Redman: "Rockafella"

When listing hip hop's most underrated MCs, Redman is...how do I say this?...often underrated.  Because the Funk Doctor gets more props than famous-for-being-underrated rappers like AZ and Big L, people mistakenly assume that he's getting his just due.  He isn't.  Redman is a top 25 MC (and probably top 15) who is usually treated with the same respect and admiration given to not-at-all peers like E-40, Scarface, and the guys from Mobb Deep.  If you go back and listen to Redman's entire discography, you'll find an intelligent, talented MC who you'll feel bad for not having though better of.

Redman was integral in my own maturation as a hip-hop head.  As an Eminem devotee, I was shocked when, in his infamous list of great MCs in "'Till I Collapse," he lists Redman first.  At that point, I only knew Red as the OTHER half of the tandem who made Blackout!, an inferior version of his partner, Method Man.  In fact, I didn't even know who Em was referring to when he said "Reggie."  At the time, I was basically a disciple of lyricism; if you weren't rhyming with intense internal and multi-syllabic rhymes, I didn't have much respect for you.  I loved Nas and didn't understand what the big deal was when it came to Biggie.  I couldn't stand anything from the West Coast prior to 1994.  Redman, who himself combines well-crafted lyricism with a one-of-a-kind flow and an infusion of funk, helped me to understand that there are more aspects of a MCing than just lyricism.  He also taught me how to roll a blunt because I'm white.

"Standin' tall like Shaq, / honey I'm back, this ain't Blue Chips."


Explanation: Redman will not back down from anyone, hence this use of the figurative phrase "standing tall," which makes him similar to the literally tall Shaquille O'Neal.  He has also returned from his musical absence since his last album, much like Shaq returned to a screen near you when you accidentally rented a copy of the Nick Nolte-lead sports film Blue Chips mistakenly thinking it was that Martin Lawrence movie where he pretends to be a cop.

No, not that one.

Awkwardness of Reference: How dare you.  Redman is never awkward.  Besides, the song has mad NBA references in it.  4 of 5.

Cleverness of Reference: Doc's a pretty clever guy, but Shaq references are rarely a great vehicle for expressing that.  On the other hand, hey, Blue Chips reference.  3 of 5.

Appropriateness of Reference: Shaq's pretty tall, I guess.  I don't fully understand the Blue Chips reference because I don't really like sports movies (other than The Mighty Ducks!), but I imagine it makes sense.  4 of 5.

Shaqness of Reference: Shaq's not the only tall NBA player ever (no, really!), but he is one of the very few to be in Blue Chips.  Of course, Penny Hardaway was in that movie too, but no one wants to have think about Penny Hardaway's career these days.  3 of 5.

Of course I loved this show as a child.

FINAL SHAQ SCORE: 14 OUT OF 20