I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST HEARD THIS SONG, I WAS AMAZED HOW IT WAS MIXED AND RAS DOING HIS THING ON THE TRACK....AND THAT WAS YEARS AGO. ALL THESE YEARS, I KEPT THE SONG IN MY HEAD AND NEVER FORGOT AND HERE I AM TODAY ON UA-cam LISTENING TO IT AGAIN....THANK GOODNESS!!!
I said the same thing to my brother this morning. I'm sure that you get goosebumps like me when you listen to this. That Anita Baker gets me every time.
Met Rass at a Raekwon show...good peoples...level headed just chillin with the common folk...explained to dude duke is one of the illest east or west...mad humble cat gave me even more respect for him...word...✊
I just posted the same thing a few moments ago on another thread. Met him at Magic Johnson's TGI, very down to Earth fellow, despite having one hell of a catalog. Van Gogh is too damn apt of a title for this album. Decades from now some neo hipsters will "discover" his music and Ras will get the recognition he deserved, posthumously.
Ras Kass and Bis have had the same problems: no label support. I guess it's because they don't snap dance and talk about rims and jewelry. If they ever got into the right label situation, it would be a beautiful thing.
Fuck!!!! The feelings I get listening to this are other worldly. If you’re older then 35 you know we were spoiled y’all. These kids will never know. 90’s the era of hip hop with a soul. Lyrics had a meaning not mumbles. I’ll stick to living in the past.
@@grant3741It's Anita Baker.. lol The song is called "Caught up in the Rapture". Tryna be a smart ass and you didn't even know what you were talkin about.
I honestly trip out that he's from LA cause he sounds like a New York rapper to me. And he's from watts so he's surrounded by bloods but he never mentions gangs much it's down cuz he focuses on lyrics alone
Same thing me too! Ever since the first time i jumped up so fast when i first heard the beat and that sample and i recorded off the radio i had the mean face on i will never forget that day.
Rass I hope he gets this passion back ! He was super bar heavy !!!!!! To the point you couldn’t even believe where he was from ! Respect to all but he sounds like was was born with a Avirex on !
I remember seeing this advertised in THE SOURCE and RAP PAGES back in the day. Was waiting for this patiently and it never came out. Then it sucked to see HOME SWEET HOME get replaced and sold to the LOX for their album.
Rass Kass' lyricism is the MAIN reason we kept listening...even when we didn't agree with the beats, the dude's a genius. I WISH he'd never had stooped to GAME's level and started that beef. It seems he was always ticked about not getting the props he truly deserves. i hope he keeps pushing and overlook that b.s. -- he's a huge part of why i started rhyming.
He got Jon blaze shit and they was not unnep-a-respinizing!!! RIP my man Tom aka yoyerwack who first put me on this track back in 99 or whenever the pre release was... miss you tommy!
i first heard this track in 99 or 2000 i dont remenber, it was playing in this local station down here in boston mass. 88.9 and thought pretty dope song it has a summer feel to it.
And God Bless You Revolver For Loading This In The Chamber And Blasting It For The Ears To Hear. Real Hip-Hop Has To Be Supported And Maintained By Those That Understand The Definition Of The Music And What It's Supposed To Sound Like. Keep Carrying The Flag For That Real Shit...
Antia Baker never let the rights go for the sample.....this was yanked off the shelfs....classic album in limited numbers.....anyone with the cd holla at ya boy...ill cop it for top dolla.
I always loved van gogh... The nature of the threat always put off most of the folks I grew up with, but Ras Kass is an amazing lyricist, and his music is poetry, even if you didn't agree with everything he was saying.
@@tfromcali89 this here, reflects the depths of Hip Hop knowledge in one’s psyche. Every time I hear this line in this track, I think of dude at the beginning of the track on Big’s album. One must be well rounded in order to connect the dots linked in Hip Hop music. Can’t do that in all the other genres.
This came out on a twelve inch single long before Van Gogh was ever even on the table, but sample clearance issues was what caused it to be shelved from appearing on a Ras Kass album in the 1990's. There were at least two or three songs from John Austin that had this problem -- came out as an underground 12" but they wouldn't clear the sample for it to come out mainstream. The irony here is that he mimics The Madd Rapper on the track, and heads were hella heated that Bad Boy got a Diana Ross sample cleared when seemingly no underground rapper could.
