Image via Complex Original
School's out! Party time! Excellent! Today is the last day of the year for New York City's public schools. To celebrate, we launched a sort of science project. We embedded a secret agent, a "mole," or maybe more like a "narc," like in 21 Jump Street—but not to rat out kids about drug use or cutting. Instead, we wanted to get a gauge on today's teens' feelings about rap. We gave a teacher in a high school in Canarsie, Brooklyn a list of questions to ask a random group of tenth graders (identified here by pseudonyms.) Their answers are very educational.
Ring the bell, sucker! It's Complex's Year-end High-School Rap Poll.
When old people talk about rap I want to:
Malaphats: Take a nap
Kid Icarus: Listen
Lily Monroe: Hear them out
Money-making-Marc: Prove them wrong
AshleyLiani: Listen to what they have to say
Blossom_beautyxxx: Run
D Cylla: Listen
Spongebob Reyes: Listen to them instead of my friends
Juss Smoove: Join the convo
Noiisy: Tell them this is the new age
Bugatti: Facepalm
BornSinner: Actually listen
Jamdropz: Walk away
Babypookie1696: Tell them to shut up
The best verse I ever heard was:
Malaphats: "Body Parts," Juicy J
Kid Icarus: Any verse in "Lose Yourself"
Lily Monroe: The last verse in Nas' "Ether"
Money-making-Marc: The first verse of "No Love" by Lil Wayne
AshleyLiani: Can't think of one
Spongebob Reyes: Karma is a b*tch well just make sure that b*tch is beautiful
Juss Smoove: "Rigamortis," Kendrick Lamar
Bugatti: "Mr. Carter," Lil Wayne
BornSinner: Big L (don't remember song)
Jamdropz: "No New Friends," Drake
Babypookie1696: I don't know.
The best beat I ever heard was:
Malaphats: Muney Jordan's "Black Swamp"
Kid Icarus: Any song from the Glitch Mob
Lily Monroe: Talib Kweli's "Get By"
Money-making-Marc: My beats
AshleyLiani: Rocko's "U.O.E.N.O."
Blossom_beautyxxx: G.O.O.D. Music's "Mercy"
Spongebob Reyes: DJ Khaled's "I'm On One"
Juss Smoove: Meek Mill's "Ima Boss"
Bugatti: Lil Wayne's "No Worries"
BornSinner: A lot
Jamdropz: "Cameras" or "Good Ones Go" by Drake
Have you heard of Joey Bada$$?
Malaphats: Yeah
Lily Monroe: Yes
Money-making-Marc: No
AshleyLiani: Yeah
Blossom_beautyxxx: Yes
D Cylla: Yes, but depends what they rap about
Spongebob Reyes: Yes, a lot
Juss Smoove: Yea Pro Era up!
Noiisy: Yeah, he is lyrically gifted
Bugatti: Yes
BornSinner: Definitely
Jamdropz: No
Babypookie1696: No
Illmatic is....
Malaphats: Cool
Kid Icarus: Smooth
Lily Monroe: The best album of all time
AshleyLiani: A good album
Blossom_beautyxxx: Nas's first album
Spongebob Reyes: You tell me
Juss Smoove: A great-ass album
Bugatti: IDK
Jamdropz: I don't know
Babypookie1696: I don't know
What is the oldest rap album you ever listened to?
Malaphats: Ready to Die
Kid Icarus: Ready to Die
Lily Monroe: LL Cool J's first album
AshleyLiani: Ready to Die
Blossom_beautyxxx: The Blueprint
Spongebob Reyes: Mike Jones
Noiisy: An Eazy-E album
Bugatti: I don't remember.
BornSinner: I don't remember.
Jamdropz: I can't remember.
Babypookie1696: Will Smith's album
The funniest rap line I ever heard was:
Malaphats: "Nicki Minaj, I'm the finest b**** out, ya feel me?" Lil B
Kid Icarus: Every line in Eminem's "Fack"
Lily Monroe: "2Pac without a nose ring" 2 Chainz
Money-making-Marc: "Pxxxx so sweet imma need goggles"
AshleyLiani: "Chain the color of Akon"
Blossom_beautyxxx: "Started from the bottom now I'm here" Drake
Juss Smoove: "Real G's move silent like lasagna"
Noiisy: "I leave them dead in the living room"
Bugatti: "I laugh to the bank all you do is giggle"
BornSinner: "That b**** p**** smell like a penguin"
Jamdropz: "They throw dirt on my name, that's why they still dig me"
Babypookie1696: I don't know.
Did Lil Wayne fall off?
Malaphats: Somewhat
Kid Icarus: He was never on.
Lily Monroe: Yes!!
Money-making-Marc: No
AshleyLiani: Kind of, not really
Blossom_beautyxxx: Yes
D Cylla: Yes
Spongebob ReYes: No!!
Juss Smoove: Hell yeah!
