This list should exemplify the massive talent an MC has in those 16-32-48 bars. Some are guest spots who stole the show and others have a guest spot, but made the orginal artist irrelevant. I really could’ve filled this list with Elzhi and Royce verses; I tried to expand though. Peep it. (Excludes any songs that are comprised on ONLY one verse).
20. T.I on “Swagger Like Us” (with Jay-Z, Lil’ Wayne, Kanye West)
Album: Paper Trail
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
- He emerged as the best on the track. He came hard — very hard — and it was necessary to take back the track that was always rightfully his. Granted, he is talking about swag, but its pretty masterful with the hunger and science he puts into it.
19. Dice Raw on “Get Busy” (with The Roots)
Album: Rising Down
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
- He drops one of the best punchlines of his career and the year: “I’m kinda like W.E.B DuBois meets Heavy D and the Boys.” Beyond that, the rest of the verse is tremendous and it has to be when you are taking shine away from Black. This album was littered with great verses.
18. Kool G Rap’s 2nd verse on “On The Rise Again”
Album: Half A Klip
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
- What’s a verse of the year list without G Rap? Backed by a Premier beat and an interesting Haylie Duff feature, G Rap takes this 2nd verse to completely lash out. It is about as vivid as it can get from one of the illest street story tellers of all time.
17. J-Live’s 2nd Verse on “The Upgrade (with Posdnuos)
Album: Then What Happened?
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
- Still sleeping on this album? Stop. His lyrical ability is much too underrated and his second verse on this track exemplifies the beauty in his raps. Live kind of blacks out and just goes and goes and goes.
16. Royce Da 5′9 on “Do My Thing” (with DJ Revolution and Guilty Simpson)
Album: King of The Decks
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
- Listen to that flow…wow. Royce has fun with this, but still remains as vicious as ever. The lines come fast and furious too; get the rewind button ready.
15. Nas’ 3rd verse on “N.I.G.G.E.R”
Album: Untitled
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
- Nas is always lyrically spectacular, so of course, he had to get on this. It was just a matter of where he would fit in. The third verse of arguably the best song on the album fits in well because of its introspective outburst. It’s Nas looking in the mirror, realizing.
14. Murs’ 2nd verse on “Can It Be”
Album: Murs For President
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
- This 2nd verse is truly the story of the rise and fall and rise again of Murs the artist. It’s talking about his issues, all hip hop relevant, but he doesn’t dwell on the negatives… he does something about it. It’s beautiful.
13. Phonte on “Cool as a Fan” (with Big Pooh)
Album: And Justus For All
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
- You may remember my Top 15 Phonte Performance list. That was dope wasn’t it? This almost made the cut because of how “chill” it is. It’s pretty much Phonte kicking it on the curb just talking trash, and the way it’s done and his run on at the end is great.
12. Slug’s 2nd verse on “Yesterday”
Album: When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
- Easily the most emotional of all verses on this list. To really appreciate this song and this verse, the rest of the album should be heard. The verse (and song) are so fitting for the situation he’s in. Listen to the lyrics as he admits to plenty of his mistakes, his hardships and is willing to make anything possible work.
11. Sean Price 1st verse “Run” (with Guilty Simpson and Black Milk)
Album: Ode To The Ghetto
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
“The Matrix” (with Black Milk, Pharoahe Monch and DJ Premier)
Album: Tronic
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
- Both are really on par with each other and were hard to split up. Sean P, as usual, had a monstrous year full of crazy, erratic verses that are all contenders for this list. These two stuck out because of what they added to the track; a punch, a shot, a stab, a kill.
10. Reks’ third verse on “Say Goodnight”
Album: Grey Hairs
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
- Reks just explodes his load all over this third verse and manages to still have juice for the rest of the album. I guess having Premier back you on a track is going to make you give a little extra before the end of the joint. Reks doesn’t sound happy though.
9. Andre 3000 on “Green Light” (with John Legend)
Album: Evolver
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
“Everybody” (with Fonzworth Bentley and Kanye West)
Album: C.O.L.O.U.R.S.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
- The former was the R&B feature verse of the year, and the latter is just a tremendous verse. Hard to split up these 2 and both are worthy due to Andre’s sultry and stylistic talk to the opposite sex: “eenie meenie miney meenie prenuptial.” It’s always a spectacle when Dre raps and these two verses are no exceptions to the rule.
