Day two of Jay-Z’s Who Spit It Better? Jay and Nas are two of the best rappers of all time (too many) and considered Hip-Hop legends. Everyone knows about their historic battle [The Genesis of Beef] and the details behind the beef. In 2006 they made history when Jay-Z signed Nas to Def Jam. Fans of both artist salivated at the thought of Hova and God Son finally rhyming together.
Since 2006 they have collaborated on three tracks: “Black Republican,” “Success,” and “I Do It For Hip-Hop.” For the purpose of this post we are only comparing Jay-Z and Nas on “Black Republican” and “Success.”
So who got who? Being a fan of both…its a difficult choice. It’s like trying to pick your favorite Jordan’s: III’s or IV’s.
For the sake of “choosing” I’ll take each artist on their own track. hahah!
Who Spit It Better is back this week as the Jay-Z edition. Everyday until the release of The Blueprint 3 we will be showcasing Jay in the feature against another rapper who has rhymed over the same sample and/or rhymed alongside him on a track. We have some good match ups this week.
Up first is Jay-Z against Prodigy. The vets both spit over Rudy Love’s “Does Your Mama Know.” “Sweet” comes from Jay’sAmerican Gangster album and P’s “What A Real Mobb Do” comes from a mixtape. The mixtape in question was a prequel of sorts to Prodigy and ALC’sThe Return of the Mac album. If I’m not mistaken the instrumental for P’s track was released on The Rapper’s Best Friend series by ALC.
I’m a huge fan of P, but his rhymes are extremely lazy on this one and Jay is flowing smoothly on this one.
Looks like American rappers love British girls, huh? At least they like to jump on the European radio hit “That’s Not My Name” by UK’s pop duo The Ting Tings. While Wale got paid to lay his verses on the official Skeet & Tito Remix, Papoose and newcomer J. Rocwell added their verses to the original track. Listen to the three versions after the jump and sound off on who spit it better…
From late 1998 to early 2000 Beans was that dude. Every joint he touched was fire….”1000 Bars,” “Adrenaline,” “Reservoir Dogs,” etc. His 2000 debut album The Truth [download samples] was no exception with cuts like “The Truth,” “Raw & Uncut,” and “Die.”
Right now who is hotter than Royce Da 5′9″ and his Slaughterhouse crew? Royce has been all over the place dropping freestyles/EP’s, collaborating with other artist (i.e., Trife and Wale) all in the name of promotion for his Street Hop album ( dropping in October) and the Slaughterhouse self-titled album dropping August 11.
Both men spit over Anita Baker’s “You’re The Best Thing Yet” off of her 1983 album (The Songstress). Royce’s “The Best Thing Yet” is featured on the Inside A Change mixtape [download] and finds him rhyming about his son. Sigel’s verse is on some street/gutter ish. I can relate to Royce’s verse more…but Sigel…this joint gives me chills every time I hear it. I’m taking the General of State Property.
50 Cent is one of the power brokers in Hip-Hop…..everybody knows his story….right?
Both 50 and Black spit over The Persuaders “Love Gonna Pack Up (and Walk Out).” 50’s “Redrum (Murder)” comes from his street LP War Angel [download]. Black Milk’s “One Song” comes from his 2007 dope album Popular Demand [download samples].
50 is really hungry and aggressive on this track that brings back thoughts of the Guess Who’s Back and God’s Favorite50. “One Song” overall is one of the better tracks on Black’s album from his lyrics to the production. Its an easy one for me….taking the young fella.
YN spotted the 50 joint a while back. Whatcha think…Who Spit It Better?
Another edition of Who Spit It Better?Jay Electronica [read interview] is one of my favorite artist right now. His word play and the depth of his rhymes have me eagerly anticipating his solo debut.
DOOM, the masked villain is an underground cult hero to many for his lyricism and humor on the mic. Peep Operation: Doomsday, MM..Food, or Madvillainy for examples of his talent.
Both DOOM and Jay Electronica spit over a Dilla beat….not sure what beat tape/cd the track originated from. Jay Electroncia’s version comes from his Style Wars EP [download] (Dilla gave him permission to use some of his beats to shop his demo). DOOM’s verse is off of the Jay Stay Paid [read review] album.
Instead of just posting the main sample (as we normally do for this type of post)….I’ve included every element known that Dilla used for the track except the drums. I don’t believe the drums come from the Sly Stone track….could be wrong.
This go around I’m taking the new jack…Jay Electronica on this one. He says “either you with Satan or GOD n***a that’s it…choose or die.”
