Lyrics Of The Week: May 17-23

"What you want, a Bentley? Fur coat? A diamond chain? / All you blacks want all the same things."

Numbers notwithstanding, Kanye's new words were by far the most talked about this week. On May 17th, he premiered "New Slaves" via an audio/visual display in 66 different locations worldwide, performing it live on SNL the following day (along with another new single, "Black Skinhead"). The track is a potent, racially-charged statement on what 'Ye deems the "new slavery," that being the mental slavery to materialism so prevalent in the rap game today, perpetuated by insatiable corporate greed. If this is an indication of things to come, his imminent Yeezus album should prove to be as controversial as it is dope. 

Thoughts on this? 

[Bridge]
You see it's leaders and there's followers
But I'd rather be a dick than a swallower

[Verse 2]
I throw these Maybach keys
I wear my heart on the sleeve
I know that we the new slaves
I see the blood on the leaves
I see the blood on the leaves
I see the blood on the leaves
I know that we the new slaves
I see the blood on the leaves
They throwing hate at me
Want me to stay at ease
Fuck you and your corporation
Y'all niggas can't control me
I know that we the new slaves
I know that we the new slaves
I'm about to wild the fuck out
I'm goin' Bobby Boucher
I know that pussy ain't free
You niggas, pussy, ain't me
Y'all throwing contracts at me
You know that niggas don't read
Throw 'em Maybach keys
Fuck it, c'est la vie
I know that we the new slaves
Y'all niggas can't fuck with me
Y'all niggas can't fuck with 'Ye
Y'all niggas can't fuck with 'Ye
I'll move my family out the country
So you can't see where I stay
So go and grab the reporters
So I can smash these recorders
They try to confuse me with some bullshit
Like the New World Order
Meanwhile the DEA
Teamed up with the CCA
They tryna lock niggas up
They tryna make new slaves
See that's that privately-owned prison
Get your piece today
Probably all in the Hamptons
Braggin' 'bout what they made
Fuck you and your Hampton house
I'll fuck your Hampton spouse
Came on her Hampton blouse
And in her Hampton mouth
Y'all 'bout to turn shit up
I'm 'bout to tear shit down
I'm 'bout to air shit out
Now what the fuck they gon' say now?!

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2.) Biggest / Best Remix: Black Hippy - U.O.E.N.O Remix

"This hoodie here 'bout two stacks, hell yeah that bitch gon' go HAM / Molly in her drink, but she asked me to, and oh yeah, I got this on cam." -ScHoolBoy Q

This is the U.O.E.N.O remix we were all waiting for, even if we didn't expect it. No one has done this instrumental justice like Black Hippy - not Rick Ross, A$AP Rocky, Wiz Khalifa or even Rocko himself. Although each verse is strong, Schoolboy and Jay Rock definitely went in the hardest, the former even making a point to directly address Ross' controversial molly line. This version is the best so far, without question, and it's hard to imagine anyone else topping it. 

Anyone disagree? 

[Verse 2: Schoolboy]
Groovy nigga, that's all day, Backwood hold three grams
Got a six-shooter, that revolver spinning
Shells stuck inside but won't jam
This hoodie here 'bout two stacks, hell yeah that bitch gon' go HAM
Molly in her drink, but she asked me to, and oh yeah, I got this on cam'
Gangster nigga, not trap beats - bet I still sound like that new shit
Originality in my blueprint, still Figg Side, figaro, pimp 
Her thick ass where my palm hit, pull my dick out, she gon' bomb it
Swag surfing all through the world, slide through the sea on a comet
O-X-Y for these morons, that be that new shit I'm pushing
Raise off of them pockets, bring more of them chloroforms
These niggas ain't poppin' - tell them old niggas to move on
Ah damn, I don said it - yeah - ah damn, they beheaded 

[Verse 4: Jay Rock]
Respect, I get the utmost
I'm so dope, I'm a walking kilo
36 Os...
You don't even know I'm gettin' cheese like Cheetos 
You mad that we BMFing
Bitch-ass niggas steady PMSing
I never show my hands, can't know my plans
Gotta keep 'em guessin' 
Rock! I was off the scene
Now a nigga back like a 4 1/2
Shootin' up the set like Spielberg
See the big picture when them hammers flash
I don't post a lot on Instagram
That's the quickest way they'll get you, man
Leave that shit for the bitches, man
Alphabit boys, they'll get ya ass
IRS they was on a nigga
Cashed them out, not I'm Scott free
Got my passport in my JanSport, now I'm overseas 
You don't even know it...
Rock been killin' this shit, no gloves, no mask on me
Just 100 thousand cash on me
Back then, I was doing bad, homie
All my bitches bad now
My own hoes try to keep tabs on me
Safe to say I'm the man now
Punk-ass nigga just stand down
'Fore the shots go up and it's man down
Hands down, still popping, no prescription, I'm flexing 
Suplex a pussy, I've been off the edge
Too late to push me, nigga I ain't fell off
Used to move Frosted Flakes like Kellogs
Pull up to the bank, count paper like tellers 
Top Dawg, Money Gang, bitch, we've been on
Clothesline the beat, nigga, John Cena
Been having stripes, can't walk in my Adidas 
Kicked in the door, hand on the Nina
Black Hippy shit, rock on, bleed 'em 

