The reason so many people loved Rick Ross's verse on "Devil in a New Dress"

Honestly, this is a simple answer, it's the production. But in my opinion, there's more.

First off, the Bink! produced track (Mike Dean is also listed as a co-producer) is definitely one of the top 3 songs on the album (I'd throw "Power" and "All of the Lights" or "Gorgerous" in there as well). Secondly, Bink! did an excellent job of taking the sample from Smokey Robinson's "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" and interspersing the low guitar chords in the beginning of the song and then bringing in the serious guitar chords later. Part of me wants to think that Kanye may have gotten the original beat from Bink! and then made some tweaks to it with Bink!. Nevertheless, I'm sure Kanye could hear this track being played in a stadium ("stadium status", anyone?) and with that heavy guitar in there for the second half of the song, it would definitely appeal to the pop/rock crowds. Like Dave Chappelle (not me!) once said, white people love some electric guitar.

Chappelles Show
Electric Guitar, Drums or Electric Piano Pt. 1
www.comedycentral.com
Buy Chappelle's Show DVDs Black Comedy True Hollywood Story

"It speaks directly to the soul of the white person, they find it irresistible." LOL!

Back to the topic (no J. Cole)...

Let's take the beat as the foundation for the song and then consider how the beat and verses are arranged. First off, the song is 5 minutes and 52 seconds long! Not cut for radio and long enough for the average listener to surmise that there's some sort of skit, interlude, or section where the beat just plays (I'm not sure of the proper musical/technical term for this) bridge. Kanye raps for the first 2 minutes and 50 seconds after which we hit the bridge.

From what I can tell and based in my very rudimentary knowledge of music composition, the bridge in this song serves two purposes. The first is to give the listener a better appreciation for the beat up to this point. And I don't mean appreciation in the sense that we should be impressed but an appreciation in the sense of what instruments are being used and those that have now been taken away during the bridge. The second purpose is to get the listener ready for the beat to come back but this time, with some serious guitar chords incorporated into it. The chords are actually brought in during the bridge (at about the 3 minute 12 second mark). The chords are brought back in and slowly drums are brought back into the beat and then the next thing you know...


This leads me to the point of this post. Ross's verse is nothing special lyrically. I've definitely heard better from Mr. Rozay and for those of you that still don't respect Ross's lyrical ability I submit to you Exhibit A, "Solemnly Swear" and Exhibit B, "Valley of Death". The latter of which I think may be Ross's most lyrical song ever, inspired by Curtis Jackson no less. As for his verse on this song, honestly the only gem in there is "when it comes to tools n*gga I'm a Pep Boy". And that is by no means an overwhelming piece of lyricism. Granted, maybe the "double-headed monster with a mind of his own" and "making love to the angel of death" lines are deeper than I can see. Yet-and-still, I don't think this is a stand-out Ross verse by any means and I'm a Ross fan. In the end, I think that the bridge helps Ross out tremendously and his delivery is what makes his verse memorable. Not to mention, Ross's verse also brings in that other fanbase/target market Kanye's trying to capture, the "streets". Whether you want to accept it or not, Ross's appearance on the song gives the song some "street credibility".

Overall, Bink!'s production, Kanye's verse, the bridge and Ricky Rozay's voice, delivery, and ad-libs (ughh!) combined with the beat and arrangement of the song makes the song special. It's definitely one of my favorites from the album.

BONUS COVERAGE: If you'd like to check out various samples used on the My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy album, check the video out below:

This verse deserves its own post

I posted the song "2nd Time" by Brother Ali and Wale here quite some time ago. I also posted another Brother Ali song that I thought was pretty dope with Freeway called the Truth. But Ali's verse on the "The Truth" is nothing compared to Ali's verse on "2nd Time".

I listen to a lot of rappers that don't talk about much outside of cars, clothes, drugs, and hoes and that type of rap definitely has its place in my rotation (no I'm not ashamed to admit it) but I also have a place in my rotation for rap like what you're about to listen to below.

I'm not sure if it'll be more effective to post the transcription first or the song but I'll go ahead and post his verse from the song first then the transcription of his verse.


