What happened to the story in hip-hop? On this episode of Grown Man Bars, Chad and Big Absoloot break down the greatest storytellers in rap history – from the Golden Era to today. We’re talking Slick Rick’s “Children’s Story,” Nas’ “Undying Love,” Ghostface’s “Shakey Dog,” Ice Cube’s “Ghetto Vet,” Scarface’s “Mind Playing Tricks on Me,” and even J. Cole’s “Lights Please.”
We dig into what makes a great rap storyteller – vivid imagery, emotional honesty, lyrical structure – and why some MCs like Pharoahe Monch are criminally underrated. We debate whether Nas is truly the GOAT of rap storytelling or just the default answer, why Scarface might actually be #1, and how J. Cole carries the Golden Era torch in today’s rap climate.
If you love hip-hop history, lyricism, and Golden Era nostalgia, this one’s for you. Two Gen X rap heads, keeping it barbershop real about the art of the story in rap.
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:48 Shoutout to Black Writers Weekend
01:53 The Decline of Storytelling in Hip Hop
03:51 Slick Rick: The Golden Era Storyteller
07:44 Nas: The Street Poet16:05 Ghostface Killah: The Poetic Fragmenter
18:09 Ice Cube: The Cinematic Storyteller
20:01 Underrated Storytellers: J. Cole, Scarface, and Pharoahe Monch
28:06 Conclusion and Call to Action
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.