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It’s officially a trend: acoustic, folk, and bluegrass bands can’t stop covering rap and hip-hop songs. Here are five of the best examples making the rounds on YouTube.
1. “Hey Ya”
Mat Weddle of Obadiah Parker beautifully, soulfully covers Outkast’s “Hey Ya”:
After the jump, check out “Baby Got Back,” “Straight Outta Compton,” “Bust a Move,” “Gin and Juice,” and a special bonus track!
2. “Baby Got Back”
Jonathan Coulton covers Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got Back”:
3. “Straight Outta Compton”
Jay Brannan covers Nina Gordon’s cover of NWA’s “Straight Outta Compton” (WARNING: a good bit of swearing in this one):
4. “Bust a Move”
Jerry Chapman & His Acoustic Herbivores cover Young MC’s “Bust a Move”:
5. “Gin and Juice”
The Gourds cover Snoop Dogg’s “Gin and Juice” live at Bumbershoot (WARNING: occasional swearing in this one):
If you want to catch the end of the extended “Gin and Juice” jam, here it is.
6. BONUS: “Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros”
Not a cover, but pretty awesome nonetheless. Flight of the Conchords perform their folky rap battle “Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros”:
Comments (66)
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The “Hey Ya” cover and the “Baby Got Back” cover are two of my favorite covers ever. Check out all of the Jonathon Coulton’s music, covers and originals. He is great.
posted by Christopher Palmer on 1-18-2008 at 9:49 am
Pretty cool. Thanks, Higgins!
Anyone else remember Superfast’s cover of “Boys in the Hood?”
posted by Jason! on 1-18-2008 at 9:50 am
Great stuff. I also like to add Ben Folds’ “Bitches ain’t Shit”. (Click my name)
posted by Martijn on 1-18-2008 at 9:55 am
You’re missing my two favorite: Dynamite Hack’s “Boys in the Hood” and Ben Folds’ cover of “B****s ain’t S***”.
posted by o-line on 1-18-2008 at 9:58 am
That flight of the conchords song … classic, higgins, classic.
posted by Ransom on 1-18-2008 at 10:01 am
Thanks o-line. I got the album name and group name flip-flopped.
posted by Jason! on 1-18-2008 at 10:05 am
Tilly and the Wall also does a good “Hey Ya” cover. They’re kind of upbeat folksy, but instead of percussionists they have tap-dancers.
posted by Becca on 1-18-2008 at 10:07 am
An enormously talented and wonderful friend of mine, Kendra Morris, covered Kanye West’s “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” to amazing effect; it’s on her myspace page at: http://www.myspace.com/ckendrago
posted by Josch on 1-18-2008 at 10:21 am
If you like irreverent covers, Richard Cheese & Lounge Against the Machine is the way to go. He has lounge-covers of several of the above tracks – and they’re absolutely hilarious!
posted by Debi on 1-18-2008 at 10:26 am
I guess it’s not so “folky” as “singer-songwriter-y,” but Alanis Morissette’s cover of the Black Eyed Peas “My Humps” is brilliant.
posted by pica on 1-18-2008 at 10:28 am
Where’s Ben Kweller with his cover of “Ice Ice Baby”??? I guess he’s not tehcnically folksy, but it’s pretty awesome.
posted by Becky T. on 1-18-2008 at 10:34 am
pica – agreed. the Alanis cover is great. The “Hey Ya” cover was excellent. Great post. thanks
posted by JaneM on 1-18-2008 at 10:58 am
Travis Morrison does a really good rendition of Ludacris’s “What’s Your Fantasy?” Worth checking out if you haven’t already.
posted by Christopher on 1-18-2008 at 12:13 pm
Jenny Owen Youngs does a really great version of Nelly’s “Hot In Herre”
and not including Ben Fold’s “B**ches Ain’t S***” is blasphemy.
posted by Benjamin on 1-18-2008 at 12:20 pm
The “Straight Outta Compton” cover by Nina Gordon actually uses an excerpt from TLC’s “Waterfalls” song…which is the part when John Brennan changes his voice in the middle of the song. I know to much about rap and r&b for a 28 yr old white dude.
posted by Me on 1-18-2008 at 12:36 pm
Blue Highway covered a Sting song, I think. Not exactly hip-hop, but still funny.
posted by erm on 1-18-2008 at 12:36 pm
Ray LaMontagne doing Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy” was a great cover.
posted by Peter on 1-18-2008 at 12:50 pm
My favorite cover is also not folksy, but funny nonetheless – “Baby Got Back” done in the style of Gilbert & Sullivan.
posted by Mel on 1-18-2008 at 1:42 pm
My favorite is the “Baby Got Back” one. It lends itself surprisingly well to a folk song cover.
However, the most bizarre cover would have to be Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormet doing Soundgarden’s “Blackhole Sun”.
( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hZmWjQjHg0 )
posted by gmsc on 1-18-2008 at 2:00 pm
@Jason!
