Best Rap Verses of 2017
Rap nerds are verse fiends. They fawn over the least things in rap verses, but that’s what makes the poetry special; the ability to make words mean more than they ordinarily would mean and become etched forever on the walls of the creative cave.
A hot verse could either be about dope usage of words full of wordplays, Quotables and bars or about flow patterns that accentuate a beat, punching new holes into it.
Snapping beats will forever accentuate good verses. 80% of the time, a top verse comes from a good beat. Some of the rap verses aren’t also about quotables and deep lyrics. They’re about mastery of a beat to give it exact what it requires to be that epoch. They are about exhibition of skill, owning an instrumental and finding pockets to deliver a truly remarkable “16" .
The verses considered are on songs released between December 10, 2016 — December 10, 2017.
Looking forward to arguing with the dissenters. See you in the comments.
Honourable Mentions In No Particular Order
First Verse — Family Don’t Matter — Young Thug x Millie Go Lighty
Shekhinah’s Verse — Power To She-Shekhinah featuring Rouge
XXXTentacion — Carry On
2nd Verse by Creo Pitää. — Blades of Steel — Creo Pitää
2nd Verse by B.O.B — Middle Man
3rd Verse — Wings — Vic Mensa featuring Pharrell & Saul Williams
Pusha T Verse — OMG — Vic Mensa featuring Pharrell
Travis Scott’s Verse — Ghostface Killers
Strongman’s Verse- Trumpet — Sarkodie, Teephlow, Medikal, Strongman, Koo Ntakra, Donzy and Pappy Kojo
Denzel Curry — BET Cypher
Brother Ali — The Bitten Apple
J.Cole — High for hours
J.I.D- 2nd verse on Never
Royce Da 5'9 verse — Barely Human — Tech N9ne featuring Royce Da 5'9
1st Verse — ShaqIsDope — Free P
1st Verse by Dave — Dave — Question Time
1st Verse by Westside Gunn — Don’t Trust A Soul
1st verse by EL P — Chase Me- Danger Mouse ft RTJ and Big Boi
63. Remy Ma- Shether
This is how you diss someone. *Drops mic*
*Pics mic to say a few words*
Remy deviates from all the cloak and Dagger sneak dissing going on, and takes it to the coliseum with these bars.
*Gives mic to Remy ma*
Quotables:
“And to be the Queen of Rap, you gotta actually rap
The whole industry know that your shit is a wrap
No, to be the Queen of Rap, you can’t have a ghostwriter
And that’s why this is my house; Flo Rida
Niggas done seen Drake pennin’, Wayne pennin’
And since your first boyfriend left, bitch ain’t winnin’
You a Internet troll, a Web browser, I’m sorry”
62. 1st Verse — Digging Deep — Oddisee
Oddisee dropped one of the very best albums of 2017, an early pacesetter titled. The Iceberg. Asides the pristine production, the deliveries might have been. little philosophical, if you interprete properly, but it doesn’t belittle the brilliance of this crisp verse, discussing a myriad of topics; morality, growth for example, to deliver one big taking on personality.
Quotables:
“Morality is relevant to what you’re going through
On a high I’m a judge, on the low I’m like your honor
If you only knew the karma, you would light plea
I feel sorry for the people that are probably hated
’Cause when you take the time to understand the makings of a man, you comprehend that he’s the sum of circumstance
And that evil ain’t incarnate & if cornered we can all create it”
61. 2nd Verse -Vince Staples -Bagbak
On a track from one of the most dynamic and experimental rap albums of the year, Vince Staples as he does so well makes a brazen critique on racism and why Obama wasn’t enough for him. Black Power oozes all over this, no wonder it made its way on to the Trailer for Black Panther.
Quotables:
“Prison system broken, racial war commotion
Until the president get ashy, Vincent won’t be votin’
We need Tamikas and Shaniquas in that Oval Office
Obama ain’t enough for me, we only getting started
The next Bill Gates can be on Section 8 up in the projects
So ‘til they love my dark skin
Bitch I’m goin’ all in”
60. Phlowtery Hennessey Cypher 2017
Can we take a moment to acknowledge how much of a classy rap name Phlow is.
The 2017 Hennessy cypher came and went without much ado, we witnessed some bright spots here and there with Phlow as the major source.
Quotable:
I’m savage; I mean I wanna eat these beats on top of beats and never beef,
Call it a ham sandwich
Get these lines up before my lines go over your head,
or hit replay and hear the words that I said,
I’m sharper than lead, the pen is stylus off with their heads,
I mean I’m grinning with the peak and so far I’m ahead,
Einstein with it from the bar, run for cover they under arms, under expos like under arm”
59. 1st Verse — ShaqIsDope — New Hope
Shaq has been around for just that little bit, making noise and the rounds. His new EP might be very imperfect, but he’s an artiste still growing and this is one of the better songs on his EP. Think Drake meets Tory Lanez. We picked this because it’s lyricism and storytelling that would align with teenagers of today, like Drake did with many of is in 2007/2008.
Quotables:
“Let’s talk about the district, who run shit
Me, myself, and I those the motherfuckers I come with
If we talkin’ shots we can do it without a gun bitch
About to get cleaned up all it gon’ take is one rinse
Feeling like I pulled the trigger
You gotta be paralyzed, only way they don’t feel us
Before I heard of Kodak I been about the scrilla”
58. 2nd Verse by CyHi — Amen — CyHi The Prince
The first verse on this song here was already mad. CyHi didn’t just deliver on this album, he blew people out of the water, and made fans of cynics. It’s an endless celebration of bars, but this second nicks an appearance for the diversity of styles, flow patterns, lyricism and delivery. The first verse might have been heavier on brilliance, but this second verse is rich on deftness and craft. You might wanna play the 3rd verse too. It was heavy on verdicts.
