#25 Austin Rap Song of All-Time: "Capital City" by KJ Hines. (2006)
Teenaged KJ Hines used to catch hell from crusty Austin dudes who resented that he was from Cedar Park and seemingly had his dad helping him out at all times. But no one anywhere could deny that KJ was a talented rapper who routinely held down freestyle sessions at shows downtown. When KJ's song "Capital City" started popping up on the radio in 2006, which as you'll notice from this list was a banner year for Austin rap, "Capital City" became an anthem of sorts.
#24 Austin Rap Song of All-Time: "Real Life" by Soundscape (2001)
While students at UT back in the mid-90's, DJ Nick Nack had a KVRX radio show and Bavu Blakes was the lurking emcee on campus who would drop an amazing freestyle every now and then. Down the line a bit as Nick started getting serious into beat production and Bavu started crafting complete songs, the duo came together as Soundscape. "Real Life" comes from Nick Nack's 2001 "Re:Construction" album.
#23 Austin Rap Song of All-Time: "The Only Way to Shine" by Sam Huston Boyz & Lil Keke (1999)
People nowadays act like it's a sacrilege for an Austin rapper to sound anything like a Houston rapper. But 15 years ago when Austin rap still hadn't established its own conventions, what would you expect from artists only 3 hours drive from one of the most significant rap cities in the world? Sam Huston Boyz represent that point in time when Austin rap proved that it could stand on equal footing with rappers from Houston's legendary Screwed Up Click. Coming out of East Austin, Lil Breazy, Ajax, and Lil Buzzy made sure that whenever even the most pompous of Houston rap fans took a critical look at Austin rap that they'd always be able to reference the Sam Huston Boyz, at the very least.
#22 Austin Rap Song of All-Time: "Tell Em" by Basswood Lane & Swift (2007)
The Austin rap scene took a big hit this summer when news spread that Ice B of Basswood Lane passed away in a car crash out in Brenham. Along with Jamie Lee, Tony Wayne, and OZ, Ice B and Basswood were known for blowing up clubs with their feisty version of crunk music. And back when Basswood was still affiliated with Carnival Beats, so too was Swift. Throw them all on a track together ala "Tell Em" from 2007 and there's no escaping the frenetic energy.
#21 Austin Rap Song of All-Time: "Beaches" by Phranchyze (2011)
Phranchyze is best known as a battle rapper. He came up out of South Austin along with Zeale and formed quite the reputation as a clever wordsmith who could easily break down rhyming opponents with comedic barbs and blunt force punchlines. Maybe that's why it's so nice to hear him being so laid-back melodic on "Beaches".
#20 Austin Rap Song of All-Time: "Lost Scriptures" by Tee Double (1997)
Tee Double is the veteran's veteran of the Austin rap scene. Starting out carrying records for DJ Cassanova back in the late 80's, Tee worked his way up to the stage as an emcee via his original group Dope Melody. He'd eventually start marketing solo projects on his own Kinetic label and when "Lost Scriptures" started making the rounds via college radio play, the majors started calling. Wishing to maintain his independence and ownership rights, Tee signed a distribution deal with Good Vibe Records out of Los Angeles and it prompted national releases by both himself and his then Kinetic label-mate Mirage.
#19 Austin Rap Song of All-Time: "Jesus Shuttlesworth" by Deezie Brown (2011)
While fellow LNS crewmembers Kydd, Cory Kendrix, and Tank seem to get all of the press, Deezie Brown certainly has some noteworthy songs (and videos) to his credit. On "Jesus Shuttlesworth", Deezie gives Kydd's production the full-on Mars Blackmon treatment on the throwback tip.
#18 Austin Rap Song of All-Time: "Dance Sucka" by Blacklisted Individuals (2009)
Da'Shade Moonbeam and Snyp of Blacklisted Individuals proudly hoist up their black fists with both intelligence and intense musicality. Trying to prove that conscious rap could also be fun, they completely blew doors down with "Dance Sucka" from 2009.
#17 Austin Rap Song of All-Time: "Down in Austin, Texas" by Hood Soul (2006)
Gotta hand it to Nawfstar of Hood Soul who had the wherewithal to turn a quote from a DJ Screw tape into a hook for the ages. "Down in Austin, Texas, flossin' in my Lexus, bout it bout it now, who's next with the plexin'?" I actually think that Hood Soul has better songs ("Ridin' Cadillacs", "Got That Hood Soul", etc.) than this one (especially this weird version of it), but it's that chorus that people tend to celebrate most.
#16 Austin Rap Song of All-Time: "Jungle" by Kydd (2010)
Short but sweet, "Jungle" finds Kydd taking us on a beautifully jangly tour of Austin. The beat by Haris Qureshi conjures a boom bap steez for Kydd to completely own with a single continuous verse.