Noiisy: Yeah, sorta
Bugatti: Kind of
BornSinner: Definitely
Jamdropz: No
Babypookie1696: I don't know
When I hear 2 Chainz's voice it makes me want to:
Malaphats: IDK
Kid Icarus: Listen
Lily Monroe: Die
Money-making-Marc: Listen to him more
AshleyLiani: Get hyped-up
Blossom_beautyxxx: Laugh
D Cylla: Get crunk
Spongebob Reyes: Jump and hold a sack
Juss Smoove: Die
Noiisy: Pop bottles in the club
Bugatti: Eat Pop-Tarts
BornSinner: Rob him at gunpoint (just kidding)
Jamdropz: Not have ears
Babypookie1696: Scream
Would you listen to a gay rapper?
Malaphats: Nawwwwww b
Kid Icarus: Yes
Lily Monroe: Yes
Money-making-Marc: No
AshleyLiani: Yes
Blossom_beautyxxx: Yes
D Cylla: Yes but it depends on what they rap about.
Spongebob Reyes: Never in my life
Juss Smoove: I don't.
Noiisy: If he is saying some gay shit, then no.
BornSinner: Depends
Jamdropz: Yes
Babypookie1696: Yes
Nicki Minaj’s fashion style would be described in one word as:
Malaphats: Crazy
Kid Icarus: Odd
Lily Monroe: Stupid
Money-making-Marc: Barbie/Girly
AshleyLiani: Creative
Blossom_beautyxxx: Crazy
D Cylla: Bad
Spongebob Reyes: I don't know her.
Juss Smoove: Crazy
Noiisy: Energetic
Bugatti: Different
BornSinner: Amazing
Jamdropz: Expressive
Babypookie1696: Unique
Kanye West is....
Malaphats: He's very talented, but is going crazy.
Kid Icarus: ..a bit crazy.
Lily Monroe: .. a good rapper (but I don't like Yeezus).
Money-making-Marc: ..in the Illuminati, but an okay rapper.
AshleyLiani: ..one of the greatest.
Blossom_beautyxxx: ..kinda amazing.
D Cylla: ..great but not my favorite. Also mysterious.
Spongebob Reyes: ..a person.
Juss Smoove: ..great.
Noiisy: ..an idiot, and full of talent.
Bugatti: ..different
BornSinner: ..a trendsetter. Amazing to listen to.
Jamdropz: ..a chauvinistic egotistical maniac.
Babypookie1696: ..in the Illuminati with Jay-Z.
My favorite rap song to listen to before I go to bed at night is:
Malaphats: "Kissin Pink" - A$AP Rocky f/ A$AP Ferg
Kid Icarus: "Party and Bullshit" - Biggie
Lily Monroe: "D'Evils" - Jay Z
Money-making-Marc: "She Will" - Lil Wayne
AshleyLiani: "Tap Out" - Rich Gang
Blossom_beautyxxx: "Same Love" - Macklemore
D Cylla: "M.A.A.D City" - Kendrick Lamar
Juss Smoove: "Hol' Up" - Kendrick Lamar
Bugatti: "Love Me" - Lil Wayne
BornSinner: "Head Bussa" - J. Cole
Jamdropz: "Cant' Get Enough" - J. Cole
Babypookie1696: I don't listen to music before I sleep.
I know Jay-Z is in the Illuminati because he....
Malaphats: ..has subliminal messages.
Kid Icarus: ..tries to hard.
Lily Monroe: ..made a song called "Lucifer" and said evil things backwards.
Money-making-Marc: ..shows it in everything he does and in concerts.
AshleyLiani: ..mostly wears black and some things he says.
Spongebob Reyes: ..represents Lucifer.
Juss Smoove: He's not, don't be ignorant.
Noiisy: I don't entertain that crap.
Bugatti: ..is different.
BornSinner: ..throws up the sign (triangle).
Jamdropz: ..calls himself Hova.
Babypookie1696: ..said it on TV.
My favorite rap song to listen to in the morning on the way to school is:
Malaphats: "Mia" - Travis $cott
Kid Icarus: "Lose Yourself" - Eminem
Lily Monroe: "The Autograph" - J Cole
Money-making-Marc: Hip-Pop or R&B
AshleyLiani: "Tap Out" - Rich Gang
Blossom_beautyxxx: "Can't Hold Us" - Macklemore
D Cylla: "Good Kid M.A.A.D City" - Kendrick Lamar
Spongebob Reyes: Today I was listening to "The Way I Am" - Eminem
Juss Smoove: "Trouble" - J. Cole
Noiisy: "Still Movin" - Dizzy Wright
Bugatti: "Bugatti" - Ace Hood
Jamdropz: "High School"- Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khailfa
Babypookie1696: "No New Friends" - DJ Khaled
Do you think Trinidad James will have another big song?
Malaphats: Yes
Lily Monroe: No
Money-making-Marc: No
AshleyLiani: No
Blossom_beautyxxx: No
Juss Smoove: No
Noiisy: No! He can't rap. He probably might.
Bugatti: No
BornSinner: No
Jamdropz: Probably
Babypookie1696: Maybe
If I could choose one rap star to have over to my house for dinner with my family it would be:
Malaphats: Travis $cott
Kid Icarus: Eminem
Lily Monroe: J. Cole
Money-making-Marc: Lil Wayne or Nicki Minaj.
AshleyLiani: A$AP Rocky
Blossom_beautyxxx: B.O.B
D Cylla: Kendrick Lamar
Spongebob Reyes: A Mexican rapper.
Juss Smoove: Kenrick Lamar
Noiisy: Jay-Z
Bugatti: Lil Wayne
BornSinner: J. Cole
Jamdropz: Drake
Babypookie1696: Nicki Minaj
The Funniest 2 Chainz line is:
Malaphats: "She got a big booty so I call her big booty."
Kid Icarus: I don't listen to him.
Lily Monroe: "2pac without a nose ring."
AshleyLiani: "She got a big booty, so I call her big booty."
D Cylla: "Chain the color of Akon."
Spongebob Reyes: He wack.
Juss Smoove: His "Mercy" verse was great.
Bugatti: "I laugh to the bank, all you do is giggle."
BornSinner: "Bust a nut in her mouth, so now she can baby sit."
Jamdropz: I don't have one.
The best rapper of all-time is:
Malaphats: The Notorious B.I.G.
Kid Icarus: Biggie/Eminem
Lily Monroe: 2Pac
Money-making-Marc: Eminem
AshleyLiani: Jay-Z
Blossom_beautyxxx: Kanye West
D Cylla: 2Pac
Spongebob Reyes: Eminem and Wiz Khalifa
Juss Smoove: 2Pac
Noiisy: Biggie
Bugatti: 2Pac
BornSinner: Big L and 2pac
Jamdropz: Eminem
Babypookie1696: Drake
The best way to listen to rap is:
Kid Icarus: When you need to get hyped up.
Lily Monroe: In my bedroom, or a car.
Money-making-Marc: Motivation or learn your reality.
AshleyLiani: To listen to the words & the meaning behind it.
Blossom_beautyxxx: Fully awake.
Spongebob Reyes: When you're with friends.
Juss Smoove: Feet up, drinking apple juice.
Noiisy: YouTube/livemixtapes.com
Bugatti: Out loud.
Jamdropz: Loudly, with earphones in.
Babypookie1696: When you're mad.
The best rapper in the world right now is:
Malaphats: Lil B The Basedgod
Lily Monroe: Nas
Money-making-Marc: Lil Wayne
AshleyLiani: Kendrick Lamar
Blossom_beautyxxx: J. Cole
D Cylla: Kendrick Lamar
Spongebob Reyes: Eminem and Wiz Khalifa
Juss Smoove: Kendrick Lamar
Noiisy: Kendrick Lamar
Jamdropz: Drake
Babypookie1696: Drake
My top 5 favorite albums are:
Malaphats: Ready to Die, Life After Death, The College Dropout, Mysterious Phonk
Lily Monroe: Illmatic, All Eyez on Me, The Blueprint, Born Sinner, 2001.
AshleyLiani: Pink Friday, Graduation, Blueprint 3, Watch the Throne, Good Kid M.A.A.D City
Blossom_beautyxxx: Watch the Throne, The Heist, Homecoming, Graduation, The Adventures of Bobby Ray
Juss Smoove: Section 80, Good Kid M.A.A.D City, Graduation, Born Sinner, Watch the Throne
Bugatti: The Carter IV, The Carter III, Dedication 4, Yeezus, I am not A Human Being Part 2
BornSinner: Yeezus, Born Sinner
Jamdropz: Cole World: Sideline Story, Relapse, Take Care, Riot, Thank Me Later
If Chief Keef went to my school he would:
Malaphats: Be very chill.
Kid Icarus: Not come.
Lily Monroe: Be worshipped by other people, but not me.
Money-making-Marc: Rap for us, or represent our school. Our school would be well known.
AshleyLiani: Not come, or be rebellious.
Blossom_beautyxxx: Be a dropout.
D Cylla: Be a lame.
Spongebob Reyes: Be our hip-hop teacher.
Juss Smoove: Drop out.
Noiisy: Get into fights and expelled.
Bugatti: Be stupid.
BornSinner: Turn it up #3hunna.
Jamdropz: Fail every class.
Babypookie1696: Never graduate.
The realest rapper is:
Malaphats: The Notorious B.I.G.
Kid Icarus: Eminem
Lily Monroe: 2Pac
Money-making-Marc: Eminem
AshleyLiani: Jay-Z
Blossom_beautyxxx: Nas
Spongebob Reyes: I don't know.
Juss Smoove: Kendrick Lamar
Noiisy: Logic
BornSinner: Tupac
Jamdropz: Eminem
The beats on Yeezus remind me of:
Malaphats: Techno/Hip-Hop
Kid Icarus: Techno/Dubstep
Lily Monroe: Metal
Money-making-Marc: Rock star music/DJ mixing music
AshleyLiani: Techno
blossom_beautyxxx: Techno/Metal
D Cylla: 80s Techno
Spongebob Reyes: Dr. Dre beats
Juss_Smoove: They make my head hurt.
Bugatti: Techno
BornSinner: Nothing (itself)
Jamdropz: Reggae beats
Babypookie1696: Club music
