Best Recent Hip-Hop "story"?

Lawrence · 22nd May 2006, 04:09 AM

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 · 22nd May 2006, 04:24 AM

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** · 22nd May 2006, 04:46 AM

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

defjamm · 22nd May 2006, 05:00 AM

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 · 22nd May 2006, 09:14 AM

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

DJShowtime · 22nd May 2006, 04:33 PM

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 · 22nd May 2006, 05:03 PM

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

Jolle_Cobra · 22nd May 2006, 06:58 PM

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

atma · 22nd May 2006, 07:38 PM

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 · 22nd May 2006, 07:44 PM

Quote:

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 · 22nd May 2006, 07:48 PM

Quote:

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.

22nd May 2006, 07:50 PM

Paul Revere

LOL not recent but it was a good story

defjamm · 23rd May 2006, 02:50 AM

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 · 27th May 2006, 11:14 AM

not recent, but nice:

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

Relax · 27th May 2006, 09:11 PM

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

babyface_finsta · 27th May 2006, 09:47 PM

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 · 28th May 2006, 12:43 AM

Nas- "Last real ni**a alive"

Gotta be one of the illest stories in a minute.

requiem · 28th May 2006, 10:35 AM

Roots Manuva _ INNA

amp · 28th May 2006, 04:52 PM

crime boss. "the click"

cynic · 29th May 2006, 08:02 AM

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

Narykcin · 30th May 2006, 04:23 AM

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 · 30th May 2006, 05:20 AM

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 · 30th May 2006, 06:04 AM

Quote:

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 · 30th May 2006, 08:01 AM

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

The Beatsmith · 30th May 2006, 12:42 PM

big pun - fast money

thechiefgood · 1st June 2006, 02:18 AM

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 · 1st June 2006, 10:24 AM

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

youngkain · 1st June 2006, 11:21 AM

another vote for Rass Kass- Nature of the threat

iceberg · 1st June 2006, 08:11 PM

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"

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22nd May 2006, 04:09 AM	#1
Lawrence Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 638	Best Recent Hip-Hop "story"? 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 __________________ The Audio Cave NFL Pool 2008

22nd May 2006, 04:46 AM	#3
TonyBelmont Moderator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boston,MA Providence,RI Posts: 9,639	Some Nas tracks... like the Backwards song he did. And the one about his wedding day, etc. __________________ Tony Belmont We Sell Gear! Need plugins? Check out PluginDiscounts.com

22nd May 2006, 06:58 PM	#8
Jolle_Cobra Gear interested Join Date: May 2006 Location: Sweden Posts: 22	Well, why not "Dont Feel Right", the new single by The Roots __________________ http://www.myspace.com/traneofsoulfanatix

27th May 2006, 09:11 PM	#15
Relax Gear addict Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 458	Nas- I gave you power Rass Kass- Nature of the threat __________________ www.djrelax.com

22nd May 2006, 04:24 AM	#2
Young Chris 101 Gear interested Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 8	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"

22nd May 2006, 05:00 AM	#4
defjamm Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Germany Posts: 562	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.

22nd May 2006, 09:14 AM	#5
Igotsoul4u Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,483	This dude livewire is killin it down in brooklyn. watch for him. he is the real deal.

22nd May 2006, 04:33 PM	#6
DJShowtime Gear interested Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 21	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.

22nd May 2006, 05:03 PM	#7
HeatWAVS Gear maniac Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 234	Meet the Parents is the shiz nizzle bam snap... I love that song.

22nd May 2006, 07:38 PM	#9
atma Gear nut Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 113	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.

22nd May 2006, 07:50 PM	#12
no ssl yet Guest Posts: n/a	Paul Revere LOL not recent but it was a good story

23rd May 2006, 02:50 AM	#13
defjamm Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Germany Posts: 562	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.

27th May 2006, 11:14 AM	#14
defjamm Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Germany Posts: 562	not recent, but nice: onyx - rob and vic (about 2 brothers) onyx - veronica (set-up)

27th May 2006, 09:47 PM	#16
babyface_finsta Gear addict Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: VA Posts: 313	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...

28th May 2006, 12:43 AM	#17
JohnnyPraze Gear nut Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: PA - 724 Posts: 131	Nas- "Last real ni**a alive" Gotta be one of the illest stories in a minute.

28th May 2006, 10:35 AM	#18
requiem Gear Head Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 35	Roots Manuva _ INNA

28th May 2006, 04:52 PM	#19
amp Gear Head Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 74	crime boss. "the click"

29th May 2006, 08:02 AM	#20
cynic Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: san jose, califas Posts: 1,910	just heard it today.... fort minor - kenji __________________ damaged goods - beyond repair, cd out now damaged goods - myspace page flying brick records clout online

30th May 2006, 04:23 AM	#21
Narykcin Gear Head Join Date: May 2006 Location: PA Posts: 40	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." __________________ Changin' the world one track at a time Narykcin Productions

30th May 2006, 05:20 AM	#22
Bigg_T Gear nut Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 89	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!!!

30th May 2006, 08:01 AM	#24
A Fak Gear maniac Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 208	juelz santana - lil boy fresh Bun B - The Story 50 - A Baltimore Love Thing __________________ Was it T-Pain with that funny voice sht, Or Lil' Wayne with that funny voice sht. The whole industry dck road that funny voice sht!

30th May 2006, 12:42 PM	#25
The Beatsmith Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: UK Posts: 783	big pun - fast money

1st June 2006, 02:18 AM	#26
thechiefgood Gear interested Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 5	story songs 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.

1st June 2006, 10:24 AM	#27
Alex Niedt Lives for gear Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Posts: 601	A story-telling thread and only one mention of Slick Rick so far??!? Slick Rick wins best story-teller, IMO. And Biggie. __________________

1st June 2006, 11:21 AM	#28
youngkain Gear nut Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 147	.. another vote for Rass Kass- Nature of the threat

1st June 2006, 08:11 PM	#29
iceberg Gear nut Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: No Coast Region, USA Posts: 129	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" __________________ http://www.myspace.com/sirbergersworth

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