I had to start this thread, well, because I am obsessed with the music of the young urban people of our nation.

Even when I hate it, I love it. I can't help myself.

So, go on ahead and wax fond over your favorite Gs.

May I begin with Ludacris? Because he is so very crazy. "Y'all thought I was just 404 and 770?! Naw!" People, that's a song about area codes. It's just him shouting out a bunch of numbers.

It is my contention that anyone can write a "song" about anything, and if they include references to "twenties," "dubs," "ice" or Cristal, they will have a hit. That, and if they include enough Zs in their name.

Who's your favorite, and why? Represent.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

Answers

Is it wrong that I'm fascinated with Lil Romeo? I mean, first off, he's Master P's son. Second, he's ELEVEN and he's all rapping about how he doesn't have time for no girlfriend, even though all the girlies want to be with him because he can b-ball and he's got the bling bling.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

About two years ago, I found Lil' Kim fascinating. Because she was talking rather openly and defensively about splitting Biggie's ashes with Faith Evans -- at least, I think that's how the story went, or maybe she got half and Puffy got half. And she was doing the tough- but-vulnerable-but-sexual act very well; like a rapping Mae West, but more human. And "Crush on You" was not only catchy but contained the immortal line, "You want a cheap trick? Then go on down to Freaknik."

Now she's crossed the line into cartoonville, and it's painful to watch.

I still have a fondness in my heart for Solé, though, who is much classier but can still come out with things with "4,5,6", which takes the cake as raunchiest song I ever got off of Napster.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

I LOVE me some Nelly. "I..am..Number 1! Number two's not a winner and number three nobody remembers."

Hell yeah, peeps.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

I also love Nelly despite the fact that I can't understand how the man has managed to build his career around a series of exclamations.

"Uh OH! Uh OH!"

"Eh! Eh! Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah! Uh OH! Yeah! Uh, Uh. Uh OH!"

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

Wow, I could not feel more old or unhip reading this thread. Lil' Kim I know of but have never heard a single song outside of the Moulin Rouge song. Puffy I know, of course. But the rest of these people? No idea.

But I will say I read that 404 thing and thought he was making some sort of "file not found" error reference. I suck.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

So, what, is Ludacris 678 as well?

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

Ludacris IS from Atlanta. Please don't ask me how I know that.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

It's because you're ludicrous. (See what I did there?)

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

Yes, he is from Alanta. He has a new album coming out, so I have been seeing his scary face on billboards for weeks. I keep hoping to run into him at Caribou Coffee, but no luck so far.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

Slickery, grab your walker and join me over here for some table top shuffleboard.

I like Destiny's Child, because they are hilarious in a way that Britney and Christina just can't touch, but all my hip hop/rap love is old school. I'll take me some Run DMC or some Rob Bass over Busta Rhymes all day long.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

I did hear a fabulous song about being "so fresh and so clean" while on the road last week, though. I could learn to love that song.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

Robyn, I'll be joining yall in the Old Coots section. This is coming from a girl who was introduced to Destiny's Child last month, by Omar and the Birfday Girl. Birfday Girl's first-grader knows more hip-hop than I do.

"Cruisin' down the street in my 6-4..."

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

Okay, now, I do love me some Outkast... I have a page on PG titled "so fresh and so clean clean," so for about a month this summer I was getting crazy hits from people looking for Outkast.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

Robyn! My girl! Come thrill to the wonder that is OutKast. Two of the best things ever to come out of Atlanta.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

You know that skit on SNL with the two fat old rappers sitting in chairs talking over the glory days of rap? I get really excited over that skit, even when (especially when) Horatio's moustache flaps from his breath.

We went to the R&R Hall of Fame while they had this fabulous exibit on Hip Hop History. When I realized that all my old favorite tunes were now called Hip Hop and no longer Rappin', I got sadly excited and embarrassed the Partner by dancing around and doing my 2 Live Crew impression (until I read the original lyrics to "Me So Horny" and became nauseated and sad).

DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince? Not cool? Hold me back!

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

I must also add my voice to the Outkast love. They are FABULOUS even if I'd never wear a single damn thread from their fashion line. They're the "Sorry Miss Jackson" guys.

I like Nelly, with his country accent and his talk about Jeff Gor- don. And the "ho's in different area codes" song is good for a laugh as well as the "baby cuz I'm a thug" song with the kids singing and everything. My husband always hears the hip-hop tunes before I do and he came home singing about "take it to the house, take it to the house." That about drove me NUTS. Then along came the "take off your shirt, swing it in the air just like a helicopter" crap which displaced it as the nadir of annoyance.

I have no idea who sings these songs or even what they're called, I just have to hear the hooks over and over and over again. I am more of an old school girl. Too Short, anyone?

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

Too Short, Easy E, Digital Underground, of course NWA, the aforementioned Rob Bass and Run DMC...

good times...

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

Ah, memories. The one time I was the one who got everyone in the dance circle to do what I was doing, it was to "It Takes Two."

And I think I can still recite all the lyrics to "Bust a Move." I know I can to "Ice Ice Baby," because I did the other night, listening to Friday Night '80s.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

Someone tell me that you remember the words to the "Rappin Duke"?

I will perform "Lodi Dodi" for anyone who asks. Plus, I'll offer up the MP3s for either song for kisses. Or just sweet talk, because I'm that easy.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

Y'all gon' make me lose my mind.

This obsession started with me when I was in college and my friend David Harris and I used to write lyrics to each other on the bulletins during the early service at our church job.

Let me tell you something, it's hard to stand up and sing "Lift High the Cross" when you're still laughing over "Emotions make you cry sometimes... emotions... make you fall in LOOOOOOVE!" I don't even remember who did that one, but it was a favorite on Power 93 WTUG: "Nothin' but the JAMS, FOOL!" in Tuscaloosa back in the dizay.

Now all these NWA flashbacks y'all are having - that's a different thing right there. (Y'all thought I forgot about Dre, but what had happened was, I did not.) Dr. Dre and Ice Cube and all the even older school guys like Run DMC and Master P, are in another class. They do not belong in the category of "Ridicurap," which is a term I just coined right this minute. It's sure to catch on.

I just wish I could see some label exec talking to Mystikal and saying "Listen, we like the new album, but you only say 'ho' 12 times in the first song. That just won't do, Mystikal. Seriously. And where are the dubs? We don't even know what dubs are, but we know you're supposed to reference them. Heavily. What's wrong with you? We can't put this out! Are you 'poppin' Cris' anywhere on here? I don't think so! Get Diddy on the phone!"

And whoever mentioned that "North Carolinaaaaaaa, take your shirt off" song just made me laaaaaugh. That is the worst.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

LOVE mystical. Did y'all see Undeclared last week where Eric, his co-worker and Kyle Gass from Tenacious D. were all in that tiny car singing, "DANGER! DANGER!" That fucking rocked.

Ludacis is good. His bit on "One Minute Man" makes me kinda blush. It's sooooo dirty. I can't believe they play that on the radio.

I've started liking Missy E. a lot more lately, mostly because Timbaland is a damn genius. He's Dr. Dre for the next millennium.

Beeyatches.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

Timbaland is a damn genius.

You said it. The first time I heard "Are You That Somebody," I swear my mouth hung open.

Of course, I had the same reaction to "Hard Knock Life (Vol. 1)".

