Image via Complex Original
Hundreds of years from now anthropologists will be able to best date new millennium trends by rap songs. Take technology, for example. As we've become increasingly more dependent on smartphones and social media overtime, so too have rappers begun to incorporate references to their personal gadgets into verses. The Notorious B.I.G. called it back in '94: "And now the shit's gettin' crazier and major/ Kids younger than me, they got the Sky Grand Pagers." So, to better document hip-hop's growing obsession with technology, we've provided the 30 best tech references in rap.
30. "Give you that iPhone 4, FaceTime"
Song: Fabolous, "You Be Killin' Em"
Product: Apple iPhone 4
We were waiting to see which rapper was going to make the first FaceTIme reference. Fab won.
29. "Pics on my iPhone, Gucci on her iPod, when she turn around, ass make you say, 'Oh God'"
Song: Gucci Mane, "LOL Smiley Face"
Product: Apple iPod, Apple iPhone
We're guessing Gucci's iPhone is a treasure trove of ass that would make a grown man cry.
28. "She don't know me by my name, She just know me by my AIM"
Song: Tyga, "Aim"
Product: AOL Instant Messenger
People still use AIM?
27. "Triple Six is my number. You can get it off my Tumblr"
Song: Odd Future, "Sandwiches"
Product: Tumblr
And while you're there check out the other 77 million blogs hosted on the platform.
26. "If God had an iPod, I'd be on his playlist."
Song: CyHi Tha Price, "So Appalled"
Product: Apple iPod
Many have tried (Zune, Rio, etc.), but none could compete with the iPod. If the big guy or gal up there had an MP3 player it'd probably have an Apple logo on the back. Now, whether or not it would have any CyHi songs is another question...
25. "Overseas but the Blueberry still connect."
Song: Jay-Z, "Encore"
Product: RIM BlackBerry
We're going to role the dice and say Jay-Z has not used a BlackBerry since The Black Album.
24. "Fuck your Twitter, bitches follow me in real life."
Song: J. Cole, "The Cure"
Product: Twitter
Real life? But it's so much easier to buy them on Twitter.
23. "They say it's for the birds, so I bought a kilo, My Boost Mobile chirping, it must be my amigo."
Song: 2 Chainz feat. Nicki Minaj, "I Luv Dem Strippers"
Product: Boost Mobile Motorola
Chirping over prepaid cellphones doesn't seem like the best way to stay off the radar. Especially if you're talking about selling kilos of weight. But the, rapping about it on a #1 record doesn't help matters much, either. Nonetheless, it's refreshing to hear a rapper talking about chirps in 2012.
22. "It describes the kid on the mic. I'm the TR-808, huh, but just call me D-Nice."
Song: D-Nice, "Call Me D-Nice"
Product: Roland TR-808
With over 30 years on the market and users including Marvin Gaye, LL Cool J, Run-DMC, Eric B. & Rakim, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Diddy, The Beastie Boys, and Kanye West it is very unlikely the 808 kick drum will ever get old.
21. "If Hov's a Blackberry Bold, shorty is a Sidekick."
Song: Jay-Z, "Venus vs. Mars"
Product: RIM BlackBerry, Danger Sidekick
This line brings us back to 2004 when we could chat on AIM, surf the web, and check our TMail at the same damn time.
20. "Changing the channel looks like I'm playing a Game Boy"
Song: Lloyd Banks, "Victory Freestyle"
Product: Nintendo Game Boy
Released in 1989, Game Boy was the first handheld gaming console and sold over 118 million units worldwide. Remote controls have come a long way from two buttons, a directional pad, an 8-bit processor, and no color!
19. "Yeah, slick ain't it? See your moms fainted, Technics 1200, and watch scratch train it."
Song: EPMD, "Funky Piano"
Product: Technics 1200
Tech 1200's have been the industry standard since their conception. The gimmicks come and go, but these are sure to stay. Just like the influence of Erick and Parish.
18. "You cannot reach me on my Samsung, I'm busy fuckin' the world and givin' the universe my damn tongue."
Song: Lil Wayne, "Steady Mobbin'"
Product: Samsung Galaxy
There's no indication of which Samsung Wayne was using here, but regardless, you cannot reach him.
17. "Mac in the backpack, back by the MacBook."
Song: A$AP Rocky, "Bath Salt"
Product: Apple MacBook
Hope Rocky's got Apple Care.
16. "This is anti-auto-tune, death of the ringtone, This ain't for iTunes, this ain't for sing-alongs"
Song: Jay-Z, "DOA"
Product: iTunes
Ironically, D.O.A. was meant for iTunes. The song was so popular in Apple's digital music store that it peaked at #24 on the Billboard Hot 100. And, yes, we sing along to it every time it comes on in the club. Sorry, Hov.
15. "Got that Will Ferrel, we call it Old School. Then we mix it all up, call it Pro Tools."
