Woody Black's "Top 15 Rapper Big Pooh Rap Performances" Part I

Yo, first and foremost, big up to Sean Deez c/o Kevin Nottingham for a dope list of the "Top 15 Phonte Rap Performances". The list not only show how great of a lyricist Phonte is, but it also analyse deeply into his lyrics which helps me appreciate him even more. With no debate, point blank, Phonte is ill and he's dat dude. But yo...I think his partner-in-rhyme Rapper Big Pooh needs a list, also. Yeah, I know that Rapper Big Pooh isn't highly praised as Phonte is when it comes to lyricism by the masses. In fact, some would even go far as to call him the "weak link" and a 16-bar filler. But, no one can deny that Rapper Big Pooh doesn't live up to his first name. Some of y'all will probably disagree with me. Okay, I expect that. If you think Pooh is whack, then hey that's your opinion. I mean, some heads probably listened to Q-Tip more than they did Phife Dawg or Parrish Smith than they did Erick Sermon - but they still stuck together as a group. It was never Phonte featuring Rapper Big Pooh, it was and still is Little Brother. Even on his own, he proved that he could still hold his ground through solo albums and mixtapes. So, again, if you think Pooh is whack, then you're a hater who lives by his/her own opinion. It's all good, ain't nothing wrong wit dat, but you can't front on him though.

So without further to do (or write), I would like to present to you the Part I of "Top 15 Rapper Big Pooh Rap Performances" list. Feel free to respond, debate, compliment, or even send threats, I'm welcome to any opinion.

15. "Cool as a Fan" by Little Brother

Album: Good Clothes 12'

Why it's Dope: True, Phonte was the star of the song as he rapped for over 32 bars. But Pooh set the tone for this song with a verse that told the story of his life anyone can relate to. He stays on his grind loyally, he struggles to pay all the bills, and he even gotta deal with "mami" bugging him with questions "he not tryna hear." In fact, the first four words of his verse created a name for this Khrysis-produced song. Although Phonte may be known for memorable one-punchlines, Pooh's hip-hop quotables mostly lies on four bars. Particularly, the last four bars below.

Memorable Lines: "Not bein made cause I do create art/Not bein played, they considered us smart/Well nigga I am, that's not a knock on me/That's a shot at the world but the blind cain't see.."

14. "Girls Like" by Rapper Big Pooh

Album: n/a

Why It's Dope: Okay, okay, before y'all try to find a bunch of tomatoes to throw at your monitors, there's a good reason why I pick this song on this list. Yes, the beat was simple and Pooh sounded like he wrote this back in '87, but this song provides a first-person view of Pooh's taste of a lavish lifestyle. Pooh and his crew are often perceived by fans (*cough*STANS) as 'backpack' rappers and they ain't never gon' wild out every now and then. This song isn't 'conscious' or provides a moral that can one help save the world 'cause ain't nobody thinking about that when they wanna just party, right? However, this song is beyond the flat imitations of The Waitresses' "I Know What Boys Like" and the raps about him poppin' bottles up in V.I.P. section and rocking a dookie gold chain rope. Nah, son. The real climax occurs at the end when he meets with a chick that had caught his eye at the restaurant. Those final eight bars relates to any man who went through the same situation of feeling like he's 'the man', only for it to suddenly come to complete halt, then it crashes and burns. Hey, maybe I'm only talking about myself here, I don't know. But anyways, peep the verse.

