Hip-hop has always had three main components: break dancing, graffiti and the MC. On Rawkus Records second compilation, Lyricist Lounge Vol. 2 the MC is the featured aspect of hip-hop. Pulling together an all-star cast of popular and underground MC’s, The Lyricist Lounge Vol. 2 is one of the most diverse and impressive albums of this or any year.
The album opens with a rare track from The Notorious B.I.G. The track was recorded live at the Lyricist Lounge back in 1993. “Sixteen Bars” is exactly that, Biggie drops only one verse but continues to show why, four years after his death, he still can be placed as a headliner on a compilation.
On “Let’s Grow,” Royce Da 5’9″ shows why Eminem chose him to guest on his album. “I met this white boy one night/ who turned out to be the illest human being I’ve ever heard in my life/ he took me under his wing/ and showed me some things/ and molded me into a pro `till the flow was mean/ taught me not to do it like this but to do it like that/ threw me all kinds of love and I threw it right back/ even though we don’t talk that much never let the game consume us.”
Mos Def returns to bless the mic with “Mrs. Fat Booty 2.” This time he has the beat remixed and brings Ghostface Killa from the Wu-Tang along to keep this story about love and pursuit pulsating through the speakers.
Mos Def spins this tale of pursuit: “From the moment I saw you/ I knew you was trouble/ but I disregarded and detoured signs/ and did not stop until you was mine/ I guess God was like `fine’/ be careful what you wish for/ you might get it in heaps/ tried to give it back but yours for keeps”
Following up Mos and Ghost, is Saukrates and Redman on “WKYA.” In typical Redman fashion, the Funk Doctor Spock drops some of the most absurd lyrics to be recorded but somehow he makes it sound good. “Redman I don’t listen to him/ Now they whipped cause I’m in the van kissing on Kim/ It’s gorilla my color/ manilla my skin. Clean my teeth and my Timberlands with the same brush/ Stretch your body out like Jack Lalanne does.”
The driving guitar backed beat matches the intensity of the Saukrates and Redman’s lyrics. But as silly as Redman’s lyrics can be, the next track is where the album takes a pointed turn.
On Dead Prez and Talib Kwali’s “Politics” they offer up political and deep lyrical bombs. Right from the opening lyrics Dead Prez shows the audience what they’re in for. “The white man came to Africa with rifles and Bibles/ heard the name and started changing the titles/ now instead of Shaka call me Nat Turner with the burner/ freedom fighter for the revolution/ f*** a wage earner/ See I’ll be what John Wilkes-Booth was to Lincoln/ BLAM/ Sirhan Sirhan peeping through the curtains with my eyes on a Kennedy.”
The album’s jewel by far is the Gang Starr Remix of Macy Gray’s “I’ve Committed Murder.” Macy tells the story of how her boyfriend busts his butt everyday at work for nothing but minimum wage and the owner “is this mean old bitch who degrades him everyday/ Then she fires him for no reason/ Don’t wanna give him his last pay.”
Macy Gray and Mos Def work together wonderfully on the DJ Premier produced track. Both Macy and Mos show their exceptional storytelling skills.
The Lyricist Lounge Vol. 2 is one of the best hip-hop compilations ever to be produced. The great mix of lyricists and producers has given the music world a how to of hip-hop. Take one part lyrical geniuses; take one part dope beats; mix till smooth, and then put it on a CD. Hey, it worked for Rawkus. A
