Last night was a memorable one for hip-hop heads. Thanks to LeBron, TDE let loose a project of Kendrick Lamar album throwaways, which is sounding better than just about any album since the one they didn't make it onto. Hopefully untitled unmastered. didn't steal too much of the spotlight away from the album that came soon afterwards, a joint release between two legends -- the worlds of College Park and Hollygrove, both neighborhoods essential to the hip-hop landscape, joined together for a triumph the whole south can get behind.
ColleGrove is more 2 Chainz' album than it is Wayne's. Nothing against Weezy at all -- he's rapping better than he has in a long time -- but the beats are more suited to Tity, and it's clear he's the driving creative force behind the album's makeup. In fact, though ColleGrove is more revealing of Chainz' artistry, it functions as something of a tribute to Wayne, to whom the former Playaz Circle member feels he owes all of his success. For that inspiration alone, ColleGrove has the potential to go down as a southern classic. But let's get to the rapping, the real excitement when it comes to both artists.
When the two vets come together, backed by talents such as Mannie Fresh, Metro Boomin, and Zaytoven, their skills immediately sharpen. We've heard both artists boast about the same things in different iterations, but the endless energy and imagination keeps us coming back. Best believe the ColleGrove studio sessions were something to behold, and both emcees come up with many piping hot, quotable-filled verses throughout the 12-track project. Here are 5 of the best.
"Dedication"
And I was slangin' the Ps and smokin' n*gga like Newport
Comin' up off of Too $hort, my underwear was my hoop shorts
And then I went on tour and recorded a song in your tour bus
And that was '08, that's the first time I met Drake
When I hit your cup with that drank, had a n*gga stomach like 'wait'
- 2 Chainz
I went into ColleGrove immediately after listening to untitled unmastered. I was expecting the bangers, but I was caught off guard when 2 Chainz opened the album with a sniffles-inducing tribute named after Tunechi's classic mixtape series.
On "Dedication," 2 Chainz credits the Young Money rapper for basically everything he's achieved in the rap game. He takes us back to the first time he got a taste of Wayne's superstar status, and of his famous styrofoam cup. He recounts his early recognition of Weezy's genuine willingness to help raise him up. Tity has cherished those early moments throughout his career, which has, by now, earned him an indelible legacy.
How many of us got real friends? Doesn't get much realer than this.
"Bounce"
Caught up in my bullshit, put your head on backwards
And skate off after, engage in laughter 'bout what just happened
Fingers and napkins get send to mammies, is that too graphic?
Catch you in traffic, you sitting daffy like stealing candy
My ceiling's absent, my wheels are massive, my friends assassins
All of us bastards, our mothers queens and our women dancers
My rivers rapid, my fins are splashin', my gills are flappin'
I bend some matches, then sip some gas and went and kissed a dragon
- Lil Wayne
The back and forth vibe concocted on "Bounce" is so rare that we have to include at least one quotable outburst from each rapper. Wayne sets the tone right away -- like, we haven't heard him rapping like this since I don't know when. The opener has all the appeal of a classic Weezy verse: it's gruesome, imaginative, and pretty hilarious. And there's also a quick segue into something much deeper -- "All of us bastards, our mothers queen and our women dancers." It's amazing how he can fit that kind of wisdom into such a compact, and intuitive, line.
"Bounce"
I'm really rappin', I'm finger snappin', I'm pistol packin'
Y'all n*ggas slippin', my swag is drippin', so here's a napkin
What's really happenin', bro?
Verbal attackin', I'm showin' passion
Know what I mean, see I'm the king like I'm from Akron
I'm goin' overboard somebody call the captain
And when it comes to gettin' checks, I always want the fat ones
I'm so high I can sing to a chandelier
My flow a glass of Ace of Spades, and yours a can of beer
- 2 Chainz
Really, the entirety of this song could be included in the list. It's Tity and Weezy doing what they do best: having a helluva lot of fun in the midst of rapping their asses off. And as the song finds them trading quick, high-energy verses, the back and forth chemistry leads to some incredible bursts from both rappers.
Tity's opening verse finds him, typically, using punchlines to prove his swag is more potent than yours. And it'd be hard to build a more convincing case in 30 seconds. "I'm really rappin'," he starts the verse, before quickly making good on said statement. His bars click and connect like automatic fire, making one realize how specialized he is in this brand of rapping, one that's emulated by all but equaled by few.
"Rolls Royce Weather Everyday"
Bought a Wraith for winter and a vert for the summer
'Member 12th grade I sold some work to undercover
Mama only child we stayed in a one bedroom
Used to ride MARTA 'cause it had more legroom
I'm a ghetto boy, I came up on Brad Jordan
First lick I made, I bought five pairs of Jordans
Make it so bad, two pair were the same
I see the old me in new cats in the game
Drop some loose change on some clothes I can't pronounce
Gun so muhfuckin' big you gotta crouch
- 2 Chainz
Tity Boi became the rap star known as 2 Chainz by developing a brand of snappy but nuanced luxury rap. But his lifestyle portraits are especially appealing because he's able to work in tales of his hard-nosed come-up. The juxtaposition is startling, but the eye for detail and the attitude remains constant.
On "Rolls Royce Weather Everyday," he switches between the high life and the low on each line, drawing connections between the two and showing that not much has changed between traphouse Tity and 2 Chainz, even though the latter resides comfortably in a gated mansion.
"Section"
Walk around this bitch with a mean mug
I walk around my house with a lean mug
She pull my dick out and get a bear hug
And then the bitch swallow all of these cubs
I walk up in your house with machine guns
Catch you on the couch watching re-runs
Shoot first then I ask questions later
N*gga mad when I get no response
Been had hoes since peach fuzz
Been had money since peach fuzz
Shining on these motherfucking bitch n*ggas
I feel like the sun on a beach bum
- Lil Wayne
On the London on da Track-produced "Section," Chainz and Wayne carve out the VIP and restrict anyone of lesser importance to the game. "My favorite hustler is Stunna, my favorite rapper is me, my bank account filled with commas," Chainz raps with authority on the hook.
On his second verse, Wayne, as he often does, takes issue with an unnamed enemy. When he demonstrates his own superior ability, though, it's clear he's talking about the rap game. Creating imaginary foes can be boring, but not in this case, as Wayne paints a detailed murder scene, and, then, compares his "shining" to that of the sun -- "on a beach bum."
