ESL Hip Hop

Learn English with hip-hop and rap.

Getting Into Trouble with Afroman

by

The hip-hop genre has many talented artists who discuss important social issues, such as poverty, racism, and violence… Afroman is not one of those artists! He is known as a “one-hit wonder” because he became famous for only one song that he wrote in 2000. “Because I Got High” is a story about a man whose […]

Past Perfect and Vocabulary with ATCQ

by

A Tribe Called Quest is one of hip-hop’s most legendary, beloved and revered groups of all time and for good reason. Easily recognized for their unique approach to rap music by employing jazz infused soundscapes to Afro-centric rhymes, A Tribe Called Quest was largely responsible for the popularity of a new genre that dominated the East […]

Zero Conditional and Vocabulary with M.I.A.

by

“Paper Planes” is a song by British musician M.I.A. from her second studio album, Kala (2007). The song ignited wide acclaim upon its release, and contemporary critics complimented the musical direction as well as the subversive, unconventional subject matter of the piece, citing its chorus and lyrical humor in the promotion of globalization. The single peaked in the Top 20 in […]

Old School for New Beginners: ‘Have Got To’ and Vocabulary with EPMD

by

EPMD is an American hip hop group from Brentwood, New York. The group’s name is an acronym for “Erick and Parrish Making Dollars”, referencing its members, emcees Erick Sermon (“E” aka E Double) and Parrish J Smith (“PMD” aka Parrish Mic Doc). Strictly Business is their debut album, and it was released on August 30, 1988.  “You Gots to Chill” is an adamant declaration of EPMD€™s total dominance. Erick and Parrish are […]

Infinitives of Purpose with Black Star

by

“Definition” is the first single from Black Star‘s 1998 album by the same name. It is produced by Hi-Tek, who samples “The P Is Free” by Boogie Down Productions for the track’s beat as well as “Stop the Violence” for the hook. The song’s lyrics in general deal with the necessity to stop violence in hip hop, and the lyrics also mention the recent […]

Grammar with Hieroglyphics

by

Hieroglyphics are an American underground hip hop collective based in Oakland, California. The collective was founded in the early-1990s by rapper Del tha Funkee Homosapien. The collective is currently composed of rappers Del the Funky Homosapien, Casual, Pep Love, producer/manager Domino, DJ Toure, and the four individual members of the rap group Souls of Mischief: Phesto, A-Plus, Opio, and Tajai. The Hieroglyphics combine fundamentally sound deliveries and lyrical content with original and sometimes jazzy or funky beats and samples. Since their inception, Hieroglyphics […]

Present Perfect Progressive with Chamillionaire

by

“Ridin’” is a song by American hip hop recording artist Chamillionaire, released as the lead single from his debut studio album The Sound of Revenge (2005). The song, produced by Play-N-Skillz, features a guest appearance from fellow American rapper Krayzie Bone, of Bone Thugs n Harmony. The lyrics concern racial profiling and police brutality, as well as the stereotyping of African-Americans driving vehicles with drugs or other contraband. The music video attempts to create a sense of the police abusing their powers for […]

Reduced Relative Clauses with The Roots

by

Things Fall Apart is the fourth studio album by American hip hop band The Roots, released February 23, 1999 on Geffen Records. According to Spin magazine, the album is a landmark moment for The Roots and the collective, as it “swelled the Roots clique into a movement-style posse.” The album has also been considered by music writers as The Roots’s breakthrough album, earning praise from major […]

MENU