Memorable Lines:
"I paid my bill then I went to speak
I asked the young lady, 'Could I have a seat?'
'What's your name?' She said Unique
but all of her friends, call her Tweet
I said, 'Well Tweet, my name is Pooh
and I would love to have a rendezvous
Just tell me what I need to do'
She said, 'I'm down - but not with you'"

13. "Plastic Cups" by Rapper Big Pooh featuring Joe Scudda and Chaundon

Album: Rapper's Delight

Why It's Dope: There are many unwritten rules on spitting over a Dilla beat, but this one is easily the most important: Don't mess it up. Sure, the presence of the vocal of a rapper can help one to value the song even more, but if it's from the average Joe Schmo who insists on rhyming "Joe" with "hoe" and "gun" with "fun", you can forget it. Now although Big Pooh already has a reputation as a talented rapper, stepping up to a Dilla beat is a challenge by itself. Either you'll get listened to or the heads will click "X" and find the instrumental to the said beat to clean the horrid rap away from their mind. Big Pooh accepted this challenge by saying, "Yeah, yeah, whatever I got this" and came in with overconfidence. Dude rapped like Dilla himself gave the beat exclusively to him before he passed away. And that what made this song worked, he had to match the atmosphere in Dilla's brass horn-driven beat. I'm sure Dilla had to be overconfident to make a beat like that and Pooh and his boys matched it. It's like a football game where Pooh, Joe Scudda, and Chaundon went against a brolic team of nine players. Pooh passed and Joe Scudda blocked as Chaundon ran it all the way to the touchdown. Pooh's QB technique was definitely on point as he proves it on many lines below.

Memorable Lines:

"Yo, I flow liquid, Poobie been gifted
Wrote it in my manual watch how I shift it
No breaks, two takes at the max
Heavy on facts got me cruisin at a slow speed
Haters watch from afar and catch nose bleeds"

"Somebody tell these pussy niggas good night
I'm like a pair of stretch jeans homey - extra tight!
Get it right or get it right where you stand.."

12. I Need You by Darien Brockington featuring Little Brother

Album: Somebody to Love/Seperate but Equal

Why It's Dope: This song is dope by itself with the reegae-like ting kind of beat and Brockington's smooth vocal style help this song to ride smoothly. But after hearing Phonte's first verse in the beginning, you know Big Pooh had to come with it and he did it swinging. Let's be real, though. Rapper Big Pooh ain't in no way built like LL Cool J or could make an album cover with his shirt off like Nelly. But he still brags that he's on his A-game when it comes to making a sexy time, a la Borat, with a female companion. While other rappers may be hesistant to say how freaky they are over an R&B song, Big Pooh just lets it all out like Big Pun back in his prime in '98. I guess the new Overweight Lover is in The House!

Memorable Lines:
"Don't get it misconstrued 'cause a nigga is fat
You know I'm round all over, get a lil' closer
Watch Poobie do the damn thing like he suppose ta"

"Round one wit me, she'da sleep after that"

11. "Beautiful Morning" by Little Brother

Album: The Minstrel Show

Why It's Dope: When someone usually thinks of a song titled "Beautiful Morning", they usually think of a singer sainging about the birds chirping, flowers blooming, and a beautiful sunny day where everything has gone his way. Not on this LB track though. Big Pooh couldn't've started this album off better than to talk about all of the challenges and struggles in life and STILL looks on the bright side and waits for a brighter day. Pooh spits nearly proverbs in his verse detailing his moves to others and himself, as well.

Memorable Lines:
"Open my eyes to a new day, spread my wings
Takin shots of the Crown 'cause I'm goin through things
Everybody got they hands out lookin for cream
Coattails gettin heavy cause I'm livin my dream
Tryin to school these young niggas, it ain't all what it seem
I still struggle like you, and I still hustle just like you
But it just so happen that, Big Pooh doin what he love to do"

"No replacing my nig, on everything that I live
We gonna let this bitch ride to our trains collide
Or we fall off track, and ain't no bringing me back
And everything that go for you the same applies to Pat"

"Cause even though the birds ain't singin' and the sun ain't shinin'
It looks like a beautiful morning..."


So yeah, that concludes the Part I Segment of my "Top 15 Rapper Big Pooh Rap Performances". Part II coming tomorrow! 'Til then, let me know y'all input.

[For the other parts, click below]
Woody Black's "Top 15 Rapper Big Pooh Rap Performances" Part III
Woody Black's "Top 15 Rapper Big Pooh Rap Performances" Part II