COECollective Favorite Feature Verses 2016
At my apartment I have a version of Let It Be by Paul Mccartney and John Denver on vinyl. Its one of my favorite things. I have always said that one of the many reasons I was drawn to hip hop early on was its consistent collaborative efforts. More so than any other genre of music ever, hip hop artists collaborate. Something about artists I appreciate linking with other artists I appreciate has always made me so excited.
Here are my favorite feature verses from 2016. Each one of these verses embodied 2016 and touched on something that made rap music more self aware, more prophetic, or more fun.
“Ultralight Beam” ft. Chance the Rapper, The-Dream, Kelly Price, and Kirk Franklin
Chance the Rapper had such a powerful year. His verse on Ultralight Beams was no different. From the moment Chances voice graces the Intro to Kanye's polarizing album, he has a similar effect that Adele was able to capture on songs like 'Hello'. His verse, so full of raw passion and determination, evoked emotion from many each time it was performed live or even just played at the club. As the year moved forward Chances verse suddenly grew to have more than one context as I began to attribute his words as a promise to Kanye.
"When they come for you, I will shield your name I will field their questions, I will feel your pain No one can judge ... They don't, they don't know"
"How Great" ft. My Cousin Nicole, Jay Electronica, and The Lights
Jay Electronica has long been considered the God MC despite having no album and being like...completely undeserving of the title. Regardless...His verse on How Great is a tremendous flex of the pen as long as you can get through the insanely long intro.
"I spit on the Tidal it's tidal waves, I spit on the Apple and kill a worm, A fire in Cali will swallow a valley for every African village burned."
"Church/Liquor Store" ft. Noname
One of my favorite tracks of the entire year comes from Saba and Noname and touches on the systematic oppression through the lay out of urban neighborhoods. The two Chicago natives shine on their respective verses while the hook simply sings what they see. "It look like funeral home, church, church, liquor store Corner store, dread-head, dead leg, ditto." Its when Noname starts to read her poetry that the song is complete. She makes the theme inescapable for anyone made uncomfortable by the track.
"They sold, they sold They sold prison the way they pipeline Systematically lifeline Erase all n*****, they so bulletproof from the law"
"Shadow Man" ft. Saba, Smino, and Phoelix
My generation is so important to me. The way we express ourselves and the way, like many generations before us, we are able to continue the tradition of delivering meaningful thoughts through more comedic sentiments makes supporting you easy for me. One of 2016's biggest breakout stars is Smino. Smino rips through the track with his untraditional voice and flow and, on a track entirely about my generations apathy towards death, finds a way to express it in a way that seems to put 2016 in a time capsule.
"It's gon be n***** boomin' at my funeral Tell em play Metro Boomin' at my funeral! St. Louis taught me death could be your neighbor, stay away, Don't take the family for granted better days await"
"Mad" ft. Lil Wayne
Mental health came up in hip hop this year more often than ever before. The rarely addressed yet important topic came up with Kanye, Kehlani, Frank Ocean, Chance, and many others but my personal favorite example was from Lil Wayne. Its important that we hear about mental health from the men and women we perceive to be indestructible. Its important that we are reminded of the fact that these people we listen to are human and not just celebrity. Its also important that artists as well as people in general are able to make themselves vulnerable and "let it go." Wayne does that incredibly well on this track.
"Got a lot to be a man about, Got a lot to pop a xan about..."
"Are you mad 'cause the judge ain't give me more time?, And when I attempted suicide, I didn't die, I remember how mad I was on that day, Man you gotta let it go before it get up in the way."
"Outro" ft. Lil Snupe, and French Montana
Meek Mills album outro is something I play more often than almost any other record from this year. Years ago I came across a rapper named Lil Snupe from Louisiana. From the first moment I heard him I felt like he was the future. I showed him to as many people that would listen to me. I saw him as raw untapped hip hop talent and because of his wit and attitude I felt that he could be the resurgence of a figure like Lil Wayne. I saw him with MMG and thought that they had finally found their star to accompany Meek. After a year of riding around with Meek, he was killed standing on the corner near his home. In his verse he raps about his fears of the come up. Fears he ended up facing. This verse stood out to me for a million reasons.
"Dipset" ft. Offset
Migos has flows and bars and we just need to basically respect legit everything they put out. On this track its Offset coming through with an absolutely insane flow. Offset utilizes light singing throughout the verse matched with bouncing syllables all over the place. One of the most fun verses of the year in my opinion. If you hate Yachty you can meet me in the parking lot.
"Had a mili, lost a mili, got it back Your bitch ran off, where she goin'? Where she at?"