Rap is a form of music which is taken very seriously by many; quite possibly more than other genres. After all people have performed violent acts on one another which have resulted in death because of the words that were said in the music. It’s nice once in a while to be able to sit back and listen to something completely ridiculous, light-hearted and hilarious. It’s a talent in itself and the musicians in the following article are among whom I deem the best in this particular category. And no, Eminem is not included on this list as it’s not particularly his niche and he’s not specifically a comedian.
The Lonely Island
The Lonely Island is a hysterical rap group made of three white guys, most notably Andy Samberg, who’s a well-known comedian and actor. The group has been active since the early 2000s and has written and released many viral hits for themselves and other acts. They combine parody, ridiculousness and a whole lot of crude language too. The thing about these guys is that unlike many other comedy acts, their music is actually really good, catchy and well-produced. They released a move last year Popstar: Never Stop Stopping which didn’t perform well financially but is a hoot nonetheless. They have worked with many big names including Kendrick Lamar, Justin Timberlake, Michael Bolton, Pink, Akon, T-Pain, Nicki Minaj, Snoop Dogg and Lil Jon to mention some.
“Weird Al” Yankovic
When you mention musical parody and satire Weird Al’s name normally pops into the conversation. That’s because he has been at it for a long time. His career really kicked off in the early eighties. He has parodied so many musicians including Michael Jackson, Usher, Chamillionaire, Queen, T.I., Coolio, R. Kelly and many others. He has released 14 albums, 6 of which have gone platinum and 2 of which have gone gold in the USA. His most successful single so far is White and Nerdy which parodies Chamillionaire and Krayzie Bone’s hit single Ridin’ Dirty.
Flight of the Conchords
Flight of the Conchords consists of Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie, 2 comedians from New Zealand. The duo has been active since 1998 but released their eponymous debut studio album in 2008. Their material consists of parody, ludicrous and nonsensical lyrics and straight up, knee-slapping humor. They released their sophomore album I Told You I Was Freaky in 2009. They have won several awards including a Grammy. They also had an eponymous comedy series which followed them as they pursued a career in music in the USA.
Afroman
Afroman is best known for his stoner hit song Because I Got High which is a classic. You can’t listen to the song without laughing or at least cracking a smile. Some of the things he says in his song are so ludicrous and at the same time relatable. An interesting story about the song is that it was loved by young white kid who ended up uploading the song to Napster and as a result it blew up. Afroman went on to release albums which feature satire and comedy. His other notable single is Crazy Rap also known as Colt 45.