Damn Right Trooper, It's good To See Others Who Are A Ras Supporter Like Myself. I've Been A Fan Of His Since '96 And I'm Still A Fan Today. He's Still One Of The Most Lyrically Lethal, Originaly Original And Punchline Abundant MC's Out There. It's A Shame He Hasn't Gotten The Support Or Acclaim That He Deserves. Songs Like This Show That Before Rap Went To Hell This Was The Essence. Hell, This Was Cut In 1998 And It's Still Better Than 95% Of The Shit That's Out Today.
Rass Kass took his emcee name from Hallie Sallasies. Before His coronation and assuming the throne as the king of Ethiopia his name was Ras Tafari, hence Rastafari!!!👍🏿
This a definitive masterpiece. How is this not released? This is creative genius........the flow, the instrumental......... It's amazing to me how kids like Rassy Kassy get overlooked. Maybe because he's not an EastCoast pop-star!
First heard of Ras in 96 on the joint Nature of the Threat ....then as a 15 year old South African kid...I couldn't fully understand the esoteric knowledge he was spitting 🔥
I remember when I first heard this track and didn't know who Ras Kass was... I thought it was Mos Def, but turns out this man is from LA. Straight up this man could've been Kendrick Lamar before Kendrick Lamar.
Brooo I am gonna remake this beat..but on some Westcoast EBK , DRAKEO, Oakland type ish..and imma take my time so I can do it justice..it deserves nothing but luv
I AGREE RASKASS HAS BEEN REALLY DOPE FOR A LONG TIME HES IN THE CIRCLE OF THE UNDERGROUND MC HIP HOP CLASSIC CYPHA MCS LIKE NAS CANIBUS RAKIM IMMORTAL TECHNIQUE
Cube is the Godfather of the West Coast on a MAINSTREAM level because nearly everyone knows and acknowledges him. Ras beats him out in reality as well as every other rap artist past, present and deceased despite being underrated. In my book, its Ras Kass first, then Cube, then Pac and so on.
Nature of the threat is one of the best songs ever.. And of course NY state of mind.. I never got too into common but i'm convinced by your top 3 to scope him out more
Sad thing is that theres a slew of people that will never know of Ras Kass greatness until the day he dies
He is a legend. Was once one of Dr Dre's top 5 MC's
Man.....
@Bud Borne krino is the greatest and he's humble enough to acknowledge other greats even though he don't get enough recognition
Indeed true jewels
@James McNally K rino, I haven't heard that name in a long time 🤔
Most underrated rapper of all time.
Thanks for the top
Comment
I agree
+Kyle Delcambre Lyrically top 5 IMO.
maybe
Tame One
id say hes even more underrated than az. but its hard man...hard choice az soooo underrated
I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST HEARD THIS SONG, I WAS AMAZED HOW IT WAS MIXED AND RAS DOING HIS THING ON THE TRACK....AND THAT WAS YEARS AGO. ALL THESE YEARS, I KEPT THE SONG IN MY HEAD AND NEVER FORGOT AND HERE I AM TODAY ON UA-cam LISTENING TO IT AGAIN....THANK GOODNESS!!!
This would have blown up the Billboard charts had Anita Baker cleared the sample of one of her timeless hits.
I said the same thing to my brother this morning. I'm sure that you get goosebumps like me when you listen to this. That Anita Baker gets me every time.
wut could have possibly moved u by this mix????
This is one of the most underrated hip hop songs of all time.
FR
Met Rass at a Raekwon show...good peoples...level headed just chillin with the common folk...explained to dude duke is one of the illest east or west...mad humble cat gave me even more respect for him...word...✊
I just posted the same thing a few moments ago on another thread. Met him at Magic Johnson's TGI, very down to Earth fellow, despite having one hell of a catalog. Van Gogh is too damn apt of a title for this album. Decades from now some neo hipsters will "discover" his music and Ras will get the recognition he deserved, posthumously.
No doubt, one of the most lyrical mfer that ever did this rhyming shit, salute
That Anita Baker sample tho...