Song: Young Jeezy, "3AM"
Product: Avid Pro Tools
Pro Tools helped level the playing field when it came to getting a professional sound from a home recording studio and had such an impact on the music industry that GZA even snatched the name for his sixth album. Jeezy, well, the name fit perfectly for his extracurricular activities.
14. "Only time you on the net is when you Google my ass."
Song: Big Sean feat. NIcki Minaj, "Dance (Ass) Remix"
Product: Google Search
Um, if you say so: Google Nicki Minaj's ass.
13. "But if I call you gone be like, 'Boo why we haven't skyped yet?' And on Skype bet you say, ''Le where my flight at?' If I decline then you inquire on where I spend my nights at."
Song: Wale, "That Way"
Product: Skype
Skype hit the scene in 2003 and quickly became the most popular VoIP service. Nearly eight years later the service was purchased by Microsoft for a reported $8.5 billion. It may make your long-distance relationship easier, but if you miss your Skype time with your, expect an interrogation.
12. "And now the shit's gettin crazier and majorKids younger than me, they got the Sky Grand Pagers."
Song: The Notorious B.I.G., "Things Done Change"
Product: SkyTel SkyPager
And kids younger than us have an iPhone 5. How the times have changed.
11. "So if you want that turmoil, I'll Twitter Facebook YouTube Worldstar you, Rap Radar Nahright 2dopeboy you."
Song: Jay Electronica, "The Announcement"
Product: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube
This line must have set a record for number of websites mentioned in two bars.
10. "I've seen it, like a 27-inch Zenith, believe it."
Song: Raekwon, "Incarcerated Scarfaces"
Product: Zenith HDTV
Must not have been that clear if the Chef was watching a 27" fat back Zenith in '95, but we believe it.
9. "But now it's different, we gotta stay sober, Yo, communicate, StarTac, Motorola."
Song: Noreaga, "Superthug"
Product: Motorola StarTac
The Motorola StarTAC, released in 1996, was the first flip phone ever produced and came with a $1000 price tag. To get one back in '96, you had to be a Superthug.
8. "Never met her best friend or her sister, I leave her pussy Microsoft like Windows Vista."
Song: Lil Wayne, "Swag Surfin'"
Product: Microsoft Windows Vista
Even a Lil Wayne metaphor describing female nether regions couldn't help save the dissapointment that was Window Vista.
7. "My bank account's on steroids, trappin off my Android"
Song: 2 Chainz, "Got One"
Product: Google Android
I checked the list of features for the Android OS and couldn't find "Trappin," but we guess there's an App for that.
6. "I'm selling dope, straight off the iPhone"
Song: Rick Ross, "9 Piece"
Product: Apple iPhone
Nevermind the logistics, this is multitasking Future would be proud of.
5. "Lost some of my hottest verses down in Cabo. So if you find a Blackberry with the side scroll, sell that motherfucker to any rapper that I know."
Song: Drake, "Say What's Real Freestyle"
Product: BlackBerry 8700
Remember when the side-scroll wheel was ahead of its time? Remember Blackberry?
4. "While you gone? Shit, Netflix on your couch. What this popcorn about? Microwave oven while you out there cuffin.'"
Song: ASAP Rocky feat. SchoolBoy Q, "Brand New Guy"
Product: Netflix
Netflix effectively put every video rental store out of business with its revolutionary mailed rentals and Internet streaming service. With over 23 million total subscribers and no late fees, it's safe to safe Netflix will be around for a long time. So, uh, you may want to keep your password to yourself, lest your girl invites SchoolBoy for movie night.
3. "DJ's need to listen to the models "You ain't got no fuckin' Yeezy in your Serato?" Stupid, but what the hell do I know?"
Song: Kanye West, "Dark Fantasy"
Product: Serato Scratch Live
Serato ushered in the era of the digital DJ by making it possible to spin a laptop full of mp3's on your tried and trusted Technics. While few remain loyal to wax and lugging crates, the convenience of using Serato has attracted the majority of today's DJs. That said: If you don't have a new Yeezy track on your hard drive, maybe it's time to find a new line of work.
2. "Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, when I was dead broke, man, I couldn't picture this."
Song: Notorious B.I.G., "Juicy"
Product: Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis
Sonic the Hedgehog or Super Mario World? Man, how times have changed. Even though both of these consoles have been replaced in many homes, this line will never get old.
1. "Only way to roll, Jigga and two ladies, I'm too cold, Motorola two-way page me."
Song: Jay-Z, "I Just Wanna Love U (Give it 2 Me)"
Product: Motorola T-900 Two-Way Pager
First generation text messaging at it's finest! This revolutionary device came with a full QWERTY keyboard and combined your email, calendar and contact list. Allegedly, Steve Stoute played a major role in making this popular tech reference happen; petitioning Jay-Z to mention Motorola in an effort to spread the brand.