Back in August of last year, I posted “Rockers Who Think They Can Rap.” Predictably, I got many nasty comments from folks who think I don’t know anything about music, have no taste, blah blah blah. In the interest of generating more hate mail, I’m doing a sequel! This time, as an A to Z. Most letters are covered, anyway. Because I expect most of you have some of these already, no zip file today.
A is for Aaliyah! Are You That Somebody-The Gossip. The original may be more soul than rap, but it’s still Hip Hop, and Ms. Ditto is clearly rapping here. And doing a pretty fine job!
B is for Sexton Blake-I Need Love (LL Cool J cover). I like this version the most out of the ones up here. See below.
C is for Crazy (Gnarls Barkley)-Cat Power. Maybe Gnarls isn’t rap, I dunno, but Cee-Lo is definitely a rapper, and Cat definitely isn’t. So it fits this bill.
D is for Dr. Dre! Nuthin’ But a G Thang-Streetwize. A smooth jazz cover!
E is for explanation. Rockers may think they can rap, but rappers definitely shouldn’t sing. This is why: Maybe If I Sing-Sheek Louch (50 Cent dis).
F is for Fire on the Mountain . . . The rap version! I used to have this great (by which I mean funny) version of Mickey Hart rapping the lyrics (sort of) to Fire. But it’s gone! Can anybody out there help me out?
G is for Grandmaster Flash! The Message-Willy Mason.
H is for hillbilly. Rebel Without a Banjo-Nick Foster and Public Enemy. Seriously. Check this out. It’s awesome.
I is for Ice Cube! Bitches Ain’t Shit-Ben Folds (NWA cover). On my last rap covers post, a few folks asked why no Ben. The answer was, I was sure you all had heard his stuff before. But in the interests of completeness, here we are.
J is for Jenny Owens Youngs-It’s Getting Hot in Herre (Nelly). There’s lots of covers of this tune. I dig Beck’s version, too.
K is for Keane doing Dirrtylicious (Destiny’s Child). A bit more soul than rap. I’m gonna work on a soul post next. Think it’s a good idea?
L is for Luka Bloom-I Need Love (LL Cool J cover). Lots of rockers like to cover this tune. Not sure why. It’s a lame rap, maybe that’s why guys like this think they can do it. Doesn’t work for me.
M is for My Humps-Alanis Morrisette. I love this version. And for more Black Eyed Peas nonsense, see O.
N is for Crazy in Love-Novi Split (Beyonce).
O is oddly rhythmic. Hump My Tunnel-Arcade Fire vs. Black Eyed Peas.
P is for Parlaiment-Funkadelic, the foundation band of hip hop. Maggot Brain-Volebeats. Let’s make this the “V” track, too, ‘kay?
Q is for Quebec. I don’t think the MNs are from Quebec, but at least that’s a place in Canada. Crazy in Love-Magic Numbers. On this live version, the lead singer invites the audience to take the Jay-Z rap section. Good move.
R is for ‘Round the Way Girl-Travis Morrison.
S is for So
T is for Tired, that I hope
U Understand that I’m cutting this short.
V is for P (see above).
W is for Afghan Whigs! Me So Horny (2 LIve Crew)/Delirious (Prince)
XYZ are for the end of this post. C ya.