8. Ludacris’ 2nd verse on “Last of a Dying Breed” (with Lil’ Wayne)
Album: Theater of The Mind
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
- After the impressive verse from Wayne, Luda comes back to reclaim his track. And wow, he goes all out on this. This joint may very well be a contender for song of the year and with a verse like this one from Luda, he shows why he has so much potential to be the MC we all know he can be.
7. Jay-Z’s 2nd verse on “Brooklyn (Go Hard)” (with Santogold)
Album: Notorious Soundtrack and The Blueprint 3
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
- Punchline of the year: “I father, I Brooklyn Dodger them, I jack, I rob, I sin/ ah man/ I’m Jackie Robinson except when I run base, I dodge the pen.” By the time you figure out this quadruple entendre, you’ll get to listen to the rest of the verse and realize it’s one of the dopest of 2008.
6. Andre 3000 on “Royal Flush” (with Big Boi and Raekwon)
Album: Sir Luscious Left Foot
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
- Yeah, he’s making another appearance here. Fred put it perfectly: “Three Stacks is like that long distance slam you get like twice a year. You wait and wait and you get it and don’t get it for the rest of the year. Is it worth the wait? Yes. Does it kill you to not get it more? Of course. “Royal Flush” was undoubtedly one of the best tracks of the year and Andre blacks out; squashing Rae and Big Boi in his path.
5. Phonte on “Be Prepared” (with Akrobatik and Big Pooh)
Album: Absolute Value
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
- This was extremely close to cutting that Top 15 Phonte Performance list. This verse about the industry, the shadiness of it, the accolades and the modern stance of it is genius. It’s perfectly crafted and perfectly said. Preach ‘Te.
4. Elzhi on “Motown 25″ (with Royce Da 5′9) or “Goatit” (with Black Milk, Bishop Lamont, and Phat Kat)
Album: The Preface / Caltroit
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
- He really should have a list of his own this year. Matter of fact, throw the entire Preface on this because he’s been that good in 2008. While he doesn’t exactly get Bishop on “Goatit,” Royce certainly becomes a casualty to Elzhi’s retarded verse. Elzhi goes extremely hard on the latter, and with any other artist at any other time, he certainly would’ve crushed him. But…
3. Bishop Lamont on “Goatit” (with Black Milk, Phat Kat and Elzhi)
Album: Caltroit
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
- The flow and the delivery and the end product of BL’s verse on “Goatit” off of the early 2008 album, Caltroit, is brilliant. You will kind of stop in amazement and just appreciate it for what it is; a ripping of the microphone.
2. Royce Da 5′9 on “Losing Out” (with Black Milk)
Album: Tronic
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
- Similar to Elzhi, he could’ve had his own entire list this year. What a year for Royce. On his 1st verse, it’s the flow and the delivery that gets you. He’s complimenting the beat better than anything else I’ve heard all year. On the 2nd verse, I don’t even think he needs a beat…he blacks out and demolishes any Detroit haters and naysayers.
1. Brother Ali on “Second Time Around” (with Wale)
Album: DJ Benzi’s The New Deal Mixtape
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
- This was never in doubt for me. As soon as I heard it for the 500th time in a row, it was necessary that this be number one on the list. Don’t sleep on one of the best rappers of this modern era in hip hop (with 2 classic albums and two great EPs) delivering the best verse of 2008. Listen to Ali just rant about everything from music downloads, stealing, work ethic and other rappers. He just goes off and it is amazing.
Honourable Mentions
- Royce on “Motown 25″
- Nas 2nd verse on “Hero”
- Elzhi’s 2nd verse on “Colours”
- Royce’s 2nd verse “Shake This”
- Royce on “Go Hard”
- Termanology 1st verse on “Drugs, Crime, Gorillaz”
- MF Doom’s 1st verse on “Get ‘er Done”
- Q-Tip’s 2nd verse on “Move”
- Bumpy Knuckles on “Damage”
- Mos Def, Styles P and Black Thought on “Rising Down”
{ 3 trackbacks }
{ 56 comments… read them below or add one }
EXPLOSION! Damn Deez, you done did it again. One of my resolutions for 2009 is to get more into the lyrical side of hip hop (as a lot of you know, I’m all about the beats). This article is so well thought out and thorough… I can’t see anyone haven’t any complaints with it… but we’ll see… lol.
deez, you did a hell of a job! damn
I know this is ages old, but I remember being blown away by Andre 3000 verse on ‘Happy Valentines Day’ from the Love Below CD. The boy always kills it.
