A Complete Reference Guide to Shane Eli’s “When We Were Kings” (Listen & Download)

Everyone knows I'm a rap nerd, which is why I've been digging Shane Eli's recent work. As both a producer and emcee the man gives me a ridiculous amount of material to break down. Speaking of which, just like I did for "Bo Jackson", here's a complete reference guide to his new single "When We Were Kings"...

...starting with the artwork. If you're not familiar with Roy Decarrava, get familiar. The man's photos are f**king incredible. (Not just incredible, f**king incredible).

0:00 - Opening clip taken from Muhammad Ali's classic 'Rumble in the Jungle" press conference (also obviously a reference to Ali's documentary). Shouts to my brother in hype DJ Critical Hype on the cuts.

0:25 - "In a world where pops treat the child support like it's optional / plan deviated, like a rockstar's nostril...."

0:45 - "An insecure elitist / I'm fearlessly conceited, Meconium in my fetus / precarious where I'm seated..." (All my parents out there know all about Merconium. Good times)

1:00 - Clip from Geoffrey Canada, who runs an amazing program called the Harlem Children's Zone. If you're feeling philanthropic I highly recommend checking them out.

1:10 - Sample from Jay-Z's "Most Kings".

1:21 - You have to listen really closely, but sample from Run DMC's "Run's House". Did I mention DJ Critical Hype is dope as f**k yet?

1:32 - "You belong in the cement like a bike with no kickstand / I'm too busy leanin / not Peter Gunz' son but you spell my name with z's so they more cozy sleepin."

2:02 - "Publicist gettin shot nine miles from Compton / execution style and they say we biked up on em?"

2:11 - Clip from a Tupac interview. (Amazing interview by the way, watch all three parts. Pac talks about how his image is exaggerated, why he doesn't want to be seen as a thug anymore, etc.)

2: 46 - "You should ask why your iPod is signed artists / who don't know the 'Sign of the Times' until I rhymed on it."

2:50 "Fraternity flow / stake my whole line on it."

2:56 "While you readin Decoded I'm gettin' reloaded...the illest on the west coast 'till Dre drop the dosage...about as potent as the shit that Snoop smokin'."

3:20 - End - "Free market system got the most packed prisons...just pass the entire class till the make it out the buildin'."

Oh, and I'm being told that sample is from The Invincibles' "Heart Full of Love", which you can listen to here.

Damn, I think that's all of it. I'm exhausted. If you're digging this (and this and this) definitely keep an eye out for Shane's album "I Can Do Better", dropping via the mothership in March.

Download "When We Were Kings" Directly