With its stated mission to not “translate rap into 'nerdspeak', but rather to critique rap as poetry,” Rap Genius was founded in 2009 by Yale grads Mahbod Moghadam, IIan Zechory, and Tom Lehman. The task—to decode the lyrics to every rap song ever recorded—would be an impossible task for three bros alone, so Rap Genius adopted a Wiki-style, user-generated format: Contributors annotate lyrics based on their own understanding, with RG editors and the community at large acting as checks and balances.
Over time, a trend emerged: A majority of the annotations were either totally inaccurate or completely useless. You can blame it on kids not knowing sh** about hip-hop, but there is also a fundamental flaw: User-generated systems work best for objective knowledge (like Wikipedia) or for straight-up opinion (like Yelp). Rap Genius is attempting to do both at once—be an authority on rap lyrics while also democratizing their largely subjective interpretation.
Thus, we have the failures found herein: The 25 Worst Annotations on Rap Genius, some of which make urbandictionary.com look like gospel. With Rap Genius expanding to include Poetry Genius, Law Genius, and the recently announced News Genius, this may not be the last time we'll have to do this.
[25. 50 Cent, "Patiently Waiting"]
The way I turn money over, you should call me Flipper
[24. Jay-Z, "D.O.A."]
This might offend my political connects
[23. Trinidad James, "All Gold Everything"]
No shirt on, I'm stunting, okay
[22. Nicki Minaj, "Monster"]
I think big, get cash, make 'em blink fast
[21. N.W.A., "Straight Outta Compton"]
You are now about to witness the strength of street knowledge
[20. Big Daddy Kane, "Ain't No Half Steppin'"]
Rappers stepping to me, they want to get some
But I'm the Kane, so yo, you know the outcome
[19. Common, "Be (Intro)"]
Where drunk nights get remembered more than sober ones
[18. Redman, "Green Island"]
Then next I check how many n***as can die from my Tec
[17. 50 Cent, "In Da Club"]
I'm into having s**, I ain't into making love
[16. The Game, "Like Father, Like Son"]
So I thank the n***a who gave his life for the birth of my son
[15. The Notorious B.I.G., "Unbelievable"]
You know how the weed go, unbelievable
[14. Mos Def, "Ms. Fat Booty"]
Ass so fat that you could see it from the front
[13. Nas, "You're Da Man"]
Wish I could flap wings and fly away
To where black kings in Ghana stay
[12. T.I., "King of the South"]
You hearing about the squad pumping fear in your heart
[11. Lil Wayne, "Dey Know Remix"]
I'm in that white body, I'mma need two lanes
Blue seats, white paint, wetter than new rain
[10. Young Jeezy, "Trap Star"]
It ain't hard girl just use ya head
[9. Ghostface k**ah, "Nutmeg"]
Diva got rocked from the receiver bleeder
[8. Cam'ron, "Welcome to New York City"]
Carry eight guns, two in the trunk
Two in the waist, two in the ankle, two just to spank you
[7. Lil Wayne, "Live from 504"]
Even in the dungeon I glow
Even if it ain't sunny, I glow
[6. J. Cole, "Rise and Shine"]
Cole's planning funerals, you might fit the coffin
[5. Kanye West, "All Falls Down"]
Now tell me that ain't insecurr
The concept of school seems so secure
Sophmore, three yurrs
[4. Drake, "Lord Knows"]
Lord knows, Lord Knows, I'm heavy, I got my weight up
[3. Kendrick Lamar, "Money Trees"]
Hot sauce all in our Top Ramen, ya bish
[2. Nas, "It Ain't Hard to Tell"]
The buddha monk's in your trunk, turn the ba** up
[1. Eminem, "Role Model"]
My middle finger won't go down, how do I wave?