The Posse Cut

Hip-hop fans far and wide know and remember the tried and true tradition of the posse cut.

What is the posse cut?

The posse cut is the song on the album when the featured artist’s friends show up and they destroy the mic for fun’s sake. Classic in this tradition: Marley Marl and the Juice Crew “The Symphony”, Tribe Called Quest “Scenario”, The D.O.C. and N.W.A. “The Grand Finale”, Main Source “Live at the Barbecue”, KRS/BDP “Self-Destruction”, De La Soul “Buddy” Remix, EPMD “Headbanger”.

These are among the most commonly referred to milestones of the phenomenon, so in pure Culture King fashion I’m gonna highlight some of the less discussed posse cuts that were many times just as dope as the more celebrated ones. So, 1, 2, 3, and here we go:

Aceyalone featuring Abstract Rude, P.E.A.C.E. and Myka 9 “B-Boy Kingdom” [mp3]

Aceyalone and company get on some A-Team, save-hip-hop storytelling, which dates the song a bit. But hey, when you got P.E.A.C.E.’s incredibly descriptive ending shot and Myka’s battle cry hook, it’s a win from all angles. What always got me was how P.E.A.C.E.’s deliberate and detailed rhythmic pace matches the calculated moves his character makes in his verse. Impeccable.

Opio featuring Del and Guilty Simpson “Superfly (Remix)” [mp3]

A new one in the bunch, this is from Opio’s amazing new album, Vulture’s Wisdom. The album is top to bottom gifts for the hip-hop listener and after 14 tracks of fury, Op has the nerve to end it with this remix. Del smashes this one, while Guilty gets a bit lost, then brings it together by the end. Whatever, the joint bangs.

and the curveball…
Slum Village “To The Beat” [mp3]

Ha hah! No one EVER talks about this one! From the crazy mumbled beginning to the Betty Davis voice chops, to early Phat Kat gruffness to Baatin’s recipe for fun (lol) – CLASSIC! Fruit Mentos! lol, yeah! “The good ole boys, flat out, we number uno..”. What always impressed me was this comes pretty early in the tracklisting for a posse cut. Dope, dope.

So there it is. Feel like I missed something? Tell me. Peace.
- mooon.