Quotables:
“Fuck being conservative, I was tryna serve it up
Stir it up, rather sell a bird than be a burglar
A third of us, ridin’ ‘round tryin’ find a purchaser
With my lil’ Spanish chick, used her as my interpreter
For some years I haven’t heard from her
That was my lil’ sweetie pie, can’t believe I deserted her
She used to let me hide my weed in the furniture
But I had to leave cause only good deed she was worthy of”
57. Verse 2 — Scientology — Rick Ross
No one bounces off certain scarce human concepts to create a sense of privilege and insider in for like Rick Ross. Be it drugs or cars, he knows how to use concepts as gimmicks to deliver something worthy of his alter ego as a boss. This is no different. Scientology to him represents an inner circle of privilege.
Quotables:
“I was runnin’ in circles and it was right next to me
This must have been God’s wishes
’Cause all my friends went to prison
Nothin’ like Bryan Williams but when they come home, I kiss ‘em
Hold on, give me a second, refreshin’ my recollection
Labels, we playin’ chess
Nothin’ I’m not contested, you niggas is stupid
Thinkin’ Craig Kallman won’t send his shooters
They’ve been robbin’ for years, no fear to blow out your noodles”
56. 1st Verse by Stormzy — Bad Boys — Stormzy featuring Ghetts & J Hus
A Verse to sound track a mosh pit. Take a bow Stormzy.
Quotables:
“Yo, yo, them man are selective bad boys
Some “we just wanna be accepted” bad boys
Some big whips but no electric bad boys
Think they’re bad ‘cause of Narcos, they’re some Netflix bad boys
I know real shower man, you know reckless bad boys
You know them protein shake in their breakfast bad boys
Them man are some “Bro, could you get me on the guest list?” bad boys”
55. Lykay’s Verse — Gold Bars. Sticky_daGenius featuring Lykay
Lykay definitely out muscles Sticky on this one. You should play it above.
Quotable:
“Royalty blood, got gold bars for days, oh God we slay
Who the greatest? Me Casius Clay
Y’all here to play
Look, ancient like papyrus, hieroglyphics and Hebrew
Need y’all, to understand my brother, we not here to please you”
54. CELESKINGIII — Milo
Milo is gold. As if Paging Ol’ Bill Nunn wasn’t enough, Milo ripped rap another asshole on this second part to a suite. Milo kills with symbolism, depth and wordplays.
Quotables:
“Light flick, brutal wrist cornucopious
Still life waiting on a vista to utopia
Mister Satan pausing in a hotel scallops
Fuck with the timing of the whole swell ballad
By bar eight he could heal the old and invalid
Sweaty tooth cold for the pallet and bracket
Blackface Tarzan, tanned arms basking
Ted Danson with the Cheers, a dead man dancing
With his fears Lorde Fred call it Capoeira
To you Black Emperor Ferreira forever”
53. Final Verse by Cassper Nyovest — Ng’yekeleni — Cassper Nyovest featuring Black Thought
Cassper Nyovest is one of the best rappers on our continent. You can decide his position on your own time, Thank You. He merely shows here that he’s not shy to go at greats and he did with Mr Thought on this joint. Somehow, it’s also Introspective rap. Maybe introspect really is the ingredient for perfection in Hiphop.
Quotables:
“Cost and giving and the words are spinning
And that’s why a nigga gotta hold a pen so firm
My mama used to work the day shift
And her employer was a racist
And now I’m looking at my payslip
My life’s a perfect Mother’s Day gift”
52. 1st Verse — Dear Black Son — Brother Ali
Identity struggles. Struggles imposed by the identity of skin colour, developing a stereotype of male parenting. Brother Ali chronicles the identity, inner and outer struggles of certain young black men and his relationship with his father. The execution on this song, especially through he diverse perspectives is brilliant.
Quotables:
“Dear Black Son, there’s people you’ve never met
Who fear and hate you for something you never did
And these people are so self-convinced
Sometimes they pull the trigger, call that self-defense
And in that sad insanity
Their fear is realer to them than your humanity
But that’s their problem, it’s not yours
Listen to your pop for a second
These are the confessions of a father broken hearted
Who don’t know how to pull his only son out of a target”
51. 1st Verse by Aystar — Therapy — Charlie Sloth x Aystar
As cool as you’d like, as dynamic as you want. Look, Aystar is a smart lad here for knowing the beat was already bringing the heat, he only had to be mellow and deliver. If you play your cards right, anything you lay on this beat is a homerun. This isn’t about bars, but about speaking from the heart and a familiar place. It’s a style T.I and Eminem — in his prime — would have been proud of. It’s a catchy style of storytelling, you’d think it’s bar rich, when it’s not. He’s making bars out of his story.
50. 1st Verse By Future — Rollin’ — Calvin Harris featuring Future & Khalid
To understand this choice, peep the tweet below. It’s the 2nd reason on the tweet. Sometimes, a hot verse isn’t about bars and Quotables and punchlines. This verse made me appreciate Future’s artistry more. Without him, this song would have been average. His deliveries seem rough with the accompanying flow, but that’s the beauty. Salute future; salute, even though your ATL accent greatly helps you.
Quotables:
“I come through with strippers and some shottas
I gotta accept that I’m a monster
I pull up in several different options
Not all, but most of ’em came topless
I’ll shatter your dreams with this cream I make
Gotta be on codeine to think of shit I say
I can’t feel my toes and ain’t gon’ fold up
I was in the parkin’ lot when I rolled up”
49. Big K.R.I.T verse — Peace Piece — B.O.B ft Big K.R.I.T
KRIT came through. Even though his Mississippi vernacular is as hilarious as ever, he delivered on a beat that either favoured him, or that he made better. He absolutely killed B.O.B on this verse explaining his fear of never experiencing peace due to a fucked up system.
Quotables:
“Scared of the law when they head outdoors
And will we ever be at peace, man? I ain’t sure
But for now I’m like Malcolm out the window it’s simple altercation
Got these motherfuckers blazin’ and I ain’t tryna say bye to my kinfolk
They choke us out like what they need a noose for?
Gentrify like fuck wherever you go
Prison walls nowadays big biz
Give us dope then lock us up to get riches
Then send us out to a job we can’t get
You had that nigga flipped now you back in the system”
48. 3rd Verse by Vic Mensa — Heaven On Earth — Vic Mensa featuring The Dream
Vic Mensa’s Forte is storytelling with picture-esque imagery, mirroring technicolor. On this song, he employed dual-focal accounts in the first 2 verse; first from his own account, then from his “Big bro”, Cam who died over weed, and then sealed it with a perfect story of the homicide where Cam died in Chi-raq, from the account of the perp. You just need to listen and watch the images play out in your head, complete with some scenery-esque chatter mimicking live events. This verse is about the perfection of storytelling. An ability that constantly gets overlooked while talking killer verses.
Quotables:
“Every time I run through your number in my phone
I think about bullet holes runnin through your dome
I just saw you that week on 53rd
I’m tearing up man it’s hard to put this shit in words
It’s like Macklemore at the Grammys, man
I just feel like you got some shit you didn’t deserve
You was a good nigga, but the good niggas always die young, fucking ‘round with them hood niggas
I know you had your hands in that dirt, but
They ain’t have to air you out outside that Kenwood Liquors”
47. 1st Verse by Ameer Vaan — Heat — Brockhampton.
Brockhampton is about abstract brilliance of artistry and coefficient creativity. Their style is so unique, it’s not about bars, but other elements of enjoyment in originality. They way they induce near-hilarious execution into their outputs is stuff to salute for days. These guys are what OFWGKTA and The Internet could have been. Their sound is so pristine. This song is one of those times you couldn’t overlook the brilliance of a Brockhampton verse for something ever greater. While you easily could, it wouldn’t have been fair. It’s not overly about killer punchlines, but about flows and simplicity. Ameer Van, thank you.
Quotables:
“I’ll send a bitch to get ya
So don’t play fucking stupid
I know you got the product
’Cause I could smell the money
I could taste the weed
Give me somethin’ or a body, only way I’ll leave
I love to watch ’em squirm
I love when bitches bleed
If she’s sucking on the barrel, you can’t hear her scream
So kiss the fucking carpet
This aggravated Larson
And then I’m out the door
It’s monsters in your home
Black gloves, mask on, muzzle plated chrome”
46. 3rd Verse by Young Thug-Sacrifices — Drake X 2 Chains X Young Thug
Stranger things have happened fam but few folks realized that Thugger actually went toe to toe with 2 Chains and Drake on their own turf, witnessing Thugger finesse an instrumental without the nasal yelps and still deliver a worthy verse has to be the highlights of 2017. So in your interest dead all that Thugger can’t rap nonsense.
Quotables
“I’m talkin’ Rose like Derrick
I’m talkin’ rolls like a belly (woo)
Like a new car, I got two keys
Tryna score the bucket like a Chevy seat
Then I heard they been pullin’ all week
I’ma use ya name like, “Who is he?”
You get it? I said I’m a username like, “Who is he?”
Got some gold on, leprechaun, sheesh
Deep sleep short for deceased”
45. Nasty C’s Verse — Partícula — Major Lazer featuring Nasty C, Ice Prince, Patoranking and Jidenna
Ordinarily shouldn’t make this list, but we made a concession. This verse was too hot to be ignored. It simply set the the pace for the entire song and set the tone for arguably the hook of the year. Salute.
Quotables:
“Ain’t nothing cooler than the wrong moves
When you do ’em to the right song, the right song
Let’s shoot this movie and put the shit on repeat
I hope this Mary’s not making you fall asleep
Before we hit the road, put our phones on silent
Nobody’s tryna bring sand to the beach
What would it take to change your plans for the weekend?
’Cause I am tryna kick it like EA”
44. Kendrick Lamar — DUCKWORTH
In what has to be the greatest outro of 2017. It’s chronicling, it’s imagery, it’s introspect, it’s tit-bits, it’s about the freak set up of nature and the materialism of particular moments and the slightest decisions in time, us humans normally overlook. Everyone knows the song is simply a gem. Only Kendrick Lamar could have crafted it. Bars everywhere and if you don’t know, you’re either another cynic, or you simply don’t understand him.
Quotables:
“Anthony was the oldest of seven
Well-respected, calm and collected
Laughin’ and jokin’ made life easier; hard times, Momma on crack
A four-year-old tellin’ his nanny he needed her
His family history: pimpin’ and bangin’
He was meant to be dangerous
Clocked him a grip and start slangin’”
43. Short Money — Skyzoo.
Some rappers are just rappers by default. They probably couldn’t rest in other professions if they weren’t rapping. Skyzoo is one of those. This gem opens up Peddler Themes. He uses “short money” as a electricity generating, metaphorical pole for inadequacies and delivers bars for days on struggles, lack and the quest for success.
Quotables:
“Money had us adept to it
Power shotgun in the ride with the respect and so we got to
L.O.X’ing it
Track 5 connecting it
And know that if I’m dealing with 5 it’s 4–5 in the sky,
Mitchell & Ness’ing it
Grey uniform, Nike checking it
Childhood pictures had us pissing on hydrants, G-Depping it
Nickel and diming seems effortless
Til the crown heavy cuz the nickel and diming breed replicas”
42. 2nd verse-C is for Cash Money — Mick Jenkins
Mick is no stranger to brilliance as he’s shown on more than one occasion, on C is for Cash money he returns to the familiar waters of assonance as he talks about the underrated letter C while slanging some of his trademark imagery and biblical references.
Quotables:
“Try to keep it low-key, I peep energies
Though something ‘bout your chemistry concerns me
Counter-culture enemies lurking and I know they see me
I know they think I’m Stevie, I’m really Bartimaeus
All my jabs is Cassius Clay esque
I could hook a shark in this water”
41. 2nd Verse — I Aint Got Time — Tyler The Creator
Popping beat. Catchy, aggressive hook. A song about cynicism and nonchalance. Well, Tyler, tell us something we didn’t know. Your history of weird lyrics definitely keyed us into you not having time. Despite having one of the most publicised lines of the year, this verse is about a little more. There are no sufficient words to compartmentalize this verse into simplicity. Tyler isn’t simple. You might need to have a listen… Again.