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

I've been out of the loop since 98, yo! all I evah evah evah listened to was rap/hip hop/r&b from around 94-98. it was a time of gettin' 'funkdafied' Da Brat style and walking down the street humming regulate by Warren G (I even have it in my head now, but not sue if the words are correct; something like "it's a cold, black night, a -somethingsomething- moon, warren g was on the streets tryin' to consume..." something like that).

oooh and helll yizzaaah to Too Short (you just wanna f*ck my car) and Master P ...this is sad y'all, but when we got robbed, the only cd that disappeared was The Ice Cream Man album...haHAH! I miss that one...me and my friend made up this radio show and we played one song off that album that had the word 'bananas' in it. maybe I'll have to search for that song again; it was the shiznit.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

Morris Day and the Time. Ice Cream Castles. Pure unadulterated genius.

That's all I'm sayin.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

KRS-One is my baby's daddy.

He's all about unitin' the east and west coast rappahs and stoppin' da violence.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

Remember when they did that collaborative rap song to stop gang violence and Humpty from Digital Underground (Digital Underground! Tupac as a dancer!!!) rapped this line: "Brothers killin' brothers - what are you, RETARDED?" That still kills me to this day!!!

I'm so glad I could ignite the old school love. My friends and I were little white Too Short ADDICTS, Fight the Feelin' and Freaky Tales and everything a feminist in training needs to feel good about herself. *snort* Also NWA, Rob Bass, LL Cool J and New Jack City, the best movie EVAH.

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001

Remember when they did that collaborative rap song to stop gang violence and Humpty from Digital Underground (Digital Underground! Tupac as a dancer!!!) rapped this line: "Brothers killin' brothers - what are you, RETARDED?" That still kills me to this day!!!

Indeed I do, but ONLY because it was Arsenio Jams on VHI just the other day. The thing that killed me about it was that the group consisted of people like Eazy E and NWA and then they had HAMMER as their "headlining" rapper. I bet Dre was like - who is that fool?

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001

Baby, I'll take you on in a New Jack City showdown any day. I loves that movie. Only Wesley can say "See ya, and I wouldn't want to be ya" and not sound like a dorky 5th grader.

And let us not forget the Original Ganster. My main man Ice-T told you all to get butt nekkid and fuck tonight. Truly, the most romantic of all the ganstas.

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001

I love me some Outkast. Truly.

I mean, they have the balls to say "let me be Anne Frank, we'll go to the attic to hide out for 'bout two weeks" but they didn't include it on their liner notes. That little section is just... *poof* gone. Not included.

And the video for So Fresh, So Clean? When they do that rock out where Andre uncrosses his legs in a jump and does a little pelvic motion.. my love for him in that motion knows NO BOUNDS.

Nelly has always had a place in my heart. I adore that guy. I didn't love Country Grammar, but seriously, Ride Wit Me was a work of genius.

Do y'all love DMX's new song? I love it.

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001

Oh, The MOC is all about The DMX.

He goes around the house making up new verses all day long.

"The Plants! The Water! The Pants! The Slaughter! The Mustard! The Cheese! More Mayo! Please!"

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001

The new Ludicris song is SO DAMN GOOD!

"What's in that bag? What you got in da bag?" Brilliant.

And as far as old school goes, you can't outdo the one-two punch of Public Enemy's "It Takes a Nation...." and De La Soul's "Three Feet High and Rising".

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001

I like DMX and I think he looks really good, but did you guys see the MTV Diary of DMX?

The man is seriously a horrible ass.

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001

Oh, the best about the Ludacris song is when he says "What in the woooorrrld is in that bag?!"

That song is maybe The Best "fight the tabloids, leave me alone" type song ever.

Yeah, DMX seems like he might be an ass.

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001

The "Party Up" video is a treasure: "Y'all gon' make me act da FOOL!" And give women in bikinis to the cops!

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001

"The Plants! The Water! The Pants! The Slaughter! The Mustard! The Cheese! More Mayo! Please!"

Bahahaha! That is hilarious. (So funny, in fact, that I'm drawing the attention of fellow lab users because I'm sitting here giggling.)

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

Ah, old school pop radio station rap is what I know. The big butt song? I know IT ALL. Which impressed the shit out of my nephew who knows only the part they sing on the Shrek DVD. You haven't seen a funny kid moment until you see a 7 year old redneck Ohio kid walking around singing, "I wike big butts and I can not wie" while wiggling his butt.

