My 5 Favorite Verses

The Way I am (First Verse)- Eminem
This entire song is full of angst and f*ck you. No rapper lets you into their personal life quite like Eminem and on this song, which I think is his best, he did it like never before. He lets you know he's not really comfortable with fame and that like any normal person, he needs some space. The first verse is a favorite of mine just because of how complex the rhymes are. Em is always rhyming words at the end and in the middle of lines, but this one is so complex its almost hard to read.

It Aint Hard to Tell (First Verse)- Nas

To really understand everything Nas is saying you've got to run the track back at least two or three times. On "It Aint Hard to Tell," Nas embodies what it means to be an emcee. The rhyme scheme is complex. The metaphors are intriguing and challenging to understand. His voice, smooth, street poet. And the beat he spits over is a classic with the Michael Jackson sample. Nas' verse explains to you why he's so ill and what separates him from everyone else. Oh and lets not forget, he wrote this when he was like 17.

Notorious Thugs (B.I.G. Verse)- Notorious B.I.G. ft Bone Thugs
 Biggie Smalls was a gift to hip-hop. His flow in my opinion is the best ever and on this track its evident. He rips through the beat and lays down some of the most G lyrics in the history of rap. There isn't much to say about this verse. B.I.G. does all the speaking himself.

Nuthin' a but a G Thang (Snoop Dogg, first verse)- Dr. Dre
When Snoop comes on to the track with that laid back flow and undeniable style its hard not to settle into a groove. Snoop is the coolest dude to ever do this rap thing. I could honestly have picked about 15 of his verses to be in this spot, but when you factor in that chorus and Dre production its hard not to go with this one.

Till I Collapse Remix (50 Cent Verse)- Eminem
50's verse on this remix is nothing short of amazing. He doesn't waste a single breath, word or line. Every syllable is perfectly placed and each rhyme hits harder than the previous. 50's genius on the mic is undermined by his business savvy, but we shouldn't get it twisted. When 50 wants to be, he's one of the best rappers and thats unquestionable.

Barely Missed the Cut

How I could Just Kill a Man (B-Real, second verse)- Cypress Hill
B-Real's voice is unmistakeable. One of my favorite rappers to listen to along with Snoop. On this track B-Real keeps it just that while chronicling the rules to LA street life. The rule? If someone tries to get you, you get them first.

99 Problems (Second Verse)- Jay-Z
Jay-Z's second verse tells a story about him riding with some work in the trunk. We've all been there right? Something in your car that you shouldn't have? I digress, Jigga's verse tells a simple story in a clever way and in the end he makes it out alive and becomes the biggest rapper of all time. HOV!

Da Art of Storytellin' Part 4 (Andre 3000 Verse)- Outkast
This verse is just perfect. You don't expect less from Three Stacks, but my goodness. He tells a story, uses metaphors, makes you think and is the coolest while doing it. My favorite part is when he explains to a young lady why he doesn't spend money in strip clubs, its both thought provoking and economical (And that is not a joke).

*Disclaimer: These are not necessarily their best verses, just my favorites, so don't come at me. Who am I kidding? No one will see this.