Hip-Hop (Dead Prez song)

"Hip-Hop" is a song by American hip hop duo Dead Prez, released on March 30, 1999 as a single from their debut studio album Let's Get Free (2000). Produced by production group Hedrush and Dead Prez, it is the duo's best-known song.

"Hip-Hop"
Single by Dead Prez
from the album Let's Get Free
ReleasedMarch 30, 1999[1]
GenreHip hop
Length3:34
LabelLoud
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Hedrush
Dead Prez singles chronology
"Police State"
(1998)		 "Hip-Hop"
(1999)		 "'They' Schools"
(1999)
Music video
"Dead Prez" on YouTube

Composition and lyrics

The production of the song features a "warped, wobbly" bassline. Lyrically, Dead Prez criticizes the capitalist functions of the music industry and its exploitation of black people ("These record labels slang our tapes like dope / You can be next in line and signed and still be writing rhymes and broke"),[2] and encourages the idea of using hip hop music as a means to promote social change.[3] In the first verse, M-1 promotes staying true to oneself as a rapper, and Stic.man echoes the message of the song in his final lines.[4]

Critical reception

The song received positive reviews from music critics. Andy Capper of NME described it as "A truly remarkable, inventive track - with its crazy, twisting boa constrictor bassline and blazing, call-to-arms chorus - it's a fierce declaration of war on hip-hop capitalists and an urgent reminder for rappers and fans alike to consider the bigger picture, asking them: 'Would you rather have a Lexus or justice?'"[3] Billboard ranked it as one of the greatest songs of 1999.[4]

Remix

A remix of the song titled "It's Bigger Than Hip-Hop" appears on Let's Get Free. This version features Tahir (of Hedrush) and The People's Army, and was produced by Kanye West and Dead Prez.[5]

The instrumental of the song served as the opening music for Chappelle's Show.[2][5]

Charts

"Hip-Hop"
Chart (1999–2000) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[6] 41
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[7] 49

"It's Bigger Than Hip-Hop"
Chart (2000) Peak
position
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[7] 43

References
  1. "Dead Prez - Hip Hop". AllMusic. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  2. Kameir, Rawiya (November 3, 2019). "dead prez: Let's Get Free Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  3. Capper, Andy (March 4, 2000). "Dead Prez – Let's Get Free". NME. Archived from the original on April 12, 2000. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  4. "The 99 Greatest Songs of 1999: Critics' Picks". Billboard. April 8, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  5. Pablo, J. (June 16, 2013). "Dead Prez React to Kanye's New York Times Comments About Them". The Village Voice. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  6. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  7. "Dead Prez Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
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