What Anita baker song
ya dude, deadly...
Chris McClellan Caught Up In The Rapture
That's Nas boi
I love y'all folks mane
Ras Kass and Bis have had the same problems: no label support. I guess it's because they don't snap dance and talk about rims and jewelry. If they ever got into the right label situation, it would be a beautiful thing.
Fuck!!!! The feelings I get listening to this are other worldly. If you’re older then 35 you know we were spoiled y’all. These kids will never know. 90’s the era of hip hop with a soul. Lyrics had a meaning not mumbles. I’ll stick to living in the past.
"Say my name like Candyman..then I'm creeping out the cut with a gallon in hand" G shit
Immaculate Conception.
love this song!!!
this is one of the best songs i ever heard the beat is so sick
It's Aretha. All rap is borrowed.
@@grant3741It's Anita Baker.. lol The song is called "Caught up in the Rapture". Tryna be a smart ass and you didn't even know what you were talkin about.
@@FinalFlash2110nigga might as well said urethra
2021!! Immaculate conception.... Dis shut so underrated....
Its like im the only Egyptian that listins 2 ras kass lol! But ay atleast theres someone who knows him here , soul on ice!!!
What a trip to find this in Egypt, most American dudes don't even know this. Much love brother!
I love this guys lyrics and the sample is so smooth it makes ya wanna go for a cruise and bump this loud!!!
everything about this song makes me feel so lucky and blessed that i fell in love with Hip Hop
I honestly trip out that he's from LA cause he sounds like a New York rapper to me. And he's from watts so he's surrounded by bloods but he never mentions gangs much it's down cuz he focuses on lyrics alone
+belal kaderi He's actually from Carson. South and west of Watts.
+Christopher Miller he's originally from Watts
I thought dude was from New York too.
Trisha Love No. He's not. He says on EVERY song he's from C Arson. He was born in Georgia. Show me something with proof that he's FROM Watts.
He's C-Arson. Trust folk that been following the game
I could listen this for decades...Just get in my car and press play..
Cruising,60 miles per hour,perfect speed for relaxing...
I gotta make the ugly face every time I hear this! Ras is definitely underrated and slept on
Same thing me too! Ever since the first time i jumped up so fast when i first heard the beat and that sample and i recorded off the radio i had the mean face on i will never forget that day.
Not listened to rap any years, except old songs, but this song will always be a favourite of mine.
I miss the vibe like this👍🏽
I always loved this fkn smooth beat. Bought a DJ mix tape at the hip hop shop in Van City in '98 & fell in love lol👌💨🔥👌💨🔥👌💨🔥😊😊😊😎😎😎
Probably was dj rob 1 meets Kisha I stole that for the art and found this gem
Ras kass killed this !!!! I had the DJ play this at my sister's wedding 3 years ago and slowed danced with my friend veronica Murphy.
So good. Can't stay away from this even if my life depended on it. Haha.
This is one of my favorite Ras Kass tracks!
Rass I hope he gets this passion back ! He was super bar heavy !!!!!! To the point you couldn’t even believe where he was from ! Respect to all but he sounds like was was born with a Avirex on !
For real! I miss this rass kass right here
music to live by music to die by.
Music to drive by
that biggie skit reference was incredible!!!! this song is incredible!!!!!!
My shit is more John blaze than that
Sick of getting The short end of the stick, so I Sharpened it and stuck Ron Goldman.....Vicious.
I remember seeing this advertised in THE SOURCE and RAP PAGES back in the day. Was waiting for this patiently and it never came out. Then it sucked to see HOME SWEET HOME get replaced and sold to the LOX for their album.
Me too
Rass Kass' lyricism is the MAIN reason we kept listening...even when we didn't agree with the beats, the dude's a genius. I WISH he'd never had stooped to GAME's level and started that beef. It seems he was always ticked about not getting the props he truly deserves. i hope he keeps pushing and overlook that b.s. -- he's a huge part of why i started rhyming.
One of the all time under-rated
if u want a history lesson, check out Nature of the Threat. every single verse is a historical fact!
Not exactly, it's a great song and it's great for challenging traditional historical narratives, but it's not 100% factual
Word, illest track ever if you ask me!!
