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- #Top 20 Greatest BET Hip Hop Awards Verses
- #Top 20 Greatest BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher Verses
- Top 20 Greatest BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher VersesTop 20 Greatest BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher VersesSay what you will about BET, but the oft-criticized network puts on the best award shows on television. The Oscars and Emmys have always been boring. The Grammys are, well, the Grammys, and MTV has been struggling to regain its cachet for years now. BET, on the other hand, has been delivering solid shows as of late. <br /><br />While the BET Awards have been producing memorable moments for over 10 years now (Chris Brown’s comeback performance and Destiny’s Child’s lap dance come to mind), the BET Hip Hop Awards have been carving a entertaining niche of their own. Now in its 5th year (6th edition), the ceremony has become heavily buzzed about for its annual cyphers, which feature rap superstars like Eminem and Kanye West as much as it does up-and-coming rhyme talents like Reek Da Villain and Laws. <br /><br />With the awards set to air tomorrow (October 11), chatter about this year’s ciphers is at an all time high. Eminem will be returning with his Shady 2.0 crew and word is Joe Budden—another returnee—once again delivers stellar verse this go-round. “I’m not trying to watch the throne, I’m trying to sabotage it,” he reportedly spits. Rick Ross and his Maybach Music will also have their own cypher, while Ludacris, Busta Rhymes and Tech N9ne will also be on hand. Even Chris Brown and Estelle will be part of the festivities, spitting bars, not singing notes. In anticipation for this year's cyphers, <em>XXL</em> looks back at the Top 20 Greatest BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher Verses. —<em>XXL Staff</em>
- 20. KRS-One20. KRS-One<strong>Year:</strong> 2009<br /><strong>Illest Line:</strong> “I put rappers down like the Nike sign/You gotta overstand, look Nike sign/Put the camera down so they can feel my rhymes.” <br /><strong>Cypher Mates:</strong> Nipsey Hussle, Wale, Gsan<br /><strong> Length (Bars):</strong> 52 Seconds (20 Bars) <br /><strong><em>XXL</em> Says:</strong> The Blastmaster is one of few MCs to have gone off the top during the cypher. He brought the house down when he began rapping at the camera man after he failed to follow his instructions. <br /><object width="620" height="25"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AA04pxS7gDo?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AA04pxS7gDo?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620" height="25" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
- 19. Bones Brigante19. Bones Brigante<strong>Year:</strong> 2010<br /><strong>Illest Line:</strong> “Raw rapper, jaw tapper/ I’m more dapper than your favorite rapper/ He’s not nice, just all swagger/I ain’t impressed by these wack cats/Throw shots and I clap back/I’ve burnt more rappers than Kat Stacks.” <br /><strong>Cypher Mates:</strong> Raekwon, Wiz Khalifa and Yelawolf<br /><strong> Length (Bars):</strong> 50 seconds (20 Bars) <br /><strong><em>XXL</em> Says:</strong> Funny that Bones would mock MCs for being all swagger. That’s exactly what he’s missing. Still, he showed why he’s a 106 Freestyle Friday champ. <br /><object width="620" height="25"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/izSpcdKN8Cs?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/izSpcdKN8Cs?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620" height="25" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
- 18. Royce Da 5' 9"18. Royce Da 5' 9"<strong>Year:</strong> 2010<br /><strong>Illest Line:</strong> “Rappers kill me taking about who’s hotter/Trying to get Montana Fishburne fame, I’m their confused father/Watch me, I’m coming/I got baby cannon only it’s bigger than the one Mariah’s got in her stomach.”<br /><strong>Cypher Mates:</strong> Kuniva, Tyga and Diamond<br /><strong> Length (Bars):</strong> 40 Seconds (16 Bars)<br /><strong><em>XXL</em> Says:</strong>Nickel Nine brought the bars as usual, but his unusually uncomfortable delivery prevented him from ranking higher.<br /> <object width="620" height="25"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ancM_CxNLsc?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ancM_CxNLsc?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620" height="25" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
