MC SHAN - AT WAR WITH GIANTS - FOUNDATION LESSON # 19 - JAYQUAN

JayQuan examines the lyrical legacy of Juice Crew member M.C.Shan using direct examples from his discography, specifically his first 2 lps. Written, recorded and edited by JayQuan.
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[@avonmacray2000]

Shan had his own style you got to love him for his original style

[@rondeisel]

Shan's second album was a slept on classic.

[@box5bastard277]

Networth yell

[@oldschoolhiphop2275]

There isn't anything negative to say about Shan. He stepped up for Queens & battled one of the greatest Mc's of all time Krs-1. Shan actually deserves respect.

[@knucklegame2860]

For the record they NEVA BATTLED

[@yak596]

He grew bitter with age.

[@chrismorris2989]

finally someone who knows Hip hop!

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Thanks for looking!

Agree my generation needs this

[@kaoticsapreme4091]

For the record MC Shan was a great lyricist innovative and creative and possessed an amazing vocal range and voice no one sounds like MC Shan a true original, peace.

[@thatniggaghost83]

Mc Shan should be talked about more in this hip hop & rap game...

[@nexxlevel4590]

His cadence is what got me also. He sounded so dope on “kill that noise”

[@blackdabarber4259]

Lyrically, Shan was ahead of his time. That Born to Be Wild was a CLASSIC!!! He was dope!!!

[@blackdabarber4259]

Oh... I forgot... I Helped Pioneer This was BANANAS!!!

[@columbusohio72]

Another " ahead of his time" comment. Please stop. It sounds like a broken record

[@blackdabarber4259]

@@columbusohio72 If you knew what you were talking about, you would damn near make sense

[@siannes4599]

I finally Found the complete mc shan discography torrent, compilations, ep singles & studio albums. Can't believe it looking for years. 🤟🏾🔥💿☝🏾🇨🇦

[@kmc1steelers998]

Pioneer forever.. Nothing like a legendary soul. That's what he is ..Legendary 4ever!!!! All hip hop heads know SHAN

[@charlesnichols5420]

good looking homie, Mc SHAN doesn't really get his proper respect

[@afganno3385]

mc shan is proper. i considered him one of the best when i was a 10 year kid in london in mid 1980s.

[@Diddddu]

It's sad people don't admit that Down by law was hotter than Criminal minded Shan's Album was even sonic-ally better than BDP's

[@terencebuie2158]

Nah criminal minded was. The most listen to album that yr in the. Street thou down by law too was a classic but it was slept on bro 'll was world wide air play and to this day it relevant as a top ten LP.of all time ranked top five LP of hip hop

[@Overkillrider]

Marley Scratch was one of my favorite along with Darryl and Joe.

[@kosmos637]

He was on top of his game and highly intelligent with his writing abilities . Marley Marl should redo symphony with original crew with MC shan on it.

[@terrencemorris8537]

One of the best ever

[@benzholmes4416]

MCA paid Shan to do the feed the world concept. Shan was a trendsetter .... I agree with your assessment %100 he definitely help pioneer this.

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Thanks for looking

[@ravenaider]

Most importantly, the brother never sold out ...and still is true to himself

[@ravenaider]

@@coleemerald4094 DAMN...when someone grows up in the hood in depravity,It's very easy to become a victim of his circumstances .Did he recover from it is the question? No one is perfect.The man is in a much better position now because "he didn't sell his soul to the satanic music industry".

[@SAGE0FTHEEAST]

He's crackhead, he definitely sold out!

[@rasheemthebestfirstone3274]

@@SAGE0FTHEEAST he not a crackhead, he said he was never addicted

[@TheRetroWoman80]

Something about his vocal tone (slightly nasaly) while rapping has always been dope. Much props to him repping for Queens all these years.

[@Papa2Tone]

BDP ma

[@columbusohio72]

His tone is credited to the recording equipment

[@donaldmccall3968]

We appreciate the lessons of mc's that pay the way for future mc's...

[@eddiewallace3362]

Icon on da purest form !!!! Give that M C his just DUE!!! & IM FROM BROOKLYN!!!

[@blackkoganinja5093]

Shan flows so smooth

[@FederacionHipHop]

I cannot Stop Watching it Thank you JayQuan really thank you soo much, MC Shan Deserve more respect in the HipHop Community. Peace !

[@ogrebattle22763]

Shan was nice & it's not even up for debate...