I personally loved big boi on royal flush. and man where’s black thought with that 75 bars! no body could touch that shit. other than that loved the list.
Black’s verse on 75 bars is too long….thus the name. Good list.
I like Blu’s verse on “For Whom the Bells Tolls”, Jadakiss “For the City” and a couple others I can’t think of.
yeah 75 Bars didn’t make it.. Guys, just simple reading can prevent a “WHERE’S THIS OR THAT” … So please read.
There’s a lot of time put into this, a lot of careful listening and a lot of confusion, just ask Thomas and Kev.
But this is great. I wanted to find a place for a Blu verse, but I wasn’t thoroughly blown away by him on anything this year
Mos Def, Styles P and Black Thought on “Rising Down
CO_MOTHERFUCKING_SIGN!
lol that one was hard
WHERES 75 BARS??!?!?!?! WTF?!?!?!
lol but serious N.I.G.G.E.R’s 2nd verse= verse of the year
NoImGangsterGottaEatRappers; no one is fucking with that
Nice list Sean, I agree with the Brother Ali as being the hottest verse of the year, it’s bonkers
yes.
we are pretty much in agreement. but i preferred royce’s verse on motown 25. it was one of my favs of the year.
Nice list Deez! Jay murdered T.I. on SLU though, “Can’t wear skinny jeans cuz my knotts too big”, nuff said. T.I.’s verse was way above his normal standards but I thought Jay shut it down. Also, how about Jada on “Who Run This” and Jay Electronica on “Transformations”, crazy.
Glad to see Elzhi get some love, good sh*t deez.
My verse of the year has to be Big Pun ‘I Ain’t A Playa’ 3rd verse… Oh hang on, fuck, that’s ‘98… What year are we in?
Nice work Deez, really nice review of the year… I’ll be honest, 80% of this passed my by, but at least I have now been introduced to a LOT of great music.
I saw Brother Ali in London, supporting Atmosphere, a while ago and he absolutely killed it. The guy can perform LIVE!
(This verse reminds me a bit of Pharoahe…)
I’m so happy lil wayne isn’t on here i want to throw deez a party… except he’s so mean
can’t believe Royce’s “Shake This” only made honorable mention.
woooooooooooo nice list…
Good list and u have 4 of my fav verses from the year on here. BUT I would say that Sean P’s second verse on run is better, imo. Also, dudes borderline outshined by Guilty on that.
Id throw on Guiltys last verse from the Future on here, or atleast on the HMs.
props homez!
and LMAO at you using my Andre 3000 analogy
Has Lo “Small Metal Objects”……do your homework
^^^^ The first verse, that is^^^
Great list Deez. Living in the south I wasn’t up on some of these MC’s. More than that I appreciate you for remembering that lyrics are still important.
How does Kanye’s verse on Put On not even get a mention??? His quite possible the best verse of his career
Trav Williams…”the Anthem: should’ve been listed…either that or “Moments”…cmon as far as lyrics…
Trav had a lot of memorable joints on that ‘Trickle Down’. “New aged rae and ghost”
Nice list homie. But Phonte should never be on any “Top”list for emceeing. Please don’t be mad I just can’t stand dude.
thanks for the love peoples.
lol @ “Put on” being one of kanye’s best verses of his career.. and wtf @ 80’s baby..
WOW
Props my dude. The Ali verse has gotta be the verse of the year. I reckon Royce’s verse on ‘Motown 25′ is iller than the one that got the #2 spot, but yo, you’re on point once again.
Very dope list Deez!!! I was a big fan of the Dice Raw joint too!
I meant verse
Dice came hard.
Royce and Elzhi seriously could’ve taken over this list if they wanted to.. i had to put some sorta stop to it
lol @ puns verse, dont get me started man. I judge every punchline i hear by his standards..