- 17. Big Sean17. Big Sean<strong>Year:</strong> 2010<br /><strong>Illest Line:</strong> “Detroit’s Angel, I even got Red Wings/I’m headed to the ball, me and three prom queens/My life’s prom night and guess who’s the Prom King/They having a kissing fight and I’m Don King/Everybody know I’m coming soon like LeBron’s ring” <br /><strong>Cypher Mates:</strong> Kanye West, Common Sense, Pusha T and Cyhi Da Prynce<br /><strong> Length (Bars):</strong> 60 Seconds (24 Bars) <br /><strong><em>XXL</em> Says:</strong> Sean may not be in Kanye, Common and Pusha’s lyrical (or physical) weight class, but he managed to spit a better verse than the G.O.O.D. Music vets, pound for pound. <br /><object width="620" height="25"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fU3KqV_9d80?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fU3KqV_9d80?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620" height="25" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
- 16. Diggy Simmons16. Diggy Simmons<strong>Year:</strong> 2010<br /><strong>Illest Line:</strong> “Light-skinned like Chico Debarge is/I got you locked up ‘cause you know what the bars is/I’m a star kid, but I swear if Nicki babysit me/I just might learn what a ménage is.” <br /><strong>Cypher Mates:</strong> Reverend Run, Jojo, Ice Cube, Doughboy and OMG<br /><strong> Length (Bars):</strong> 20 Seconds (8 Bars) <br /><strong><em>XXL</em> Says:</strong> Dig made the most of his 20 seconds on stage and made his pops proud. “I’m 15, but my 16’s strong,” he rhymed on his opening bars. <br /><object width="620" height="25"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nwV1153nPb4?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nwV1153nPb4?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620" height="25" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
- 15. Ras Kass15. Ras Kass<strong>Year:</strong> 2007<br /><strong>Illest Line:</strong> “Heard George Bush don’t care about Black people/Start a war on rap, ‘cause I don’t like wack people.” <br /><strong>Cypher Mates:</strong> Joell Ortiz, Cassidy and Flo<br /><strong> Length (Bars):</strong> 40 Seconds (16 Bars) <br /><strong><em>XXL</em> Says:</strong> Most would bet against Rass in a cipher with then newcomers Cassidy and Joell Ortiz, but the criminally slept on lyricist emerged with the session’s most memorable lines. <br />
- 14. Cyhi Da Prynce14. Cyhi Da Prynce<strong>Year:</strong> 2010<br /><strong>Illest Line:</strong> “I got rich from the Zone of the stanky/So everybody know my money long, stanky/So I’m flexible/Stretching all my decimals/Switching up the flow, got the crowd going testicles.” <br /><strong>Cypher Mates:</strong> Kanye West, Common, Pusha T and Big Sean<br /><strong> Length (Bars):</strong> 50 Seconds (20 Bars) <br /><strong><em>XXL</em> Says:</strong> Cyhi edged out another former <em>XXL</em> Freshman for bragging rights in the G.O.O.D Music Cypher. <br /><object width="620" height="25"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fU3KqV_9d80?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fU3KqV_9d80?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620" height="25" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
- 13. Kuniva13. Kuniva<strong>Year:</strong> 2010<br /><strong>Illest Line:</strong> “It’s D12, I will backslap her and you/The toolie’s tucked with the Gators and the foreign suit/I take your moms out to dinner and I’m scoring too/We the pack of niggas Mel Gibson was referring to.” <br /><strong>Cypher Mates:</strong> Royce Da 5’ 9”, Tyga and Diamond<br /><strong> Length (Bars):</strong> 40 Seconds (16 Bars) <br /><strong><em>XXL</em> Says:</strong> What, you didn’t think Em ran with suspect lyricists, did you? <br /><object width="620" height="25"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ancM_CxNLsc?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ancM_CxNLsc?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620" height="25" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
- 12. Juelz Santana12. Juelz Santana<strong>Illest Line:</strong> “You boys better step aside/before I get at guys/You’re just bugs, I’m spittin’ that pesticide/ You not mobsters, wait stop the fake/Or you’re found dead with your head in that pasta plate.” <br /><strong>Cypher Mates:</strong> Ace Hood, Jadakiss and Fabolous<br /><strong> Length (Bars):</strong> 56 Seconds (23 Bars) <br /><strong><em>XXL</em> Says:</strong> The Harlemite flows “harder than Kymbo’s punches” over break beats provided by Premo. <br /><object width="620" height="25"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/L2HQacRhgQ0?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/L2HQacRhgQ0?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620" height="25" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
