Image via Complex Original
As we’ve noted, being too entrenched in hip-hop can sometimes muff things up in the real world. But in other instances it can come in handy. Like when it comes to remembering the words to certain songs. A video mashup recently went viral of a kid spelling the word “negus” correctly during a spelling bee with the help of Kendrick Lamar lyrics. Though put together after the fact, this is a hilarious example of how rap lines can plausibly come through in the clutch.
Rap lyrics are filled with lots of information ranging from seemingly pointless banter to worldly knowledge. It’s all on the listener as to what they choose to absorb. Sometimes MCs drop jewels and don’t even know it spitting lines that can later be referenced when certain questions are stumbled upon.
Here are 10 rap lyrics that can help you remember random bits of information, and might even get you a correct answer on Jeopardy, or a spelling bee.
C. Vernon Coleman II is a writer living in Atlanta. Follow him @Vernon_Coleman.
The anniversary of the Notorious B.I.G.’s death
Artist: Canibus
Song: “Second Round Knockout” (1998)
Lyric: “The greatest rapper of all time died on March 9!”
Canibus’ “Second Round Knockout” is one of the dopest diss records of all time so, naturally, it has some memorable bars to boot. But one of the most lasting lines happens to be one of the lightest jabs on the whole record when Bis discounts LL’s G.O.A.T. status by saying the real top dog passed on March 9. That of course is the death date of the Notorious B.I.G. Even if the date wasn’t etched in your brain before, it was after hearing Canibus’ gut shot over and over.
How to spell independent
Artist: Webbie
Song: “Independent” (2008)
Lyric: “I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T, do you know what that mean?”
There are a lot of tricky words in the English language. For some reason, independent happens to be one of them for a number of people. But after Webbie’s hit record “Independent”—where the rapper literally spells out the word slowly seven times—no one who listens to urban radio should misspell this word ever again in life.
The names of the members of the Wu-Tang Clan
Artist: The Wu-Tang Clan
Song: “Method Man” (1993)
Lyric: “From the slums of Shaolin, Wu-Tang Clan strikes again. The RZA, the GZA, Ol Dirty Bastard, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon the Chef, U-God, Ghostface Killah, and the Method Man.”
The Wu rolls deep. So being able to rattle off every one of the original members’ names at the drop of a hat can be a tough task for non-die-hard fans. But when attempting to do so an easy cheat sheet is the intro to the Enter The Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers track “Method Man” where GZA names all the OG members, sans the last addition, Masta Killa.
How to cook crack
Artist: Master P
Song: “Ghetto Dope” (1997)
Lyric: “Measure up your dope, put one gram of soda for every seven grams of coke/Shake it up until it bubbles up and gets harder/Then stick the tube in some ready-made cold water.”
Knowing the words to Master P’s “Ghetto Dope” could have you saying look at the flicka da wrist in no time. Of course your ratio of soda and drugs would depend on the purity of your coco, and he leaves out a few key details that can be the difference between making a killing and getting killed when the pack doesn’t jump back right. But the basics are there. Don’t ask!
The date of the L.A. riots
Artist: Ice Cube
Song: “Wicked” (1992)
Lyric: “April 29 was power to the people/But we just might see a sequel.”
Quick, can you name the date George Zimmerman was acquitted for killing Trayvon Martin, or when it was announced that no one would face charges for the murder of Eric Garner? Probably not. On April 29, 1992, four cops got off for wiz-za-za-za-zooping Rodney King’s ass on film and all hell broke loose in L.A. with widespread riots ravaging the city. Cube forever stamped the date into the minds of the hip-hop conscious with those ironic lyrics.
The Twelve Jewels of Islam
Artist: Jay Z
Song: “Heaven” (2013)
Lyric: “Knowledge, wisdom, freedom, understanding, we just(ice) want our equality/Food, clothing, shelter, help a nigga find some peace/Happiness for a gangsta, ain't no love in these streets.”
New to the Nation and need a way to remember the Twelve Jewels of Islam? Hov cleverly puts them all together on his Magna Carta Holy Grail track “Heaven.”
Ebonics
Artist: Big L
Song: “Ebonics” (1998)
Lyric: “Your apartment is your pad/Your old man is your dad/The studio is the lab and heated is mad.”
Big L’s “Ebonics” dropped nearly 20 years ago but many of the slangs interpreted on his original Urban Dictionary still apply today. Learning the lines to Big L’s famed single will have you transforming from Duncan Pinderhughes to Blade Brown in no time.
The No. 1 selling female rap artist
Artist: Nicki Minaj
Song: “Truffle Butter” (2014)
Lyric: “I’m still the highest-selling female rapper, for the record,”
The Young Money first lady wasn’t just flexing. She is currently the highest-selling female rapper of all time, passing Missy Elliott. Facts only.
Konami Code
Artist: Danny Brown
Song: “Contra” (2010)
Lyric: “Up-Up, Down-Down, Left-Right, Left-Right, B-A, B-A, Select-Start”
If you are old enough to have played on a Nintendo NES, you know the Konami Code was the Holy Grail of third generation cheats. But even the best retro gamers sometimes have a memory lapse and forget which series of buttons to mash on the start-up screen. Danny Brown’s got your back.
First platinum-selling rapper from Queensbridge
Artist: Nas
Song: “Hate Me Now” (1999)
Lyric: “The first rapper to bring a platinum plaque back to the projects/But you still wanna hate. Be my guest, I suggest.”
If someone asked you, who is the first rapper from QB to go platinum, unless you thought it was a trick question, you would probably guess Nas. The Nasty one confirms his precedent-setting feat on his hit “Hate Me Now.”