#15 Austin Rap Songs of All-Time: "Eastside 02" by Ryno (2006)
Rap has always been about representing where you come from. Not just the place itself, but how things go down there. The CNN of the ghetto and whatnot. Ryno does just that on "Eastside 02" which wasn't actually on his album "They Call Me No", but appeared on the "02 Block Edition" compilation. Sic Vic sets somewhat of a Nas-type mood with the beat and Ryno straight rips it for his hood.
#14 Austin Rap Song of All-Time: "Leave Me Here" by World Trade (2008)
World Trade was a collaboration between rappers Bavu Blakes and Element7d and singer Rochelle Terrell. They did an album titled "Channel One" and it didn't really come out at the same time that the trio were doing a handful of public performances back in 2008. Had it been pushed correctly, I could have seen it blow up far beyond just Austin. Shoot, Gary Clark Jr. plays guitar on at least a couple of the tracks on the album...very well in fact. So possibly, it still will become some sort of rediscovered classic. Anyway, I had the cd from jump and "Leave Me Here" has always stood out as my favorite song on there.
#13 Austin Rap Song of All-Time: "Whoop" by VIP (2006)
Going through these songs reminds me that Austin used to have commercial radio stations that would sometimes play local hits. Driving home from work and flipping through the stations, only to find a song like "Whoop" being played in between Lil Jon and Juvenile was the shit actually. On "Whoop", rappers Pimpin' Pen and K-Paul of VIP capture the country rap tunes feel of UGK, aided tremendously by AC's break-out production.
#12 Austin Rap Song of All-Time: "Hall Pass" by Kydd & Yelawolf (2011)
It's hard to believe that this song is already 3 years old when I'm not sure half of the people in Austin who need to hear it have ever done so. Local phenom teams with national sensation and earns his props via youtube. You gotta love it. Not sure who produced the Hiero-esque beat, but Kydd and Yelawolf absolutely tear it to shreds.
#11 Austin Rap Song of All-Time: "What You Know About That Wood?" by Flo Mob (1999)
Sadly for as much rap activity that was brewing in Austin during the 90's, there weren't many songs being made that either caught on really big nor since then have really stood the test of time, at least not to my standard. 90's songs by artists including Short Fuze, Lil Black & CKC, Funk Dynasty, and 2.5 Mafia came up just short of making my top25, leaving "What You Know About That Wood?" as a lonely representative of an entire era of Austin rap. I remember seeing Flo Mob perform at Flamingo Cantina as far back as '94. I was living in California when I was sent the "What You Know About That Wood?' album in '99 and I have to say just how much it made me glad that something that I could bump on par with say a 2Pac cd finally emerged from Austin. "What You Know About That Wood?" should probably rate higher on my list, but that just tells you how much things got even better as we entered the 2000's.
#10 Austin Rap Song of All-Time: "We Gon Make It" by League of Extraordinary G'z (2010)
It certainly is a Fantastic Planet. You get points for knowing what I mean by that. On "We Gon Make It", Reggie Coby, Esbe, and Lowkey animate a positive affirmation into a rap jam and everybody from Dove Springs to Westwood and beyond seems to be hip to the message. The LOEG'z just might be Austin's most prolific touring act (Zeale might have an argument though), so their reach is hardly limited to their hometown. Esbe (RIP) left us shortly after this video was made, so do cherish all of the personality he delivers here, both in song and on screen.
#9 Austin Rap Song of All-Time: "On the Southside" by PLA & Dok Holiday (2008)
Oh man. I'm not from the Southside. I've only lived down there one single year out of the 20 years I've lived in Austin. So I have no allegiance to South Austin. But damn, this song gets me hype as if it's a part of my inner fabric. First of all, the beat by DaBosnian on his Three 6 Mafia ish...insanity. Throw in the repeating Lil Keke hook and the way Dok Holiday sets off the first verse...classic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRXY_2RRitk
#8 Austin Rap Song of All-Time: "Watch My 15's Stutter" by J.Kapone (2006)
I can't say it enough. As much as the hardcore boombappers and recent transplants in town want everyone to quietly move away from the heart of Texas rap, there is no denying the Houston influence on Austin hip-hop. I mean, get over it already. You might actually hate the mushmouth rap of Yungstar, but when "Knocking Pictures Off the Wall" comes on for an Austin crowd, you'd have to be some sort of curmudgeon not to enjoy the party atmosphere. After all, we're the state known for rapping Z-Ro's lyrics louder than he possibly can on a mic at his concerts. Anyway, while J.Kapone is far from the most talented rapper to ever come from Austin, the guy simply got it with his biggest hit "Watch My 15's Stutter". At a time when Paul Wall's grill became an international icon, J.Kapone used his funds from a whole lot of drug selling to make a name for himself in rap. That is, before he got hauled in to do a whole lot of federal time. "Watch My 15's Stutter" was another local radio staple of 2006 and there were many versions of the song featuring various guest rappers, depending on which mixtape you were accessing. The beat, the hook, and yes, even J.Kapone's opening verse are the stuff of legend. I might even have to write this guy's biography at some point. And no, I'm not saying hero, just extremely interesting to me in a renegade boldness sort of way.
