Classic Verse: Big Pun “Twinz (Deep Cover ‘98)” (Video)

I feel like Big Pun is one of those rappers who hardcore hip-hop heads hold in reverence but has been largely forgotten about by mainstream hip-hop nation. So just in case you've been sleeping on the heavyweight of all heavyweight emcees, prepare to get woken the fuck up by his microphone devastation on his classic "Twinz".

Lyrics are below the video:

Fuck peace, I run the streets deep with no compassion, Puerto Ricans
known for slashing catching niggas while they sleeping, no relaxing
Keep your eyes open, sharp reflexes
Three techses in the Jeep Lexus just in case police ask us
Street professors, Terror Squad, ghetto scholars
Fill the clips off, inflicts the fear of God when the metal hollers
Better acknowledge or get knocked down until I'm locked and shot down
Heather B couldn't make me put my Glock Down

I have to at least mention that Fat Joe's on the track - hence the "Twinz" title - and Joey Crack holds his own. Now onto bigger and better things - literally. The precision that Pun's able to hit - he never misses even a fraction of a syllable - is amazing, and more impressively despite the density of his lines every word is meaningful, not just throw in to make the line sound better. I'll out "Twinz" up against your favorite rapper's best bars any day. On a closing note, I can't believe I didn't make this connection before, but you know who the living example of Big Pun is? Eminem. The deep internal rhythms, the penchant for violence, the ability to switch up his flow and go spitfire fast. On the surface it's hard to believe, but on a purely rap level a skinny white guy from Detroit and a six-hundred pound Puerto Rican from NYC are strikingly similar.

If you’ve got a classic verse let me know at nathan(@)refinedhype.com.