@@maxwellsommer1731 Even Ras Kass says that. He made it to make people find out for themselves whether what he researched was true
Rass what can I say he spit with the best of them a true classic
Smooth like peanut butter.
Metro FM - Glen Lewis he introduced me to this track in the 90's. I'm still in love with it.
This song was supposed to be on his second album and it was released on white label in 98.
I was pretty disappointed finding out that this wasn't on Rasassination (still a good album).
Yo'!!! Rass Kassiano is a Genius for real!!!
Lyrical Genius!
Sick of gettin the short end of the stick, so I sharpened it.. And stuck ron Goldman 😂
threw a Ras Kass show back in the day. chilled with razzy here in the northend san berdoo after the show. real down to earth intellectual 👌
this is that fly ridin clean and fresh on a saturday night shit.. love that track
Oh God... how long ago.. how long i missed ..dat beat... that song... smooth sh!t... just DOPE
TY for uping that song luv it
Who still got this Melody and lyrics in his head in 2020?
My first yr of college heard this track by stumbling into the campus radio shop...it changed my life.
He got Jon blaze shit and they was not unnep-a-respinizing!!! RIP my man Tom aka yoyerwack who first put me on this track back in 99 or whenever the pre release was... miss you tommy!
Love this track. "Now if i ever fall off?/ then take picture trick/ but i'm a play dennis rodman and kick you in the damn"
i first heard this track in 99 or 2000 i dont remenber, it was playing in this local station down here in boston mass. 88.9 and thought pretty dope song it has a summer feel to it.
2021 still bumping this
my favorite rapper
And God Bless You Revolver For Loading This In The Chamber And Blasting It For The Ears To Hear. Real Hip-Hop Has To Be Supported And Maintained By Those That Understand The Definition Of The Music And What It's Supposed To Sound Like. Keep Carrying The Flag For That Real Shit...
Just awesome....beat is really chilling
Because they're not around... I feel ya bro, music just isn't the same as it was during the 90's and early 2000's...
I feel ya bro.
I cant explain to ya all how this classic calms me down...
Ras Kass 4 life ...!
My first time hearin this😣🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Antia Baker never let the rights go for the sample.....this was yanked off the shelfs....classic album in limited numbers.....anyone with the cd holla at ya boy...ill cop it for top dolla.
yessir
Hey you still looking? I got it on vinyl!
@@jonmoss7603 how much for that vinyl?
I sold it on ebay weeks ago, sorry man :(
Here's da vinyl lol i think some are selling it
www.discogs.com/Ras-Kass-Understandable-Smooth/release/633467
Heard this when I was about 12 on the radio. Caught the anita hook and then commercials cut it off.. been wondering for 20yrs on and off who it was...
I always loved van gogh... The nature of the threat always put off most of the folks I grew up with, but Ras Kass is an amazing lyricist, and his music is poetry, even if you didn't agree with everything he was saying.
Give this man his Flowers while he's alive
So underrated!
One of my favourite rappers ever
2:10-2:20 is the one of the greatest lyrics ever!! Rass Kass is the Goat
That’s actually from Biggie’s Kick in the Door, the skit that happens before the song.
@@tfromcali89 this here, reflects the depths of Hip Hop knowledge in one’s psyche. Every time I hear this line in this track, I think of dude at the beginning of the track on Big’s album. One must be well rounded in order to connect the dots linked in Hip Hop music. Can’t do that in all the other genres.
waited on that van Gogh...and waited some more....then some more...then some more......:(
Gary Goldfinger I created my own version of the album LoL
I used to have this song back in the day, it's still pretty tight even today
I agree with you
Soul on Ice and The 7th day theory are both 96 classics.
This came out on a twelve inch single long before Van Gogh was ever even on the table, but sample clearance issues was what caused it to be shelved from appearing on a Ras Kass album in the 1990's. There were at least two or three songs from John Austin that had this problem -- came out as an underground 12" but they wouldn't clear the sample for it to come out mainstream. The irony here is that he mimics The Madd Rapper on the track, and heads were hella heated that Bad Boy got a Diana Ross sample cleared when seemingly no underground rapper could.
