Ep. 03 of the H.H.*R. podcast showcases a collection of songs where the artists assume the role multiple characters. Whether doing a duet (or posse cut) with themselves, or dropping dead-on imitations in their flow, these emcees demonstrate the uncanny ability to portray more than one persona in a single song.
Tracey Lee - Many Facez
Trace actually takes on the role of the whole crew on this joint. Good interaction between the characters.
U.T.F.O. - Split Personality
Check for Doctor Ice's head trip when he goes the ethnic Sybil route, flipping to hispanic, carribean and asian alter-egos.
Notorious B.I.G. - Gimme The Loot
One of my favorite Biggie joints, his wicked sense of humor and ridiculous flow are on full display. Again, a great sense of interaction between the two characters.
Digital Underground - Packet Man
Shock G. and his infamous alter-ego, Humpty Hump trade licks in this slick tale about an imaginary new get-high ... sex packets! (if only ... ) Oddly enough, when checking through the D.U. catalogue, there really weren't too many Shock/Humpty pure duets to be found. Although they appear on several songs together, they very rarely just trade off like they do here.
Nine - Hit Em Like Dis
Rather silly tune which finds the usually gruff IX kicking it with a rapping reptile. Nine decides to rip-it, rip-it by rocking the froggy frog style in this duet with his normal persona. Interestingly enough, this would not be the last time the frog style would be the technique of choice for an emcee (see Thirstin Howl III's "Skillionare").
Kwame - The Man We All Know And Love
The classic debut song from the polka-dotted rapper-turned producer. Filled with clever melodic hooks and hysterical ad-libs, this is an impressive demonstration of the style that Slick Rick made popular.
The Bad Seed - Pockets
Trippy joint that tells the story of a cat that is literally caught in the middle ... of his two rapping jeans pockets! A clever twist on the age old good vs. evil concept. Bad Seed does well with playing the middleman to his pockets' yin and yang.
Positive K - I Got A Man
The unofficial sequel to the classic MC Lyte duet, "I'm Not Having It", except Pos decided to handle the mic duties for both sides of the game. Eye always wondered if this really was supposed to be another duet with Lyte that somehow just didn't happen. Anyway, Pos K still brings that NYC swagger to the table, while still keeping it light (no pun intended).
Jimmy "Super Rhymes" Spicer - The Adventures Of Super Rhymes
One of the first real emcees (Wayne and Charlie the Rapping Dummy don't count as real emcees in my book) to rock multiple voices on wax. This epic classic is one of the superior examples of seminal Hip Hop storytelling.
The Last Emperor - Secret Wars Pt. 1
A ridiculous combination of imagination, clever lyricism and impersonations. Great concept from the Last Emp.
Force M.D.'s - Itchin' For A Scratch
First let me say that it is purely coincidental that these cats have now ended up on every podcast I've doned. Not sure how that happened, but it wasn't the intent. Anyway, more impressions. This time Popeye, Mr. T, Mike Jax, and James Brown get the business on this song which was featured in the absolutely horrid flick, "Rappin'".
Masta Ace - Me And The Biz
Juice Crew holds down the square, well actually it's just Masta Ace. But Ace definetely brings the Juice Crew alive on this one, flipping Biz's style with the precision of a brazillian ju-jitsu master.
The Roots - Boom!
Black Thought a.k.a. Riq G's delivers an absolutely jaw-dropping vocal performance on this song. He nails BDK and G-Rap with stunning accuracy. Amazing!