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

Uh, MOC, you do know that De La Soul is coming to the ATL, right?

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

T, I heard about that. But I haven't listened to them in, like, 10 years. They would be up there jammin on the new stuff and in between songs I'd be yelling requests from the first two albums and pissing them off.

I should probably just stay home and watch Shreck.

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

You want to hear genius?

"So what would you do if your son was home, crying all alone on the bedroom floor cuz he's hungry? And the only way to feed him is to sleep with a man for a little bit of money and his daddy's gone. Somewhere smoking rock now, in and out of lockdown, I ain't got a job now. So for you this is just a good time but for me this is what I call life."

YEAH! Strippers are people too, dammit!

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

Damn that song and it's catchy harmony. I can't help but sing it.

What would chu do?

I can't believe no one's feelign my Lil Romeo love. He's ELEVEN people! And he's bling blinging and b-ballin'. Hello?

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

I can't sign on for L'il Romeo, because I am a huge L'il Bow Wow fan.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

I LOVE MY BUTT CHEEKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2002

See, I'm in with the Lil' Romeo love. I mean, Master P, y'all. He's a good guy. He's no sports agent, as Ricky Williams will tell you, but the man is a philanthropist, for real.

Anyway, I'm down with Lil' Romeo. Also, he wants to thank you from the bottom of his heart.

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2002

I need to know who the group is that sings the song with "take off your shirt and swing it around like a helicopter" Someone please help me, I can't find it anywhere. I would like to get the CD (what's the name of the group, the song and the CD).

Thanks Hottie!

-- Anonymous, March 07, 2002

Well, Hottie, I am ashamed to admit I know this, but the artist who does that song is named Petey Pablo.

Now, y'all don't look directly at my science, ok? Because it will blind you.

-- Anonymous, March 07, 2002

I would like to say that as an inspiring artist, rap artist that is. Ludacris is fie and i am not just sayin dat cuz im from da a town but he gave me hope he is such a cool down to earth person and funny as hell!!!!!! So when it all boils down he is not just a lyricists, but he is hard-working and dedicated thats why I Love Luda. "I be dat nigga named Luda alert alert its da ATLien intruder College Boy Water Boy spit in da co cooler" He is truly set for da game. I"m only 16 and I know it's not all about da nigga lookin good it's about being real. I am bringin out my CD in da A-town independenly with my own money. I love dis shit we call rap. IM GONE

-- Anonymous, March 08, 2002

I'm terrified.

-- Anonymous, March 08, 2002

Charissa? Will you have my babies?

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2002

Omie, are you sure she isn't already?

-- Anonymous, March 11, 2002

Only in beautiful dreams.

-- Anonymous, March 11, 2002

I like big butts and I cannot lie. You other brothers can't deny. When a girl walks in with an itty-bitty waist and dat round thing in your face you get sprung!

-- Anonymous, May 06, 2002

You think Tyler May truly is a girl-lovah if all he can do is kick out the ol' school jams?

-- Anonymous, May 06, 2002

ludicris is so F**ing funny

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002

Ludacris is, in all seriousness, the bomb. Seriously. He's got chickens gettin' it ON in his latest video. And then the chicken sings part of the song, while he's in the act.

Oh, and just for reference: Nelly didn't do "baby cuz I'm a thug". Trick Daddy did. Or at least that's what Winamp is telling me right now.

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002

The BEST song on Nashvegas radio is played on 101.1 The Beat; it sounds like a collaboration between Outkast and someone else, and I swear it sounds like they say they are "blowing the wind" or "controlling the wind", immediately after someone has poured himself a glass of Coconut Hen[nessey] while watching his twenties spin. Is that Outkast singing?

Just for the record, Timbaland may be the best thing to hit the entire music scene for the last 20 years.

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2002