I decided to make a thread on Mike's punchlines and references but this is open for both LP and Fort Minor. What are some of your guys favorites? This can also be for wordplay ya notice and want to share. For me, Fuse "Ya fell off and it's my lyric sheet ya slipped on. When They Come For Me "A blueprint is a gift and a curse cause once ya got a theory on a how a thing works, everybody wants the next thing to be just like the first." High Voltage "I twist mic chords (my chords) into double helixes to show them what I'm made of" Until It Breaks- "I'm a Banksy, you're a brainwash. Get the picture?" Bloc Party- "Curse to burst words like tourettes on purpose" Reading My Eyes- "Bitch Slap Your Soul" References: Nobody's Listening "Yo peep the style and the kids checking for it, the number one question is how can you ignore it?"- Reference to Jay-Z's Brooklyn's Finest Until It Breaks- "Papa who shot ya? Separate the weak from the obsolete"- Reference to Who Shot Ya? By The Notorious B.I.G Keys To The Kingdom- "Got a different method but I can still bring the pain so" Reference to Method Man's Bring the pain Lost In The Echo- "Check the rep, yep, ya know mine well" Reference to Second To None by Styles of Beyond ft. Mike Shinoda
I don't know about favourite punchlines as I've actually never thought about it that much, but, basically, that part in WTCFM you quoted is probably my favourite thing he's ever said in a rap verse. The closest he's ever come to simply lashing out at the fanbase.
Seconded. Always thought it was one of his more clever lines, especially with the 'theory' being a reference to Hybrid Theory.
The last verse in Until it Breaks is my fav Also Enth E Nd and Frgt/10 (or however the fuck you spell those) Enth E ND: "All I know, time was just slippin away / and I watched it count down til the end of the day / watched it watch me and the words that I say / the echo of the clock rhythm in my veins" FRGT/10: "Nothing can stop in this land of the pain / the sane lose, not knowing they were part of the game / and while the insides change / the block stays the same / and the figure inside could bare anybody's name" Until it Breaks: "Give you watcha need, like Poppa / who shot ya / separate the weak from the obsolete / ya meek / I creep hard on imposters"
Honestly, the highlight of The Rising Tied. Who would of thought that the nu-metal rapper from LP was capable of great storytelling? Also, I appreciate the unconventional rhyme structure. Another one off Fuse: "Enola Gay rhymes kick the notch up a level in intensity" Forgotten too: "Pollution manifested in perpetual sound, the wheels go round and the sunset creeps behind street lamps, chain-link and concrete."
This line is actually pretty brilliant considering that he was likely referring to noise pollution, which is a common issue in big cities, and is considered detrimental to human mental health.
Esaul - "And the second is gone, the weapon of time is stronger than a nuclear bomb, and turn into your half-life, something that math can't right, you can't fight nor flee."
Of course, how can I forget the dope And One verse? "Dog paddle through a bog of shadows and smog with my thought catalog, analogue, rap battle log."
Yeah, gotta go with Kenji as one of his most beautiful and impressive raps. Even if they weren't his stories, I'd love to hear more storytelling rap like that.
His Spraypaint and Ink Pens verse is arguably even more impressive. Also I always loved his lines on High Road. They aren't the cleverest punchlines but damn, do I love the delivery of them "I'm like a struggling doctor, no patience" Also I like the rhyming in the second verse of "In Stereo." "You're not ready, I got plenty of cuts for twenty months dropped steadily, plenty tracks to empty on your wack pedigree, I'm backed heavily while you're back-peddaling."
I'm not a hop hop fan. so i don't really have the knowledge about those technical stuff (rhymes, reference, triples whatever?) but i think KENJI is a beautiful piece of art was done by Mike. i love everything about this song.