We here at the Argus arts section get a fairly steady stream of unsolicited promotional materials. Mostly, we get CDs from ridiculous unsigned bands (like Caesar Pink and the Imperial Orgy) or books we really don’t want to read (like “Find Your Inner Ugly Betty”). But occasionally, we get a true gem.
For instance, this week we received a pile of singles from Swagg Team records, which includes a new single by the GS Boyz (of “Stanky Legg” fame), called “Booty Dew.” This got us talking about the current state of hip hop, and we realized that, whether Nas likes it or not, the game is presently chock full of artists churning out cheap-o singles that usually come with prefabricated dance. This sub-genre is often dismissed as “ringtone rap,” but given its exuberance and DIY ethics, we see it as the logical descendant of Detroit Techno, Punk, 1950s rock, and Dixieland. Thus, in an effort to get this movement the credit it deserves, we present the best of the scene.
5. GS Boyz – We have to give these boyz credit for essentially releasing “Stanky Legg” again under a new title. It’s also impressive that they managed to make the leap from high school dance troupe to ringtone sensations. Also, they used to preface their Youtube dance videos with the missive, “Warning: may cause wet panties.” Which is amazing.
4. Lil Mama – Like the Rites of Spring, who challenged the uber-macho hardcore scene to deal with emotional honesty, Lil Mama took the unspoken rule of ringtone that nothing is too inane to rap about to its logical conclusion with the immortal “Lipgloss.”
3. Lil Jon – Lil Jon, with his two-word verses and his choreographic lyrics, is arguably the father of ringtone. But he was signed to a label before he got famous, so no cigar.
2. Dem Franchize Boyz – Leaving aside how influential “Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It” was from a musical standpoint, DFB pioneered one of the most important conventions in ringtone rap videos: people dancing on the tops of houses.
1. Soulja Boy – The obvious king of the game. He was the first rapper to parlay Youtube videos into a career and legions will follow—YA TRICK YA, indeed, good sir.
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