[@leonardfields3726]

I pioneered this has got to be the best lyrical display from Mc Shan crazy how he not in the great mentions of the 80s

[@Urbanvideoplus]

Dope lesson!!! I'd love to see one on The Ultramagnetic MC's and Schooly D

[@donaldussery2817]

man i truly enjoyed reminiscing to some of the dopest tracks of that day and Shan's delivery was definitely on point throughout all of his songs. This dude definitely deserves respect in the game 4 sho!!!!

[@tonywilson8329]

M.C. Shan was a rhyme animal. In that time of late '84 and most of '85 he was the m.c. everyone studied who wanted to be a rapper.

[@-MrGoogle]

thanks for looking out.. MC Shan is still one of the greatest MC in the game

[@darrelledwards3606]

The Born To Be Wild album was definitely his best work. Shan had an 18 month to 2 yr run of being among the top dogs of all of hip hop.

[@thedarkchild86]

BORN TO BE WILD ALBUM .....OLE SKOOL BANGER ....PERIOD

[@deenraida]

Shan style was so different from what anybody else was doing at that time. Respect!!!

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

It definitely. I caught that immediately

[@deenraida]

I don't know how anybody could say they didn't like his voice. That, the inflections and tones he used is what drew me to him.

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

I agree. A lotta people say it though

[@RAtheRuggedManTV]

yooooo!!!! how the hell did I never hear about the song FEED THE WORLD? lol I'm a Die Hard SHAN fan

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

That one was waaaaay under the radar for most cats.

[@coleemerald4094]

I never heaed it either...it sounds pretty good

[@d.bluntt6699]

How you never heard it?

[@lordgodspeed1539]

I had Feed the World on a compilation that cold chilling had put out with all of Shan's work. I respect jayquans opinion on the record feed the world but I always liked it. Thought the flow was dope and the rhymes were meaningful and tight.

[@donaldmccall3968]

The Bridge wars had destroyed him since KRS disses the whole entire crew back n 87.

[@fanboykillah5142]

MC Shan was hype. Miss those days of old.

[@ftnrbhmwk]

That left me Lonely- Is hard .. Don't sleep on that song!!!!!!!!

[@keiththompson2625]

Shan love your music still listening

[@cozmikfunkrabbitt30]

Shan made some many incredible records, I myself thought his voice was Dope as well as his lyrical ability Yeah he was underrated but loved by so many of Us from that era

[@kennethhines7910]

💯💥

[@lordgodspeed1539]

I am one of the biggest Shan fans of all times . I am happy that you had the time and class to present this case for Shan . peace to the god .

[@princedonnylittledonny328]

Shan was Hard

[@austinbailey5990]

MC Shan has the ultimate rap voice. "It's mostly the voice that gets you up, its mostly the voice that gets you buck. A lot of rappers got flavor and some got skills but if your voice ain't dope you need to chill" Guru

[@michaeljackson6114]

Kill that noise was underrated. Shan definitely was one of my favorite juice crew member. Before KGR and Kane came through. Jucie crew law. Another crazy record. Shan left the mic on fire. Very underrated emcee indeed.

[@protectedsouls415]

Shan definitely gets dismissed by plenty because of the Bridge wars.. I don't like it either. he was NICE, and like you said to put what he was spittin in perspective of what was out at the time, he deserves lots more props than what he gets. Peace!

[@deemoore8296]

ProtectedSouls4 Shan is a beast on funkin he said inbedded in your chest will be a footprint mix cuz my rhymes are like a flurry of kungfu kicks cold blooded!!!!!!!

[@DigitalPraise7]

ProtectedSouls4 word to big bird. Too many done slept on Shan.

[@jerometurner3317]

Shan came out with some of the dopest Mc's and Lyricist period.

[@bornjust2003]

By far my all time favorite rapper of all time - I always wonder why his name is rarely mentioned when they talk about the history of Hip Hop. He is one of the few artist who you can hear and understand every word n his songs.

[@TimHarveybuysrealestate]

Shan is criminally underrated. Left me lonely was one of hip hops first love songs and Down By Law he rode with!

[@djairalert422]

You did a fantastic job of narrarating and breaking down Shan’s greatness, this was over due, if you notice a lot of battle dj’s always use Shan’s voice where he says “ all you other dj’s” and “ sucker dj’s “ because Shan has that real hip hop clear crisp voice you could understand, unlike these mumble rappers today! Thank you my brother!🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤👍🏽🤴🏽

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Thanks for looking. The Xecutioners Scratch made real good use of his voice

[@djairalert422]

The Foundation that’s a fact, one of the best dj crews out there.

