Awesome Rap

Spoken-word rap and storytelling by Tilawn Burtzloff, a young man who has struggled with homelessness, and how he copes with the harsh world through creativity. A film by Amy Enser & Drew Christie for the American Refugees project.

Following up on his epic version of Rappers’ Delight, NBC News anchor Brian Williams has his mind on his money and his money on his mind in this brief rendition of Snoop Dogg’s classic, courtesy of Jimmy Fallon’s crack editing team.

While today’s DJs largely rely on playing music with digital controllers, it takes just a couple of seconds of this clip of DJ Jazzy Jeff mixing it up on analog turntables to realize just what we’re missing these days.

Every time Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake get together it’s a crowd pleaser; their latest collaboration is no exception. Take a break for five minutes and luxuriate in their kooky choreography for Outkast and Drake.

(PG-13 Language) Mac Lethal spits another tongue-twistingly fast rap, incorporating every letter of the alphabet – in alphabetical order – as his subject matter. Sure, some of the phrases make no sense, but his speed is still amazing.

(NSFW: Language) The imagery in director Rex Arrow’s video may seem contrary to Mac Miller’s dope rap, but listen to the lyrics, and it’s perfect. “Walking on a tight rope, underneath a microscope. But close up, we all just molecules and isotopes.”

This music video by Bishop Frederick Barr, Erica Barr, and Kyhil Smith features the catchy chant Frederick uses to sell hot dogs and water to raise money for the homeless in Nashville. And now it’s gonna be stuck in our heads all day.

DJ Steve Porter took samples of Alex Trebek and his Jeopardy contestants, and remixed them into an awesome hip hop track which pays tribute from everyone from to Grandmaster Flash to Biggie to Snoop Doggy Lion Zilla to Dre.

(NSFW: Lyrics) Rapper Liu seamlessly weaves between English, Chinese, Spanish, Russian, German and Korean in a single song. The beats are a bit clichéd, but it’s Liu’s global flow that impresses. Hit YouTube for the translation.

(NSFW: Language) “Bach, Sebastian, or Rachmaninoff or Handel playing/When I’m candle lighting and man handling I’m saying, I’m classy.” A beast of a track from rapper Jean Grae’s album Gotham Down: cycle II: Leviathan.

(NSFW: Language) Lately it seemed like Slim Shady’s let go of hate and was all about positivity. But every now and then he reminds us that you can’t take the edge off of a brain and a tongue forged in poverty and battle rap.

(NSFW: Language) Rappers have a thing about making sure everyone knows exactly who they are. So without further ado, please allow them to introduce themselves – courtesy of the guys at Slacktory. Hit the link for a full track list.

(NSFW: Language) Rapper Coolio lives up to his name and hangs out with a group of students from the UK’s University of Central Lancashire, and performs an impromptu version of his hit while chillin’ on the couch after a concert.

An impressive and rousing a capella rendition of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ Can’t Hold Us by The Sing-Off season three winners Pentatonix. Dare we say it, we might actually like it better than the original, and that’s a tall order.

(NSFW: Language) “Everybody’s somebody’s everything/Nobody’s nothing.” An uplifting track by 20-year old Chancelor Bennett aka Chance the Rapper. From his free mixtape Acid Rap. The video was made by Austin Vesely.

Japanese beatboxer Hikakin hits the big time, joining Aerosmith on stage for a rendition of Walk This Way, and a performance from dancer Marquese “Nonstop” Scott – though they should have aimed the camera at his feet more.

(NSFW: Language) You may already know of Jay Pharoah’s talent for impersonation thanks to one of his standups or SNL. Watch as he unveils a hilarious and spot-on impression of rapper Lil Wayne on the Sway in the Morning radio show.

(NSFW: Language) CollegeHumor pokes fun at Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ hit track with this hilarious parody about all of the crap you would otherwise never buy if it weren’t for museum gift shops. Whut? Whut? Whut? Whut?

(NSFW: Language) The music video for Thrift Shop in its naked, beat-less glory. It actually fares a lot better than the one for Gangnam Style and is only slightly awkward. Plus there’s Macklemore’s chair.

(NSFW: Language) A great way to enjoy the afternoon: after viewing this playful (and literal) stick figure re-imagining of Macklemore’s Thrift Shop, how can you not laugh? (Thanks Daniel!)

(NSFW: Language) Key and Peele guest star in the latest edition of Epic Rap Battles of History. This time it’s two proponents of non-violence, Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi throwing down.

(NSFW: Lyrics) Looking for some music for your post-New Year party party? Azealia Banks helps us pop the top off of 2013 with her new single BBD, co-produced by Apple Juice Kid & Sup Doodle.

Watch the pancake-rapping, grammar-correcting, crowd-feeding rapper play Beatbox + iPhone + Guitar + Fast Rap = Win using Everyday Looper. Come for the gimmick, but stay for his lyrics.