If you know me, you know I've been a Conrad fan since the day I met the guy. I wrote all about that a few years ago, so I had to round back and re-feature one of my favorite artists and friends of all time: Conrad "The MF Man" Jon. Let's cut to the chase, here are five of my all time favorite Conrad tracks!
Still Tippin’ 2020
When you hear that Salih Williams beat, you best be ready. Mike Jones may have brought “Still Tippin” to prominence but you cannot deny there are some incredible remix efforts out there. That’s why I find it ironic that one of my all time favorite tracks by Conrad happens to be a remix of this very beat. I typically have reservations when it comes to artists remixing this beat; because you have to be able to shred lyrically but also not get tripped up by any flow switches that you may want to work around the cadence.
There’s a reason this beat is so iconic and it is, in my personal opinion, not a remix anyone should spit on lightly. You’ve gotta up the ante to get the people goin’ and that is what Still Tippin’ 2020 does. As the track starts, you hear a downtuned Conrad iterate:
“Still ain’t trippin’ bout no hoe, still tippin’ 22 O…” and that's where I’ll just let you listen to the rest!
Stylistically, Conrad pulls a lot out of the popular rap/hip-hop utility belt. Vocal distortion, chopping, some dissing, a little schooling, flow switching, and there are references and entendres out the yazoo. Give it a spin, or 50, and see for yourself how this is a foundational track in Conrad’s discog.
Hoosier From Mars
It starts with an almost mystifying loop. Strings and winds are coupled with small, buoyant drums that lift your ears from the sides of your head. Mix in some distorted skit-type banter from Conrad in the background, then a sudden ballooning drop and the lyrics start.
Hoosier From Mars has a beaty haze to it. Conrad really captures the effect and perspective of what Martians might enjoy out of a good hip-hop track! Fun word play, slightly sing-songy, and the flow makes you feel like you’re in a wavy bubble of lyricism.
The song carries itself with a certain swagger that is quite prevalent in a lot of Conrad tracks. Behind the music, he can be a ‘say-less’ kinda guy. Incredibly down-to-earth and an extreme goofball…but in front of the music? He proves himself to be one of the heaviest hitting independent rappers this side of the cosmos.
My personal bias? Perhaps, but if Conrad didn’t have the chops to absolutely riddle a beat…I promise you I wouldn’t be talking about him so frequently. Let alone at all! Give this stellar track a listen and journey on, y’all!
Always Sunny?
“I am not your buddy, always sunny, this ain’t Philly though…my shit from the heart but still might cut off umbilical…all yall titties silicone, fake as fuck they feel ‘em though…high school was yo’ pinnacle…”
Of course you’ll have to check the track to gather the rest of these sensational bars, but let it be known that Always Sunny? is a two minute and thirteen second slug of a song. It hails from Conrad’s 2023 home run of a short play, GRIFFEY SWING. Tactfully titled after one of Conrad’s favorite baseball players, the phenomenal Ken Griffey Jr.
With a hook reminiscent of slowly walking into a Don’s smoke-filled quarters and verses that compete with some of fast rap’s finest, you can’t lose with this tune. Not to mention the lyrics are ferocious and delivered with flawless precision. It’s practically rhetorical to tell him this, but swing away, Conrad. Swing away!
Chopped Liver (Chopped)
“The ramen’s got, like, three minutes and 11 seconds left on the, uh, wave mic’ so let’s hurry this up…”
The intro finishes, and then you are locked into a lyrical onslaught for those remaining three minutes and 11 seconds. This song carries the primary lyrical modus of chopping. The pinnacle, fast-paced method that can be traced back to the mega-track “New Rap Language” by The Treacherous Three (a group consisting of rap legends: Spoonie Gee, Kool Moe Dee, and LA Sunshine). This style reached its prominent height with Midwestern artists such as Tech N9ne, Twista, The Dayton Family, and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.
That said, this song is a direct homage to this electrifying style of rapping. My favorite part about it isn’t the hilarity and audacity of the lyrical content, it is the fact that it gets faster and faster and faster as the song (and the punchlines) unfold. I’ve been impressed by Conrad’s artistry and production-sense for over 8 years now…but this song made me cackle with maniacal laughter when I first heard it back in September of 2020.
Not because of how sharp the lyricism is (tungsten blade sharp, they be). It was mostly because I had been laying in wait for Conrad to release a true chop song. Not one that simply incorporated chop, one that was chop; and Chopped Liver delivered indeed. From first listen, to 10,000th, you’ll have fun picking up what Conrad’s puttin’ down here!
Kung Pao
Ah, my favorite Asian dish other than pad thai. It’s also my favorite song to imagine Conrad absolutely shutting down an arena with. That drop that ripples throughout the song and the iciness of the bars are textbook to the momentous debut LP Ivar Ave. Release in its entirety on June 4th, 2021. This was Conrad’s very first long-play and it houses illustrious tracks that prove all too well why Conrad should NOT be slept on.
“Kung Pao” includes a collaboration with Conrad’s friend and fellow bar-buster, Jorodough (who hails from Toronto, Canada). The entirety of Ivar Ave is expertly crafted with Conrad’s now long-time beat-ssociate and production house mate, Chef tuna. You will hear his legendary tag “TUNA ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!” on a number of Conrad’s and other Big Volume constituents' tracks.
While I cannot knock anyone’s creative prowess, part of me does wish this track would have ended this epic feat of rapping and engineering. The way the bells and strings fade out really make it seem like the back of the book is closing…but just this book. Of course there will be, have been, and will continue to be more to come from Conrad.
His energy and work ethic are prestigious and the creatives he surrounds himself with are an extension of that greatness. Most particularly because they embody a similar verve and drive as our main man here.
***
Conrad has not simply been consistent, he has proven he can and will continue to outlast any and all criticism that isn’t deemed constructive and insightful. His capacity to produce and follow through with his creative intentions is inspiring and wholly impressive. I’ve been saying it for years and will continue to do so…do yourselves a favor and listen to Conard Jon.
He’s quite silly at times and may say some audacious stuff in many of his tracks, but the genuine kindness and generosity that radiates from this man is sensational. Just listen and see for yourself!
Before letting this all-star nod get away, I’m of course going to have some Honorable Mentions. More Conrad songs that don’t need no explanation, just your ears to hear them:
…and any other Conrad track you can get your ears on!
Until next time, y’all. Play on!
Kommentare