Steve 'Flash' Juon“Food, glorious food!
Hot sausage and mustard!
While we’re in the mood
Cold jelly and custard!”
That’s not a hip-hop song – it’s a ditty from the West End musical “Oliver” – but it’s a good starting point. Hip-Hop’s critics often accuse it of glorifying violence, misogyny, homophobia, criminal activity, drug and alcohol abuse, and a litany of other social ills. While it’s true that hip-hop holds up a mirror to society, which sometimes doesn’t appreciate its own reflection, it’s rarely mentioned that hip-hop also reflects the good things in life.
The fact of the matter is that we all need to eat to live, but there’s no shame in enjoying it when you can, and after having some roast pork with fruit compote and garlic potatoes this weekend I thought to myself, “I’ll compose a list of the top ten hip-hop videos about or related to food.” Admittedly some of them use food as a metaphor for sex, money or smoking, but those are some of the good things in life too. Even one of hip-hop’s earliest platinum hits (“Rapper’s Delight”) devoted a long verse to eating food – admittedly a bad meal – but at least it was in the conversation.
Let’s kick off the top ten with the men who rapped about GOOD food that’s not always nutritious but is most definitely delicious.
1.) Fat Boys – “All You Can Eat”
2.) Goodie Mob – “Soul Food”
3.) Raekwon – “Ice Cream”
4.) Strong Arm Steady – “Chitlins & Pepsi”
5.) Video: UMC’s – “Blue Cheese”
6.) Pharcyde – “Otha Fish”
7.) ScHoolboy Q – “Collard Greens”
8.) 50 Cent – “Candy Shop”
9.) Sahtyre – “Broccoli”
10.) Lil Wayne – “Lollipop”
Bonus #1: Michelle Obama Raps About Food
Bonus #2: Your Old Droog – “Free Turkey”