Quotables:
“Been the man with a bigger plan
Niggas know the deal
When I set upon, bet I get a 100 mil’
Next line, I’ll have em’ like woah
I’ve been kissing white boys since 2004
One need to See three Ms
Four, five, six years ago
Suck selling figure
Conversations with Converse finalized, ’cause Vans fucked up
I’mma be common, so you gon’ need commas
Saying what I shoulda did, but you ain’t did nada”
40. 2nd Verse — OMG — Vic Mensa Featuring Pharrell & Pusha T
Ballsy bars, popping out the Vic Mensa way. Only Vic can paint himself as undeserving, while simultaneously bragging about his come up and ability. First attraction for this verse; his flows. If you’re patient enough however, you’d get the story.
Quotables:
“Swiss bank counting clean money with dirty hands
With some hood niggas that’s ready to bang with the Klan
Since I came in this shit, made my name a name brand
French kissing bitches in Paris, clubbing like a caveman
We threw up the pyramids, now they say we Illuminati
Fox fur cavalli, fuck Bill O’Reilly
No blood diamonds, I rock gold like a king
Jewelry so cold, made ’em blow the nose off the Sphinx”
39. Ghetts Verse — Bad Boys — Stormzy x Ghetts & J Hus
J hus delivered a menacing hook on Bad Boys but the real fear of Bad Boys begins when you hear Ghetts talk about chopping through the organgs of a man like it’s suya.
Quotables:
“Where, big spear that’ll go through your belly
There, payback but you don’t owe me a penny, yeah
Fuck that, fist fight, fair and square
Nah, fuck that, flick-knife, rer and ter
Nah, fuck that, this guy’s wearing his share
Might come back, midnight, airin’ a flare
Deal with the matter like Skibba
How’s he gonna feel when I’m shattering his liver?
Bloodbath will fling a man up in a river”
38. 1st Verse. — Idols Become Rivals — Rick Ross
If you’re reading this, you know about this verse.
Quotables:
“ I used to see you niggas on my TV screen
And wondered what was life like, was it all a dream?
And then I met you out on LiveNation dates
Came to the realization that your watch was fake
Damn… you nearly broke my heart
I really thought you niggas really owned them cars”
37. 2ndverse on His & Her Perspective — Wretch 32
Rap songs that are able to articulate the vantage point of opposing parties are few and far between, but when they occur they leave the listener in awe. Wretch 32 details a story of infidelity, trust issues and love as told by opposite sexes in a relationship.
Quotables:
“ I wish you knew the kitchen just like you know women
I wish you knew the dishes just like you know whippin’
Between us there’s a big difference; I might reply to a DM but you go the distance
Said I want a baby you were scared, I could tell
But when you slept with that hoe you weren’t protecting yourself
And that’s disgusting! Imagine if you gave me something”
36. AQ- Change on thing Change Everything
As a story steller, It’s difficult to keep a plot running, the probability is lesser when a rapper has to do it over an instrumental that switches tempo midway. A.Q ticks all these boxes on his way to deliver one of the most technically astute verses of 2017.
Quotable:
“This a theory of how life works for me,
change one thing and everything changes concurrently
Positively or Negatively you can never know
Everything is moving fast but I’m very slow
Let me explain it, the universe is at a stand still everything in it is moving
That’s why you feel time is moving too but it’s at a standstill
the only thing that’s moving is you and that’s how time kills
so if you stood perfectly still and all your organs too
your tissues, cells and hairs from your follicles
you would never die, but then you wouldn’t be alive
you gotta move and when you move you gotta die”
35. Hyena — Kwesta
If we are talking years in the game,Kwesta is one of the most recognized African Rappers. It’s just a shame that most of these new cats don’t know him. Like an OG would do, he kicks bars for fun on this. You need to play this.
Quotables:
“ They gon hate who I’m becoming
I just pulled out the delearship
Like “Fuck the budget”
Problem is, niggas tell girls to put their bottles on em
My bitches solve a whole case
Get to the bottom of it
It’s catch these chicks
Or cash these cheques
Before you get in trouble boy
Respect the tech
Keep your gents in check
I’ll keep my gents in check
But understand
You fucking with a 10 year vet, eish.”
34. 2nd Verse — God Bless Your Heart — CyHi
For a long time, CyHi was like Skales between 2011 to 2015 — the mainstream act with an upcoming act feel. A lot of CyHi’s fans didn’t understand this, but accepted it nonetheless. No Dope On Sundays as however offered the springboard CyHi’s career desperately but subtly yearned for. It brought the fore, all the positives CyHi has treated his fans to — the craft, the lyricism and pure genius in word and phrase utilization. This was one of the many times CyHi went in hard. Like a friend said, “If No Dope On Sundays had been a Kendrick or Cole project, it would have gotten drummed up for the Grammys”. Maybe he was right, after all.
Quotables:
“ Every flow is a thumbs up
I give you my spirit ’til all my niggas wrists is uncuffed
It’s hard to celebrate Christmas as a black man
’Cause like ornaments on trees
That’s just how we was hung up
One love
MTV, this is unplugged
Stacking this cheese reminds me of momma’s lasagna
From crafting double entendres
The child of Coleman and Tanya
Just a gap-toothed genius
Word to my cousin Jelanda, uh
Twist up this ganja ’til I go over yonder
They say I got too much will, like 24s on Hondas”
33. Rapsody — Laila’s Wisdom
Like an album named after a sage of a Grandmother was going to be short on gems and quotables.
