Say hey, people. The subject of today’s discussion is a phenomenon I like to call the Canibus Syndrome (sometimes referred to as the Ras Kass Disease)–the reason for which will be clear in a moment. So what is the Canibus Syndrome? Well, when a rapper’s first verse, the one that really brought them notoriety, is so good that every verse thereafter is compared (unfavorably) to that one perfect, shining moment of lyrical glory…that’s the Canibus Syndrome (the same phenomenon, with respect to debut LP’s, might be termed “The Illmatic Syndrome”).

Let’s say you’re a new artist. You’re offered a guest spot on a more-established artist’s record. Naturally you want to shine. So you kill it. You kill it so hard, in fact, that you never again write a verse with as much raw lyrical fury as this one. Or at least that’s the public’s perception. And it isn’t always a guest spot…sometimes it’s even one of the verses on your first single. But I want to be clear. We aren’t talking about one-hit wonders here. All of the rappers below went on to make quality music after their first memorable appearance. However, they each set the bar so high on their maiden voyage that, in some respects, they’ll never eclipse that mark…at least in our hearts. So, without further ado, let’s bring out the first patient and begin our examination.

Canibus…well known for his lyrical prowess. Equally well known for never quite reaching the level of success (and consistency) as an artist that many once thought he was destined for. This forked dilemma finds both its roots in one song–the Lost Boyz “Beast from the East” featuring A-Plus, Redman, and Canibus. I really can’t over-emphasize the impact of Canibus’ performance on this track. Very rarely is a lyrical monster like this unleashed on an unsuspecting public. One day he’s no one, the next day he’s a spit-tacular force to be reckoned with. Outshining Redman in guest-verse mode (where the Funk Doc himself often does his best work) is a feat all on its own. But to do so in a 50-some-bar crusher with hardly a single wasted line…well, that’s the stuff that legends are made of. Regardless of what you may think of Canibus later output (especially post-Second Round Knockout), this verse cannot be slept on. Accordingly, it was awarded the Source Magazine’s “Hip-Hop Quotable” rhyme-of-the-month honors…as were all of the songs featured here today. Hmmm….

And here are the lyrics. Follow along! By the way, I make no claims that the words found herein are 100% accurate. But they’re close enough,

“The Canibus brings the sickest drama
fierce enough to pierce the thickest armor
I smack bitches for tryin’ to suck dick through a condom
playing with the mic is something I won’t do
my only concern when I approach you, is to roast you
I smoke you and whoever you standing close to
and make every man in your crew deny that he knows you
defeating n***as like Segal, Steven
putting emcees in positions to prevent them from breathin’
I’ll make you question any and everything you’ve ever believed in
by peeping your deepest secrets like psychic readers
what’s the matter with ya’ll, I splatter ya’ll
against the mutherfuckin’ wall with these raw lyrics I catapult
none of ya’ll got the balls big enough to battle
I go On & On like Erykah Badu
a hundred times nicer than the best is
twice as arrogant as KRS is, who wanna test this?
fuck y’all you don’t impress me and no one can test me
an emcee so ill, I got AIDS scared to catch me
all that shit you poppin’ will stop, when I put you in a headlock,
and apply pressure ‘til I crush your muthafuckin’ noggin
I grab mics and push n***as to the left
so fast they hearts end up on the right side of their chests
my hypothesis, is that nobody can see this
lyrical genius, I got it sown like a seamstress
but if you want to battle, I’m down
if you got nine lives, I’ll take eight of them off your hands right now
step up and get your neck cut from ear to ear
if you survive then you can cover your scar with a beard
I’m the illest from Queens to the new Jerusalem briddicks
anyone who ain’t feeling my shiddit can suck my diddick
you need to quit it, if you ain’t spittin’
more than 50 bars per minute cause you ain’t in lyrical fitness
kickin’ boring raps with metaphors that’s wack
all of ya’ll motherfuckers need NordicTrack
to get ya weight up, fuckin’ with Canibus you get ate up
beat down and sprayed up, just for bringing my name up
been rockin’ longer than n***as twice my age
back in the days before Bob Marley was rockin’ a fade
before Honest Abe signed the paper that freed slaves
before Neanderthals was drawing on walls in caves
I existed, in the garden of Eden gettin’ lifted
stickin’ dick to Eve before she was Adam’s mistress
before Christ created Christmas, I been in lyrical fitness
the Canibus’ll spit until he’s spitless
50 bars of total sickness, you won’t forget this
I’m puttin’ every wack emcee alive on my shit list
verbally vicious, telekinetically gifted
took you a minute to exhibit that I’m sick wit it
now you tell me who you think is damaging shit
going once, going twice
sold! to that nigga name Canibus
me and Mr.Cheeks, A-Plus, and Funk Doctor
hopping out the Huey helicopter, it’ll soon chop ya!”

That shit is magical…one of my favorite verses ever. Perfect execution of a battle rap… multiple cadences, punchline after punchline…basically, nonstop heat. Although he does say “lyrical fitness” twice. But I’m letting it slide. As a humorous aside, when the Source ran these lyrics back in 1997, they transcribed it as follows:

“Step up and get your neck cut from ear to ear/
if you survive then you can come and squab with a bear”

…I wish I was making that up.

