Black Hippy as The Fantastic 4

Black Hippy may not be the top-grossing act out in 2012, but rest assured that they’ve already cemented their status as one of the most impactful. Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, and Schoolboy Q are the four talented lyricists who forge the dynamic west coast clique. Schoolboy Q pitched the idea in 2009, when all four artists were signed to Top Dawg Entertainment. In a conversation with Andrew Noz of The Fader, Q recalls, Black Hippy “was actually my idea because I was slacking in my music….I figured if I could be in a group I could just write one verse and I could be good.” Needless to say, that’s changed since the inception of Black Hippy. Give credit to his increased initiative and the talent of his teammates. I’ve become a huge fan of these four artists, and I don’t think I’m the only one who would place them amongst the best of this era. I’d like to draw an interesting comparison, purely for your entertainment. If the world came under attack and hip-hop was called to save billions from assured destruction, what would happen? Well, it’s quite simple. I give you…Black Hippy, starring as the Fantastic Four!

Kendrick Lamar as Mr. Fantastic	Naturally soft-spoken and humble, Kendrick Lamar Duckworth is a perfect fit for the quiet leadership displayed by the ingenious Mr. Fantastic, the unofficial father figure of the Fantastic Four. Listen with excitement as the brilliant Kendrick channels the flexibility of Mr. Fantastic through his tongue-twisting, mind-warping lyrics in songs such as “B Boyz” and “Rigamortus.” Before you know it, Kendrick has stretched words and wrapped syllables around enemies and disbelievers, leaving them paralyzed in the presence of emceeing excellence. The wise Mr. Fantastic is not afraid to let the other talented members of the team step up and lead when the time is right.
Ab-Soul as The Human Torch	Fire produces heat and light. So does Herbert Anthony Stevens IV, more commonly known as Ab-Soul the Human Torch. Ab-Soul quickly transfers the searing memories of a painful childhood and lost loved ones to all who oppose him in songs such as “Book of Soul.” The first signs of Stevens’s fiery future came when he contracted what mortals thought was a textbook case of Stevens-Johnson syndrome, which manifests itself in a number of ways, to include severe fevers. Soon thereafter, it became apparent that a lot more was going on. The Human Torch emerged fully soon thereafter, with superpowers including the ability to control fire, and funnel it into words that would form some of the most intensely sweltering verses of all time.
Schoolboy Q as The Thing	Rough, rugged and indestructible, Quincy Matthew Hanley serves as the powerful presence in the Fantastic Four known as “The Thing.” Q cites immensely confident and bold emcees such as the Notorious B.I.G. and 50 Cent amongst his main influences, and the same powerful charisma can be heard in his verses. The Thing has mutated the most, consequently displays the most noticeable physical transformation, and has the brazen aggression to match. He runs rampant through bumping instrumentals in songs such as A$AP Rocky’s “Brand New Guy” and Childish Gambino’s “Unnecessary.” He asserts his hard-hitting, assertive style in his individual efforts, to include “There He Go” and “Nightmare on Figg St.”
Jay Rock as The Invisible Woman	In the current realm of super-heroism, Jay Rock is the least visible of the Fantastic Four. Many would qualify him as a talented, but more traditional emcee than the other three members of Black Hippy. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it allows for the Invisible one to slip through the cracks every once in a while. That’s not to say that the Invisible Woman isn’t as valuable as the other members of the team. She just has superpowers that aren’t quite as exciting as the other three members. Invisibility is cool, but not as cool as breaking through walls, throwing fireballs, or stretching your body to the height of a skyscraper.

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