Your Favorite Rapper’s Favorite Band: The Fall Out Boy Edition Posted by Lucas Garrison on 02/21/13 | Filed under Opinion, Favorite Rappers Favorite Band

A Note From Nathan S.: No genre has borrowed, sampled and been influenced by other genres more than hip-hop, yet hip-hop heads often ironically refuse to listen to anything outside or rap. So the homie Lucas and I have created the "Your Favorite Rapper's Favorite Band" series as a way of highlighting how connected some pretty distinctly non-hip-hop bands are to some of your favorite rap.

For the inaugural edition, Lucas takes a look at Fall Out Boy. Enjoy...

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Those of you who tuned into the All Star Game festivities, which included a dope rendition of the National Anthem from John Legend and a weirdly-pantsed performance from Alicia Keys, were probably a little surprised to see Fall Out Boy perform before the dunk contest. You were probably even more taken aback when 2 Chainz emerged from the ground to perform a remix of FOB’s "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)".



The only thing getting lit up though, was Fall Out Boy and Chainz. Many dismissed the performance, asserting that they were just too different to be on stage together. Now, you wont find me at any Fall Out Boy concerts, but I am here to come to their defense. Before you immediately dismiss Fall Out Boy, why not take a look at their resume? While branded a pop-punk “emo” band, Fall Out Boy’s musical talents transcend that genre, and although their 2 Chainz performance might be the first time you have seen them in the hip-hop scene, they have a laundry list of hip-hop collaborations.

Guitarist and lead singer for the band, Patrick Stump, is also a producer and has quite the impressive resume. In 2008, Stump linked up with the Legendary Roots Crew on Birthday Girl, a tune which features Stump vocals and has a definite FOB feel to it, perhaps because of the breezy instrumentals. The thing I find so interesting is how good BlackThought sounds atop the production. Sure he is at his best when backed by Caption Kirk Douglas and Questlove, but stumps vibrant brush strokes add a certain bubbly vibe to the normally raw emcee.



The Roots aren’t the only hip-hop act to recognize Stumps nose for catchy riffs and energetic vocals. Young Money emcee Tyga, who can now be seen rapping alongside Rick Ross and Game, had his first album, No Introductions, produced by Stump. With all the talk lately of Hoodie Allen and Macklemore carving out a “hip-pop” genre, revisiting Tyga’s Stump produced album seems especially appropriate. Stump was creating this “hip-pop” sound in 2008, years before the rise of Hoodie and Macklemore. Stump was more than just a beatmaker however, to be frank, his efforts made "No Introduction". At the time, Tyga was only 17, and his immaturity shows. Often he is outgunned by Stump’s boisterous production, like on "Don’t Regret It Now", where Tyga’s effort is a little lackluster, but is ultimately saved when Stump’s catchy, emphatic chorus kicks in.



Perhaps "No Interruption" would be better looked at as a bowl of spaghetti. I know it sounds weird but hear me out. Tyga’s effort on the album serves as the pasta. Tyga’s effort is the meat of the track, but it is nothing that will blow you away, you have heard rappers just like him just like spaghetti that pretty much tastes exactly the same unless you are in Italy. Stumps vocals and production on "No Introduction" are like a great pasta sauce, it makes a dish, which you have had a million times and makes it new. Although the sauce is not the center of the dish, without it the spaghetti would not be nearly as rewarding.



One small yet juicy tidbit, "No Interruption" was released via Decaydence records, a label headed by FOB’s Pete Wentz, which also has Gym Class Heroes on their roster; yet another hip-hop connection from the band that’s supposedly has no place n hip-hop.

Okay so maybe Stump’s poppy production isn’t you scene. Well, how do all you Hip-Hop purists feel about Lupe Fiasco’s "The Cool"? That’s what I thought. I’m sure you are all familiar with "Little Weapon" (one of the more dynamic cuts from the album) but I bet many of you didn’t know that Patrick Stump produced the tune. I know I didn’t. In fact, after discovering that, I immediately re-examined the cut and found Stump’s fingerprints all over it. Like many a Fall Out Boy song (see "America's Suitehearts"), "Little Weapon" is driven by the relentless drums. Additionally the “Woah” vocal sample sprinkled throughout the cut is Stump himself. Regardless of your feelings on "Fall Out Boy", you have to give respect to Stump, who put his mark on one of the stronger albums of 2007.



Before setting out to write this, I was a very casual listener of Fall Out Boy, I wouldn’t seek out their music, but on occasion I would find a track I enjoyed from them. I still considered them a pop-punk/emo band, but upon closer examination, I think that is an unfair label. They have too much depth and their music is too well assembled for them to be considered an “emo” band. Fall Out Boy is often compared to bands like Simple Plan or Good Charlotte, but when their music is compared, Fall Out Boy’s work is lightyears ahead of the others. Take a listen to Good Charlotte’s "The Anthem" and Simple Plan’s "Welcome To My Life".

Both bands feel simplistic and artificial. Granted their poppy-ness appeals to a certain audience, but Good Charlotte singing about not being a trend (over basic riffs and drum beats) is about as genuine as you favorite frat rapper spitting about gunplay. Don’t even get me started on Good Charlotte’s gross misrepresentation of hip-hop either. Simple Plan is not much better, featuring the same kind of bland instrumentals and a nasally singer. Now take a listen to a few Fall Out Boy cuts, which happen to be some, my favorites from them.




Fall Out Boy’s arrangement is flawless, they have what sounds like a million different parts, all moving perfectly in sync. They are able to change styles at the drop of the hat and the lyrics, are colorful and draw you in. Also, these dudes can make one hell of a music video. Their music oozes professionalism and creativity and while it might not be any where near hip-hop, their talent shouldn’t be invalidated because of that.

In an interview with RefinedHype and the Hypemen from 2010, bassist Pete Wentz summarized the band’s hip-hop relationship perfectly (along with talking about his Rocafella chain and hanging with Jay-Z). Wentz said, “We were your favorite rappers favorite rock band”. That is the best way to summarize the band. If your favorite rapper, whether it be Blackthought, Jay-Z, or Lupe, can recognize their talent, don’t you think its time we as a hip-hop community do the same? There is too much good music out there to be worried about labels and genres, so keep an open mind and let the music do the talking/

Oh and for good measure here is a epic, Fall Out Boy-organized remix of “This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race” featuring the likes of Lupe, Kanye, Travie McCoy and Paul Wall among others.

See Also:  UPDATE: The 1st #NoRapHour Listening Session Happened, Here’s The Best Of
See Also:  Hypemen Episode 18 ft. Pete Wentz (Podcast Listen & Download)