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

Ladies and gents, this is the third and final part of "Woody Black's Top 15 Big Pooh Rap Performances!" I see people are responding and I'm thankful that each of y'all are waiting to see what I'll pick for number one. This list right here will surely spark a conversation. As a fan of Little Brother and the Justus League, I've been analyzing and I deeply listened to each song of Big Pooh and yadda yadda blah blah blah. Let's just get to the list.

5. "Scars" by Rapper Big Pooh featuring Median and Joe Scudda

Album: Sleepers

Why it's Dope: Many people probably would've sent death threats to my Gmail if I were to not include this song on the list [I see you, Matchz Malone!]. Poobie showed in "Sleepers" that he had much more of his talent to share. But the song that always stay on repeat in my player is "Scars", sometimes known by others as that "'Cut Me Deep' song." 9th Wonder created a perfect background mood for this song as Poobie tells a chilling autobiographical narrative on how life isn't always sweet. In fact, Pooh went on to say "Whoa!" before he even explains the story. He also told a cautionary tale on what would happen to one if they were to bump their gums, they would get their gums bumped in a major way. This ain't no "gangsta rap" track, but more of a Coast soap 'eye-opener' for those who ain't never seen the filthy side of life.

Memorable Verse:
"Whoa! Let's take a walk through my life
Pops ain't love me, moms tried to raise me right
Two younger sisters and an older brother like
You gotta be nice when you fight
You better think twice when you fight cause you playing with a life
And some niggas get trife when you playing with their life
And they go for their knife or they bust at you twice
Or they take it to your crib and put a couple in your wife
Or your kids or whomever, whenever they can get it
They can get it right now for a couple of them digits
Really, but beef gets sliced from bullshit silly
Clowns in the club, clowns out in pub
A lick get drilled quick and plugged quick
For popping lip up in gums talking reckless and shit
Get that beef cooked up like some breakfast and shit
Jimmy Dean bright and early, scrambled eggs and grits
Got that toast buttered up ready to serve you quick
Pacing back and forth, parking lot looking real thick
In the midst of some chicks on the prowl for dick
Young scrapper got a point to prove, that his nuts is big
And everything that he say he live
And everything that he speak he did
And everything that he clutch is big
In the middle of the time, went up and touched the kid, off he slid..."


4. "Whatever You Say" by Little Brother

Album: The Listening

Why it's Dope: Okay, so Phonte's 'verse didn't rhyme' and he still receives the most attention for this song. Aight, that's cool. But you cannot tell me that Phonte's verse alone would've sounded right without the mackalicious first verse of Big Pooh introducing himself to a lady with more attitude than Troop. "What up, brown skin?/Your body smellin like cinnamon/Hair in a bun/Your toes done so feminine?" Now hold up, I've been harping over folks who called Big Pooh "whack" endlessly. But if I were one of y'all, I would've been more worried about Big Pooh spittin' game at your broad if he bust another verse like this. I don't care what N'ANN one of y'all say, but if there ever was a "Overweight Gamin' Rappers" committee - Rapper Big Pooh could chill with B.I.G., Big Pun, 8Ball, Heavy D, and Pimp C with no question. That verse is ILL. And if that ain't enough, let me remind y'all with the quotes below why y'all should just relax and take notes.

Memorable Quotes:
"Go at you hard like most records that's sold
Spit propaganda at you 'til you break down and fold
You look confused Miss Thing, like I'm speaking in code
Seventy-six, sixty-fo', press # - HELLO?"

"Now you lookin fluxed like those chicks with they nose stuck up
Just put your number down girl, what the fuck?!"