Hot Damn Deez.You put in some work on this.You opened my eyes to a couple of cats that i’ve been doing drive-bys on.I had never heard any of J-Live’s stuff before and since I have heard that joint,I will definitely be keeping my ears open for his stuff.I would argubaly put him up higher on the list.3 Stacks is nice,but I might have put a couple above him.I was about to get pissy about Brother Ali being #1 on the list,until I heard the verse.LMAO.I’m still up in the air a little about his verse compared to Royce’s.Still,HELL OF A JOB!!!!!!!
BIG UPS!!!!
Dope list. I think Brother Ali is dope, but every Royce verse mentioned was iller
i also agree that kanye verse on put on should have made the list…the first couple lines are some of the most realest s*** any rapper said this year
Great List man, but Kanye was a beast in put on. that was simply one of the greatest verses ever in my opinion. Good list anyway T.I. killed jay in SLU.
to be dead honest…brother ali has the most annoying rap voice of all time and thats prolly why i dont think he belongs anywhere near this list….and besides wale killed dude on that track….
oh and pharoahes verse on matrix is doper then sean p’s too….i think black’s might be too…
BUT TO EACH HIS OWN
Great list. Sucks that my audio drivers are bunk right now. I’m gonna have to flip through my albums for a few re-listens.
2 verses by andre 3000 in the top 10… that’s important.
good list. time to make a hottest 1-liner of the yr award
hhaha
Dope list, just listened to Brother Ali’s verse and that shit is flames! can anybody recommend an album of his to get ahold of? Although Dice’s verse was nice as hell, I thought that Peedi Peedi’s verse on Get Busy was more entertaining – loved the way he killed it on Long Time offa Game theory, he’s got some serious charisma, word play, humour & wit – wack Mc’s take note!!
Hustler,
regarding Ali, you really can’t go wrong with any of his work. Fact is, he’s one of the best rappers right now… he needs more shots and hopefully he will.
Shadows of the Sun and The Undisputed Truth are both great pieces of art. If you wanna start off smaller, check out The Champion EP.
Peedi’s verse was very entertaining, I agree. He isn’t saying as much as Thought or Raw though.
Slug killed so many verses on the album release this year, I personally love a couple of the verse he spits on “The Waitress”
BTW you could have made a top 20 list this year including only MURS and I wouldn’t have complained. He spits some ill ryhmes on MURS for President.
Murs certainly was on a lyrical peak on Murs For Prez..
the production never matched up though
This is a pretty legit list, nothing I can complain about. I mean realistically Royce and Elzhi destroyed everyone else on pretty regular basis. You could’ve easily made a top 20 verses just coming from the D and I don’t think anyone could say anything. Elzhi rips it on that Audio Cinematic, they oughta make a video for it, it basically reads like a script.
While you were spot on in naming two of Andre’s verses in the top 10 this year, you had a mistep with one of them. No one can argue that his verse on Royal Flush is just bonkers, but, at least in my opinion, that “Everybody” song never did it for me. On the other hand, go take a listen to Outkast’s “Da Art of Storytellin Pt. 4″ and tell me THAT isn’t one of the top 5 if not higher verses of the year, and certainly better than that weird Fonzworth Bentley stuff. No offense intended, it was a great list, but I’m just speakin the truth.
Da art came out last year in 2007
I stand corrected.
NO CROOKED I? WHAT A JOKE
you’re right aefw..
i am a joke
Nice list, not in order I would have it, but it seems like u omitted one of the best of the year. What happened to Lil Wayne’s second verse on “Dr. Carter?” All hate or love aside that verse was pretty damn good.
And don’t sleep on Nas’ 3rd verse on “America.”
nice list But i wish if Jadakiss verse on ” For The City ” was mentioned it will be a perfect list.
I don’t mean to be a Elzhi/Royce fan but how what about Elzhi’s 2nd verse on “I Glow” off of Jake One’s White Van Music album?
“Create an illy scene, here’s what I really mean. I make the whole city glow like the video for Billy Jean.”
The model presented here reflects the character of the discipline: it identifies the types of questions software engineers find interesting, the types of results we produce in answering those questions, and the types of evi- dence that we use to evaluate the results. ,
huh.