- 11. Mos Def11. Mos Def<strong>Year:</strong> 2010<br /><strong>Illest Line:</strong> “Road to Central Avenue, Cooper House, Cypress/And live from Bedford-Stuyvesant/The livest high flyingest pilot bombardier from Pyrrhus/Stationed live and direct, Medina mastermind set.”<br /><strong>Cypher Mates:</strong> Black Thought and Eminem<br /><strong> Length (Bars):</strong> 44 Seconds (17 Bars)<br /><strong><em>XXL</em> Says:</strong> Listen more closely. Mos, ahem, pardon, Yasiin’s verse is much more than flow here. At one point, he bigs up Brooklyn in alphabetical order— referencing several sections from A to D.<br /> <object width="620" height="25"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5m5MdZ9trz8?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5m5MdZ9trz8?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620" height="25" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
- 10. Saigon10. Saigon<strong>Year:</strong><br /> 2006<strong>Illest Line:</strong>”I can kill this here man with my bare hands/I can slit his throat with a broke beer can/I can get this kid smoked for a mere grand/If they find out I did it, I’m like, Yea, and?” <br /><strong>Cypher Mates:</strong> Rhymefest, Remy Ma and Sway<br /><strong> Length (Bars):</strong> 20 Seconds (8 Bars) <br /><strong><em>XXL</em> Says:</strong> Sai-Gitty’s murderous bars were potent enough to earn him a high slot despite a short verse. Here’s to an encore. <br /><object width="620" height="25"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jqzNoRTYyDI?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jqzNoRTYyDI?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620" height="25" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
- 9. Ice Cube9. Ice Cube<strong>Year:</strong> 2010<br /><strong>Illest Line:</strong> “If my two sons hate you, I’ma violate you/Give you that muthafuckin’ broken bottle facial/This ain’t racial, your new name is Rachel/Got homies in the pen that might wanna date you.” <br /><strong>Cypher Mates:</strong> Reverend Run, Diggy Simmons, Jojo, Doughboy and OMG<br /><strong> Length (Bars):</strong> 40 Seconds (16 Bars) <br /><strong><em>XXL</em> Says:</strong> Making millions in Hollywood still hasn’t softened Cube up 20 years later. <br /><object width="620" height="25"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nwV1153nPb4?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nwV1153nPb4?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620" height="25" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
- 8. Jadakiss8. Jadakiss<strong>Year:</strong> 2008<br /><strong>Illest Line:</strong> “As long as money’s involved, I’m in/You ain’t gotta second guess the best, I’m in/I will rap circles around these new Urkels/Everything’s digital, purps is still purple” <br /><strong>Cypher Mates:</strong> Fabolous, Juelz Santana and Ace Hood<br /><strong> Length (Bars):</strong> 50 Seconds (20 Bars) <br /><strong><em>XXL</em> Says:</strong> Mr. Raspy does light work before bringing it home with a series of fan-favorite punchlines. <br /><object width="620" height="25"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/L2HQacRhgQ0?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/L2HQacRhgQ0?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620" height="25" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
- 7. Black Thought7. Black Thought<strong>Year:</strong> 2009<br /><strong>Illest Line:</strong> “'Y’all see him on a job, see my eyes focused where the prize be/I'm like Martin Luther King you like Rodney.” <br /><strong>Cypher Mates:</strong> Mos Def and Eminem<br /><strong> Length (Bars):</strong> 1 minute and 4 seconds(25 Bars) <br /><strong><em>XXL</em> Says:</strong> Another verse, another example of why it’s a shame that underachievers still underrate him. <br /><object width="620" height="25"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5m5MdZ9trz8?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5m5MdZ9trz8?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620" height="25" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
- 6. Cory Gunz6. Cory Gunz<strong>Year:</strong> 2008<br /><strong>Illest Line:</strong> “Spitting in cyclones, biter not a barker/You’re a future car parker/Not the lighter, I’m a sparker/Only here to save rap, ‘cause the music is my father” <br /><strong>Cypher Mates:</strong> Blaq Poet, Willy Northpole and Hime<br /><strong> Length (Bars):</strong> 50 Seconds (20 Bars) <br /><strong><em>XXL</em> Says:</strong>The old adage goes: It’s not about what you say, but how you say it. Cory Gunz is short on notable punchlines here, but his delivery is nothing short of incredible. <br /><object width="620" height="25"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ktmWrGGVYzI?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ktmWrGGVYzI?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620" height="25" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
