Memoirs Of Redefinition Radio #6: History Of Story Telling In Hip Hop

Memoirs Of Redefinition Radio #6: History Of Story Telling In Hip Hop

Story Telling has been a vital component to the art of lyricism, at least, since Hip Hop 1st hit wax. One of the most memorable moments of Hip Hop's first hit, "Rappers Delight", is Wonder Mike speaking about a simple dinner at a friend's house gone awful. A few years later Grandmaster Caz unveiled his classic "Yvette" story in the film Wildstyle. In '82 Melle Mel was instrumental in changing the direction of Hip Hop lyricism. The history of the song is a story within itself. The song was actually written by a Sugarhill Records session Percussionist named Duke Bootee (a.k.a Ed Fletcher). The label President decided to present it the Furious Five to record, most likely feeling it would be more successful if they recorded it based on their status at the time. However, the Furious Five weren't interested. They didn't think it would do well. They felt it was not their style...which was about rocking parties and having a good time. They also thought it was too slow in tempo. Eventually Mele Mel agreed to do it adding that he thought that a verse of his from a previous song would fit nicely (Mele Mel's "A Child Was Born..." verse that closes the song was originally performed on "Superappin'" in 1980) and that would be the only verse on the song not written by Duke Bootee who also performed the other vocal parts on the track (despite the fact in the video it is the Furious Five's Scorpio lip syncing the words). Regardless to the fact that none of the other members of the group had input in the song it was still released under Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five by Sugarhill and went on to be their biggest hit and perhaps ironically is often recognized as one of the key contributing factors to the groups eventual break up. However, still hungry to innovate Mele Mel continued to pioneer lyricism with great story telling and impressive visual imagery for years to come.

Looking back a little before the message there is some other key artists definitely worth mentioning. Jimmy Spicer is perhaps the first to make a career pretty much based on story-telling in rap. His debut single "The Adventures Of Super Rhymes" was a 10+ Minute exercise in a series of stories that ranged from a "Disco Dancing Dracula" to "Aladdin and the Magic Lamp story taking place in 1980". The one thing that strikes me as unique about Jimmy Spicer was that also added the extra element of changing his voice to accent the various characters. This tradition was carried on by Count Coolout (who was a back up vocalist for Jimmy Spicer) with his "Rhythm Rap Rock" 12" that introduced the on going chronicles of some various characters that made appearances on all three of his key early 80s singles. Spoonie Gee should easily be considered one of the greatest as well as earliest story tellers in raps history. He was a pure ladies man as his classic "Love Rap" certainly suggested. This was merely the start of a catalog of songs detailing his experiences thru out the streets of New York that much more than often involved him encountering beautiful young ladies at every turn.

A concentrated look at early West Coast Hip Hop certainly suggests that the MCs were most intrigued with the art of story telling. More than likely beyond rap it was additionally influenced by the poetry/rap stylings of various hustlers, pimps, & players that became a key element in the West Coast Rap style. This is witnessed by the emergence of early Cali Pioneers such as Ice T, Toddy T, Too Short, and eventually N.W.A (ex: Ice Cube, MC Ren).

Queens based (and later Brooklyn represented as well) conglomerate the Juice Crew, who are instrumental in popularizing and innovating many forms of elevated lyricism, also played a key part in this process. MC Shan's "Cocaine" comes to mind. Every time I listen to the live version of "Cocaine" the end gives me a "chill" as the crowd finally takes notice to what he is talking about. The whole song he describes a girl who he met and took all of his money and destroyed his life. It's not until his, "...don't you know by now that her name is cocaine" line that he reveals his metaphoric trickery and the crowed goes bonkers!* Fellow Juice Crew
member Kool G Rap is often recognized as one of the all time greatest visual artists in Hip Hop's history (perhaps only rivaled by or equal to Rakim).

However, you can't speak on story telling in Hip Hop without mentioning who is often considered the very best to ever do it...Slick Rick. Starting with his '85 debut, along side Doug E Fresh, "La Di Da Di" Slick Rick became one of the most influential Hip Hop lyricists of the 80s and beyond. His styles, words, concepts continue to be recreated by modern day rap stars such as Snoop Dog, Mos Def, Nas, Jay Z, and many more. 1988's "The Great Adventures Of Slick Rick" (his debut album) is full with classic story telling (ex: Children Story, Mona Lisa, The Moment I Feared, etc.. In fact virtually every song on the album is a story. Slick Rick is a natural at this. As if his top notch writing wasn't enough his laid back and concise delivery, soaked in supreme confidence, certainly helps seal the deal. As a matter of fact he is certainly a top contender, if not the best example, of longevity in Hip Hop. Not many others in this culture/business can trace their rap beginnings back to '85 and being on top and still today rock a show with a show with the same intensity, write a verse with the same potency and all the while look every bit as dapper and fashionable as he did 20+ years ago. The man is a legend as well as a rarity.