Click the badge below to read Kendrick and Soul's verses: 

3.) Most Reflective: Wale - LoveHate Thing

This soulful single from Wale's upcoming album "The Gifted" finds him reflecting on the struggles and triumphs of past and present circumstances. Can you relate? 

[Hook: Sam Dew]
Hold me tight, let me go
Heal my heart, hurt my soul
Build me up, break me down
Make me smile, make me frown
Give me love, take it all away again
Give me love, take it all away again

[Verse 2: Wale]
Yeah, my affinty grows as the city gets cold
As you reaching your goals, you gon' meet you some foes
Having dinner with Leonsis I'm dreaming to own
But for now me and my homies see the bottom floor
I'm trying to redefine the culture, and a bigger soul
Women in town but I'm manifesting every goal
I see potential in John, talk to him once a week
Media targeting our city in This Week
I lost a lot of friends, and they ain't even dead
When I was on my way up why you ain't see the stairs
Lord father if I opted to follow them
My heart would tear from my dreams let me know that you here
And it's rare when I'm anywhere with too many heads
Niggas jealous and never tell it until they stare?
How could you blame us, envy
We do the same thing for a living
Know the same niggas but they all commend me
Champagne I'mma spill it until we all fill up
Maybe it stopped me from giving a fuck about opinions
Probably not, but I'm temperorary out of fizucks
So tell the post to leave propaganda to politicians

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4.) Best Collaboration: Sir Michael Rocks ft. Ab-Soul & Da$H - In A Minute (Prod. By Larry Fisherman)

This week, Mikey Rocks joined forces with Ab-Soul and Da$h on this new cut produced by Larry Fisherman (aka Mac Miller). Not only do the emcees' intoxicated, vaguely manic verses complement one another perfectly, they meld seamlessly with Mac's spaced-out, zone-inducing instrumental. Overall, the combination's dope. 

Thoughts? 

[Hook]
I'm the illest nigga you seen in a minute
Shine my light and illuminate in a minute
Bring the house down everytime I'm in it
Time is money bitch I only got a minute
Got a minute, bitch
Bitch I only got a minute
Time is money bitch I only got a minute
I'm the illest nigga you seen in a minute
Shine my light and illuminate in a minute

[Verse 3: Sir Michael Rocks]
Smoking the weed in Indian scrolls
Eating tilapia out of their skulls
Blood start dripping, dropping up out of my nose
It got on my clothes
Demons be handing me shit, where should I tell them to go?
I got the candles lit, pencil in hand
Fucking a random bitch, triple the 6, you understand this shit?
Starting to question the room...
I'm obsessed wit the Xans, obsessed wit the moon
Possessive wit bitches too soon, bitch you get back in the room
Cigarettes is feeling foreign to my diaphragm
G wagon seats from the skin of leviathan
And now we down in the abyss gettin' high again
Da$h give me another strip so I can die again

Click the badge to read Ab and Da$h's verses:

5.) Most Introspective: Brother Ali - Don't Mess With Me

"I ain't do shit today but climb inside my hiding place; that's the out-of-body cave that lies behind my face."

Brief but potent words from an inarguable poet. Always socially conscious and self-aware, Ali delves deep here, examining his creative process, peace of mind, motivations and general spirituality. The track was he and producer Reggie Reg's contribution to Soul Tools Entertainment’s ongoing Soul ToolsDay series.

Thoughts? 