I was “previewing” Maino’s album If Tomorrow Comes… last week and thought his song “Runaway Slave” produced by Versatile & Dilemma sounded familiar. When I read XXL’s review of Maino’s album they pointed out the beat is exactly identical to Joe Budden’s “Pray For Me” off his Padded Room album. Both tracks were produced by Versatile & Dilemma.
I’m not sure if this is an Alchemist and Ras Kass/Jadakiss deal where the beat was sold to both artist, but its the identical track. I’m not trying to start anything, but I’m saying. What I think I know is Maino’s album has had numerous delay’s and was slated to come out in December 2008, but was pushed back for unknown reason. “Runaway Slave” was included on earlier tracklist of the album. Joey’s album dropped in February. Maybe the production duo didn’t think Maino’s album would see the light of day and wanted the track placed on someone’s album…not sure. If the producers, Maino, or Jump off Joe want to clear things up that’ll be great. Again, I not trying to start anything.
Listen to both tracks and sound off on who you think Spit It The Best. Joey gets my vote on this one. Who you got? Tracks and poll after the cut…
When I first heard Rick Ross’s “Magnificent” I immediately recognized the sample. The first artist/song that came to mind was Skillz’s song “Imagine.” Then Keenan reminded me in the C-Box that Prodigy used the same sample for a song on his H.N.I.C. album.
Three different topics discussed by each rapper…the Bawse’s song is more flashy while Skillz is kicking an ill story and Prodigy gives us some insight into his sickness.
Both Jadakiss and Noreaga spit over Luther Vandross’s “Promise Me”. Both tracks have a similar feel and vibe…so tell me whatcha think? Who Spit It Better?
A while back, Busta Rhymes and Raekwon hopped on Melanie Fiona’s single “Give It To Me Right” for an unofficial remix. A couple of weeks again, Talib Kweli stepped up for the official remix of the same song. They all did the track justice, in my opinion. But who had the best verse? Who spit it better? You can sound off after the cut, as well as download the tracks.
Busta Rhymes & Raekwon: “Give It To Me Right (Remix)”
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Talib Kweli: “Give It To Me Right (Official Remix)”
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We haven’t done one of these in a while! My man Deez named Royce Da 5′9″ the Top Emcee of 2008. It was only natural to bring back Who Spit it Better to showcase some of his work.
Here is our second (and last) Who Spit It Better for today. For this go around we have Scarface going up against the Mash Out Posse’sBilly Danze and Lil’ Fame aka Fizzy Womack over a sample from the beautiful song “Be Real Black For Me” by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathway from their 1972 self titled album.
Our man of the day Scarface gets my vote for this one; his words paint a vivid image of his “hood” and his overall vibe and flow is better over the sample. I love M.O.P’s energy and chemistry over the Big Jaz produced track, but it’s Face Mob for this one!
Whatcha think? Who Spit It Better?
Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway: “Be Real Black For Me”
From the album Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway (1972)
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M.O.P.: “World Famous”
From the album Firing Squad (1996)
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Scarface: “My Block”
From the album The Fix (2001)
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Ah….its been a week or so since I attempted a Who Spit It Better? This time I have the correct tracks and and correct sample lined up. This go around we pit Scarface against Cormega and Jadakiss (feat. Nas). Even though its Scarface Day…gotta go with Mega. Mega always paints a vivid picture when he rhymes; plus it’s his ode to the music we love HIP HOP! Can’t get any better than that..huh?
Whatcha y’all think? Who Spit It Better?
Southside Movement: “I’ve Been Watching You”
From the album Moving South (1975)
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Cormega: “American Beauty”
From the album The Realness (2001)
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Jadakiss feat. Nas: “Show Discipline”
From the album Kiss Tha Game Goodbye (2001)
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Scarface: “PD Rollem”
From the album Mr. Scarface Is Back (1991)
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We’ve done the “who flipped it better?” series for a while, but I really liked the turn out from last week’s “who spit it better?” with Phonte and Kanye. Now that Eminem has announce that he is coming back, you can be sure that there will be a lot of talk about Em right here on this site.
So let’s put Em up against his boys, G-Unit. G-Unit did a freestyle over Em’s “8 MIle” beat some years back. Some say 50 may have actually torn that shit up. What do you think? Who spit it better? Em, 50, Banks, or Yayo.
Oh snap! I just noticed that was a pic of Buck up there with G-Unit. I didn’t feel like doing the whole pic over again, so I just quickly Photoshopped Yayo’s head on top… lol.
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