Personification means: Giving human-like characteristics to nonhuman objects.
10. Ghostface Killah ft Raekwon, Slick Rick & RZA - The Sun
Here, Ghostface Killah and company reference ‘the sun’ and explore feel-good issues. Topped off with a smooth beat and positive lyrics.
9. Atmosphere - Became
Slug (of Atmosphere), personifies life and this song is not about a woman or a dog but about someone who went on a negative path.
8. MF DOOM - My Favourite Ladies
DOOM cleverly analogies different types of women to different types of drugs. With his unique flow, DOOM makes this an interesting listen.
7. Nas - I Gave you Power
Nas, poetical as usual, personifies an illegal gun that travels through his neighborhood causing violence.
6. Mobb Deep fto Q-Tip - Drink Away the Pain (Situations)
Prodigy and Havoc personify negative addictions. They talk about different alcoholic brands as women. Q-Tip takes a different approach with his lyrics cleverly using designer brands to talk about a situation where different people come together and take part in illegal activity.
Lyrics: http://genius.com/
5. Elzhi - Talking in my sleep
This song is off ‘The Preface’ album and here in a unique concept track, Elzhi talks about having a dream and personifies many things in his dream. With clever wordplay, this had to be included in this list.
4. Eminem - 25 to life
Eminem rehashes a more common concept in Hip Hop (no pun intended), where he personifies Hip Hop as a woman. Over a DJ Khali beat, this passionate track discusses Eminem’s relationship to Hip Hop however, at first glance, it sounds like it’s an emotional letter to an abusive ex-lover.
3. Nas - Project Roach
Nas takes on the persona of a bug/cockroach/beetle and takes you on a walk through the ghetto. Nas always has an amazing ability to make you picture his surroundings so vividly. He doesn’t disappoint here.
2. Organized Konfusion - Stray Bullet
Organized Konfusion (Pharoahe Monch and Prince Po) take on the persona of a bullet and describe the journey of the bullet. It has great storytelling with a lot of energy behind it.
Lyrics: http://genius.com/Organized-konfusion-stray-bullet-lyrics
1. Common - I Used To Love H.E.R.
Off the classic ‘Resurrection’ album by Common. He bravely talks about Hip Hop but portrays her as a woman and her life. This is the track that caused Ice-Cube to feud with him as he took offense as he thought Common was dissing gangster rap. Common takes you through a journey of how Hip Hop/the woman changed throughout her years.
Honorable Mentions
- Cunninlynguists – Beautiful Girl
- Zion I – Birds Eye View
- Kanye West – Homecoming
- Lupe Fiasco – Daydreamin’
- Outkast – Da Art of Storytellin’ Part 2 (First verse)
- Blu – Amnesia
- K Koke – My B*tch
- Masta Ace ft. Jean Grae – Hold U
- The Roots Ft. Common – Act Too… The Love of my Life
- MF GRIMM – My House
- MF DOOM – Kookies
- Wale FT. Curren$y & J. Cole – Rather Be
- Sticky Fingaz feat. Raekwon – Money Talks
- Jay Z – Girls Best Friend
- J. Cole – Lights Please
- Pharoahe Monch – When The Gun Draw
- Nas – Money Is My B….
- NaS ft. Busta Rhymes – Fried Chicken
- Cam’ron- D’Rugs
- 2Pac – Me And My Girlfriend
- Jeru The Damaja – Can’t Stop The Prophet
- Krs-One – I Can’t Wake Up
- Styles-P – Nobody Believes Me
- 50 Cent – Baltimore Love Thing
- Lupe Fiasco – Gotta Eat
- Spice 1 – 187 Proof
- Papoose – Sharades