Rap has an long-running obsession with food. Even "Rapper's Delight' couldn't resist speaking about grub, and when Wonder Mike dropped these words on the eighth verse of the pinnacle track, it opened up a lane that hasn't shut down since...
"I mean the macaroni's soggy, the peas are mushed, and the chicken tastes like wood"
While this plate doesn't sound entirely appetizing, sometimes rappers describe five-star culinary experiences. Like when Biggie introduced us to his favorite breakfast: "a t-bone steak, cheese, eggs, and Welch's grape."
All throughout its history, rap has been weaving food references into itself. Most recently, chef-turned-rapper Action Bronson is at the forefront of this obsession, referring to food metaphorically on almost every song on his newest album Mr. Wonderful.
We're hungry just thinking about it, so here's 13 of our favorite food references to chew on.
"Real G's move in silence like lasagna" - Lil Wayne
"Real G's move in silence like lasagna" - Lil Wayne
This is one of Weezy's best-known lines, and it's for good reason. It's clever and witty, but makes perfect sense too. You can say this casually throughout the day and it makes sense. Try it out sometime.
Item #2
"You can catch me in the trees like the shit for the pancakes." - Action Bronson
Action Bronson is smoking so good, that he likens himself to maple syrup with this food metaphor.
"Stuffed shells - thanks to crack, I crack / Crab and lobsters, not all mobsters / Imposters - got cha!" - Rick Ross
Ricky Rozay's whole schtick is that he got uber-rich off moving drugs. Thanks to crack, the big guy is eating well; lobsters and crabs to be specific. Those things are expensive, and Ross has a well-known large appetite, so he's splurging big on seafood.
"Watch these rap niggas get all up in your guts / French-vanilla, butter-pecan, chocolate-deluxe / Even caramel sundaes is getting touched / And scooped in my ice cream truck, who tears it up" - Method Man
On Raekwon's Purple Tape, there was a number of food references. However, the most delicious-sounding of the lot was Method Man's chorus on "Ice Cream," where he describes ladies as ice cream flavors. It keeps the listener hungry (and thirsty) throughout the whole joint.
"Haven't you all heard / Y'all all herbs / I stick toothpicks in y'all hors d'oeuvres / I'm a shark y'all just koi fish / Octopus, oysters" - Juelz Santana
"Haven't you all heard / Y'all all herbs / I stick toothpicks in y'all hors d'oeuvres / I'm a shark y'all just koi fish / Octopus, oysters" - Juelz Santana
Ever been to a fancy function where a server walks around with little finger-foods with tooth picks in them? Those are called hors d'ouevres, and they're usually delicious. Juelz Santana is shark while everybody else is koi fish, octopus and oysters, the latter of which is a fairly popular hors d'oeuvre.
"You gonna be a nigga death / Mrs. Fried Chicken you was my addiction / Dripping with high cholest- / Like Greeks with his falafel, Italian with his to-mato pasta / What roti is to a rasta / Trapping me; You and your friend mac' and cheese / Candy yams, collard greens but you knocking me to my knees / It's killing me when I'm inside / Nothing I need more than a fish fry" - Nas
On "Fried Chicken," Nas and Busta Rhymes alternate verses about their achilles heel: fried chicken. Every culture has their foods, as Nas demonstrates. The Greeks have falafel, Italians have pasta, Rastas have rotis, and African Americans have fried chicken. The chicken doubles as women, as it does often times, and it's no coincidence that Nas throws a little reference to Kelis at the end here.
"Champagne on the rocks, rockin' a Fort Knox Lazarus / Shark salad with carrots, pork chops and applesauce." - Big Pun
If there's one thing we can be certain about, it's that Big Pun ate well during his time on earth. On "Banned From TV," N.O.R.E. invited a slew of 90s all-stars, including Pun, who drops a three course meal at the end of the above line.
"Getting funky on the mike, like a old batch of collard greens." - Snoop Dogg
"Getting funky on the mike, like a old batch of collard greens." - Snoop Dogg
Ever take a whiff of some spoiled collard greens? It's probably as funky as Snoop is.
Item #9
"Talking 'bout I need a Phillie right before I get loose / Poor excuse, money please, I get loose off of orange juice" - A Tribe Called Quest
Tribe's "Ham & Eggs" may have more food references in it, but this line off "Phony Rappers" is supreme. Orange juice is enough to inspire some solid rhymes from Phife, while the sucker MC claims to need a blunt to feel loose.
"Mayonnaise-colored Benz, I push Miracle Whips." - Kanye West
"Mayonnaise-colored Benz, I push Miracle Whips." - Kanye West
We can call this one a classic by now, right? The play on "whip" is super-clever, and who wouldn't like an off-white benz?
"He don't mess with the Ritz Bits, Wheat Thins, Saltines, or Triscuits / Matzos, or Cheez-Its / Catch sugar fits every time that he sees / Chips Ahoy, double chocolate chunk / Something with the bubble and the junk in the trunk / Even the Oreos / No matter what weather / Always kept 'em dipped in milk and stuck together" - MF DOOM
DOOM went full-on foodie with MM.. Food with tracks like "Beef Rap," "Hoe Cakes," "Kon Queso," and "Kookies." One of the most jam-packed meals come in the form of these bars...
"Frequently floss hoes at Roscoe's / If I wanna squirt her, take her to Fatburger." – The Notorious B.I.G.
The t-bone steak line might get more press, but the Roscoe's / Fatburger combo is pretty genius. Check out Big Poppa drop some stellar food references on "Goin' Back To Cali."
"A pen and a paper, a stereo, a tape of / Me and Eric B, and a nice big plate of / Fish, which is my favorite dish / But without no money it's still a wish" - Rakim
If you're ever on Jeopardy and they ask what Rakim's favorite dish is, you better know! While he was too broke to eat it on "Paid in Full," we're sure he's going hard on some seafood these days.