I actually listen to Dynamite Hack’s version on a regular basis. Sad, but hilariously true.
posted by Rosa on 1-18-2008 at 3:08 pm
Jill Sobule does a version of Nelly’s “Hot In Herre” and it’s also great. When she does it live, she has her mom come on stage with her to sing the refrain “It’s getting so hot, I wanna take my clothes off.” Soo funny, every time…
posted by JD on 1-18-2008 at 4:22 pm
These videos made my day. Especially “Hey Ya.” I like the cover way more than the original. Also, the “Waterfalls” rap was really well done.
posted by Amy on 1-18-2008 at 5:19 pm
I don’t have time to listen to these all right now, but I have to go find and download that “Hey Ya” sometime. More my style than the original =)
Cool stuff.
posted by Eileen on 1-18-2008 at 5:19 pm
What, no Boyz in the Hood by Dynamite Hack?? Look it up on YouTube.
posted by Ed on 1-18-2008 at 7:20 pm
This guy did a really acoustic cool mash up of Gorrilaz Clint Eastwood, Ice Ice Baby, Warren G’s regulate, One Week, and Fresh Prince theme song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjcoCK1cO-s
posted by Jack Albright on 1-18-2008 at 7:21 pm
This guy did a great acoustic mash up of several rap songs from the 90’s. Just search for Classic Tragic Hero White Boy Rap acoustic on youtube.
posted by Jack Albright on 1-18-2008 at 7:23 pm
you forgot about dynamite hack “boyz in the hood” :p
posted by Jemeni on 1-18-2008 at 7:26 pm
This is one of greatest post I have ever seen. I feel like I should laugh, except, I really enjoy the music. It’s GREAT!!
posted by Gilbert on 1-18-2008 at 7:36 pm
Bruce Hornsby and Ricky Skaggs doing “Super Freak” is awesome as well.
posted by Nick on 1-18-2008 at 8:34 pm
Ben Folds – Bitches Ain’t Shit
anyone? anyone?
posted by Bob on 1-18-2008 at 8:52 pm
I gotta go with Biffy Clyro’s cover of Umbrella by Rhianna
there is also a good version by McFly
posted by bob dow on 1-18-2008 at 9:19 pm
I would not consider Hey Ya a rap song.
It more funk and pop rock than anything else. But hey what do I know
posted by Blah Blah on 1-18-2008 at 9:35 pm
List nice! Though no list of folky covers of rap & hip-hop songs would be complete without Luka Bloom’s cover of LL Cool J’s I Need Love:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuJdAveu0Bw
posted by Kevin on 1-18-2008 at 9:41 pm
Yeah, this is some quality racism. Nothing like listening to hipsters snicker during an NWA song. It’s nice to know that you don’t have to even be able to find Compton on a map to be able to steal black culture and repackage it as a novelty item.
posted by Stephen on 1-18-2008 at 10:01 pm
What I want to hear is a hip hop cover of a bluegrass song.
posted by Harry on 1-18-2008 at 10:07 pm
Search….HILARIOUS MONTAGE CHECKERS SPOOF
OR SEARCH…..COUPLES CORNER
IM SURE U’LL DIG IT THE FAT KID IS HILARIOUS ESPECIALLY WITH HIS HAMMER IN COUPLES CORNER
posted by anthony on 1-18-2008 at 10:23 pm
Search youtube for Marie Digby’s cover of Rihanna’s “Umbrella”
posted by cp on 1-18-2008 at 11:36 pm
John Mayers cover of Area Codes by ludacris. amazing.
posted by birdman on 1-19-2008 at 12:36 am
I am with Ben Folds ‘Bitches Aint Shit’ Should be number 1
posted by Me on 1-19-2008 at 2:40 am
JD Natasha does a much better cover of Hey Ya than Obadiah Parker. There. I said it.
posted by matt on 1-19-2008 at 8:31 am
Yeah, where’s Bitches Ain’t Shit? Possibly the greatest hip hop cover of all time.
posted by Matt on 1-19-2008 at 11:17 am
Will Oldham covering R. Kelly’s “The World’s Greatest” is my favorite. Absolutely hilarious.
posted by Megan on 1-19-2008 at 2:06 pm
thanks for spreading the word.
jerry
posted by jerry chapman on 1-19-2008 at 9:37 pm
Not sure if there is a video for it, but Tori Amo’s cover of Eminem’s “Bonnie and Clyde” is amazing and extremely creepy.
posted by Deviant on 1-20-2008 at 2:20 pm
Rock Plaza Central doing “SexyBack” has gotta be there:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhO9qkB0YXQ
posted by Chuck on 1-20-2008 at 3:52 pm
Haha this reminds me alot of my article.
haha I wish I had seen some of these other covers before I had written it!
posted by Nano on 1-21-2008 at 1:05 pm
don’t forget “Crazy in Love” cover by the Magic Numbers
posted by em on 1-21-2008 at 7:42 pm
Dynamite hacks cover of boys in the hood is essential
posted by John on 1-21-2008 at 7:48 pm
Bitches Ain’t Shit, a capella by DeCadence a group at UC Berkeley. Click my name to see it.
posted by Angeline on 1-21-2008 at 7:59 pm
Ya.. I have been following a band in Saint Louis called C Box Prophets. They do a great hip hop set. Check them out on YouTube or live.
posted by Grum on 1-21-2008 at 9:23 pm
dynamite hack, boyz in the hood. classic.
posted by angel on 1-23-2008 at 12:44 am
Did anyone mention The Kooks- Crazy…I know Ray Lamontagne does a great version – but it is so similar to the original. The Kooks really make it theirs!!! For sure check it out!
posted by Jacky on 1-24-2008 at 1:52 am
This is to Harry who wrote on the 18th…ever hear frank sinatra’s – my way done by sid vicious…now that has got IT GOING ON!!!!
posted by Jacky on 1-24-2008 at 2:09 am
Just saw Naughty Jack’s cover of Nickelback’s “Rockstar”, very cool.
stick naughty jack nickelback rockstar into google…
posted by GotStuckRecord on 1-31-2008 at 1:21 pm
just to add some hip/hop rap to this:
ORIGINAL
Sean Kingston – Beautiful Girl
COVER
JOJO – Beautiful Girl
ORIGINAL
Ying Yang Twins – Wait (The Whisper Song)
COVER
Kelis – Wait (The Whisper Song)
ORIGINAL
Usher & Ludacris – Lovers and Friends
COVER
Asia Ft Neisha – Lovers and Friends
ORIGINAL
Dem Franchize Boyz – white Tee
COVER
Crime Mobb – White Tee
ORIGINAl
Juvenile – Slow Motion
COVER
Nivea – Slow Motion
ORIGINAL:
EAMON – FUCK IT
COVER
FRANKEE – FUCK YOU RIGHT BACK
ORIGINAL:
T-Pain – I’m Sprung
COVER
Rasheeda ft. T-pain – I’m Sprung
ORIGINAL:
Usher – Let it Burn
COVER:
1st Lady – Burn
ORIGINAL:
J.HOLIDAY – BED
COVER
ESHA – BED
ORIGINAL:
MIMS – This is why I’m Hot
COVER:
Chenelle – This is why I’m Hot
ORIGINAL:
USHER – Confessions
COVER:
KALEENA – Answer to Confessions
ORIGINAL:
50 Cent – In Da Club
COVER:
BEYONCE – In Da Club
ORIGINAL:
50 Cent – 21 Questions
COVER:
LiL’ Mo – 21 Answers
ORIGINAL:
Akon – Locked Up
Cover:
DINA RAE – Locked Up
ORIGINAL:
T-PAIN – Im N Luv With a Stripper
COVER:
T-Pain – Im N Luv with a Gangsta/Tipper
posted by Joe on 3-16-2008 at 6:39 am
Please check out my acoustic rap video for The Great Divide by clicking my NAME on this comment Thank you.
posted by Douglas Stambler on 4-9-2008 at 11:48 am
Pls son! 33 second mark: Google “20 Conscious Passions”
posted by Bob on 5-20-2009 at 10:03 pm
Yay! The Gourds “Gin and Juice”! I have this on my iPod!
posted by Sarah on 11-5-2009 at 6:53 am
How about The Connells covering Cypress Hill’s “Insane in the Brain”
posted by G$ on 11-5-2009 at 8:57 am
Ah! I KNEW the Gourd’s did the cover of “Gin and Juice!” Someone (who thinks his music sense is better than mine..HA!) told me it was Blues Traveler, and wouldn’t listen when I told him he was wrong. I’m not a huge country fan, but I love that cover!
posted by Meg on 11-5-2009 at 10:56 am
There’s an episode of Scrubs where Ted sings an acoustic version of Hey-ya. Its pretty awesome.
posted by Jennings on 11-5-2009 at 12:29 pm
This is my all-time Hip-Hop to folk cover: Jim Lynam doing Yeah by Usher.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5_AzOwAq10
posted by Knobber on 11-5-2009 at 12:38 pm
What?! NO Hayseed Dixie?! They are the ultimate Bluegrass Reinterpretive band!
BTW@ Stephen from last year – take your “racism” and blow it out your ass! Nobody is “stealing” black culture. It is completely moronic to associate reinterpretation of a song as “racist”.
Racism is about hate, not art.
posted by roi_ratt on 11-5-2009 at 1:45 pm
as no one has mentioned it yet, i enjoyed the partial version that the american idol winner, kris allen, did of “heartless” by kanye west. i like it better than the original. ditto to that cover of hey ya.
yeah i watched a little of last year’s american idol. what of it?
posted by john m on 11-5-2009 at 4:17 pm
I LOVE the version of I’m Sorry Ms. Jackson that was covered by The Vines. It is so spectacularly awesome it makes my day every time I listen to it.
posted by CashandSloan on 11-5-2009 at 5:40 pm
John M – that ‘cover’ was a rip of The Fray’s cover of Heartless. It wasn’t even original, but no one realized it b/c it wasn’t released until after Idol. Just FYI…
posted by Knobber on 11-6-2009 at 1:17 pm