Spinner

Readers' Best Opening Lyrics: No. 12

"Thinkin' of a master plan, 'cause ain't nothin' but sweat inside my hand"
--Erik B and Rakim's 'Paid in Full'



Listen to the line!

All the AOL Music info you want to know

Ronnie Wood Snubbed Led Zeppelin…

Spinner

Mark Milan/FilmMagic The Rolling Stones have cycled through their fair share…

Ex-KISS Guitarist Ace Frehley on the…

Noisecreep

Ace Frehley It all goes back to 1977, when KISS hit the stage at Nippon…

'Think Like a Man' Movie Premiere:…

The Boombox

Getty Images The stars hit Hollywood Thursday night (Feb. 9) to celebrate the…

See all AOL Music »

Add a Comment

Sign in »
*0 / 3000 Character Maximum

25 Comments

Filter by:
merydith92

This is better then Nirvana or The Smiths??? Kill me now!!!

September 09 2008 at 7:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
sabres3017

this is a crap list. bob seger better than cobain? kiss my ass

September 09 2008 at 5:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
rocketdream34

this really is classic, it shouldn't be ahead of petty and the eagles, but it's in my top 50 for sure

August 12 2008 at 3:11 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Wolfng3

Actually, this is one of the more poetic cRap lyrics I've read. "Nothing in my hand but sweat" can have such a deeper meaning.

June 29 2008 at 7:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Details, Details

For those that don't know, rappers weren't always blinged out, dropping names of expensive champagne, and designers.

Once upon a time, rappers were poor. This song was written at a time where a rapper just wanted to be able to keep the lights on, and maybe treat himself to a half-decent meal. He used the skills that he had, and then was quite happy to get his little bit of money.

I'll always love this song, because I was a teen when rap was young, and I've seen the evolution. I don't always like what it's become, but I'll always love where it started.

March 14 2008 at 3:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
melanie

Maybe you should try listening to the whole song, before judging, because those who can relate most certainly feel it's a masterpiece.

September 30 2007 at 5:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Keenan Smith

white people...

August 29 2007 at 11:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
bdbr0nxsta

You all who disrespect Hip-Hop are Ignorant pieces of shiet. Do you realize half of the MotherF*ckers on this list didn
t write their own lines besides Rakim..You realize That bullshit you listen to is dumb Country or Rock motherF*ckers puttin words next to each other that they don't even truly feel.....Listen to TUPAC en then tell me any artist living or dead has more talent....duma**es

August 28 2007 at 2:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
nicknmemphis

KIM: your career as the backup singer for the Spice Girls doesn't mean that you know music sorry. Rap is music if you ever actually find out what the true definition of music is you'd find that it is in fact a very broad term. Actually Phillip Glass A world reknown critically acclaimed composer once wrote composed a song that consisted of him sitting perfectly still for just over 3 minutes allowing the crowd to make any sound they wished and even that is in fact music. Actually it caused a huge uproar at the possibilities it opened up but I guess your super human knowledge of music overlooked that one. And by the stupid poetry. Even Bob Dylan has said that a certain white rapper today is the best lyricist out there today. McCartney Elton Dylan all of them have given rap and hip hop props for the lyrics. Some are bad some are good same for any genre. But Tupac KRS-One R.A.K.I.M. NAS there lyrics stand alone in any genre.

August 28 2007 at 6:15 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Al

Kye (#12)you hit it squarely on the head. Those who don't understand just won't understand. I suppose it's true...IGNORANCE IS BLISS!!!

August 28 2007 at 4:26 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply