Videos by According2HipHop
Lets talks about the deep cut. We love watching our favorite artists rise to superstardom. But what often gets lost in their climb to the top, are the underrated gems that didn’t necessarily make the Billboard Hot 100, but were one of the tracks that helped them get noticed. Here are four deep cuts that reveal a whole different side of iconic rappers.
Drake – Barry Bonds Freestyle
Deep Cut 1: You simply cannot deny the impact Drake has had on the music industry in the past two decades. And perhaps the most impressive thing about his illustrious career is its longevity. Drizzy’s rise to stardom started when he released his Comeback Season EP in 2007. One of the most notable songs on the project was when Drake remixed Lil Wayne & Drake’s classic Barry Bonds, which originally appeared on West’s Graduation album. Drake puts on a masterclass in wordplay and lyricism while simultaneously mimicking the flows of the two artists who would later become two of his biggest mentors in the music industry.
Nicki Minaj – Can Anybody Hear Me?
Deep Cut 2: Nicki Minaj is another Young Money artist who has withstood the test of time. Her rise to superstardom has led her to collaborate with some of the top artists including Beyonce & Jay-Z. But once upon a time, Nicki was just a femcee from the Bronx that was trying to make it to the top. Minaj chronicles her rise to rap supremacy in one of her more underrated tracks, Can Anybody Hear Me? In the track, she talks about her struggles as a youth growing up in Southside Jamaica, Queens, and how she overcame several obstacles on her rise to superstardom.
Deep Cut 3: Jadakiss – 40 Bars of Terror
Deep Cut 3: Jadakiss can’t sell out a stadium tour like the likes of Drake or Nicki Minaj. But around the music industry, he is still widely regarded as one of the coldest lyricists of all time. Jadakiss often refers to himself as “top five dead or alive.” And that moniker is on full display in his 40 Bars of Terror freestyle. Jada shows why despite rarely being seen on the Billboard charts, he still deserves his recognition as one of the top emcees in the game. The Yonkers rap star drops hard-hitting bar after hard-hitting bar that any rap fan will find enjoyable.
Deep Cut 4: Young Thug & Rich Homie Quan – Flava
Deep Cut 4: When we think of the best rap duos of all time, the names that usually come up are duos such as Jay-Z and Kanye West or Styles P and Jadakiss. But one duo who undoubtedly deserves more recognition is Rich Homie Quan and Young Thug. Now if you are looking for deep, conscious lyricism that you would normally see from the likes of Pusha T or Andre 3000 you are going to be disappointed. But as far as entertainment value they check all the boxes. One of their more underrated tracks is the song Flava from the Rich Gang: Tha Tour Part 1 Mixtape. The song serves as more of an affirmation. Both emcees exude a high level of confidence when they walk into any room. Proving that they truly do have the “Flava”