Alright, alright enough of my rambling. Below is the listing that I put together for myself while planning my 7 week special on Redefinition Radio, "The History of Story Telling and Visual Imagery In Hip Hop"*. The "DISCLAIMER" per usual is that this is not meant to be a complete or final list by any means. This is just what I used based on the information and music that I had accessible to me at the time. Obviously with over two decades of Hip Hop music to look thru I have omitted several other possibilities. However, I think it's a great start if you are interested in expanding more and/or learning more about the subject. Feel free to comment with any corrections, suggestions, or otherwise pertinent, or not, commentary. Until next time kiddies, here's that list:

-'79
Sugarhill Gang-Rappers Delight

'80
Jimmy Spicer-The Adventures of Super Rhymes
Count Coolout-Rhythm Rap Rock
Spoonie G-Love Rap
Trickeration-Western Gangster Town, Bounce Rock Skate Rap

-'81
Chapter 3-Smerf Trek

-82
Co Crush-Weekend Rap
Whodini-Haunted House Of Rock

-'83
Fearless Four-Problems Of The World Today
Caz-Yvette
Melle Mel-New York New York
The Rake-Street Justice
Ice T-The Coldest Rap

'84
UTFO-Roxanne
Melle Mel-Beat Street
Kurtis Blow-8 Million Stories (w/RunDMC)

'85
Toddy Tee-batteram
Dana Dane-Nightmares
Slick Rick-La Di Da Di
Bad Boys-The Mission
Ice T-Killers
Jimmy Spicer-Beat The Clock

-'86
Ice T-6 In The Mornin'
MC Shan-Cocaine
Beastie Boys-Paul Revere (inst)
Just Ice-Latoya
Stetsasonic-Faye
Super Kids-The Tragedy
Showboys-Drag Rap
Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince-Girls Ain't Nuthin But Trouble, Just One of Those Days

-87
Ice T-Pain
Eazy E-Boyz In The Hood
Boogie Down Productions-9 MM, The P Is Free

'88
Biz Markie-Vapors
Kool G Rap-Road To The Riches
Slick Rick-Children's Story, Lick The Balls, Moment I Feared, etc...
EPMD-Jane
NWA-Gangsta Gangsta
PE-Black Steel
Too Short-Freak Tales
King T-Act A Fool
Spyder D-My Whole Life Flashed...
Toddy Tee w/Mixmaster Spade-Just Say No

'89
Master Ace-The Other Side of Town
Beastie Boys-high plains drifter
Chill Rob G-Bad Dream
MC Lyte-Cappucino, Not Wit' A Dealer

'90
Ice Cube-Amerikkkas Most Wanted, Once Upon A Time..., The Product, etc...
BDP-Loves gonna get cha
Kool G Rap-Streets of New York
Main Source-watch roger do his thing
Organized K fusion-roosevelt Franklin
K Solo-Tales from the crack-side, fugitive
Master Ace-Movin On (rmx)
A Tribe Called Quest-I Left My Wallet In El Segundo
K.M.D-Subroc's Mission, Hard Wit No Hoe, 808 Man, Boy Who Cried Wolf
Eric B & Rakim-Mahogany

-'91
Diamond Shell-Giggles, Same Ole Song
De La Soul-Millie Pulled A Pistol...
W,.C.-Dress Code, Behind Closed Doors
Ice Cube-Alive On Arrival, My Summer Vacation,
black sheep-similak child, strobelite honie
2pac-brendas got a baby, Soldier Story, etc..
Class A Felony-Hostage
The Genius-Those Were The Days, Life Of A Drug Dealer, Stay Out Of Bars
Hardknocks-Hands Of A Stranger, Dirty Cop Named Harry, Road To The Precinct, Runaway Child Running Wild, Young Guns, Young Black Male
Slick Rick-Bond, Moses
Stetsasonic-It Took Place In East New York
The Jaz-Sign Of The Crimes
D Nice-25 Ta Life
Raw Fusion-Throw Your Hands In The Air
Kid Capri-News Story, Billy, Hang Em High
Nice & Smooth-Sometimes I Rhyme Slow
Gang Starr-Just To Get A Rep

-92
Kool G Rap-On The Run, Ill Street Blues, Edge Of Sanity
K Solo-Letterman
Poetess w/Def Jef, Kool G Rap, Almigh T-Love Hurts
Pharcyde-Mr Officer, Passin Me By, On The DL
Rakim-What's On Your Mind, Casualties Of War, Know The Ledge
W.C.-Behind Closed Doors, Out On A Furlough, Dress Code, F My Daddy
Showbiz & A.G.-More Than One Way Out Of The Ghetto
Boogie Down Productions-13 and Good
Chubb Rock-Lost In The Storm

'93
Wutang Clan-Tearz, Cream, Can It Be All So Simple
Masta Ace w/Paula Perry-Who U Jackin?
Threat-When It Rains, Get Ghost, Bust One Fa Me, etc...

