02 June 2008

And the Children Shall Lead


678. LADY SOVEREIGN, "Random"
Produced by Ad-Rock, Ceri Evans, and Medasyn; written by L. Harman & G. Olegavich
Casual 015 2005 Did not make pop charts

679. LIL MAMA, "Lip Gloss"
produced by Famliar Mindz; written by F. Crumm, N. Kirkland, and E. Serrano
Jive 707519 2007 Did not make pop charts

If you buy the myth as presented in the standard histories (and particularly in 8 Mile), hiphop is supposed to be egalitarian. In the myth, anyone can step up to the mike and take their shot. In reality, though, the newest figures in hiphop seem almost as manufactured as the ones in pop.

These two singles, though, are exceptions. Honestly, they're two of my favorite debuts in hiphop ever. Both rappers were barely old enough to vote when they laid down these tracks, and both songs still bear the mark of schoolyard taunts. But if rap really is just an extension of the dozens. just a showdown that's won on pure verbal or rhythmic facility, then these two young women could probably take on most challengers. The soi-disant vertically challenged S-O-V from Chalkhill takes down Chingy, J-Kwon, and Chris Bridges in short order. And my fellow Brooklynite? She takes down the principal, just by wielding (as the original Buffy Summers once referred to her most innate superpower) her keen fashion sense. She poppin.

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