The Soundtrack

Lyrical: An Exquisite Exercise in Lyrics Precise and Nice

Here's a mixtape lesson in rap lyricism. I've provided a highlight from each cut, with the time it appears in the song. Here's the inaugural Barbershop soundtrack:

Alphabet Aerobics [The Cut Chemist 2 1/2 Minute Work Out] — Blackalicious
You just need to hear this. It's what's referred to as "incredible."

Medical Aid — Tha Perceptionists (Akrobatik & Mr. Lif)
1:30 — I'll rock a swift incision with precision and make a decision /
to inflict the pain you thought you'd never envision /
hit you with so many crosses you'll rethink your religion /
these two microphone physicians are here to correct your vision

Super Lyrical — Big Pun (Feat. Black Thought)
2:28 — Just call me Baby Jesus cuz lately niggaz be praisin' me /
Just for the way I blaze to be crazily, tape to CD lasery /
It pays to be amazingly flavory /
Daaaaze 'em to my rhymes that basically hypnotize you occasionally

Bitchslap! — Brother Ali
2:13 — That's when it first occurred to me /
where the pain comes from — page one in my rhyme book/
If you listen closely, you can picture how my line looks /
You presently pressed to be restin' next to me /
The best of me molestin' destiny, wrestlin' with ecstacy /

Behind Closed Doors — Pharoahe Monch
1:09 — For more of the military tactics obscene /
extreme confidential my exterior serene /
with the potential of a killing machine /
ex-marine you drag queen we tag team /
queen's finest the alliance defiant we bag fiends /
What the fuck you lookin in my face for nigga? /
I mace mics and then lace the bass with figgas

Definition — Black Star (Talib Kweli & Mos Def)
0:35 — After this, you'll be pressin' rewind on your master disk /
Shining like an asterisk for all those that be gatherin /
Connectin like a roundhouse from the townhouse to the tenaments /
Cause all my Brooklyn residents, armed and heavy regiments /
Don't believe? Here the evidence — Where Brooklyn? Woord! — See that?

Precision — Mother Ming ( 'Aamir Bermiss)
1:37 — At times it's got me livid, I feel the inquisition /
I bite my tongue in order to stay quiet for the instant /
but when the sounds begin to rise, I lose my inhibition /
my consciousness expands like exposed nuclear fission /
Reaction's in an instant but the line you seek's relentless

Southern Fried Intro — Ludacris
1:10 — They want it so bad, four million dollar pad /
And enough to retire off two albums, gone, wave ya' white flags, I'm hot! /
And everytime I rhyme I'm puttin' rappers in the ground /
Wit' lines that got 'em hooked like dope /
They gotta make up they mind, because they runnin' outta time /
And I'm about to make 'em choke /
Better turn your stereo louder, listen up and let me preach /
Let's get arrested for Disturbin' the Peace!

Renegade — Jay-Z (Feat. Eminem)
1:28 — Now who's the king of these rude, ludicrous, lucrative lyrics? /
Who could inhereit the title, put the youth in hysterics? /
Using his music to steer it, sharing his views and his merits /
But there's a huge interference — they're saying you shouldn't hear it /
maybe it's hatred I spew maybe it's food for the spirit /
maybe it's beautiful music I made for you to just cherish /
but i'm debated, disputed, hated and viewed in America /
like a motherfuckin' drug addict; like you didn't experiment?

'98 Freestyle — Big L
1:41 — So what you actin' for? /
You ain't half as raw — you need to practice more /
somebody tell this nigga, son, 'fore I crack his jaw /
you runnin' with boys i'm runnin' with men /
I'ma be rippin' on mics until I'm a hundred and ten /
have these niggas like, "Damn it, this nigga done did it again"

22 Twos — Jay-Z
1:04 — No question; Jay-Z got too many answers /
I been around this block, too many times /
Rocked, too many rhymes, cocked, too many nines, too /
To all my brothers it ain't too late to come together /
Cause too much black and too much love, equal forever /
I don't follow any guidelines cause too many niggaz ride mine /
so I change styles every two rhymes

Invasion — Eminem
0:35 — Oh, here we go, I shoulda known I was bound to get pulled in /
to some bullshit /
sooner or later you little haters were too jealous of us to love us /
You hate it: G-Unit made it /
and Obie's comin', D-Twizzy's comin', you're sick to your stomach

What Goes Around — NaS
0:34 — Niggas up in my hood be getting shot giving poison /
In hospitals, shots riddle the block /
Little children and elderly women run for their lives /
Drizzling rain come out the sky every time somebody dies /
Must be out my fucking mind, what is this, the hundreth time?