[@lordgodspeed1539]

Shan was the dude that made me want to get into Hip Hop . Rakim made me want to rhyme .

[@box5bastard277]

Lord Godspeed shan made me rhyme and declare hip hop is now my favorite music sorry Michael and prince yell

[@frankbryant5652]

The Juice Crew was the "Super Friends" of HipHop. ✊🤣🤣🤣

[@michaelbaskerville3437]

M.C.Shan you will never be forgotten never love you FAM...peace

[@beatcookinncleveland]

"write a will for your family's conveniency rappers I serve without mercy or lingerency No frame of mine, no heart I'm relentless step to me, I'm knockin ya senseless" Shan was dope 🔥

[@leonardfields3726]

Bro he slept on never knew how dope he was

[@joshuakithyoma9575]

Then compare it to Krs One's hat, mat , bat conscious bullshit😂

[@clarencebrowniii4750]

M.C. Shan is nice on the Mic.

[@DjSpeccs]

Shan was my dude back in the day, I hit him up on Twitter to see if he would do a deejay drop for me and I had it in my email within 10 mins!

[@MoneysWorld82]

Always been one of my favorites from the 80's definitely doesn't get his respect

[@afganno3385]

same as....i am actually well impressed by how good my taste in hip hop was when i was a 10year old white boy in london in 1984. sorry for bringing race into it, just saying for a 10 year kid who had never been to NYC i could tell it was something special happening. i did not like music until i first heard hip hop/rap in 84.

[@box5bastard277]

Afgan No3 nah you spoke some trill and race was appropriate in your post my equal. Shan is dope yell

[@alexanderderbyshire5212]

Give me my freedom. I can feel this brother

[@DEVINEJUSTICEALLAH72]

MARLEY'S SCRATCH WAS THE JOINT!!

[@jimmykrankee3965]

Word!!

[@Qualonji3566]

Damn this video clip is pure fire!!!! Respect long over due to McShan!!! Shan was "The" mid 80's to mid 90's pioneer! I use to think rap music was full of nursery ryhmes, until I got a job working for Coles Music World in Syracuse,NY the year 1986; Because I was the youngest working there my boss gave me a bunch of rap promo joints to listen to, When I played those joints I was like no, no, hell no, until I put on the bridge by McShan and I told my boss YO ORDER THIS DUDE!!! ORDER 50 OF THESE JOINTS ASAP!!! I THEN TOLD MY BOSS TO BRING SHAN TO SYRACUSE FOR A CONCERT WHERE SHAN DEBUT HIS ALBUM AND IF I COULD ONLY SHOW YOU THAT SHOW! THAT CROWD WAS ACTING LIKE MC SHAN WAS MICHAEL JACKSON THE WAY THEY CHEERED!!!!! A mind is a terrible thing to waste was ahead of it's time! Time for us to defend ourselves was the first rap video banned, and feared by police before NWA!! Shan was a beast!!!! Shan battled BDP who had D-Nice, krs1 , and another dude use to be down with them; Shan battled Run Dmc, staedy B, and LL all at the same time! Shan career was slowed down by his record label with too many members and his Dj who was getting most of the money, not from rap battles!

[@yeahisaidit5633]

Negusa Nagast Mikha'el damn maybe you should write a book on shan

[@derrickholmes2024]

@@yeahisaidit5633 Thanks Big Tex

[@nukeemlugo1472]

Am a mc Shan fan. But the way you broke it down made me a bigger fan. Im from that era and JUICE crew were like gods to me. Thank you homie!

[@rahvisionproductionz2929]

Thank you my brother well said, glad you put it in the right positive perspective of facts i can confirm everything you said as i'm a Q.B. native lived & raised up with shan, craig g, tragedy, & etc.. everything you said is facts.. but of course i can add more to the story thank you my brother for sharing

[@lordgodspeed1539]

Real talk Shan was one of the first Emcees to drop some 5 percent knowledge lines in hip hop .

[@johnnymusallem5706]

tragedy and Shan didn’t get their true recognition in what they brought to hip hop but many mcs stole their rap styles from them and they ran with it

[@douggyjohnson7753]

I think if Shan was on The Symphony it would have been more epic than it is; just imagine all of the Juice Crew giants on the same record. Even though Master Ace set it off with a memorable verse I would have put Shan in his spot on the record.

[@box5bastard277]

Douggy Johnson and shante and biz on the joint as well yell

[@32mrwise]

Definitely underrated. Shan is a down to earth person and as real as they come. I met him some years ago.