- 5. Yelawolf5. Yelawolf<strong>Year:</strong> 2010<br /><strong>Illest Line:</strong> “Sitting in a secluded Chevy/I’m reckless and ruly/Having breakfast out with your cutie (check please)/Better cover it ‘cause I’m still broke/With a MILF, though/For Real, though/Better me than a dildo.” <br /><strong>Cypher Mates:</strong> Raekwon, Wiz Khalifa and Bones Brigante<br /><strong> Length (Bars):</strong> 40 Seconds (16 Bars) <br /><strong><em>XXL</em> Says:</strong> Outshining a legend like Raekwon and red-hot Wiz Khalifa (at the time) is no easy feat, but Yela pulled it off effortlessly. <br /><object width="620" height="25"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/izSpcdKN8Cs?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/izSpcdKN8Cs?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620" height="25" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
- 4. Nicki Minaj4. Nicki Minaj<strong>Year:</strong> 2009<br /><strong>Illest Line:</strong> “Mac and cheese, steak, fried chicken, the guts/And I’m killin’ these bitches, Mike Vickin’ it up.” <br /> <strong>Cypher Mates:</strong> Joe Budden, Buckshot and Crown Royal<br /><strong> Length (Bars):</strong> 40 Seconds (16 Bars) <br /><strong><em>XXL</em> Says:</strong> Arguably Minaj’s dopest verse pre-“Monster.” The Jamaica, Queens femcee proved she had beauty and bars on this highly animated verse. <br /><object width="620" height="25"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/24YxwXbC2hw?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/24YxwXbC2hw?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620" height="25" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
- 3. Fabolous3. Fabolous<strong>Year:</strong> 2008<br /><strong>Illest Line:</strong> “Lyrically, it don’t matter, up-and-comer or Has Be/I’m on yo ass, B/Who’s the next Raz B/Wordplay king, I’m not the one to scrabble with/The rocks got more carats in it than Rabbit shit.” <br /><strong>Cypher Mates:</strong> Juelz Santana, Jadakiss and Ace Hood<br /><strong> Length (Bars):</strong> 50 Seconds (20 Bars) <br /><strong><em>XXL</em> Says:</strong>F-A-B-O delivers an album-worthy verse in a tough field of spitters. <br /><object width="620" height="25"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/L2HQacRhgQ0?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/L2HQacRhgQ0?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620" height="25" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
- 2. Eminem2. Eminem<strong>Year:</strong> 2009<br /><strong>Illest Line:</strong> “It's like I'm off the bomba when I bring the fuckin' drama/Used to bomb ya like Saddam but now that I'm a little calmer/I'm a fuckin' cross between Osama, Dahmer, Obama, and Dalai Lama/So Miley I'm a knight in shining armor.” <br /><strong>Cypher Mates:</strong> Mos Def and Black Thought<br /><strong> Length (Bars):</strong> 52 seconds (20 Bars) <br /><strong><em>XXL</em> Says:</strong>Em’s multisyllabic verse stole the show in a backpacker’s wet dream of a cipher. <br /><object width="620" height="25"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5m5MdZ9trz8?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5m5MdZ9trz8?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620" height="25" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
- 1. Joe Budden1. Joe Budden<strong>Year:</strong> 2009<br /><strong>Illest Line:</strong> “You past your prime, I ain’t speak ether yet/You need a major, I just need an Ethernet/Word on the streets I make the OGs be upset/’Cause I’ma student of the game, not a teacher’s pet.” <br /><strong>Cypher Mates:</strong> Nicki Minaj, Buckshot and Crown Royal<br /><strong> Length (Bars):</strong> 60 Seconds (24 Bars) <br /><strong><em>XXL</em> Says:</strong> Joe Beezy delivers a mix of pop culture references and subliminal jabs (at Jay-Z and Method Man) with casual confidence. <object width="620" height="25"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/24YxwXbC2hw?version=3&hl=en_US"/><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"/><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/24YxwXbC2hw?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620" height="25" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"/></object>
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