#7 Austin Rap Song of All-Time: "Whut It Dew" by Gerald G, Staci Russell & DJ Rapid Ric (2007)
Austin's resident rhyme animal Gerald G came up the hard way, freestyling his way onto stages to the point that headlining rappers learned to be friendly with him as to not get blown away by Gerald on their own set. I mean, some rappers simply recite lines. Other rappers leisurely showcase their swag. In contrast, what Gerald G does is an avalanche of relentless syllables, pent-up frustration, and unwavering power. It's like if someone was able to invent a fully-automatic cannon that could spit-fire your entire house down in a matter of seconds. Okay, I know I get carried away when I talk about the way Gerald G raps...but damn, just listen to "Whut It Dew" as a perfect example of a rapper blacking out the right way.
#6 Austin Rap Song of All-Time: "Get Busy" by Wink-D & Candy Fresh (1989)
Yep, Austin had quite the healthy rap scene back in the late 80's, when it was still pretty much just a hood thing. First, there was DJ Cassanova's Project Crew scoring a hit single in the form of "Army Man" in '88. Then, right along with it, there was the Lady IC & MC KB 12" that made a bit of its own noise. But then, by the end of '89, Wink-D and Candy Fresh were recruited by Fresh Kid Ice of 2 Live Crew to do a 12" titled "Get Busy". The beat is basically just a rehash of Debbie Deb's "When I Hear Music", but Candy Fresh makes it her own with both her sass and confidence. As old school as this song sounds, it continues to stand as a formidable landmark for Austin hip-hop at large.
#5 Austin Rap Song of All-Time: "Loftin-N-Austin" by Da C.O.D. (2009)
Okay, so maybe Kanye West never started making regular appearances in local HEB stores ala Robert Plant. But apparently he did buy some property here and in typical Kanye fashion, he went and bragged about it in one of his songs. Well, such a sampling opportunity is pure gold for an Austin rap group and Da C.O.D. became the ones to run with it. On "Loftin' in Austin", rappers S-Dot, Lil Jay, Tukdagat, and Greezo take turns repping for their city. "78704, bitch, say it right. It's not just a zip code, it's a way of life."
#4 Austin Rap Song of All-Time: "Got Karo" by Nac & Paul Wall (2005)
Austin's most accomplished hip-hop artist by far is producer Salih Williams. Through the 2000's, Salih scored major hits with Big Moe, Mike Jones, Paul Wall, and Bun B and all the while hardly anyone knew he was from Austin rather than Houston. Nowadays, people know him as the bandleader for Latasha Lee. But still few realize that along with Pimp C and Mike Dean, he just may be the greatest producer of unmistakably Texas rap ever. With "Got Karo", Salih bridged the Austin to Houston connection by pairing Nac of Carnival Beats with Paul Wall. The verses are alright, but the instrumental and especially the hook..."out of line".
#3 Austin Rap Song of All-Time: "Game Time" by Gutta Gang (2006)
Okay, fellas. Casino produced this and does all the rapping on the og version, but sure, I won't call your group Casino & Gutta Gang any longer. "Game Time" takes the Monday Night Football theme, a bassline from the deep inner depths of the Earth, and a hilarious Ricky Williams reference to the hilt. Of course this may not be the most timely moment to be propping up a song that seemingly encourages violence against women. But I see it as you do the Heisman pose to shuck aside an oncoming tackler rather than being on the attack yourself. Anyway, "Game Time" was the club jam of 2006 and it was eventually adopted by DJ Michael Watts down in Houston.
#2 Austin Rap Song of All-Time: "Play the Role" by Bavu Blakes (2003)
While "Play the Role" enjoyed quite a bit of radio play in 2003, it's the video that really drove it into classic status. Bavu Blakes used to always have the B-Boy City dancers join him on stage at his shows and there they are in the "Play the Role" video showing exactly what it looked liked to hang in Austin back then. Shoot, you can still catch some of those dudes in dance circles at shows today. Hydroponic Sound System out of Dallas produced both the original version of "Play the Role" as well as this remix that became the radio/video version.
#1 Austin Rap Song of All-Time: "You Can't Bury Me" by Dred Skott (2008)
You didn't think I was only going to reference Esbe da 6th Street Bully once on this list, did you? Face it, he's Austin's best rapper ever. And now he's gone. Yet, here he was a few years before his untimely passing declaring "You Can't Bury Me". I mean, with so much conviction in his voice, it doesn't get much deeper than that. And yeah, that Reggie Coby dude ain't so bad either. The instrumentation on this song is perfect, the Organized Noize feel to it and the way the chorus sections out the flow. And then there's the rapping, which lends a conversational approach to absolutely killing the mics. Yep, this is the very track I would put in a time capsule to represent for 25+ years Austin hip-hop.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4Mk0vkgj5Q
