Hip Hop artists have long thought about themselves as superhuman. Hyperbolic phrases accentuating their strength, toughness and often money making ability (looking at you Young Jeezy) are staples of verses in rap. But sometimes these lyricists take it to the next level and actually name drop their favorite comic book characters. With Marvel’s Civil War around the corner, we’re taking a look at some of the best Stan Lee inspired lyrics.
Public Enemy – “Raise the Roof”
Not one, but two Marvel Comics characters get name checked in this classic. “From the slammer swing a hammer like the mighty Thor/God of thunder, you’ll go under, then you’ll all applaud/And fathom that distance, the mad must reap/Meet Namor sea lord, Prince of the deep.”
The Last Emperor – “Secret Wars”
Impossible to pick one line from an entire song dedicated to superheroes battling emcees with “no bats no gats guns no interference. Comic book characters would go head up with raw lyrics.” But since I have to choose I’ll go with “We got Dr. Octopus ‘versus the mighty Busta Rhymes! Doc Oct versus Busta? Man that stuff is dead. He’ll get his eight arms ripped off, goin up against the dreads.”
Eminem – “My Name Is”
Eminem’s first single would make Stan Lee proud. “Clothes ripped like the Incredible Hulk I spit when I talk/I’ll fuck anything that walks.”
Inspectah Deck / Wu Tang Clan – Protect Ya Neck.
The Inspectah always brings it and this verse is no different. On the Wu’s first single ever, they were representing the Marvel universe, “I smoke on the mic like smokin’ Joe Frazier./ The hell-raiser, raising hell with the flavor/ Terrorize the jam like the troops in Pakistan./ Swinging through your town like your neighborhood Spider-Man.”
GhostFace Killah – Slept on Tony
Ghostface goes by a myriad of names but perhaps his most famous alias is Tony Stark aka Iron Man. “Yo, when they kidnapped your boy, and forced me to do evil/ I created an iron suit, to protect my people/ Escaped, bound to be Ironman the great/ The billionaire Tony Starks’ll renew your fate.”
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