The Elements of a Great Posse Cut

One of the best things in all of music is when multiple artists come together to create one record. The most famous example of this is, of course, “We Are The World” by USA for Africa, a supergroup composed of Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Bruce Springsteen, Cindi Lauper, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Bob Dylan, and so many more. This team-up was so spectacular that it got its own Netflix documentary. But, every once in a while we get a team up that, while not as spectacular as “We Are The World”, is known as either a downright classic, or a literal benchmark in music history.

This month’s article is about posse cuts, and the elements that make them great. The qualifications are taken straight from Alfo Media’s video “What is the Best POSSE CUT of This Generation?”. And the only qualification is that a minimum of 4 people have to spit a verse that is about 16 bars or more (Souls of Mischief’s “‘93 ‘Till Infinity and A$AP Rocky’s “F**kin’ Problems” are examples of songs that are disqualified). So, I’ll discuss each element I feel is critical in making an epic posse cut, and provide an example of a song that perfectly represents that element.

Element One: Chemistry
Example: “Protect Ya Neck” by the Wu-Tang Clan

Think of a posse cut like a team sport. Each rapper needs to work together to succeed, because if it’s just a bunch of talent with no chemistry… 9 times out of 10 the outcome isn’t so good. No one wants to end up like the 2013 Lakers. The reason why I chose “Protect Ya Neck” as an example is for two reasons. Reason one: It has a bunch of people rapping on it – 8 to be exact. And two: it was the first song that the Clan ever recorded (don’t believe the HULU series, “7th Chamber” was recorded after “Protect Ya Neck”, RZA said so). So, the fact that they had this great chemistry out the gate, even while Raekwon, Ghostface, and Meth all hated each other, shows how great of a group they were destined to become.

Element Two: Star-Studded Roster
Example: “Forever” by Drake

Before you get the chemistry thing right, you first need names that can attract radio and give you a bunch of streams/sales. And, no song had as star-studded of a roster as Drake’s “Forever”, which included an up-and coming Drake, as well as Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and Eminem all at the peak of their respective powers. Each artist drops an amazing verse, but Eminem murdered all of them. So bad in fact that everyone else re-wrote their verses, but it STILL wasn’t as good as Em’s. I guess Eminem keeps murdering people on their own sh*t.

Element Three: Catchy One-Liners
Example: A$AP Rocky’s “1Train”

What is music without quotable lines? From “A boy is born in hard-time Mississippi” to “Tonight the music seems so loud” to “To the window, to the wall”, the world of music has been filled with experts that will last for generations. So, you need a quotable line for your song to be remembered. I went with “1Train” almost entirely because of Danny Brown’s performance, where he says, and I quote: “B***h p***y smell like a penguin, wouldn’t hit that s**t with my worst enemy’s p*nis. B***h, when I say this, I mean this, h*e, I’m the meanest, d**k so big, spread from Earth to Venus.” So good!

Element Four: Getting Mc’s That Fit the Beat  
Example: “Ante Up (Remix)” by M.O.P.

This might sound completely stupid when just looking at the title, but in actuality it’s really important. You can’t have DMX on a beat like “Blessings” by Chance the Rapper or Kendrick Lamar’s “Institutionalized”. I picked “Ante Up (Remix)” because it has all hardcore rappers on it. Busta Rhymes (the 2nd most hardcore rapper besides DMX), Remy Ma (have you heard “EAST COAST”), Teflon (he went so hard on this), and, of course M.O.P., a group only known for hype songs. 

Element Five: A Great First Verse
Example: “Scenario” by A Tribe Called Quest and Leaders of The New School

The first verse of a hip-hop song sets the tone for what the song will be like – and Phife Dawg’s 16 bars on “Scenario” prove my point like no other. (Fun fact: Phife went first because he was worried that club DJs would not play the record all the way through, but Busta Rhymes made sure they did.) The verse includes crowd chants, great uses of punchlines, and a bunch of memorable quotables.

