RDAT Tournament – Game 9 – Queens Bracket

No. 2 – 50 Cent – Get Rich or Die Tryin’ vs. No. 3. – Black Sheep – A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

The Queens bracket is one full of potential controversies with the exclusion of LL Cool J’s Radio or Kool G Rap & DJ Polo’s Road to the Riches. There’s also the obvious one with Nasir Bin Olu Dara Jones receiving a bye into the bracket championship. But I ask you, can you think of another album worthy to be remixed by the National Symphony Orchestra?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aM3F4HoX4X0

But both competitors remaining have a strong pedigree and, more importantly, longevity. It’s important with music and makes it easily comparable to baseball. It is no longer seen as the nation’s past time, but does provide for ideal analogies…and only hardcore fans can  recall Hall of Famer Alan Trammell.

A shortstop for the Detroit Tigers from 1977 to 1996; and when they reached the World Series in 1984, Trammell took over. In two playoff series, he hit .419 with three home runs and was named the World Series MVP. It was the signature moment of a long career and likely the only thing anyone would remember, unless you’re from The D.

“The Choice Is Yours (Revisited)” opens with a stand-up bass cord that’s become iconic like Scott Pilgram’s pulling out a D when facing Todd Ingram or #3.

The lyrics in the first two verses are the same as the original track earlier on A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing, but the third verse begins with Dres citing Roger Miller’s “Engine Engine #9” over just the bass cord.

It’s a signature line that has stood the test of hip-hop, being mimicked and replayed in everything from films like You Got Served and Step Up, to video games (NBA Street Vol. 2) and commercials for AirHeads and the 2010 Kia Soul.

Sadly, it overshadows what is arguably the best debut album from the Native Tongues family. Granted, Dres and Mista Lawnge didn’t get the same love that seminal members like Jungle Brothers, De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest received. But none have a track that a DJ in 2018 could throw on without blinking.

Curtis Jackson has a similar song.

 The beat by Dre, the catchy chorus and lyrics by 50 that were easy to remember and sing along. “In Da Club” was on the charts for 22 weeks upon its release and will continue to get spins, long after everyone associated with the song is gone. Just like Reggie Jackson hitting three home runs in a row off of three consecutive pitches from three different pitchers in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series will last as long as the sport is played.

Reggie Jackson was nicknamed Mr. October for his accolades, winning five championships and earning the 1973 American League MVP over a 20-year career that saw him hit 563 home runs. On Get Rich or Die Tryin’, 50 Cent follows a similar path with an album that according to Wikipedia, “debuted and peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200.”

Five of the 19 tracks were released as singles, including “21 Questions (featuring Nate Dogg)”. This is a R&B/Rap ballad, prominent throughout the 90s and into the early 21 century. It was the signature song style of Ja Rule, interestingly the same rapper 50 had beef with. I’m not a fan of the style, but would rather listen to “21 Questions” than “Always On Time” or “Between Me & You“.

Black Sheep didn’t have beef with anyone. They were making music for the same reason many young men start making music – increasing their opportunities with the opposite sex. It’s a shallow goal, but they’re not the first nor will they be the last. If this wasn’t their goal, the other obvious one flowing from every song is just to have fun.

Overall, it’s a fun album and the word play by Dres is underrated and forgotten thanks to the overall amazing production by Mister Lawnge.

Met a honey riding on the trolly
Looking kinda Dolby said that I could call her Molly
Said she had a lover that went by the name of Polly
As she kicked it, I thought that I should dolly
She said Polly want a cracker but the dip is not desired
Cracker got a honey though she’s about to be fired
He wants to get Anna better yet he wants to bone her
Anna’s got a man though and I don’t think he would loan her
I said honey honey I said it slow
Coming is my stop and I really have to go
Not to cut you short or to interrupt your flow but uh
What’s up with the mojo?

That verse is from “Hoes We Knows”, a inconsiderate name used throughout the album for the same females Black Sheep are courting. Various derogatory terminology has been used for females throughout the history of rap, but the number of albums that actually speak about the issue are few. And while it’s only a skit, “L.A.S.M.” is two minutes where it’s actually addressed.

The acronym stands for Ladies Against Sexist Motherfuckers and Black Sheep are directly asked, “Where do you come off thinking you’re God’s gift to the world? It’s dogs like you that make men look so bad. Do you really think this bullshit is going to sell?”

That’s a question that’s been parroted and passed down as the landscape of the genre has changed with staples like degrading women remaining. And at the end of the day, 50 Cent sold over eight million copies of Get Rich or Die Tryin’ with lines like,

The birds, they say I got a way with words
I be like “baby girl, I like them curves”
If ya not busy tonight then we can swerve
I’mma bachelor, baby, fuck what you heard