Quotables:
“Look don’t worry bout anything they told you
Remember what she SAID about winter and what the cold do
Everything’s a season and some things you gotta go through
Believe me I don’ seen it all, you’re young talking to the old you
When haters come around look em down tell em “we don’t owe you”
You gon lose some friends but those circles are better than the ovals
A black man left the oval
Keep that style you got soulful”
32. 2nd Verse — Amerikkan Idol — Joey Bada$$
Quotables:
“Watch out, another nigga runnin’ in the White House
But I won’t stop ‘til this whole shit painted in all black
And we on top, ‘cause my people been paining before crack
Media’s got this whole thing tainted, that’s all fact
Feedin’ you lies like this whole thing wasn’t built on our backs
Assimilate our history then made it a mystery
Now they all inherit the bittersweet victory”
31. Ghost’s verse 1st Verse — Rise of the underdogs 1 — SDC
It’s trite in Hip-Hop that the way a rapper begins a verse determines to a large extent how the verse will be judged. Apparently Ghost is aware of this cardinal rule and on Rise of the Underdogs he snatches your senses from the moment he utters the words that begin an impressive display of tongue twisting assortment of vowels.
Quotables:
“Long Live the underdog
Long as he’s under God
Rest assured the sun will shine after the thunderstorm
Felling like Jean Lu Picard with these captains log
Insterstellar of the wall with these monologues”
30. Reason Verse — Flavours — Big Star Johnson featuring Reason & Zooci
Quotables:
“ Was tryna take food from the people I cook and I chew with
And that’s just some true shit
I gave them their credit and that was the end of the movie
I don’t wanna do this
What happened with Ricky is the story that happens in music
What happened to me?
I swallowed my pride, digested it
And got on my own shit”
Reason is a legend and it’s obvious anything he does is A1. Ordinarily, you’d overlook this verse, but pay closer attention. It’s about mastery of the art of delivery. It’s not really about lyricism even though it didn’t fail for that.
29. 1st Verse — Pen To Paper — Brother Ali featuring Amir Sulaiman
Quotables:
“ I’ve spent my every hopeless dream and my unspoken secret
You hear it floating through your speakers in my old releases
My fanbase began to grow beneath & crowd around me
I never tiptoed ‘round here shy I spit it loud and proudly
The U.S. government profiled me and the sponsors dropped me
Some of my listeners felt a way so they no longer got me
I knew that telling that truth is costly no one alive can stop me
I rolled that flag out on the ground and prostrated my body
This is more than music to me, this is ancestors
Speaking through me at the tomb of Rumi”
How the talk of dope rappers has constantly left out Brother Ali over the past 10 years is insane. 2017 has however offered Ali some much needed publicity and the skies look blue. The verse is about mastery of sound and flow.
28. 1st verse-Dap The Contract-Two Roads — Dap The Contract Featuring Lazy Rabbit
A Nigerian in Diaspora. A rap solo that begins with positivity. All the markings of gold. Dap dropped 3 bodies of work in 2017 and Two Roads was the first. He spits freely on this one, questioning and probing, projecting his insecurities onto his art, rounding off with a moment Vic Mensa would have been proud of.
Quotables:
“ If I died, I’m going straight to 7th heaven
Just hope I make it to my graduation
I’d have the angels in a choir singing like Mariah
And when it’s time, I think I’m coming back a holy reverend
Roses burning, breaking bread with Moses, did I never tell ya?
I’m way harder than these dudes that’s on my genitalia
Grandpa probably sits with Jesus, tell him I’m a failure
It’s cool I got my twin with me, we finna Kenan Kel ya”
27. 6lack- Last verse on the BET 2017 Cypher
Introducing 6lack the latest in a long line of RnB cats who are equally adept at stealing your girl, making bedroom music and dropping knowledge. we implore you to check this out, due to copyright issues your best bet is to head over to the bet website to check it out.
Quotables:
“Them my homie did some shit and had to sit in the cell
So I focused on my music, chose my sentences well
Now my sentences sell, I don’t censor them well
Connected to a higher power like I sit in a cell Tower, this ain’t rappin’ while I’m splitting a cell”
26. 2nd Verse — Lauder — JID.
J.I.D. J.I.D. J.I.D. What to say; if this guy keeps going, he’d end up being a rap great. Even though this might have been a sentimental choice from all of us at Urban Central, due to this song’s beat, but J.I.D absolutely ripped this second verse, as if the first verse wasn’t dope enough. He mixed Introspective, personal rap about his aims and ambitions while oozing confidence. He really went for “triple doubles when thy were going for double dribbles”.
Quotables:
“ I could be out of my mind, thinking logically
No apologies for speaking how I feel
I silently swore solemnly
That I would be the guy to make my black people proud of me
Roses to the mothers of anybody that doubted me
Yo chick want dick, bitch dove in the covers
Overseen my areas, surveyed over my brothers
You touch them, you kill me, you can’t get close to none of us
They still double dribble, we going for triple doubles”
25. Jayso’s Verse-Pop Mandem — Bryan The Mensah featuring Jayso
Friends With The Sun might have been an underground project, but that doesn’t excuse its brilliance. Bryan has come to embody the brilliance of GH rap as pacesetters of African rap, just below South Africa and we wrote about the album here. On this song however, Jayso — the OG — outperforms Bryan with a mix of pidgin English and pure English, barking off braggadocio rich bars, full of quotables. Here, it wasn’t just about his bars too, it was also about the expertise displayed in attacking the beat with different flow patterns.
Quotables:
“ My passion for this rap is German passion for a beer
They said I’m paranoid I tell em sure you right
Trust is the reason you squeezing up your rice
Listen, miss me with the punning and the criticism
I be going Ape on every take that’s lyricism
What’s up with all these Cupid basic writers
Talking bout your verses no dey mean a thing to trotro drivers
That be cool but who said I am right to rap for all you hypers
I am hyperactive lyrically
I write like it’s for cyphers”
24. 1st Verse — JonWayne-City Lights
JonWayne has always been more of a storyteller. A weird chronicler of plain scenarios and human concept through weird imagery and themes, but a storyteller nonetheless. You’d easily find better bar spitters than JonWayne in rap, but that doesn’t mean he can’t surprise you once or Twice like he did on City of Lights; Verse 1.