I'm surrounded... pictures that tower 
Legends hang tall in all the walls of my office
All around 'em, and all the stars in orbit 
Tryna embody betterment to my conscience
I wanna carve with the pen of James Baldwin 
This time of night I might dip it up in the cauldron 
Insight jogging, let's start evolving
Insider with insight up into my darkness 
After a while all the thoughts start sparking
Heart got to hollering, my solitary sorrows and...
Portraits on my wall started applauding 
When I hit the carpets, they climbed off and joined in 
They did not avoid it, I made it my employment 
I'm explaining, not exploiting - holler at your boy, then
Noises I'm recording were created in accordance 
With Lady Luck, instead of Mystery, her former boyfriend 
Time travel interplay - tomorrow, yesterday 
Insha'Masha'Allah - which is to say
Every second is a blessing from the Heavens 
So existing is a blissful way of throwing all your gifts away 
I ain't do shit today but climb inside my hiding place
That's the out-of-body cave that lies behind my face
They don't understand the time it takes to concentrate 
Feel like I'm out of place, out of time and out of space
This little world of mine is kinda gray but I'mma stay
Namaste, that's the only one that I can say 
Start the conversation saying "as-salam alaykum"
Brother I love you like...
Check out our legacy - on our last leg, you see
Age has a tendency to knock you down a peg or three
Pet pedigree, better agree to disagree 
Or read this degree we received for repeating history 
Pardon my epiphany, I don't have no piff in me
Spitting literally keep me way twisted consistently 
I scribbled this just to see if it would get me free
Now turn these damn pictures around, don't mess with me

6.) Most Provocative / Socially Conscious: Lupe Fiasco - Animal Pharm

"Am I not an animal 'cause I've got thumbs?" 

A potent, Atoms-For-Peace-sampling single from Lupe. He comments and calls for action on humanity's superficial ills while dropping a plethora of animal references and similes. Can you wrap your head around these words? If so, how do they make you feel?  

[Verse 1]
Quiet as a kitten
Reply as silent as a Rafael-given instrument for stickin'
Or maybe riot as a lion
Would he tie in tiger for attention?
Tiggers and Poohs, niggas in jewels
Mr. Opulent Christopher Robinson too
Reversal like...
When that predetermined term expires on a turtle's life
What of Korea, are you scared?
Or is something not there, like a Welsh rabbit full of hairs
Animal farms and imaginary bears
The body is a house like a kangaroo pouch
Or an oyster-hoisted cow over crescent moons
As it looms low in the night sky
Platoons of coons stand ready for the drive-by
Steady as the medley booms from the Akai
Affirm as in "aye aye"
Like it the second
Like a junior, like a third, like a eye
Like I observe from the view of a bird as it fly high
Sitting heavy like spaghetti in the belly of a wise guy
Who let these G's out the PI_STY?
Seems I'm taking cues from The Wire
Okay decorum, and keeping you from wanting to buy it
But you still buy it like you never left its sight
And like a slow gunfighter gun: unfired
Cow dung walls, hermit crabs in the mall
Sting ray from the stars and barnyard laws

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7.) Most Natural Lyricism: Wu-Tang Clan - Execution In Autumn

This track isn't exactly new - it was unreleased, having surfaced this week, but you know we had to mention the Wu. This is classic Wu-Tang Clan, and Inspectah Deck, Raekwon, RZA and U-God are more than comfortable on the Frank Dukes instrumental, bringing that witty, unpredictable talent and all-natural game. 

Thoughts? 

[Verse 1: Inspectah Deck]
You stepped in the pit of the flame
You're lost on beat street
I'mma throw spit on your name
Hit it raw when they mention the name
It’s like Mike when he score with like 2 seconds left in the game
Small change, don’t step in my lane
I rock too hard body
I click, bang, give em the pain
Nah man, can’t get with them games
Your boy born with it
So how you gonna get him to change?
You a lame, putting shit in the game
Piranha wanna see me in the state greens, 
in prison in chains
But I’m smooth like the groove to the listener brain
And you only understand it if you’ve been through my pain
Icy white spitters in frames
Hustle in my blood, bet my seed’s gonna get it the same
Yes indeed, I’m destined to reign
So ahead of the game
All aboard y'all, get on the train

[Verse 2: Raekwon]
Banana clip, macaholic, I’ll slap your Captain John
Go in the freezer, gotta sneeze the tits out the toilet
Niggas is norbits, runnin up on the dice game
Call it preacher suit or holdin a raw affair
Put that call in, it’s dough in the wall, stall him
Plastic bags laying in the floor with ya
It’s just dog’s day, reservoir out in Utah yo
Where my dope in marijuana’s got more than
Real nights and for them, we pay to have a roast
Assassins is strapped, this the only way the yay grows
More leverage, more 7’s, ridin around with legends
Payin judges or we be up in New York repping

Click the bage to read U-God and RZA's verses:

8.) Most Braggadocios: T.I. ft. Lil Wayne - Wit Me

"Wit Me" was created as a means of hyping up fans for Tip and Weezy's upcoming "America's Most Wanted" tour, and as such it's understandably belligerent. No disrespect intended - it is what it is. 

