“Who’s Real?”

Before I get started with this one, as always I have to give shout outs. Some of my blog topics have come from conversations I’ve had with family, friends, co-workers, and even strangers. This one is no different. As I was hyping up Jadakiss’ latest CD, which is a classic to me and explaining to some folks how I was unimpressed with a few of Eminem’s latest tracks, someone recommended that I hear the Ruff Ryder Remix to Jadakiss “Who’s Real” song featuring OJ the Juiceman. So big ups to JF, JS, and DL (don’t read too much into the initials, you will drive yourself crazy trying to figure out who these people are).

I’m going to date myself here a little. When I was high school, I was just becoming a fan of east coast music. Jay-Z was cool, Biggie was dope, and I couldn’t understand anything the Wu-Tang Clan was saying outside of “cream get the money,” so they were just…ok. I was from the bottom (see blog titled Uptown). It was Cash Money all day, more so Juvenile, BG, and Mannie Fresh…Lil Wayne was aright at the time. I was a huge not only because of their music, but because they was a click. A family. They were “real” to one another because they all came from nothing and at the time, I could definitely relate.

And then, just like the Bad Boy, Roc-a-Wear, and Wu-Tang families, Cash Money split. Interesting enough, some if not all of these groups split when their respective labels were at the top of the music game. Probably because these label execs was not being honest with themselves and their artists. They were not being real, sort to speak. (Uncle Diddy has been robbing people for years).

But the Rough Ryders are still in the picture as it relates to being a real “click” while an older Lil Wayne fights to put Young Money on the map. The double R has had their differences, but they did something with this “Who’s Real” remix that I haven’t seen in a while with RAP “clicks” and that’s collectively as a group, remix a hot song.

Any thoughts to the best rap click of all time?