Despite all the new music released, DX’s Top 10 features a handful of throwback tracks this week. Just under a year after it was released, Big Sean’s “Control” creeps back up the list to #1 with its showstopping Kendrick Lamar feature. At #2, a more than decade old cypher featuring verses from Busta Rhymes and Ol’ Dirty Bastard is featured after making an appearance for Throwback Thursday. A HipHopDX list chronicling some of America’s most dangerous cities and the rappers that represent them rounds out the Top 3.
The rest of the list includes a couple more DX lists, a throwback and now famous Jay Z and Big L freestyle, and new music from Scarface, Childish Gambino, and G-Unit.
Big Sean’s “Control” Returns
Last year, Kendrick Lamar’s verse on “Control” gave the Hip Hop press headline fodder for weeks with its aggressive call-outs. Released in August, the pre Hall of Fame track would go on to receive a commercial push on behalf of Def Jam later in the month. With Kendrick Lamar’s verse stealing the show, the controversy it caused churned out dozens of response and diss tracks.
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“I heard the barbershops be in great debates all the time,” Lamar raps. “About who’s the best emcee? Kendrick, Jigga and Nas, Eminem, Andre 3000. The rest of y’all new niggas [are] just new niggas. Don’t get involved.” Weeks after the release, Kendrick responded to the publicity and admitted he never expected the reaction. “Honestly I didn’t know it would be so much speculation—I just wanted to rap,” he said. “If anybody knows me doing music, I wanna just rap… Maybe I should just dumb down my lyrics just a little bit.”
Busta Rhymes & ODB In A Cypher
DX shined light on a years old cypher featuring verses from Busta Rhymes and ODB for throwback Thursday this week and the video quickly jumped to #2. Both rappers spit familiar verses—Busta’s is obviously built from his 1996 hit “Woo Hah!” and Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s is from “Damage”—but the cypher remains a piece of classic Hip Hop footage. Coincidentally, Busta’s “Woo Hah!” remix would go on to feature ODB in both the song as well as the padded room featuring video.
Last month, Busta Rhymes released the latest single from his upcoming Extinction Level Event 2 album. The track, “Calm Down,” features Eminem and apparently took months of back-and-forth to put together.
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America’s Most Dangerous Cities & The Rappers That Rep Them
Earlier this week, HipHopDX’s Michael Trampe compiled a list of the country’s most dangerous cities and some of the emcees that represent them. With Jon Connor repping Flint, Michigan, Apollo The Great raising the Camden, New Jersey flag, and AR-AB holding down Philly, thirteen other cities are included in the piece. “Our focus was on the larger cities that had numerous artists to represent them,” DX wrote. “You will notice a few that only have 1 or 2 notable rappers, but the majority have a handful of talented rappers. All notable rappers are listed and we highlighted each city with our favorite up and comers (or vets).”
As for Gary, Indiana, Freddie Gibbs is at the top of the list. Read the full feature here.
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This Week’s Top 10
2. Throwback Thursday: Busta Rhymes Vs. ODB – Freestyle Battle
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3. “America’s Most Dangerous Cities & The Rappers That Represent Them”
4. “The Top 17 Rappers From Canada Not Named Drake”
5. DMX – “10 Verses You’ve Never Heard But Should”
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7. Jay Z & Big L – “7-Minute Freestyle”
8. Childish Gambino – Calls Out Kendrick Lamar, Drake & ScHoolboy Q
9. SScarface f. Akon – “Exit Plan” [Video]
10. Ray J – “Never Shoulda Did That” [Video]
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