"So what I'm chubby? Ya'll chicks still love me
Like to rub on my tummy while I tell you sumthin funny
Whisperin in your ear 'til them panties go fallin
What's my name? (Big POOOOOOH....) Yea, that's what she be callin"

"American Pie shit, try anything out once
Forever stained in memory like white shirts and punch
I get the hunch, that a nigga's on your menu
Do me a favor girl, come check me at the next venue"

3. "Step it Up" by Little Brother featuring Dion

Album: Getback

Why it's Dope: As we all may know, most of the songs today are about staying fly and having swag and yadda yadda yadda. Now mind you that I'm not knocking any of those songs, but there are rarely any songs that are out today where men would admit that their swag didn't instantly came out of nowhere. That their love for their women hasn't been the same then since now, y'knahmsayin? How it always wasn't easy to change for the better of yourself, let alone somebody else, when it came to fully mature as a fully grown adult man. Some who have it easily probably would never get this, but for those who always struggled with something - whether it's confidence, dating, or even interacting with girls, in general - would appreciate their mate for helping them stepping up to the level that they probably never thought that they would be in. Pooh summarized that stuggle all in sixteen bars and this Hi-Tek-produced song is one of my most favorites of the album. There are many truths to the verse below, but the bolded part caught my attention the most. Peep the verse if you don't know it.

Memorable Verse:
"Yeah, cause women come, women go
Until we all mature we ain't really tryin to grow
With the girl we seein we ain't really tryin though
Try and beat it up fast on the living room flo'
Got a little older, had to spend a little dough
Kept somethin in the pocket just in case I had to show
Shorties how I did it when I took 'em to the sto'
Took a few to the mo', lotto vouch for that
Nigga bounce to the fact things I did was dumb
I account all of that to bein young
Got a little age, got some understandin
The older women get, the more concerned with companion-ship
It took me a while to get to this point
I don't expect all of y'all to understand this shit
Read between the bass snares and kick
Everybody gettin judged by who they standin with, f'real"

2. "All for You" by Little Brother featuring Darien Brockington

Album: The Minstrel Show

Why it's Dope: Definitely one of the deepest songs of the album, if not their career, Phonte and Big Pooh raps about the downfalls of fatherhood and how much of being a father makes an impact in one's life. As the head-nodding boom bap break occurs in the background, Pooh opens up on the pain and hurt he's been dealing with rarely seeing his father in his life. He lets go of all of his emotions and tells the world how he feels as he contemplating what he should say to his father through the phone. It would be difficult for anyone who could relate to this track to let their father know how "scarred" they are when the daddy isn't there to help clean and heal all of the emotional wounds. What I love the most about this track is that Pooh is talking with pure honesty, plans to share that with his father, while remaining respectful, and not hold anything back. I can see why "Smile" came out few year later and for those who heard "Smile" and never heard this track, you should rewind a few years back when this joint came out. Or, you could just view the lyrics below.

Memorable Verse:
"Time to face it..
Sittin in the middle of the basement, holdin a jack
How I'm anticipating he 'gon call me back
Got so much on my mind ain't no holding it back
In fact, I give a fuck how he 'gon react
Through my first nineteen, askin where he at
Never seen him in the spots where we be at
For the next couple hours I sat, 'til the phone rang
No luck or no cigar
So I said to myself I'll try tomorr'
Me and my Vincent left out went to shoot play some ball
Came back, had message like 'This yo' pa'
Then I took to the phone, conversation was raw
Shit, I had to let him know that his child was scarred
And, right now we working through our mess
But I had to get some shit off my chest, so bear with me, y'all..."

Here it comes...#1...Drum roll please...

...



*opens envelope*

1. "You'll Never Change" by Percy Miracles featuring Poohnany and Big Trick

...
Hehe, I crack myself up....F'real, doe, here's #1.



1. "Nobody Like Me" by Little Brother featuring Darien Brockington and O-Dash

Why it's Dope: Alright, so it was 2005...I think the month was August..September, whatever the month is. Anyways, back then, I was just a seventeen-year old music dork who was a fan of everybody from OutKast to Fishbone to Frank Sinatra. Mind you that I haven't even heard A PEEP about Little Brother yet. The closest I ever heard of 9th Wonder was on Destiny Child's "Girl". I was a late bloomer who really needed to be up on his hip-hop game. And being from a small town called Erie, Pennsylvania, the only time hip-hop was ever played on the radio was on Saturdays at 5-6:30 P.M. This one moment, I was cleaning my room or something and the DJ announced, "Alright, coming up next is 'Nobody Like Me' by Little Brother" and the joint came on. I thought the beat sounded nice and started bobbing my head a lil'. Due to my Simon Cowell-style critic mindstate, I didn't think it would catch my attention for too long. Then suddenly, I hear the verses below and best believe that it got me open like a Fallopian tube.