Thoughts? 

[Verse 3: Lil Wayne]
Uh, pussy money weed with me
Before you judge me I plead guilty
I wish you nigga would, I won’t get a splinter
Just bought a chicken, 'bout to break it down to chicken tenders
Block formin' and I’m not human
My drop zoomin', my eyes groomin'
One giant leap for mankind
I’m high as mooman, how have you been?
Running on my waist
But it ain’t that far away
I’m sparkling like some Chardonnay
Here today, gone today
I play with pussy, not these niggas
Crucify these niggas
Kidnap em call they boss ask em who gone by these niggas
Got Lil Wayne on her ass, Lil Tunechi on her titties
To kill me you gotta die wit me, wit me, wit me, wit me

[Verse 4: T.I.]
Hey Wayne wait man, these niggas ain’t true
Julio on the yard, these niggas can’t do
These niggas ain’t kings, these niggas ain’t tune
Got the game locked up, couple different angle
Got the outside, inside, little lane too
I sold up nigga, hold up nigga
Pimps on the loop, put yo hoes up nigga
Handcuff that bitch when we roll up nigga
We’ll hit that bitch with a pole up her
Then her head and shoulders up it never hold in her
When your late checkin up, she match us about
Then we rollin some loud and leave up out the house
We leave up the house, getting hundred’s and fifty’s
And go do a show for two-hundred and fifty
We sell out arenas at hundreds a cities
These niggas want trouble? I’m bringing it with me

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9.) Trippiest: Earl Sweatshirt ft. Mac Miller - Guild (Prod. By Larry Fisherman)

The latest single from Earl Sweatshirt is a murky trip inside intoxicated minds. Instead of facing their demons, Mac and Earl choose to chill with them, reveling in sedated debauchery. 

What do you make of it?

[Verse 2: Earl]

I'm on the monitor, nigga...
She's takin' it like a champ, and I'm proud of her
I'm on the couch where that loud is burning
Shouting "I don't fuck with you!" 'cause I don't
Never love a hoe - but we could play doctor
Ma, open wide for the thermometer 
Your cowgirl is crotch-rotted 
With a clean fade, her 'fro lopsided 
Tell the label that I want a white driver
And tell him give me space, I don't know that nigga
Bold-ass little fuckin' low-class villain 
Whole van tinted - no, can't kill him
It's the Trash Wang nigga, that's what's up (nigga)
Half-pint of hope in that plastic cup
Real nigga from the start 'til the casket shut
Present his own case, it's a basket one
Present-day based nigga smack the judge 
Rhyme with them same niggas ashin' blunts
But that bass make his face like he mad or something
Slide into the safe, take the cash and run
And know that if he fake, I'm harassing him
They took the big toe so they tagged the tongue 
Out here stuntin' like I'm supposed to, dawgs
Blowin' more smoke then a broke exhaust
Pipe, only spirit that'll hold me, dawg
It's Wolf Gang, bitch, like you know these paws
Livin' like in '62... spitting rip my genitals
My bitch just split the Swisher 
My niggas split them residuals...

[Outro]

Aye, this marijuana feels 'Pac
Growing, blaring Gil Scott
Heron, while we pill pop
Ever run and kill cops? 
Niggas know I feel not
For 'em, stop bitching and staring 
Get that grill knocked open...

Click the badge to read Mac's verse:

10.) No Comment: Chief Keef - Macaroni Time

The floor's yours, folks - what's your take on Macaroni Time? 

Stay tuned for next Friday’s Lyrics of the Week, and thanks again for joining the discussion. 

[Verse 1]
She wanna be a Glory Girl but she don't like my Glory Guys
I know this bitch is down, she wanna meet my mama now
But unh-unh, I've got a QP of earth, roll it, let's get high
Light it up, and I guarantee that you gon' touch the sky
He say he gettin' money, but I know that that's a lie
I see ones and fives in your bands right now 
But unh-unh, you ain't flexing, boy, you need some exercise
You cuttin' up, you need GBE lessons now 
I hear these niggas flexing, saying they know the Glory Gang
How you know us and we don't know your name?
Unh-unh, just bought a pint, I'm leanin' right now, dumb fuck
Just popped a flat, I'm beamin' right now, unh-unh
I feel like catching a homi' right now, no love
I see an opp, I'm droppin' right now
She let me fuck... then I'm dropping her, right now
I'mma hop up in that 'Rari - top, I'm dropping it right now

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