Element Six: Not Having a Bad Verse
Example: “EAST COAST REMIX” by A$AP Ferg

CDTV productions basically says everything that I need to say in this clip. If you want your ears to be saved, listen to the version that replaces French Montana with the aforementioned Remy Ma verse, and thank me later.

Element Seven: A Great Final Verse
Example: Ghostface Killah’s “Winter Warz”

If the first verse sets the tone, the last verse must wrap up the song in a spectacular way. I used Cappodona’s verse on “Winter Warz” as an example because it is known as one of not just the greatest verses in Wu-Tang history, but hip-hop history. Two and a half minutes of non-stop bars and a flow that is so rugged and smooth at the same time that you just stand there nodding your head in amazement. Also, as a DJ, it is important to note that his verse goes with literally any hip-hop beat; my favorite being Mobb Deep’s “The Learning (Burn)”. 

Element Eight: An Excellently Shot Music Video
Example: Craig Mack’s “Flava in Ya Ear (Remix)”

In my opinion, a posse cut is a celebration of sorts, as it pairs top emcees together in a challenge of “who had the best verse”. And, because of how anticipated most posse cuts are, I feel like most, if not all, should have a music video to pair with the song. I chose the “Flava in Ya Ear (Remix)” video because there is some sort of beauty in its simplicity. The video is just Craig and all the features (Biggie, Busta Rhymes, LL COOL J, and Rampage the Lost Boy Scout) rapping on a white background with a black and white filter. But, surprisingly, the video works, and fits the song really well. So well, in fact, that there have been many other music videos that have taken inspiration from the “Flava in Ya Ear (Remix)” video. Including but not limited to Pusha T’s “Diet Coke” and Mr. Esquire’s “The Last Huzzah (Remix)”.

So, there you have it, all the elements that can make a posse cut great. But, the question is, which posse cut fits all these elements the best? 

The Greatest Posse Cut Ever: “4,3,2,1” by LL COOL J

• Element one: chemistry – This song has Redman and Method Man on it, who had done two songs and multiple media appearances together by that point.
• Element two: star-studded roster – Method Man was on his way to becoming a household name and LL COOL J already was a household name by 1997.
• Element three: catchy one-liners  – “turn a christian into a certified sinner”, “tell you f*ck you my attitude is anemic”, “I’ll snatch your crown with your head still attached to it”, “beating n***as to death and beating dead n***as to life”, “and when the lights is out, they don’t come back on”, “LL COOL J n***a, greatest of all time”.
• Element four: getting MCs that fit the beat – LL, Cannabis, DMX, Meth and Red are all hardcore rappers. And, LL and Red have worked with Erick Sermon (the producer) before this team-up. Also, during the Roots Picnic, rappers Black Thought, Common and Freeway freestyle on this beat, and did a fantastic job! Proof that legendary instrumentals can be wielded by those who are worthy.
• Element five: great first verse – Mef kills the opening verse, but leaves enough room for the other MCs to do their thing.
• Element six: no bad verses – Self explanatory
• Element seven: great last verse – even though LL’s verse is inarguably the weakest on the track (if we are not counting Master P’s verse on the remix), he still uses his braggadocious charm well, as he says he is the best rapper ever, and tries (and eventually succeeded) to start beef with Canibus, even though he is featured on the song. Here’s a beef breakdown if you want.
• Element Eight: Well-Shot Music Video  – The video for “4,3,2,1” is the complete opposite of the “Flava in Ya Ear (Remix)” video. Insteads of simplicity, “4,3,2,1” goes all out on the visuals; having each rapper in different costume and a background that matches it (Meth as a mummy, Redman as a circus ringleader,  Cannabis as a football player, and DMX and LL in streetwear). Sadly, no one has tried to imitate the video since (probably because of the budget you need to have to film it), but it’s ok, as it makes the video a 1/1 classic.

This article was heavily inspired by ClownPuncher 139’s “What Arkham Teaches us About Jumpscares”, which is a great video if you are a fan of the Batman Arkham Series, or video games in general.