Quotables:
“ I see my past highlighted by these city lights
I take the alleyways, grabbing on this battered mic
The dark shedded light
My peers after mine
I’m just hoping that they also love the afterlife
Either that or whatever is creeping after life
See, I’m a man tonight
I see these boys looking joyful with their toys
While I’m grabbing on my Samsonite”
23. Verse 1 — Marc The Poet — Souls and Silhouettes
Tale of a broken man, close to oblivion. Marc The Poet chronicles the story of a struggle through Veiled imagery. You won’t see it if you don’t want to.
Quotable:
“I was just a fool from the start; tell me what am I to you in the dark
Light headed heavy hearted that departed,
I’m usually far so you can find me with the moon and the stars
Sitting by as all my opportunities keep passing me but I can’t seem to hold on to my friendship or my sanity
and honestly I’m falling with no influence of gravity”
22. Homeboy Sandman’s Verse — Comfy — Aesop Rock & Homeboy Sandman
While it might seem Aesop sycophancy, I assure you it’s not. On this song, both men brought the heat, but HS just nicks it. It seemed like both men only needed to flex their respective lyrical muscles
Quotables:
“ You already know about the girth
This the type of shit that leave a glow around the earth
Namaste, ’cause I was lost but now I’m saved
But it was slaves that built the Church
So just pretend in misty watercolor memories of the way we were
The service light’s too dim to find the bit to find that’s tryna find a cure
It’s divine to forgive but it’s human to err
But breakin’ out when danger’s loomin’ is even human-er”
21. Verse 1 by Anti-Lilly — 14 Til — Anti-Lilly & Phoniks
An admonition for care, painting pictures of potential eventualities, but utilizing a golden Armour of ego. Anti-Lilly is someone everyone should listen to.
Quotables:
“ I don’t magnify my mistakes I just appreciate
The lesson nothing less I got no regrets
Still I got more decisions to make more repercussions to take
Find my therapy in percussion on production man
I lay my burdens down by the riverside
One day I’m trynna to see the bigger side
I’m chasing for the light because I’ve been in dim inside
But shit there ain’t never been no fear inside
I couldn’t have survived this far man this shit will get you penalized”
20. Pusha T’s 1st Verse — Good Man- DJ Khaled x Pusha T & Jadakiss
The conflict that arises from using illegal means to achieve goals are as old as time, so also is the resultant bouts of reminiscing. We are all conflicted and often wonder if we have sold our soul, well everybody except Pusha, who I believe was possessed by the spirit of Bishop to deliver a monologue worthy of applause from the most ardent theater goers.
Quotables:
“I was on the wrong side of the law
Like Pac was on the wrong side of the car
Like B.I.G. at the Soul Train Awards
The moral is all greats been driven”
19. The One /TTE 1 — Marlon Craft
One of the many underrated releases of 2017 is Marlon Craft’s The Tunnel’s End. This was the intro to this 2017 project. It talks about struggle, fears of downsides to success, with some philosophical narratives and metaphors.
Quotables:
“ I’ve been too obsessed with the tangible
So I sought the wisdom of a wise man or two
They asked, do you ask yourself what type of man are you?
You ever been afraid to abandon you?
No matter how misplaced all that anger and those bad habits be
Said at least I know that man in that sad mask is me
I replied that I don’t make pass more than pass had to be
Realised I too was wise so I dashed had to flee, like
They can’t tell me what being me like
They can tell that I seen strife but not how I see life
These mice, these dice, I gotta roll to reach heights
They saying I don’t listen to ’em but I hear me twice”
18. Royce Da 5'9 — Chopping Block — Royce Da 5'9
On a track specifically designed for legendary Barthletics, which we usually get from Slaughterhouse, Chopping Block goes in classic Freestyle mode. Place To Be and 2.0 Boys were good, but everyone destroys each other at their turn. With no real theme in mind, but flexing lyrical capabilities and put some Swagger in braggadocio, Royce sets himself apart as the second best. I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction though.
Nickle 9!!! Sigh. Just listen.
Quotables:
“My mind deep as minin’ for diamonds, I raise MacGyver brow
I’m five minutes from perfect timing I’m like the price is down
A highroller, Cairo’ed like I’m Chyna and Tyga child
Mighta fucked one of you silver medalists wifey but
I can’t fight you ‘cause you might adjust my Midas touch
I can’t believe I just sat back and told that lie”
17. Verse 1 by Milo-Paging Mr. Bill Nunn
Milo is the new jewel of underground LA rap alongside the most unlikely rapper, JonWayne. On his 2017 effort Who Told You To Think?, Milo improved in the pluses of his previous Mixtapes and albums to produce perhaps his most accomplished album worthy project. Even on the first song, Poet, Milo was ripping out. While paging ol’ Bill though, Milo went HAM. Even though his supporting acts on this song delivered, Milo came in characteristically with those killer flows and insane word craft and wordplays, only a few could have done this. It’s endless bars outchea. Enjoy
Quotables:
“ They were convinced Sufism was expressed by hat choice
Auto dictate my didact and map it to black noise
Said the target audience was mothers of blonde-headed
Black boys, we shouldn’t be complimenting
Fence-building nihilists
Frankly, the frankincense isn’t working
All I’m doing is working
Understand life as a chore list
What a blessing this boredom is”
16. 1st Verse by Jay Z — Jay Z — Story of OJ
Themes of empowerment and emancipation are not strangers to Jay’s discography, on Story of OJ, Jay is in full form as he discusses how a black man will always be a black man in America, regardless of achievements, he plays off the famous OJ response to been called a black man and dishes out valuable advice to who it may concern.