Instrumental is so smooth :)
Damn Right Trooper, It's good To See Others Who Are A Ras Supporter Like Myself. I've Been A Fan Of His Since '96 And I'm Still A Fan Today. He's Still One Of The Most Lyrically Lethal, Originaly Original And Punchline Abundant MC's Out There. It's A Shame He Hasn't Gotten The Support Or Acclaim That He Deserves. Songs Like This Show That Before Rap Went To Hell This Was The Essence. Hell, This Was Cut In 1998 And It's Still Better Than 95% Of The Shit That's Out Today.
i had the demo sampler from van gogh cd never came out officially doe wouldve went hard
Best song of all times! ras kass in my headphones 4 eva!!
Rass Kass took his emcee name from Hallie Sallasies. Before His coronation and assuming the throne as the king of Ethiopia his name was Ras Tafari, hence Rastafari!!!👍🏿
One week away from 2021 still bangn em. 🔥🔥🔥🥂
RAS KASS ONE OF THE BEST MC'S OF ALL TIME 💯💯💯 WAKE THE FUCKED UP PEOPLE 💯💯💯
This a definitive masterpiece.
How is this not released?
This is creative genius........the flow, the instrumental.........
It's amazing to me how kids like Rassy Kassy get overlooked.
Maybe because he's not an EastCoast pop-star!
They couldn’t get the sample clearance at the time…biggest song let down in west coast hip hop to me😭
@andrewneskahi1902 Anita Baker was know for not wanting her music sampled! But it was the ultimate compliment for an artist to think to sample her.💯
The waterproof MC is the 🐐 MC, no question
im from louisiana an i love his lyrics big rass fan.
First heard of Ras in 96 on the joint Nature of the Threat ....then as a 15 year old South African kid...I couldn't fully understand the esoteric knowledge he was spitting 🔥
I remember when I first heard this track and didn't know who Ras Kass was... I thought it was Mos Def, but turns out this man is from LA. Straight up this man could've been Kendrick Lamar before Kendrick Lamar.
i always loved that he used a Biggie skit and turned them into lyrics. Genius.
Brooo I am gonna remake this beat..but on some Westcoast EBK , DRAKEO, Oakland type ish..and imma take my time so I can do it justice..it deserves nothing but luv
ras kass best rapper from the west coast period! nobody else comes close
i want this track in my ipod.. its the best track Ras Kass has ever made IMHO
I AGREE RASKASS HAS BEEN REALLY DOPE FOR A LONG TIME HES IN THE CIRCLE OF THE UNDERGROUND MC HIP HOP CLASSIC CYPHA MCS LIKE NAS CANIBUS RAKIM IMMORTAL TECHNIQUE
straight dope sample, same was used on Camp Lo's Bubblin.. dope shit!
G.O.A.T !!!
Still spitting them flames 🔥🔥🔥 LEGENDARY
i wish i had lived through the 90's and growing up with good music instead of the garbage on the radio now a days.
this song is so relaxing man real talk it really is smooth
Perfect FLOW Perfect Blend......
Such a good track. Tragic it wasn't released sooner.
yea man, ya gotta with two rappers like that. neither are my favorite but i bump them both and got mad respect
Is somethin ain’t wrong, then somethin just ain’t right
Ras kass..where r u hip hop needs u!
Cube is the Godfather of the West Coast on a MAINSTREAM level because nearly everyone knows and acknowledges him. Ras beats him out in reality as well as every other rap artist past, present and deceased despite being underrated. In my book, its Ras Kass first, then Cube, then Pac and so on.
this is a masterpiece. Sample Anita Baker = epicness, ras kass kills this bad.
Classic, 2001 still holding down the 90s style. What a beat!
This originally dropped in 98' (prior to Rasassination).
This is why Ras Kass is still the Golden Boy!!
easily the most beautiful rap song i've ever heard.
this is def my top 10 Ras Kass songs nice Anita Baker sample
when i was 17-18 this was my fav album
I love this song layed back vibe to it
Nature of the threat is one of the best songs ever.. And of course NY state of mind.. I never got too into common but i'm convinced by your top 3 to scope him out more
beat is so dope.....
Beat is fucking SICK!!!!