-94
The Coup-Fat Cats, Bigga Fish
Black Sheep-Autobiographical
B.I.G-warning
Nas-One Love, N.Y. State Of Mind
Saafir-Just Ridin, Can U Feel It,
Sha Key-The Story

-95
Gza-Killah Hills
Raekwon-Can IT All Be So Simple (rmx)
Lixx-2014
Kool G Rap-It's A Shame

'96
J Live-Hush The Crowd
Juggaknots-I'm Gonna Kill You, Loosifa, etc...
Nas-I Gave You Power, The Set Up, Suspect, Shootouts, etc...
Micranots-Farward
Jay Z-Friend Or Foe, D'evils
Chino XL-Kreep, Rise, Ghetto Vampire, What Am I?
Siah & Yeshua Da Poed-A Day Like No Other
Frankenstien-Rain Is Gone
Ras Kass-Evil That Men Do

'97
Company Flow-Last Good Sleep
Murs-The Saint, Morocco Mike
Atmosphere-complications, caved in, WND
KRS One-Can't Stop Won't Stop
Jay Z-You Must Love Me

'98
Labtekwon-Gladiator, Jah First
The Coup-Me & Jesus The Pimp In a '79 Granada Last Nite, Breathing Apparatus, Sneakin' In

'99
Slick Rick-Who Rottin 'Em
Inspectah Deck-Word On The Street
Greenhouse Effect-Holding Tank
Beyond-Part One, Don't Kill Me, People VS People

'00
Encore-.084
Atmosphere-Between The Lines, Like Today, Aspiring Sociopath, Free or Dead, They're All Gonna Laugh At
You, The Woman With The Tattoed Hands
Them w/Slug-Program To Hunt 2007

'01
J Live-Them That's Not, Wax Paper
Eyedea & Abilities-Birth of a Fish, A Murder Of Memories, Big Shots
Aesop Rock-No Regrets
Azeem-Organic Food Revolutionaries


'02
Mr Lif-The Now, New Man Theme
J Live-charmed life, One Time For The Griot
Sage Francis-Inherited Scars, Cup Of Tea, Black Sweatshirt
Cage-Movies For The Blind ALBUM (various)
Nas-Doo Rags, Blaze A 50, etc...
Soul Position-A Night To Remember
Odd Jobs-Murder Plot Twist
Musab-The Reckoning, Cut Throat, Life In A Day, Falling Apart
Pugslee Atomz-7/31/89
Pigeon John-Sam The Goat, Emily
Oliver Hart-How Much Do You Pay?, Bottle Dreams, etc...

'03
Soul Position-Look Of Pain, Right Place Wrong Time, Jerry Springer Episode
Viktor Vaughn-Let Me Watch
Atmosphere-Always Coming Back Home To You, Gotta Lotta Walls
Semi Official-Transitions, Crime
Jay Z-December 4th, 99 Problems
Brother Ali-Win Some Lose Some, Dorian, Picket Fence

'04
Illogic-First Trimester, Lesson In Love, Stand
Insight-Daily Routine
Viktor Vaughn-Bloody Chain, Ode To Road Rage
Murs-Bad Man, The Pain, Trevor, Walk Like A Man
Eyedea & Abilities-Paradise
EL P & Cage-Oxycontin Pt. 2

'05
Cage-Too Heavy For Cherubs, Stripes, Scenester, Lord Have Mercy, Subtle Art Of The Break Up Song
Blueprint-Inner City Native Son
Felt-Dirty Girl, Woman Tonight
Grayskul-Behold, Adversarial Theater Of Justice, Prom Quiz
I Self Devine-Getcha Money On,

-Other Artists and/or songs great with story telling or visual imagery (even if a song is listed next to the name
most of these artists have shown great skill in both of these areas thru out their careers):
the great peso-she's wild
mele mel-the message
kool moe d
rakim
jay z
the gza/genius
organized konfusion-stray bullet
o.c.
main source-front door
chief kamachi
nas-I gave you power
aesop
funkytown pros-fallin
Illogic-screenplay
black sheep
edan
ras kass
ce style-thump a thon, never ending story
buck 65-secret splendor
fresh prince
mc chill
prodigy of mobb deep
jean grae
cormega
I self devine

*"COCAINE": This wasn't the first time this concept was used in Hip Hop. Just one year prior, The Great Peso (of The Fearless 4)
recorded "She's Wild". In this case he uses lyrics to describe a beautiful woman that he can't live without and all that is amazing
and exciting about her only to reveal at the end that he is speaking about New York City. Of course, probably the most popular
use of this concept in Hip Hop is in 1994's Common "I Used to Love H.E.R" in using the image of a woman to describe Hip Hop.

*Redefinition Radio Presents: "The History Of Story Telling and Visual Imagery In Hip Hop": This aired in 2005 for these dates:
-#1: Nov 5th
-#2: Nov 12th
-#3: Nov 19th
-#4: Nov 26th
-#5: Dec 3rd
-Bonus Week #1 (Visual Imagery): Dec 10th
-Bonus Week #2 (Visual Imagery): Dec 17th

You can view the playlist and listen the archives here:

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/radio/programs/redefinition_radio/archive_2005.php