S. Samuel
Brooklyn rapper Papoose has decided to lay off recent hip-hop beefs and, instead, is paying homage to renowned entertainers and leaders that lost their lives last year with "Obituary 2013."
The new track premiered online Wednesday (January 1) and recognizes the lives of various icons including Nelson Mandela.
The new year is here, but we can’t dead 2013 without giving it its just due. Papoose decides to do the honors for consecutive years with his “Obituary 2013.” In the ’13 version, Pap pays homage to the likes Nelson Mandela, Paul Walker, Doe B, Chris Kelly and others who lost their lives this past year. (XXL Mag)
During a Los Angeles concert last month, rap veteran Jay Z paid tribute to Mandela.
Jay Z took his Magna Carter … Holy Grail Tour to Staples Center in Los Angeles, where he dedicated his set-closing “Young Forever” to the anti-apartheid South African leader who endured a 27-year prison sentence before becoming the first democratically elected black president in his country. “We want to dedicate this song to Nelson Mandela. Great man, who spent 27 years in prison, came out to be president. All dreams are possible,” Hov told the L.A. crowd on Monday as pictures of the man they called Madiba flashed on the arena’s screens. “Let that great man stand as an example of what you can do,” he encouraged the crowd. (MTV)
Last year, Pap opened his ode-driven “Obituary 2012” by remembering late music icon Whitney Houston and record industry veteran Chris Lighty.
“Whitney Houston, let us rejoice,” Pap raps. “Words can’t describe her amazing voice/Born August 9th, 1963, incredible black woman, Newark, New Jersey — sold over 170 million albums/The cause of her death? Accidental drowning/She leaves behind a daughter, heavenly surrounded/Chris Lighty, hip-hop shed a tear/He gave birth to so many careers/Born May 8th, ’68, in the Bronx, used to carry records for Red Alert, he was smart/Started Violator, made it better/He helped me with my career, we took a million dollar deal together/The cause of his death? They say suicide/But anybody who knows Chris sees through the lies” (“Obituary 2012”)
He also paid homage to Don C, who is most known for creating “Soul Train.”
“Don Cornelius, on every episode,” Pap continues. “He wished us all love, peace and soul/Born September 27th in ’36/In Chicago, he went to the Marines, he stayed legit/Inspired by the Civil Rights Movement, he gave a TV venue in the United States for soul music/exposure for artists like James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, black and proud/The cause of his death? Suicide/Life is short, enjoy it while you alive” (“Obituary 2012”)
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Check out “Obituary 2013”:
