We got ya’ phone tapped
One of the reasons I think that The Firm might be one of my all time favorite albums is this song, Phone Tap.
While a lot of rappers like to casually drop rhymes about how they be textin’ they honeys and gettin’ pages from they boyz, The Firm knows that the reality is that anyone can be listening into these conversations.
This track is basically a phone conversation between what sounds like two drug dealers, and the listener is able to hear both their conversation the radio traffic of the authorities tapping their phones.
With lines like “I hit you right back because the static is thick” they constantly remind you that they’re on cell phones, talk of their kids is interspersed with the chorus letting you know that their phones are tapped. The whole thing sends chills down my spine, and this feeling is reinforced further with foreshadowing when one of the guys on the phones tells the other that it is “all good” but that he shouldn’t use the phone tomorrow.
Truly a track ahead of its time.
Image above from a movie poster for the classic Hackman flick The Conversation. Watch it to see Harrison Ford’s greatest role ever.
Great track on an album that otherwise served only briefly as a drink coaster in my apartment prior to getting tossed in the garbage altogether. Even in 97 (arguably at the height of my Nas fandom) I thought this album was just okay.
ps. if you haven’t seen The Wire, you should definitely peep that.
[...] another classic telephone track, check out The Firm’s Phone Tap. Its aged surprisingly well. And since we’re on such a tele-kick here, also check out how The [...]
Very interesting post, thanks. I’m looking for a good allround cam myself and hope I can buy a good one soon.