The rap game is heating up. The young gunners are bringing some heat, and the OGs are still showing them how it's done. A$AP Rocky delivered an impressive album in At.Long.Last.A$AP, showing growth in his raps and his sound, and Shy Glizzy did the Lord's work by throwing Jeezy on the "Funeral (Remix)."
Jersey's Ransom came through and destroyed the The Dynasty: Roc La Familia "Intro," and Jadakiss continues his run of success with his recent freestyles. On "Eastern Conference" featuring Rick Ross, he goes in over the '90s Bulls theme song, and on "Block Work" he and Styles P murder Cam'ron's "Losin Weight" beat.
Read on to see which one of the artists mentioned took the top spot in this installment of the Best Rap Verses of the Month.
Angel Diaz is a staff writer for Complex Media. Follow him @ADiaz456.
10. A$AP Rocky f/ Kanye West “Jukebox Joints”
Date: May 26, 2015
"She the type to seek love and make it everlasting
I'm the type to wake up and say you never happened
I mean I fucked the girl with hella passion
But it's cold how we smash
Left her sleeping on a separate mattress
I think her body makes for better practice
Good excuse for my absence like "Flacko, where your ass been?"
Heard you done with fashion, now yo' ass is acting
I'm tripping off the acid, now yo' ass is looking massive
This ain't the shit equipped with columns from my reckless swagging
This that dark house party with this record blasting
Rolling spliffs, clique beside me, fingers Liberace
When I seen this bitch in vintage Tommy and some mean Huaraches
I'm all alone though, mood music makes me bop slower
Trippin' on how I shifted pop culture
Changed Hip-Hop on ya', smoking like a rasta was my pops culture
I be damned if I die sober
I'll be sure to visit Pac for ya" —A$AP Rocky (first verse)
Guys, Rocky has evolved, and it's a great. He's starting to get comfortable with this rap thing.
8. Jadakiss f/ Rick Ross “Eastern Conference Finals”
Date: May 22, 2015
"Release the content, cease the nonsense
You're dealin' with the beast of the Eastern Conference
All the hate do just increase the Don's strength
You pricks are harmless, the clips are arm-length
Right after you dab, do a couple of bong hits
Razor work mean, Buck 50, the long rips
At any moment it could get funky as armpits
Money comin' so fast that it fuck with your conscience
Out there where the water is different blues
Lookin' at the yachts, being able to pick and choose
Just like on the block, do your thing, then stick and move
Learn 'em by heart, so you never forget the rules
A room full of smart people never forget the fools
They all want to shine, but they don't ever get the jewels
Top five he's always in the discussion
The hood love 'em, they could see 'em, they could touch 'em
I8, he's in the BM and he's clutchin'
Without your freedom, it means nothin'
Marijuana, simple therapy
That paper will keep 'em off of you temporarily
Ain't nothin' change, I be in spots them niggas never be
Did the same thing they did, just did it cleverly
I just took my time, I ain't let 'em hurry me
May the young king Chinx Drugz rest heavenly" —Jadakiss
Jada has not missed on any of these freestyles. So many jewels in his raps. Take heed as you maneuver through these streets.
6. Shy Glizzy f/ Jeezy “Funeral (Remix)”
Date: May 4, 2015
"Might see Farrakhan at my funeral
I swear to God, you might see God at my funeral
20 mill in my will, yeah that's for my son
20 years straight, yeah bitch I had a run
Third row reserved for all my old bitches
They know I had that Rollie on in my old pictures
Straight from her auntie Brit, you that she gon' cry a river
Drink so much that she gon' probably need a liver
Might see Fab, Young Buck, Boosie, my nigga Meek
My jeweler in this bitch, he lookin' like the Sheikh
Thank God I paid off my mama’s house
Cause in my grave I don’t wanna hear my mama out
Try to assassinate me just like JFK
Red bones at my funeral might see Lisa Ray
Weight it, wet it, whip it 'cause it way better
Drive that Lamb to the check just like Mayweather
Remember me like Malcolm X or Martin Luther
Big Clear in the cut and he sure to shoot ya
Might just see some niggas I served a couple splits
Might just see some niggas I served a couple bricks
I love my momma she can't walk without a cane
Look into her eyes, see the joy and the pain
Put some M's in the trust fund for my daughter
Quarter mill with the Pyrex and the water
Took homie up here, he gon' say a speech
Tell you how I loved the money, never chased the freaks
Give Vay the Aventador, Hoodrich to Rolls
Came to pay respect you might just see B and Hov" —Jeezy
The Snowman took us to church. He really is the Malcolm and Martin of trap music. Amen.
