One of the great things about television is how characters change and develop over the course of the show's run. Though many great characters benefit from multiple episode story arcs, certain characters burst onto the scene with aplomb, showing the audience exactly who they are in their first moments. Here are some of my favorite character introductions:
G.O.B. - Arrested Development
This clip is from the original, uncensored version of the pilot.
Other best AD intros: Lucille, Barry Zuckercorn
Tracy Jordan - 30 Rock
The funny part about this one is that it drastically undersells the extent of Tracy Jordan's insanity.
Big K.R.I.T. and Yelawolf, Delta rappers and stars of my new playlist
I haven't checked back here in a while, but there's been a bunch of solid tracks released in the past couple months and I'd love to share them with all three of my loyal readers. My favorite of these is probably "Mystery,"probably Hodgy Beats' best track to date. If Tyler, the Creator is the black heart of Odd Future, then Hodgy Beats is the cackling sidekick, more mischievous than evil, and the haunting Moody Blues sample complements his impish persona.
Nate Dogg, one of the defining artists of the G-Funk era, passed away today at 41. As Warren G said in "Regulate," Nate brought melody to Hip-Hop, singing his verses instead of spitting them and providing his signature smooth style to several of the best West Coast (or otherwise) songs ever made.
5. "Deeez Nuuuts" - Dr. Dre
"Deeez Nuuts," off Dr. Dre's genre-defining The Chronic, marks the first appearance of Nate Dogg on record. Though Nate was famous for his hooks, he could sing an outro like nobody's business, and on "Deeez Nuuuts," Nate's smooth boasts place a perfect exclamation point for Dre and Snoop's braggadocio on the rest of the song.
Best Line: "Here we go, toe-for-toe, flow-for-flow, let me know if you think you can fade Death Row!"
See also: "The Next Episode" ("hey hey hey hey...smoke weed everyday")
4) "All About U" - 2Pac ft. Nate Dogg & Snoop Dogg
No one in the music business could sing the word "ho" quite like Nate Dogg. The word, though pejorative in nature, sounded warm and friendly when Nate Dogg crooned it. Nate Dogg was valuable to the early 90s hip-hop scene because rappers like 2Pac and Snoop Dogg could embrace poppier, more R&B-esque sounds without losing street cred. "All About U" is one of Nate's strongest hooks, his soulful baritone meshing perfectly with the Dre-influenced beat.
Best Line: Well, he only sings the hook on this one, so I guess the whole thing is his best line.
3) "Xxplosive" - Dr. Dre (ft. Hittman, Nate Dogg & Kurupt)
Nate's tuneful and hilarious verse on "Xxplosive" demonstrates his ability to find the melody of a Hip-Hop beat. On "Xxplosive,"Nate sounds like a gangsta Barry White, hilariously emphasizing phrases like "Real treeeeeeees, chronic leeeeeeaves, no seeeeeeeds." "Xxplosive" is one of Nate's funniest and most quotable verses and nicely contrasts with Kurupt and Hittman's more generic rhymes.
Best Line: "Now that I'm sober you ain't that hot."
See Also: "Nah Nah" - E-40 ft. Nate Dogg
2) "Regulate" - Nate Dogg & Warren G
"MOUNT UP!" "16 in the clip and one in the hole, Nate Dogg's about make some bodies turn cold," "Next stop is the EAAAAST SIIIIIIDE MOOOTEEEELLLL," "the rhythm is the bass and the bass is the treble." "Regulate" is one of the most quotable songs of the 90s. Each one of Nate's lines is as memorable as the last. The first half of the song, where Nate Dogg rescues Warren G from a mugging, is exciting, but when Nate switches his mind "back into freak mode," the song hits another level, climaxing with the classic final line.
Best line: "If you smoke like I smoke, you get high like everyday. And if yo ass is a busta 213 we'll regulate!"
See also: "Nobody Does it Better" - Nate Dogg & Warren G; "Never Leave Me Alone" - Nate Dogg ft. Snoop Dogg
1) "Ain't No Fun (If the Homies Can't Have None)" - Snoop Dogg ft. Nate Dogg, Kurupt & Warren G
"When I met you last night, baby..." Nate contributes an awesome first verse and a chorus to this classic from Snoop's Doggystyle album. Nate recounts one of his many one-night stands with trademark soul. I can't get enough of the contrast between Nate's smooth delivery and his nasty, gangsta lyrics and "Ain't No Fun" is a prime example of his unique talent.
Best Line: "And you even licked my balls!"
R.I.P. Nate, I'm sure there will be plenty of hoes in lots of different area codes for you up in heaven.
It seems almost silly to think about it nowadays, when rappers wish airplanes in the night sky are shooting stars, that Hip-Hop, once upon a time, was a shocking and dangerous art form. NWA screamed "Fuck Tha Police" and Public Enemy shouted "Fight the Power," mobilizing and energizing urban and suburban communities in the late 1980s. In 2011, it's a pretty high bar if you're aiming to make listeners uncomfortable. Tyler, The Creator and the rest of the Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All collective have cleared that bar. Odd Future have blown up the internet, mostly for that Kanye tweet and an incendiary appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. By now, everyone reading this page will probably know what these guys are all about: ridiculously obscene rhymes about rape and parental issues over hypnotic lo-fi, industrial beats, made by Tyler. On Tyler's "French," he raps about raping Goldilocks and Mary Mary Quite Contrary. Sure, troubled teens probably respond to Odd Future (and scribble "Wolf Gang" on their notes and school walls) because of their "fuck everything" attitude and jokes about suicide, but rap purists love OFWGKTA because they consciously rebel against the trends and conventions of modern Hip-Hop.
Tyler starts his debut mixtape with a declaration of "Fuck Nahright and 2dopeboyz," assaulting rap blogs that wouldn't play his music. In "Yonkers," he raps about crashing B.o.B.'s airplane and stabbing Bruno Mars "in the motherfucking esophagus." When I hear that, I can't help think about The Clash's famous anti-mainstream declaration of "No Elvis, No Beatles, No Rolling Stones in 1977." Odd Future's brand of Hip-Hop bears a striking resemblance to the Punk movement of the late 70s. Tyler and the rest actively antagonize mainstream artists and make music that will NEVER ever receive radio airplay. Nonetheless, they've developed a rabid following on and off-line. There is a boundless feral energy at their concerts, which are often marked by mosh pits and stage rushes, reminiscent of early Sex Pistols shows. It remains to be seen whether Wolf Gang will have a lasting impact on rap, but kids who worship them will eventually start making music of their own. Wolf Gang looks like they'll be important for a while. Swag.