Quotables:
“House nigga, don’t fuck with me
I’m a field nigga, go shine cutlery
Go play the quarters where the butlers be
I’ma play the corners where the hustlers be
I told him, “Please don’t die over the neighborhood
That your mama rentin’
Take your drug money and buy the neighborhood
That’s how you rinse it”
15. ASAP Rocky’s Verse — Tyler The Creator — Who Dat Boy
ASAP has been dropping fire features for years now. On Fat Joe’s Yellow Tape a couple years ago, and on ASAP mob’s 2013 BET Cypher, ASAP went in hard and changed the whole complexion of those events. ASAP again went in here and defined the song.
Quotables:
“ Was it Summertime ’06, had the Number (N)ine
Nigga, never mind, was another time before Vince
Had the Gucci gold tips with the letterman
Nigga, dollar sign was my favorite number at the time
Fresh freshmen ’til they skipped my ass
Senior citizen, don’t forget my pass
Been that nigga and you knew that there
Make the dick disappear, how she do that there?”
14. 3rd Verse- Rapsody- Jesus Coming
The Rapper’s Rapper. One of the greatest to ever do it. If she hadn’t gotten a Grammy nod, we’d have had a March. The woman is something special and she drops more bars than her male counterparts. Very easily, all the verses on the song could have made it, but we had to be factual. Constantly pushing what limits her, this song is another representation.
Quotables:
“We was staring at the sun too
We was shooting at each other now we both dying too
I got a family and I know he got a family too
I’m praying to my God and he praying to his too
He fighting for his family and I’m fighting for mine too
Money, oil, land, gold the only plan was to make it back safe with both my feet and hands but”
13. 1st Verse by CyHi The Prynce on No Dope On Sundays Pt 2
It’s been a long time coming. But in 2017, CyHi finally got here in style; complete with red carpet, a cape and a collar. If the album had dropped earlier, it would definitely have been in with a shout of for Best Rap Albums at the 2018 Grammys. As the beat switched for the 3rd verse, CyHi discussed the idea of hustle and change and what its meant for him and what it should mean for family members.
Quotables:
“ I work the graveyard shift, that’s how we made our chips
Bunch of AR clips, I pulled this KR, dip
Where the young niggas die, we live our days the darkest
Boosie Badazz, I’m down to catch a fade if y’all is”
12. Raekwon x P.U.R.E — M&N
Brethren, I’m gonna tell you this is easily one of the best Hiphop songs you’ll play this year. Raekwon produced an incredible album, but M&N was on another level with these two geniuses rhyming words that begin with only the letters ‘M’ and ‘N’. Even though it must have been a difficult song to craft, these honchos stuck to their guns and crafted bars upon bars despite the limitation.
Quotables:
P.U.R.E
“ I’m medicated materials methane meet the master massive
Y’all monkeys no match, make a mistake and get mauled by this mamba
Movin’ with the mobsters of Molotov
When I mingle in a midnight, moments are muggy
[Raekwon]
Mossberg, mind ya motion
Get molded in the morgue
Your mouth is muted, mockin’ my music
Got your wife mutilized, bank account minimized
The most malicious, ‘membered for meltin’ mics be my mission”
11. Rayn Lenae & Smino First Verse — Smino x Ravyn Lenae — Glass Flows
For once, we’d forget how the names Ravyn Lenae and Sylvan Lacue are weirdly beautiful and get easily mixed up and appreciate Smino, who is in a world of his own. Smino is the king of his lane and alongside Ravyn, they walked light on Glass Flows in their minds. They were almost walking heavily while the glass aided them in some weird ways. The fucking glass probably enjoyed them like we did. Tiptoeing what?!
Quotables:
“ Lately I been thinking ‘bout your glow again
Lately I been, lately I been thinking ‘bout a go again
Don’t you know my diamond soul?
Don’t you know my time is gold?
Lately I been drinking, still dehydrated
‘Lil chocolate water, Henny got me callin’, hello operator
Tell lil’ shawty, grab the phone
Fuck around, done been too long
If I had another chance, I’d throw you off my back
If I knew you had a plan, I’d never say attack”
10. Sticky_daGenius’ Verse-Keep On — Sticky_daGenius featuring Recognize
As you may have read in our Discover New Music series, Sticky_daGenius is arguably the best African Rapper in his SoundCloud Contingent. An application increasingly becoming a mainstay of the global music industry. Even though his general thematic topics need improvement, his talent is obvious. On Recognize, he rips a mean bar like a New York or Compton rapper would, spitting rhymes and wordplays calling it “lyrical exercise”.
Quotable:
“Yo I stay on the move, duck the deuce
Black on Black on China news, new and improved so it’s hard to loose,
these cats ain’t tryna school with the best of the best
I kill the rest, flow so hot I’m spitting air”
9. 2nd Verse by Joyner Lucas on I’m Not Racist
Lucas is making a habit of characterization in his raps, what makes him special is his ability to relay tales that are specific to a niche audience. It doesn’t have to resonate with everybody, it just has to be specific. Specifics is what Lucas deals with on this song, posing the racial divide argument from two restricted yet nuanced sides. It does not have to relate to everybody, this will become clearer when you consider the characterization and props displayed in the video.
Quotables:
“ With all disrespect
I don’t really like you white motherfuckers, that’s just where I’m at
Screaming “All Lives Matter”
Is a protest to my protest, what kind of shit is that?
And that’s one war you’ll never win
The power in the word “Nigga” is a different sin
We shouldn’t say it but we do, and that just what it is
But that don’t mean that you can say it just ’cause you got nigga friends
Nigga, that word was originated for you to keep us under
And when we use it, we know that’s just how we greet each other
And when you use it, we know there’s a double meaning under
And even if I wasn’t picking cotton physically
That don’t mean I’m not affected by the history
My grandmomma was a slave, that shit gets to me
And you ain’t got no motherfucking sympathy, you pussy nigga!
