SNL RAP PARODIES AND THEIR ALL TOO REAL COUNTERPARTS

In December 2005, Saturday Night Live premiered their first Digital Short, “Lazy Sunday,” and things have never been the same. Andy Samberg and Chris Parnell rapping about The Chronicles of Narnia just about changed the landscape of comedy forever. Fast-Forward ten to thirteen years later (I don’t know, math) and SNL is STILL repping rap and hating on hip-hop.

Of course, hip-hop culture is majorly different today than it was over a decade ago. It’s a whole hell lot stupider. With acts like 6ix9ine, Lil Yachty and Blueface making waves, the only way to properly make fun of what’s going on in music right now is to attack it directly and literally. 

That’s where Chris Redd and Pete Davidson come in. Known off-network as Gooney Tunes these two have been taking on today's terrible trends. SNL parodies are now literally one degree away from today's rap songs, so we’ve taken it upon ourselves to find the most direct connection between hip-hop and their television counterparts.

LIL PUMP - GUCCI GANG

At 2 minutes and 10 seconds, “Gucci Gang” is the shortest song to reach the Billboard Top 100 since 1975.  Lil Pump doesn’t have much to say beyond “Gucci Gang,” which repeats over and over for approximately 94% of the tune.

And then there’s “Tucci Gang”, where Pete Davidson rocks a Lil Pump costume so convincing it’s like looking at the real thing. This one is the easiest of all of them, and that’s why we’re starting with it because it’s a direct 1:1 remake of the original music video-- except instead of rapping about Gucci, Davidson takes on noted character actor Stanley Tucci. It’s good, like his movies.

MIGOS - BAD AND BOUJEE

Migos proudly represent their “new money” in “Bad and Boujee.” Quavo, Offset and Takeoff show off gold chains, fashion, and whips, but offer very little content of substance outside of the factoid that you can cook dope in the crock pot.

In “Friendos”, Redd, Kenan Thompson, and Donald Glover take on Migos’ inner-workings by planting the three of them at couples therapy. The video highlights their focus on objects over art  and finally gives Takeoff a chance to speak his mind.

Connecting this to Migos is probably a bit too easy. I’m sure the writers were more inspired by Metallica’s Some Kind of Monster documentary than anything. The one where the band goes to group therapy to get over their inner turmoil. Right on the money.

SNEAKK - SPRAY (FT. TYGA & YG)

“You can have that bitch, I’ve got two on the way.”  Hip-hop has never been the kindest to women, but in a #metoo culture, you might think things would change. Well, you’d be wrong.

I don’t know if the Booty Crew ft. Uncle Butt had this specific song in mind or not when they put together their song about consent, “Permission,” but it sure seems like it. Here Redd, Thompson, and Davidson get features from Lil Wayne & Future, which shows us that maybe there is hope for the movement.

DRAM - BROCCOLI FT. LIL YACHTY

See, it’s clever because DRAM and Lil Yachty are using broccoli as a substitute phrase for marijuana. it’s technically safe for parents who are completely and totally ignorant and don’t want to hear inappropriate language in Billy’s tunes, but it’s also just a fun way to talk about the medicinal plant that looks exactly like the vegetable. Nailing it.

In “Trees”, Redd is literally trying to save the trees while Davidson raps about marijuana. Like he missed the innuendo memo. These two challenge the way we discuss drug-use in public, with one completely getting it and the other missing the mark completely. It’s a play on the play at play in the above tune. Also, trees look like weed too. Broccoli.

CHILDISH GAMBINO - THIS IS AMERICA

It’s not all bad though, is it?  Hip-hop is also woke as hell now.  Jay-Z was basically part of Barack Obama’s entourage for eight years, J.Cole raps in a prison jumpsuit, and Childish Gambino’s “This is America’ is about the wokest thing to happen to music since Live Aid. Adding to the list of wokest tracks DJ Shadow with “Nobody Speak” featuring Run The Jewels.

Let’s be grateful that SNL didn’t take this one on directly, because that would be tacky as hell (just search on YouTube and you’ll find about 400 of them). Instead, Redd and Davidson went with a different kind of woke: a tribute to Ruth Bader Ginsburg (played by the brilliant Kate McKinnon), the most important woman in politics. Respek.

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This all really makes me wonder why Weird Al Yankovic never got his due at SNL. Let Weird Al host and be musical guest in 2019! Don’t be cowards!

From deep within the murky depths of the Los Angeles River emerged a creature: 50% raver, 50% comedian, 10% Robotcop. Kurt Kroeber doesn’t own a dog, operates Soundbleed (the world’s only dance party comedy talk show rave), and is down to party with you. Come up some time and say “Hey dude!” But definitely make sure to casually drop the secret Illuminati password.