"Uh, I got my headphones steady
And you are not ready, 'cause the flows too heavy
Poobie navigate over tracks like Mario Andretti
I'm sharp as a machette, you tossed like the confetti
Go against me, that's doors on a Chevy - '64 edition
Niggas still pitchin, sittin in the kitchen
Bangin on mom's table, the rap Clark Gable
I'm kinda fly wit it
I was blessed with the talent to rhyme
and motherfuckers I'ma die wit it
Taking y'all on the high wit it
It's my ship, I'm the captain, you wanna take a ride in it?
I'm the truth when I step in the booth
a/k/a a hunnid proof rap's gasoline
AmeriKKKa's nightmare, but a black man's dream
My eyes on the prize no sacrfic-ing
That's how we do..."

Now mind you it ain't just what he's saying that had me floored, it's how he say it. Any average emcee can try to repeat it, but they just can't do it like Pooh! Mind you when I say that POOH SOUNDED LIKE THE HUNGRIEST NIGGA RAPPIN', FAM! I could almost hear his big ol' stomach grumbling through his vocals. He was like the rap's Otis Redding because he rapped like his life depended on it. That's one of THE most hard-working filled rhymes I have ever heard, man. That convinced me that this group is not like any other average rap group, no. They're much deeper than that. I wanted to hear more from them and best believe I did when I bought myself The Minstrel Show that Christmas. Some say that the "first impression makes the best impression", best believe that it did with me! They have earned themselves a new fan that day and I've been riding with them ever since. AIIIIN'T NOOO-BAHHH-DEEE LIIIKE EL-BEEEEE!!

DAH-DAH-DAH-DAAAAAAAAAH!! That concludes the "Woody Black's Top 15 Rapper Big Pooh Rap Performances." Please send feedbacks if you will, all of them are welcome. If you feel it's otherwise, you could even make up your own list. I encourage you to After all, this is Woody Black's list. I'm willing to even see yours and compare and contrast, etc. etc. So long, fam! And below are the runner-ups that almost made it, but unfortunately went off the list. But trust that they still are important fam!

Awnable Menshens:

1.Rhymefest featuring Little Brother and T3 - "Get Plugged"

[The only reason why this song wasn't on the list is because Pooh and Tay each only rapped for eight bars. Otherwise, Pooh's hip-hop quotable line lies in the following. "I figure that the world ain't wanna know/But now I realize that the world is really slow.]

2. Rapper Big Pooh - I Don't Care

[Dope track to start off his solo LP, but I already proved my point with "Fan Mail" that Big Pooh ain't got nothing to prove when it comes to haters. Don't sleep on it though.]

3. Little Brother featuring Cesar Comanche and Tay Dogg - Groupies, Pt. 2

[This song was hanging by the thread. I definitely would've been #16 if I had made it that way. I feel this song is important and had a lot of great punchlines, but these 15 on my list, I feel, defines his career as a rapper more.]

4. Hall of Justus featuring Little Brother and Carlitta Durand - Life of the Party

[This song was REAAAAAALY close, even closer than #3. It probably would've been #15.991. But "Girls Like" had more of the "EPIC FAIL" moment than this one here, I think.]

5. Little Brother featuring Carlitta Durand - After the Party

[Same as #5, I almost added that for the reason of Big Pooh "soundin' raw" when it came to talking to girls, but he had his other BDK and Eddie "Rawer" moments on my list, I feel.]

Udder notables: "Sinners", "Braggin' & Boastin'", "The Get-Up", "Good Clothes", "Back When", "System", "With You", "Second Chances" (*ninja*), "Black Light Special", "Still Lives Through", "Barbershop", and "Passionflower"


PEACE!!


Shouts to Kevin!!


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