I’m sorry you can never feel my life
Tryna have faith, but I never felt alright”
8. SZA’s First Verse — Doves In The Wind ft Kendrick Lamar
Charlamagne calls it “the pussy song”. Maybe it was, but SZA herself has made the clarification it wasn’t about pussy and that’s the beauty of that first verse. It distracted minds to ingrain a tale of gratuity upon loyalty. If you aren’t aware, you’d miss the point. But then, the truth is “Real niggaz still don’t deserve pussy”. PS: Read this excerpt carefully, or you’ll miss the point like you probably did on the song. It’s not as much about what most people will pervive, it’s about the disguise of her message through the sensationalism of vulgarity, captivating and simultaneously misleading the average mind. Pussy like doves in the wind.
Quotables:
7. 3rd Verse by Kendrick Lamar — DNA — Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar keeps on cementing his legend with every new album. Even though this song’s incredible visuals might have heightened its response, it was a good song. In a song talking about personality conflicts and inner battles of identity and image, on a banging Mike Will beat, Kendrick absolutely rips this 3rd verse ably assisted by a beat switch and a killer, violent voice loop. It’s beauty is its used of Veiled symbolism as always to tell a story.
Quotables:
“ Tell me somethin’
You mothafuckas can’t tell me nothin’
I’d rather die than to listen to you
My DNA not for imitation
Your DNA an abomination
This how it is when you’re in the Matrix
Dodgin’ bullets, reapin’ what you sow
And stackin’ up the footage, livin’ on the go
And sleepin’ in a villa
Sippin’ from a Grammy and walkin’ in the buildin’
Diamond in the ceilin’, marble on the floors
Beach inside the window, peekin’ out the window
Baby in the pool, godfather goals
Only Lord knows I’ve been goin’ hammer”
6. 1st Verse by Aesop Rock & Homeboy Sandman On Panacea — Aesop Rock & Homeboy Sandman
Aesop Rock was named the greatest lyricist of all time by Lupe Fiasco and y’all thought it was some expensive jokes. Y’all be sold hard on cheapskate latex roof over your heads. When a Legend and an underground brawn team up, there will only ever be one outcome. Greatness.
Quotables:
“ Lice is single-handedly responsible for spearheading
The conservation efforts that would leave the giant panda off the redlist
Revolutionaries in support of all day breakfast
Play the record for your mother she might let you get that Xbox
Unless you’re hard of hearing
Unicorns should start appearing
Yetis walk up out the forest
You could score a jar of faeries”
5. Black Thought — Funk Flex #Freestyle087 on Hot 97
Sigh!!! I have an issue settling on what was more flamboyant, Riq’s Hat that reminds me of Raymond Reddington or the fact that he said that was all he had to say at that time. Show off!!!!
Quotables:
“ Vivid as the walls on the graph
Autographed by the Lord of Wrath
I reside between the seconds on the chronograph
How much more CB4 can we afford?
It’s like a Shariah Law on “My Cherie Amour”
How much hypocrisy can people possibly endure?
But ain’t nobody working on a cure, my young boul
Y’all just regular, I’m a’ apex predator
Brim stay fresh, feathered up, etcetera
Nevertheless, I got a message and left
One dead messenger, yep
My pen is Henry Kissinger, Buzz Bissinger
Look, my caporegime is to no redeem”
4. Wretch 32 — Fire In The Booth 5
He might not pack a lot of if pedigree outside the UK, but on ability, Wretch 32 is one of the very best rappers of our time across the world. His nationality is just his undoing. FR32 might not be his best work, but Wretch still packs heat. He’s arguably the best in the UK. On his 5th Fire In The Booth with Charlie Sloth, it was difficult to see him topple his 4th Fire In The Booth appearance, but he smashed it and some more. In a time where everyone wants to be woke and Hail Black Thought, Wretch 32 should get more plaudits because his was Better. He went in over a looped beat of Kanye’s Blood On The Leaves and took no prisoners. This was substance, not just bars, depth leveraging, braggadocio and self vaunting. There was a narrative. Click the link above and enjoy.
3. Crooked I Verse — Chopping Block — Royce Da 5'9 x Slaughterhouse
Anytime this verse comes on I want to punch myself in the face for harbouring thoughts that Crooked I was the weakest link in Slaughter House. On a posse cut off the Bar Exam 4, Crook raps cirlces around his peers and I’m still dizzy from listening to this verse as I type this.
Quotables:
“Any given Thursday you gon’ get with the church play
Holy organs, I mean it in the worst way
With the llama I’m a farmer, I’m outstanding in my field
My skill is a dead giveaway if you will, now that’s wordplay”
2. 1st Verse J.I.D — D/Vision — J.I.D featuring EarthGang
The Never Story is one of the greatest success stories of 2017 and J.I.D is the new age Atlanta rapper bringing back the real to ATL. Despite churning out an album excellent on wordplays throughout, his greatest lyrical achievement came in the first verse of this song where intended to. “Dead em from every side of the spectrum” with Hannibal Lecter ferocity and then collect their bones for memento.
Quotables
“ Dead ’em from every side of the spectrum
Hannibal Lector lecture
Body part bone collector
Nosy ass hoes get punched in the septum
That’s part of the woes for throwing salt like Epsom
Pardon my bros, kinda off the rocker and steps
Don’t step stupid or you get slapped stupid
East side little Route, Zone Six vet
Showin’ respect, a nigga forever in debt but don’t forget it”
- 2nd Verse by Schoolboy Q — Rockabye Baby — Joey Badass x Schoolboy Q
Groovy Q really came into full form on last year’s excellent BlankFace, for a testament to his ability to ride out instrumentals and switch gears as the beat progresses look no further than his verse on a stand out cut from AABA. Q narrates a tale of remorse for gang activity, his exploits and the state of the black man in America today. Our pick for verse of the year.
Quotables:
“From gettin’ lynched in field into ownin’ buildings
Getting millions, influencin’ white children
And oddly we still ain’t even
Still a small percentage of blacks that’s eating
Same routines, the same dope fiends
Them nightmare dreams, forever murder season
Bad intentions to them picket fences
They gave us guns but won’t hire us, nigga?”
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