At least the full version. The 'traditional' song in the first half is one of their best. The second half sound collage is cool and was really impressive the first few times I heard it. But my attention span is too narrow to listen to 5 minutes of sound effects now.
I feel like Kendrick has a few songs like this too. Sing About Me (I'm Dying of Thirst) is a great concept that's executed well. But it's like 7 minutes and I just don't have the bandwidth. And also Mortal Man from To Pimp a Butterfly and FEAR. from DAMN. Great songs that blow me away on the first couple of listens but just require too much attention to listen to regularly.
Beach Chair by Jay-Z. I'm one of the few people on the boards who really like that song. But it's so off-kilter that I just don't go back to it often.
Everything's in its Right Place by Radiohead. Amazing song but as I've gotten older my tastes have gotten a lot more conservative. Loved that song when it came out though.
Toilet Tisha by OutKast. It blew me away when I first listened to it. But I have to be in a certain mood now to take in a song about abortion.
You mentioned Eminem so I'll say Rap God. It's the equivalent of eating a well-prepared dish that isn't of a cuisine that is comfortable with your palette. You can appreciate the craft but you're kind of wondering what you just had and aren't sure if you want it again.
11. "RE: this is largely true" In response to Reply # 9
The ones with classic beats, the ones that are actual songs with hooks, the ones with multiple targets.
No Vaseline The Takeover. (Ether was the better dis, and Nas won the battle, but Takeover has more replay value due to above factors) To the Break of Dawn
Those are ones that I don’t skip if I’m listening to those albums.
Maybe I should add “being on a great album” as giving it more replay value. All those mixtape disses back in the day or one off disses over basic beats or someone else’s beat from a popular song? Nah, I’m probably never listening a second time.
13. "Man, that one was just scathing " In response to Reply # 12
Right down to the scratched “biiiitch!”. Now as hard as Common went, if it was over some BS beat or over like “Who Shot Ya?” or something....nah. I’m not listening again. Classic beat that is his own. It makes it worth repeated listens.
15. "The Black Thought freestyle on Funk Flex" In response to Reply # 0
I know freestyles aren’t really “songs,” but yeah. I listened once and then a coffee shop actually had it playing the next day. I got bored quick. His freestyles on that Tony Touch cypher are fucking great though and I revisit the video often.
17. "That’s BT’s lane for sure but it’s just too damn long." In response to Reply # 16
Impressive as hell, but I don’t seek out repeated listens of stuff like that anymore.
And Donuts ranks at the bottom of Dilla’s catalog to me, alongside whatever he was trying to do in 2001. That might change over time. It certainly has its high points and the emotional connection is always gonna be strong.
18. "I get you - 10 minutes (as mentioned above in other posts) is too long." In response to Reply # 17
Especially considering how layered and intricate the rhymes are. Not something you can just toss on in the background lol. Demands your attention.
Like you, I'd only listened to it once back when it was released then forgot about it. But just recently someone reminded me of it and I listened to it like 10x in a row followed by a rabbit hole nite of listening to other Flex freestyles haha.
20. "Two Jean Grae features from the early '00s" In response to Reply # 0
First is "Taco Day" on the Mr. Len's "Pity the Fool" album. And "Darkest Night Ever" from the Black Panther album of the same name. Both are like 7 to 8 minutes long, and both are looks into traumatic situations, but she pushes too hard both times, and I've never been interested in listening again.
25. "She goes so far that it takes me out of it" In response to Reply # 24
It starts off REALLY well. Her first verse she's subtly setting things up where everyone from the outside thinks there's a picture perfect life, but there's clearly other serious issues going on here. Then, starting with second verse, she starts dumping in the whole kitchen sink: the principal is sexually assaulting her, then it's her dad who used to molest her but now has moved on to his sister. And, oh yeah, sometimes the Mom joins in. And the grandfather is also molesting her. It just devolves into abuse porn.
Then there's this action scene-esque sequence when she murders her whole family. And there has to be a better way to set the scene and get into the mentality of why someone would shoot up a high school. I certainly appreciate the ambition, but she dialed it up too high that it sort of muddies the impact of the ending.
...when i listen to him (which is almost never), I'm actively telling myself that he's an incredible MC and at the same time thinking "i'll never listen to this song again, I hope it's almost over"
36. "RE: great example..." In response to Reply # 35
>...when i listen to him (which is almost never), I'm >actively telling myself that he's an incredible MC and at the >same time thinking "i'll never listen to this song again, I >hope it's almost over" > > >
This is where one questions if this makes him an incredible MC or not?
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