F**k Star Wars, Can We Get Some More Hip-Hop Trilogies? Posted by Lucas Garrison on 07/09/13 | Filed under Hip-Hop Trilogies

As I am sure you know, in addition to dropping Magna Carta Holy Grail yesterday, Jay-Z took to Twitter to a answer a few million questions and oh yea, he released "Dead Presidents 3"; just another day in the life. While it doesn’t have the same aura that “Dead Presidents” and “Dead Presidents 2” (my personal favorite) have, just the fact that he has been around long enough to complete a trilogy with out it feeling forced or unnatural is pretty incredible. In fact, in my research (searching through my iPod and thinking about it for a six hour car trip) I couldn’t come up with another hip-hop trilogy. The Roots came close with “The Lesson” but considering part 2 is just a remix and is only available on the clean version of Do You Want More?!!!??!, I don’t think it counts. While I was largely unsuccessful at finding a trilogy, I did think of a few, two-parted efforts that might be worthy of becoming a trilogy.

Immediately, Lupe’s “Kick, Push” came to mind. I still like Lupe and respect him for not compromising his beliefs, but he is often so heavy-handed with his conciseness it becomes hard to listen too. Food & Liquor Lupe was still conscious, but did it in ways that gave him much more depth as an artist. Take the first installment; while on the surface it is a song about a lost, lonely skater, the whole effort is a double meaning for drug dealing; think about it; when else does "push" get used? Selling drugs. Taken out of context, a few of the lines—like “He was banished to the park Started in the morning wouldn't stop 'til after dark”—sound like something you might use to describe the stereotypical image of a dealer. A lot of times, rappers use plenty of double meanings, but Lupe’s ability to make the whole song a big double meaning is a step above, and really shows his lyrical prowess.



"Kick, Push II" shares some of the same themes as its predecessor, but it has a totally different feel that makes it just as good by itself. The beat stands out to me because like the song itself, it takes the original and flips it, keeping some of the same techniques, characteristics, and themes but really making it original. This song is actually more about skating as an escape and with the somber, poignant beat (much heavier than the original) it gives the song a much more heartfelt vibe. “Kick, Push” has a feel-good vibe, but if you are feeling down, or more introspective, “Kick, Push II” is the perfect song. I love how Lupe connects it to the original but really turns it into its own song; sequels are great, but nobody wants to hear the same song twice.



I am not the biggest Weekend fan. For the most part his songs all seem to run together and are not very substantive. Don’t get me wrong, his stuff can be very effective when I am in the right mood, but I don’t think I have ever listened to a whole album from start to finish. I think with some growth, he could become a very unique artist with some real depth. He shows flashes of brilliance and cohesiveness on the two-parter, “The Birds”. Part 1’s drums are beyond dope but the subject has been done before. Weekend is telling his girl that she shouldn’t fall in love because like a bird, he will just fly away. While the subject has been done before Part II is a great follow up because it deals with what happens after she falls in love and he wants to bounce; it makes the original stronger, because now, it feels like part of something bigger and not just another song about a ladykiller. As Part II builds, I got this sense of discomfort like he was building to something bigger. With a few properly placed, spooky samples, it felt something was going to go awry, but then the song kind of just ends. I would love to here a super dark, edgy Part III where the chick he left goes completely crazy and comes after him; hell hath no fury like a woman’s scorn.





Now, I know this may not exactly fit the mold like the other two, but all things considered, I think its safe to say it isn’t a trilogy with out a third part. Outkast has two legendary cuts in “Da Art Of Storytellin' Part 1” and “Da Art Of Storytellin' Part 2”, and while they have a 4th part, there isn’t really any official part 3. The first installment “Da Art Of Storytellin'” might be one of their strongest cuts; the production is exquisite and the lyrics are phenomenal; to this day, Andre’s line “Talking bout what we gonna be when we grow up I said what you wanna be, she said, "Alive" It made me think for a minute, then looked in her eyes I coulda died” hits as hard as it did the first time. It is one of those rare bars that burns into you mind and is unforgettable. The second part might be the only hip-hop song that deal with the apocalypse. The song is so substantive, soulful, and well-done I would have been happy with just these two parts, but since Oukast skipped ahead to “Da Art Of Storytellin' Part 4”, they might as well make it a true trilogy and make a part three (I don't count the Slick Rick remix as a real part 3) Could you imagine Outkast announcing a reunion by releasing “Da Art Of Storytellin' Part 3”; the Internet would literally explode.





I’m sure there are a few more I left off, so please feel free to add them below. Sadly I don’t think trilogies will become a popular thing in hip-hop as it is a very daunting task to tackle. even Jay’s trilogy is relatively formulaic, as the beat is more or less the same; his wordplay carries it however. It takes so much thought, direction, and conceptualization to craft a well-done trilogy and I don’t think there are too many artist who can and would take the time to really map it out and do it the right way. Don’t expect a “Birthday Song” trilogy anytime soon.

See Also:  The Complete “Da Art of Storytellin” Series, Plus Bobby Creekwater (Listen, Watch & Download)
See Also:  Jay-Z Officially (Kinda) Completes the “Dead Presidents” Trilogy With Pt. 3