy deliver the goods.
Jay Z and Foxy Brown “Ain't No Nigga” (1996)
Foxy knew what she was owed and let it be known. Holding your significant other down should be rewarded especially if your partner is involved in a life of crime. “Ain't No Nigga” was the beginning of a beneficial partnership between Foxy and Jigga. Their chemistry was rivaled by only Biggie and Lil' Kim, which shouldn't come as a surprise being that each of their careers will forever be joined at the hip, respectively. Jay was the smooth hustler who wasn't the same without Foxy, the object of every thug's desire.
Mia X f/ C-Murder, Master P & Silkk the Shocker “4ever TRU” (1997)
Mia X is a legend seldom mentioned in the conversation of female rappers. No Limit's first lady was too raw and can cook a good meal, by the way. Nothing like having a girl who could bake pies while she bakes pies. She was down with TRU till the wheels fell off.
Jay Z f/ Foxy Brown "Paper Chase" (1998)
Foxy was the truest "ride or die." She went outta town to peep the scenery and set up shop before Jay got there. Foxy gave the locals an offer they couldn't refuse. Either get down clique or get found in a ditch. Every successful man has a successful woman next to him. What's fuckin' with that?
Jay Z and Foxy Brown “Bonnie & Clyde Part 2” (1999)
Jigga should scrap that collab album with Bey. We much rather hear him and Foxy go back and forth. Foxy Brown was a star (whether she wrote her rhymes or not) and kept up with the best of them. Ty Fyffe came jiggy with the production. This track was '90s hip-hop, extravagant shit-talking over beats to sip Cris' to.
Mercedes f/ Magic “Bonnie and Clyde” (1999)
The most memorable thing about Mercedes' Rear End album was the cover art and possibly this song. Magic (RIP) came through disrespectful and heartfelt at the same time. Shit, that's life, right? Listen to this track with your shorty and you might go on a Mickey & Mallory killing spree or get into a bar fight. Whatever's clever, really. "I can tell you about that gangsta shit, you gangsta bitch/I'm startin' to think you might be heaven sent." <3
Big Pun f/ Remy Ma “Ms. Martin” (2000)
A lot of what ifs come into play when a talent like Pun passes. He was the Biggie of the Terror Squad, playing a big part in the sound they were beginning to create. Unfortunately, his health didn't allow him to make a bigger impact. Remy Martin was his understudy, giving her a solo joint on his sophomore LP, Yeeeah Baby. Ms. Martin did not fuck around, and this was the track that introduced her to the world. With Pun on the hook, Remy went the fuck off, spitting shit like, “Fuck the weather, I still got my tan Timbs on/Just copped the pink mink, and winter been gone/I been on this thug shit y'all can't seem to fuck wit.”
She's the type of shorty that'll flip on you for rolling a bum ass blunt but'll hold you down when you gotta hide the burner. Pun didn't even have to go in. His girl did the dirty work.
Snoop Dogg f/ Eve “Ready 2 Ryde” (2000)
Man, what happened to Eve? She sort of faded from memory after bursting on the scene as rap's pitbull in a skirt. Eve held her own on every track she was on during the late '90s and early 2000s. Here she was on Snoop's underrated album Tha Last Meal, holding it down. Snoop let her set the table as he does his best Nate Dogg impersonation. You don't wanna beef with a couple like this in the club. How much you wanna bet bottles will be flying when them lights come on?
Cam'ron f/ Keema “What Means the World to You” (2000)
Where is Keema? Keema was dope on this. She wasn't beat for Cam's shit, but was still willing to let some things slide if he kept his hoes under control. She was quick to heat a chick and then go home and give it up honest to the right cat. Cam basically came up with the ultimate checklist when he said, "So I need a real chick/Someone to keep it real wit/Someone to rob and steal wit/Someone to share my meal wit.”
That's how you get chose, ma.
Rick Ross f/ Foxy Brown “Murda Mami” (2009)
Remember when everyone thought Ross and Foxy were an item? Maybe it was because this song was so good. Not enough ink has been spilled over Foxy's patois phase. She kind of disappeared after this Deeper Than Rap feature. Foxy had some hearing trouble as well as legal ones. Her real life run-ins with the law fit the narrative of her raps. Sometimes you need a shorty who isn't scared to do a little skid bid.
We hope she and Rick Ross collab more. They had good chemistry on this track.
Ratking f/ Wavy Spice “Puerto Rican Judo” (2014)
Princess Nokia, a.k.a. Wavy Spice, and Ratking frontman Wiki are a couple, and they make art together. On this particular cut, she's the sofrito to his arroz con gandules. Get it? Was that comparison corny? Maybe. This track is funky and something you can break dance too (if people still do that), or maybe hop a turnstile and tag a wall.