In hip hop, fans and critics often marvel at and put a premium on the supreme soloists or groups who can craft classic songs and bodies of work while remaining the central figure. However, the most electric moments in the culture occur when multiple emcees collaborate on a track with the sole purpose of asserting themselves as the most lyrically gifted by delivering an epic rhyme spill that outclasses the others. Throughout the years, the songs — which are generally referred to as “posse-cuts” — have become some of the most memorable in the genre’s history, as rap’s most legendary stars team up on wax and bringing the most rabid of rap fans’ fantasies to reality.
In celebration of these historic songs and what they mean to the culture, REVOLT Presents: Tale of the Tape, our series in which we break down the greatest posse-cuts of all time and rank the verses from worst to first.
In our latest installment of the series, we’ll be revisiting “We All Die One Day” from Obie Trice’s debut album, Cheers, which achieved platinum status. Building a reputation as a formidable lyricist because of performances at Detroit’s famed open mic venue Hip Hop Shop, Obie Trice caught the attention of D12 rappers Proof and Bizarre, the later introducing the underground dweller to Eminem, who inked Trice to a record deal in 2000.
Making his debut on D12’s Devil’s Night album, Obie’s name appeared on rap fans’ radar after delivering the memorable intro “Obie Trice: real name, no gimmicks” on Eminem’s hit single “Without Me.” Those looks would be followed up with appearances on The Eminem Show, and the 8 Mile and Cradle 2 the Grave soundtracks, respectively. On September 23, 2003; Trice unveiled his debut album Cheers to the public. It peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and sold 226,000 copies in its first week.
Led by the gold-certified single “Got Some Teeth,” as well as the Nate Dogg-assisted banger “The Set Up,” Cheers received critical acclaim and continued Shady Records’ streak of putting out quality material. However, “We All Die One Day,” which features 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, and Eminem is considered one of the premier cuts from the album and one of the more slept-on posse-cuts in the Shady vault.
Without further adieu, check out a ranking of the verses on “We All Die One Day” below.
4. 50 Cent
In 2003, 50 Cent had one of the more dominant calendar years in music history because of his debut album, Get Rick or Die Tryin’, and its success, which capped off the rapper’s rise to the top of the charts. However, the Jamaica, Queens tough also dominated the feature circuit by gracing tracks like this Obie Trice collaboration with his presence. With his verse being the last domino to fall, the stage is set for Fif to bring down the hammer. However, that moment never comes, as he gets off a few quality bars, but fails to rise to the occasion.
Standout Lyrics: “You can do all them push ups to pump up your chest/I got a twelve gauge Mossberg to pump up your chest/Have you gasping for air after that shell hit your vest/Fear me like you fear God cause I bring death/Silverback gorilla in the concrete jungle/I’m the strongest around, you know how I get down/I watch gangsta flicks and root for the bad guy/And turn it off before it end cause the bad guy die.”
3. Obie Trice
Shady Records signee Obie Trice takes the initiative to provide a heat check for his label-mates with his opening verse on this bruising selection. Staying consistent with the “cheers” theme of the album, Trice posts up at the bar with cruel intentions for any rowdy club-goers who want to challenge his gangsta. Threatening to riddle the club venue with bullets, the Detroit native conveys his disregard for the casualties of his warfare with this aggressive rhyme-spill.
Standout Lyrics: “I got issues, got no time/Got guns that mourn niggas’ moms/Shoot up clubs and destroy niggas’ vibes/Everybody running for their motherfucking lives/Tough club niggas, we leave early, cock back surely/Open up your fade your gray brain meets Motor City pave’/Your nervous system still twitch off JAY-Z.”
2. Lloyd Banks
The earlier years of Lloyd Banks’ rap career can be compared to Vince Carter’s tenure with the Toronto Raptors, as both were otherworldly talents and human highlight reels waiting to happen. The G-Unit young gun lives up to that reputation with his performance on this outing by dropping clever punchlines and levying cocksure proclamations about the trappings of his stardom. Efficient and seemingly effortless, Banks delivers the goods with his verse, but nabs runner-up honors after being narrowly outmatched by one of his costars.
Standout Lyrics: “But as long as I’m here I’m gonna grab checks/And make my cash stretch longer than giraffe necks/Poverty’ll make your ass bet/My words touch niggas in jail, make them wanna finish they last set/They say you live by the gun, you die by the next nigga gun/If that’s the case, then get a bigger one/You don’t think I pack the pump cause I’m out the hood?/That’s a stereotype, like everybody that’s Black can jump.”
1. Eminem
Certain rap artists seem to thrive when their skills are weighed, Eminem being one of them. The Shady Records benefactor joins 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, and fellow Motor City spitter Obie Trice on this lyrical cage match, which evokes an awe-worthy barrage of couplets from the rhyme animal. Paying homage to DJ Muggs and Cypress Hill, while sending a stray shot in The Source magazine’s direction, Eminem slaughters the competition with a viscous stanza that’s a testament to his greatness.
Standout Lyrics: “We are not killers, my vato will have you shot, though/Dragged your little body and fucked like Kim Osorio’s/Little sorry ho ass, go ask B-Real/We burn Source covers like fucking Cypress Hill/Did in the ’90s, when you was in diapers still/Shady Records, you better believe the hype is real/This is no joke, I don’t smoke/But I toke enough secondhand to make my fucking P.O. choke.”
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