4. Ransom “Dynasty” (Freestyle)
Date: May 6, 2015
"There's a price you pay when you strong as me
And you did it as long as me
I keep it real with them, these niggas ain't fond of me
I'm just lettin' that drama be
So I'm tellin' them honestly
I sold the dope, I told scrap I was givin' his mom a D
Ain't no visions to promise me, no goals that I won't conquer
And I got an idea why these niggas are so somber
I'm usually so stronger
I call my gun Russell 'cause once it begins to touch you, you're future is no longer
That's in the blink of an eye
Niggas thinkin' they fly
I'm screamin' out, "color money" if niggas think it applies
Homie, the bombs lit, you would think that Saddam hit
It's conflict 'cause I'm the real life version of John Wicker
Convict with no remorse after makin' ya' moms strip
Strong shit 'cause when the four pound's lifting the arms rip
Beloved
Of course Imma shine
You can how often I grind
It's time to eat, let's see what portion is mine
Extortion's the crime
Every word I talk is sublime
Pete Carroll, don't wanna see this beast crossing the line
It's nothin'
You never a threat
I always had a predator's rep
Win, lose or draw, it's time to settle these debts
These phonies actin' like I ain't got no felonies left
I'm so close to the blow, I could smell it on Penelope's breath
You square is not talkin' my language
I'm partially famous watching crabs steal from the public
I ain't talkin' 'bout Jameis
I'm talkin' 'bout when music is perfect, it's usually worth it
We poppin' bottles and kids are getting brutally murdered
Who truly deserves it?
I'm strapped, that's why I'm usually nervous
Street sweep 'em, shoot out with cops, do my community service
I'm been a problem since a toddler no father could figure out
A young thug, dumb drugs when ya' Carter was in a drought
Gotta pardon this nigga's mouth
They frail then I sit them out
It's May weather, the pack's gone, and I'm bailing my niggas out
One"
Ransom destroyed this goddamn beat. Bring the A-Team back!!!!!! Color money!!!
2. Jadakiss and Styles P “Block Work”
Date: May 1, 2015
"Gather 'round, y'all, it's goin' down, y'all
Block work, 28 for the pound, y'all
If he the king, I put a round in his crown, y'all
He just talkin', but he pussy in the town, y'all
I air 'em out, then put 'em in the ground, y'all
Hit 'em in the church if he prayin' on my downfall
It's either this or you wicked with a round ball
It's a burial whenever we sound off
Hands to the no-hander right after the round off
Peanut butter guts, chocolate brown Porsche
Word to Spanish José, we was movin' the most yay
Had my boys runnin' and gunnin', suttin' like 'Coach K'
Listen, duke, you could shoot, but you know that it's both ways
My gun splash brothers, I call 'em Curry and Klay
In a hurry to get buried ever fuckin' with J
Ah, Dave, come on, nigga, I see you ridin' the wave
Brave like the crackers that helped hide the slaves
Keep talkin', I kill you, then slide in your babe
You got a homie up top, I have him die in a cage
And he trigger-happy, you can't wait to fire the gauge
Go out on your shield, or you die in a blaze
Gunfire, one liar, could put the truth in a maze
I got the truck off the Sour, got a coupe from the Haze
In the telly down south, I got me a few dames
We ain't fuckin', but we stuffin' they pussy with cocaine
Whipped out, fuck around and hop on the 2 train
Robbed the first and last car to show you some true pain
Wolf on the phone when I show you a few fangs
It's a different kind of hot, my nigga, it's blue flames
Dudes is startin' to get out of pocket; loose change
Hard part: tryin' to stay still, move things
Right before you about to murder someone, your mood change
We came up like ninety bricks
We had the city under siege since '96
Go online: you still won't find these kicks
Like Frank White when he did the Chinese hit
That's it, it's us, then everybody else after
Our part of the good books a rough chapter
Everything dead serious, enough laughter
Fronto leaves, Raw papers and Dutch Masters, yeah
You read more, you see more
They tearin' shit up on the streets in B'more
Some people don't know what it's like to be poor
The hood is a one-way, ain't no detour
You know the love costs, the hate come free, y'all
Those who protect and serve will knock your seed off
The energy is negative, it's not to feed off
Shit'll cool down when we knock the heat off" —Jadakiss and Styles P
Pinero and Kiss are the Twain and Vonnegut of this rap shit. Two of the best to do it. Their back-and-forth flow is unmatched.