ESL Hip Hop

Learn English with hip-hop and rap.

Learn English Grammar: Infinitives with Kid Cudi

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Kid Cudi is a hip-hop artist and actor from Cleveland, Ohio. Cudi is signed under his own record label, Wicked Awesome Records and Republic Records. He first gained notoriety after the release of his first official full-length project in 2008, a mixtape titled A Kid Named Cudi. The mixtape caught the attention of Kanye West, who subsequently signed Cudi to his GOOD Music label in late […]

Speak Better English: Idioms and Pronunciation with Mia-X

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Mia X is an American rapper who first encountered success when she became the first female artist to sign with Master P‘s successful No Limit Records.  Although born in New Orleans, Mia began her rapping career in Queens, New York as part of the hip-hop group New York Incorporated, which disbanded after only four years. After her […]

Learn English Grammar: Possessive Pronouns with Black Sheep

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Black Sheep is a hip hop duo from Queens, New York, composed of Andres “Dres” Titus and William “Mista Lawnge” McLean. The duo is from New York but met as teenagers in North Carolina, where both of their families relocated. The group was an affiliate of the Native Tongues, which included the Jungle Brothers, A Tribe Called Quest, and De La Soul. After getting together in 1989, […]

Learn English Grammar: Past Perfect with Ice Cube

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Ice Cube is an American rapper from South Central Los Angeles, and he is considered one of the founding members of gangsta rap. His lyrics are unflinchingly honest, and his songs usually revolve around the danger and violence of the inner city of Los Angeles. In “It Was a Good Day”, Ice Cube describes a day where […]

Learn English Vocabulary with The Lonely Island

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The Lonely Island is an American comedy group with members Akiva Schaffer, Jorma Taccone, and Andy Samberg, best known for their musical comedy. Originally from Berkeley, California, the group is currently based in New York City. The group became famous due to their collective work from 2005 to 2011 on Saturday Night Live, featuring Samberg as a cast member and Taccone […]

2Pac Fridays: To Live and Die in L.A.

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“To Live and Die in L.A.” is Tupac’s homage to his hometown of Los Angeles, California. It is the second single from 2Pac’s final album, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory. The album was completely finished in only a week during the month of August 1996. Amazingly, the lyrics were written and recorded in only three days and […]

Learn English Grammar: Perfect Modals with T.I.

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T.I.  is an American rapper, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He comes from Atlanta, Georgia and is one of the most influential Southern hip-hop artists. He embarked on his music career with his longtime friends, and they formed a group called Pimp Squad Click in 2001. Two years later, T.I. founded and became CEO of Grand Hustle Records. During his 12 years as a […]

Learn British Slang with Skinnyman

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Skinnyman is an English rapper who was born in Leeds and moved to London at a young age. He formed the Mud Family with Mongo and Chester P, a hip-hop group which released a number of EPs. These included such records as Itchy Town and Lash Suttin, a reworking of Redman‘s Smash Something. Skinnyman released a solo album, Council Estate of Mind in 2004, and it […]

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