Best Recent Hip-Hop "story"?

[Lawrence]

What do you guys consider the most recent song with the best overall story? When I say "story" I mean a rap or hip-hop track where the lyrics tell a really good story. First time I hear it, after the first hook I wanna be wondering what's gonna happen next, in the second verse... and the drama on the breakdown or bridge... or how it's resolved in the finale.

Reason I ask is that I like a lot of the music of what I hear (a lot) but hardly ever do the lyrics make sense or seem original, even if the hooks are really cool.

One of the reasons I liked Tupac, Eminem and some others (no direct comparison being made) personally at certain stages of their careers is that some of their songs told stories from start to finish. Brenda Had A Baby. Stan. Now all I hear are stories about stuff in the hood, the same stuff over and over in different forms. They seem to be going nowhere in particular.

Formula?: Write a great hook. Add some good music. Make it bump hard. Talk about (just about anything) in between the hooks. Where's the stories?

I wrote a rap song/lyric last year "Where Do I Go From Here" (that I'm sitting on for now) that was about a gangster who decided to leave the game and go straight. It began with an accidental killing of a child by someone in his crew that caused him to evaluate his lifestyle. Told how he prepared to leave and things he had to do to get out safely in the verses. Barely avoided some serious drama in the breakdown/bridge as he made his way out and ended up at the airport with his wife and kid boarding a plane at the end.

Nothing new at all in the premise. But I wanted to tell a sequential story from start to finish in chapters in the verses, with the hook being the overview and the moral question. The rappers I auditioned for the lead vox liked it and changed some lyrics to resonate better with the targeted audience.

Hit me up. Where are the stories? I know they're out there somewhere.

Tell me a story.

Lawrence

[Young Chris 101]

Some are recent some are not... but here they go...

Jay-z Blueprint 2: The Curse----------Meet the Parents..

Eminem has a good one too not sure which cd its off of but the song is called "When I'm Gone" its pretty deep..

and Juelz has one on his newest cd (What The Games Been Missing) called "Gone"

[TonyBelmont]

Some Nas tracks... like the Backwards song he did. And the one about his wedding day, etc.

[defjamm]

juelz santana - lil boy fresh
biggie - miss u (but it's not one story, there are some)
tragedy khadafi - neva die alone pt.2
camron - i.b.s.
camron - d rugs
camron - wrong ones
sticky fingaz - autobiography of kirk jones(the whole lp is like one movie)
fabolous - can you hear me
eminem - mockingbird
dmx - slippin
ghostface killah - all that i got is you
eve - love is blind

nas has some, jigga, i don't have the names in my head right now, but i'll look.

[Igotsoul4u]

This dude livewire is killin it down in brooklyn. watch for him. he is the real deal.

[DJShowtime]

Bun B - The Story (off the Trill CD)

Thats real talk...there is no hook though. I second Ghostface - All That I Got Is You. I liked the Ironman CD.

[HeatWAVS]

Meet the Parents is the shiz nizzle bam snap... I love that song.

[Jolle_Cobra]

Well, why not "Dont Feel Right", the new single by The Roots

[atma]

not new, but one of my favorites is Boogiemonster's "old man jacob's well". this is one of the craziest hip hop tracks--about a pedophile who stalks and murders schoolchildren, it's told from the different characters points of view, the old man and then his next victim. what makes it even more bizzare is those guys were staunch christians.

[azwun25]

Originally Posted by atma

not new, but one of my favorites is Boogiemonster's "old man jacob's well". this is one of the craziest hip hop tracks--about a pedophile who stalks and murders schoolchildren, it's told from the different characters points of view, the old man and then his next victim. what makes it even more bizzare is those guys were staunch christians.

i forgot about that one...yeah that track is sick

[Big 3rd]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

Some Nas tracks... like the Backwards song he did. And the one about his wedding day, etc.

"Undying Love" I think was the name of it. Off the chain...I think that was my favorite too.

Paul Revere


LOL not recent but it was a good story

[defjamm]

nas - sekou story
r.a. the rugged man - a star is born
dmx - the omen
damien
masta ace - brooklyn masala(about a girl from pakistan, how they meet and date)
necro - s.t.d

not exactly what you want, but nas - i gave you power, where he raps from the view of a gun. and krs-ons has something similar from the view of a blunt(i believe), but i don't remember the name.

[defjamm]

not recent, but nice:

onyx - rob and vic (about 2 brothers)
onyx - veronica (set-up)

[Relax]

Nas- I gave you power
Rass Kass- Nature of the threat

[babyface_finsta]

I can name a buncha Nas and Jay-Z joints... and non recent joints... but I'll spare you... but to name 2 incredible songs I'd have to go with

Common - I Usta Love Her...
Pete Rock/CL Smooth - T.R.O.Y.

I know these aren't that recent... but not too many can touch them...

[JohnnyPraze]

Nas- "Last real ni**a alive"

Gotta be one of the illest stories in a minute.

[requiem]

Roots Manuva _ INNA

[amp]

crime boss. "the click"

[cynic one]

just heard it today.... fort minor - kenji

[Narykcin]

Lauryn Hill - Adam Lives in Theory

"Quickly multiplying now the the three of them are dying by the poison she perceived to be good head."

[Bigg_T]

Slick Rick : Who Rotten Em'

I know its not too recent , but it's worth checking.

Is this guy ever going to put out another record?? The World needs it!!!

[nukmusic]

What do you guys consider the most recent song with the best overall story? When I say "story" I mean a rap or hip-hop track where the lyrics tell a really good story. First time I hear it, after the first hook I wanna be wondering what's gonna happen next, in the second verse... and the drama on the breakdown or bridge... or how it's resolved in the finale.

how can anyone not feel this one........ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouZcjXQbf6k

Dizzy aka Raw DI. rap music video

"Now I made it out the trap and I made it to the trap..."

dam....that's deep

[A Fak]

juelz santana - lil boy fresh
Bun B - The Story
50 - A Baltimore Love Thing

[The Beatsmith]

big pun - fast money

[thechiefgood]

sage francis - andy kaufman *one of my favs
the game - start from scratch
nas - getting married
fort minor ft. lupe fiasco and ghostface killah - spray cans (spray cans & ink pens)

nas and ghostface have always been the greats when it comes to story telling

thechiefgood.

[Alex Niedt]

A story-telling thread and only one mention of Slick Rick so far??!? Slick Rick wins best story-teller, IMO. And Biggie.

[youngkain]

another vote for Rass Kass- Nature of the threat

[iceberg]

For me- nothing since Ricky D aka Slick Rick.
Childrens Story, Indian Girl.
"I saw crabs with spears and indian drums singin hey ya, hey ya, hey ya hey"

Oh, just thought of another great one
Sally (that girl) by The Gucci Crew
Nothing beats these in my book.

"Treat her like a prostitute, do what?
dont treat your girly well until your sure of the scoop."

I almost forgot La Di Da Di and Nightmares
"nightares in the night"