Alright, time to examine our next victim…I mean, er, patient. We all know Ras Kass is a phenomonal rapper, with numerous fierce verses to his name. But if pressed to pick the best, most heads (at least ancient ones like me) would probably gravitate toward the verse that made him a household name–his breakout, rhyme-of-the-month appearance on 1994’s “Come Widdit”, also featuring Saafir (the Saucee Nomad…great alias) and Ahmad. This classic loosie appeared on the Street Fighter soundtrack, of all places. And it wasn’t the only good cut on there, either…remember The Bums’ “It’s a Street Fight”? Probably not, if you’re under 30…

At any rate, this ridicu-hot verse from Ras Kass got him into the lyricist’s Hall of Fame overnight, and he has continued to strive for a high level of excellence in spit-ography. Still, has he ever been this good again? Is that even possible (and I mean that as a compliment)? Check it and see.

Here’s the words:

“My foramen magnum got 357 calibers
to bust a sucker’s melon like Gallagher (bow!)
Body chemistry consists of Hennessey, toxic melanin
with an adamantanium [sic] skeleton like Wolverine
child, my heart pumps kerosene (ho)
Son I spit butane, burn any bastard you name till I die
And even when I’m maggots, I’ma still be fly
Perpetrator, you’re not the one
Your name’s not Anfernee Hardaway
I’m like a wolf with blood dripping down the fangs
My technique’s foul enough to shoot the flagrant technical
I be comin’ off the head rougher then ribbed-tip receptacles
Expect the exceptional syllables to be the next man’s umbilical cord
Catch distortion, Ras cancels kids like abortions
Sendin n***as to hip-hop hell, ock
Eternal damnation through writer’s block
I rock over the results of Reeboks and sand
stand ill, forget a live band, just my mouth and hand
And even if man wasn’t prehensile,
I’d still find a way to grip mics, hold my tip when I piss
and pick off pubic lice
Cuz’ see, I always been nice but first brothers slept
Now I come back twice like Christ to resurrect the West
Check…”

By the way…Foramen Magnum = the large hole at the base of the skull which allows passage of the spinal cord. I used to think he said “for-rhymin’ magnum”…like, a gun that you rhyme with. Random aside: KRS-One was an early supporter of Ras Kass, and could often be heard praising him in interviews and such, pronouncing his name “Rozz Kozz” or “Ross Koss”…but I guess it’s not nice to correct the Teacher.

Our final patient is an unusual case. Here the song in question is a solo joint. And really, both of its verses qualify for all-time honors. Unfortunately, while poetry pugilist O.C. did manage to follow his first rhyme-of-the-month winner–the opening salvo of his classic “Time’s Up”–with a second devastating verse, he did so on the same song. That gives him twice as many breakout verses, but in the end the story is the same. “Time’s Up” is the ultimate O.C. song…anything since seems to pale in comparison. See for yourself…

And here’s the transcript of fury:

“You lack the minerals and vitamins, irons and the niacin
Fuck who did I offend, rappers sit back I’m ‘bout to begin
‘bout foul talk you squawk, never even walked the walk
More less destined to get tested, never been arrested
My album will manifest many things that I saw did or heard about
or told first hand never word of mouth
What’s in the future for the fusion in the changer?
Rappers are in danger! Who will use wits to be a remainder?
When the missile is aimed, to blow you out of the frame
Some will keep their limbs and some will be maimed
The same suckers with the gab about killer instincts
Will turn bitch and knowin’ damn well they lack
In this division. The connoisseur, crackin’ your head with a 4 x 4
Realize sucker, I be the comin’ like Noah
Always simmer you down, perpetratin’, facadin’, what you consider
a image, to me this is just a scrimmage
I’m feel I’m stone, not cause I bop, I wear my cap cocked
The more emotion I put into it, the harder I rock
Those who pose lyrical but really ain’t true I feel…

“Their time’s limited, hard rocks too”

Speakin’ in tongues, about what you did but you never done it
Admit you bit it cause the next man gained platinum behind it
I find it ironic, so I researched and analyzed
Most write about stuff they fantasize
I’m fed up with the bull, on this focus of weed and clips
and glocks gettin’ cocked, and wax not bein’ flipped
It’s the same old same old, just drainin’ from the anal
The contact is not complex to vex
So why you pushin’ it? Why you lyin’ for? I know where you live
I know your folks, you was a sucker as a kid
Your persona’s drama that you acquired in high school in actin’ class
Your whole aura is plexiglass
What’s-her-face told me you shot this kid last week in the park
That’s a lie, you was in church with your moms
See I know, yo, slow your roll, give a good to go
Guys be lackin’ in this thing called rappin’ just for dough
Of course we gotta pay rent, so money connects, but uhh
I’d rather be broke and have a whole lot of respect
It’s the principal of it, I get a rush when I bust
some dope lines I wrote, that maybe somebody’ll quote
That’s what I consider real, in this field of music
Instead of puttin’ brain cells to work they abuse it
Non-conceptual, non-exceptional
Everybody’s either crime-related or sexual
I’m here to make a difference, besides all the riffin’
The traps are not stickin’, rappers stop flippin’
For those who pose lyrical but really ain’t true I feel…

“Their time’s limited, hard rocks too”

That shit is what rappers should aspire to. I know it’s no “Crank That Batman”, but damn…

So what have we learned today? Well, if you want to appear to grow as an artist, aim low on your first foray! That’s why my debut album was recorded on a 4-track in a semi-conscious stupor…it can only get better from there! In short, sucking on purpose is the new hotness. Remember you heard it here first.

For all you rappers out there, stay on your grizzly bear (but don’t squab with it), and keep in mind that the audience feels like Janet Jackson in the 80’s: “What Have You Done For Me Lately?” To quote Andre 3000, you’re only funky as your last cut. Make it a good one. And you better make it better than the last one, or you too might be a victim of…the Canibus Syndrome!

Go see the doctor,

Old Grip

Posted by Grip Grand on Thursday, February 7th, 2008 at 4:47 pm.