And here's the transcription of Brother Ali's verse:

Rappers can't clap me

Jackers can't gat me

Original meaning of Jazzy Fat Nasty

I don't bite rapper's lines, I bite the captain's arm off

I don't throw shots in the air, I throw that Molotov

Cocktail, reservoir dog my collar off

Y'all scared to get that revolution popping off

You really got the guns you claim in the track

Then my question to you is who you aiming em at

You complain that the rap police caught you with a gat under the seat

Misdemeanored that twenty bag of weed

But little old me with the few facts that I speak

The homeland security gaffled me over seas

Froze my bank account and seized my guarantee

And y'all are soundscanning like a hundred more than me

They kicking you off tour for freaking a chick or two

Verizon dissed me too 'cause I was too political

Y'all are all safe and shit, y'all are not saying shit

You just snap your fingers and dance and make your label rich

Gotta pay back that advance, so they ain't gave you shit

This is your chance to say something and you're wasting it

People are starving, you talking bout balling

Can't think of nothing more important than that jargon

Hundred different ways to describe diamonds sparkling

Eighty percent of kids are listening to y'all shit

I heard that statistic I almost cried

Never wanted so bad for 2pac to be alive

What the fuck happened to rap when

The gangsters are scared of upsetting they industry masters

It ain't my place to say and I hear all that

But fuck that, I live in the hood and we need y'all cats

So as soon as I hear y'all on some real pro black
Then I will gladly go back to my emo rap

They say the truth don't belong to nobody, if you see it you speak it

It would be a sin to keep it a secret

So if I need to breathe then believe that I mean it

Quit trying to be somebody's boss and be a leader

If it wasn't bad enough your labels are hoeing you

You can't even scan, your fans are downloading you

There's no connection, so they're not supporting you

You ain't never shed light on nothing that they're going through

We ain't buying CDs, we striving to live

And these artists don't need me they already rich

I ain't hating on you, rock them shines

Just remember us from time to time when you drop them lines

Rappers can't clap me

Jackers can't gat me

Original meaning of Jazzy Fat Nasty

Busy raising babies and living on tour

Signing off Brother Ali, sincerely yours

I would've highlighted the dope parts of the verse but that's pretty much everything after the first couple of bars.

You can listen to the full version with Wale here but unfortunately (I'm a Wale fan) Wale's verse doesn't really stand up to Ali's.

Video: CyHi Da Prince - Ring Bellz

CYHI DA PRYNCE -- RING BELLZ from Urban News Network on Vimeo.

Another joint off CyHi's Royal Flush mixtape which if you haven't listened to by now, you should.

The intro to the video is a bit too long and a bit overdone, but I understand why he did it considering the MLK intro to the song. He's got some serious imagery going on in the video which I can appreciate. It's also imagery that might jar up some feelings of anger and/or inspiration in black folks serving as a reminder of how far we had to come to get to where we are. But more importantly, hopefully it serves as a reminder that we still have a ways to go.

"I'm in the hoods that you wouldn't walk a mile alone/F*ck a palace, catch me in the battle zone/"

Spotted at NahRight.

CLASSIC Martin Episode - Varnell Hill

LOL at "probably as beautiful as an early autumn.... Pomegranate wine."

"Dont hvae a pool, got me... But we got a ten mile lake...Lake Varnell, catfish are DELICIOUS!" Martin couldn't even hold in the laughter on that one, lol.

The Ultimate....

Video: Laws feat. Cyhi Da Prince - Honor

Laws ft. Cyhi da Prynce "HONOR" from 3 little digs on Vimeo.

Not sure how I feel about Laws but you already know I'm a Cyhi fan.

Video: Lloyd Banks feat. Jeremih - Don't Deserve You

Lloyd Banks - New Music - More Music Videos

The original of this track leaked back in September and had Banks singing the hook himself. I'm not sure if I like Jeremih's version of the hook more than Banks'. The hook is slowed-down a bit from the original version and I think that takes away from it a little bit. I still think the song is a good look for Banks though.

Check out the original here. And check out some bonus Banks below. It's a song he released during the middle of the Curtis vs. Officer Ricky "beef".

Dear Rick Ross, where is this song?

Ryan Leslie x Rick Ross "Maybachs & Diamonds" In-Studio from Ryan Leslie on Vimeo.

They worked on this sometime in 2009. How this song was not on either Deeper Than Rap or Teflon Don, I don't know. But if there's any way this can be on Officer Ross's next album, it should be.

Video: Gods'Illa - Glaciers/Glaciers II

Gods'Illa... Get familiar.


Shot out to Truth, Acem, and Powerful.

Best Video to Ever Hit the Black People's Internets

Do I really need to explain why this is the best thing of all the times?

I may not need to explain that but I do need to quote my favorite parts of this video, lol.

He ain't no gang member we don't come from that shyt! -- Preach!

All that's fake but this azz-whoopin ain't gonna be fake! -- Yes, whoop some azz, save a child!!!!

Now put that on this f--king wall! -- I d@mn near died off that one, lol.