[@solodolo304]

Shan was my dude back in the day. He's in that "Peoples Champ" type of category when it comes to rap. His voice is what set him apart from other kats.

[@freshestcline6494]

MC.Shan legend.. I remember that jam project Ho when I was a kid.

[@heswift]

That was excellent. Always wondered why Shan was so slept on. Born to Be Wild is a classic record and the last verse of The Bridge always brings chills down my spine!

[@davidj5910]

Great video! Shan is one of my tops. It's messed up how he doesn't get NO credit. Born To Be Wild is still in HEAVY rotation on my phone. So Def , Born to be Wild, Words of a Freestyle are definite must listens. I don't even have to mention the more known tracks Just Crew Law, I Pioneered this,. Criminally underrated album and MC. Now I'm about to go listen to Down By Law LOL!

[@blacksunrider313]

Absolutely"born be wild" was a killer album.....

[@Papa2Tone]

I gotta go back and listen to that album

[@glsstocker]

I been waiting for the next vid 80s baby I'm luvin it Great hip hop history If we don't tell our stories Who else will

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Thanks for looking!

[@rjgamble2551]

Shan is in the top 10

[@lonniebryant6865]

2019...i still bump down by law and born to be wild

[@linkz2nd]

Man I made my own best of Mc Shan tape 1 of the dopest Mc's of all time. Dope of the head too! Plus LL cool J jacked his dress code and beat

[@rondeisel]

linkz2nd I beg to differ. Sweatsuits, kicks and Kangols were standard b-boy fashion. Shan took it to another level by going straight Puma with it, which was dope and took alot of heart because Puma was deemed played out in the hood when Filas, Ballys and others came out.

[@drumsrugged9049]

also a movie about the bridge Wars would definitely be epic...think about it

[@lz2k7]

i've learned a lot from your channel! Down By Law was the first Rap record i ever bought.

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Thanks for watching. Much more to come!!

[@box5bastard277]

Dope me to and it's still the best album I purchased and my favorite yell

[@fredicagoillanoise1309]

I think Marley might have actually used a sampler on "Marley Scratch" because the kicks and snares soumd like the drums from Run DMC's "Sucker MC's" sampled and chopped.

[@lordgodspeed1539]

I'm glad you point out the thing with Shan and Rakim . Because to me Ra and a few others got some inspiration off Shan . Shan had one of the first smooth flows ." Shan flowed like water out of the pipe" - Marley Marl. Marley said that Kool G Rap flow like water hitting the bottom of a bucket

[@godschild7964]

man mc shan was the shit and i still wish he would make some more top natch music.

[@ogjersey3032]

Marley was WORKIN! His body of work is Historical! Peace to the legend Marley Marl

[@rawloke8334]

Mc Shan was dope!

[@LordLuckyGodspeed]

MC Shan Is one of the most underated Poetic MC's of all times ... My nick name for him is Mr First . He was the first to make a classic hip hop love blues ballad in "Left Me Lonely ". He was the first to metaphor a drug into a woman in Classic stand alone single "Cocaine". He was first to make a bonafide classic hit single with a song for his hood in the "Bridge" . He was the first to rock a multi syllabic flow while taking Hip Hop to Syfy on the single " MC Space" off the Down By Law album . Shan was also the first to do a great hip hop anthem in the song called "Living In The World of Hip Hop ". On his second album He was the first to verbally make a record scratch style with his word in the middle of his slow in the song "Words To My Freestyle". The first Prince of Rap who didn't have to scream his rhymes, he was the father of the smooth multi-syllable rhyme style. He was also the first to make a battle record against LL Cool J the record was Beat Biter .... He is Mr First......

[@phillybill723]

Quietly I love MC Space on Down By Law!!!!!

[@carbocycle]

I am an MC Shan fan!!! His voice is awesome

[@Qualonji3566]

"THE FOUNDATION" When you do Krs one and Boogie Down Productions, include the article from the 90s about BDP VS KRS1 where D-Nice, Ms. Melody, and another mc was talking about how they all wrote the 1st 2 albums, but Krs1 took all the credit! The article also said Asher D wrote Black cop and another reggae type song for Krs1!

[@brothajamessd1670]

I’ve always liked Shan. I thought his voice and flow were dope as hell. Marley Scratch, Beat Biter, Down by Law! I also agree with the theory that he was drowned out by so many dope records coming out back to back. It was an exciting time for Hip Hop!

[@sabor1970]

Those verses at the end of The Bridge fit perfectly. In these hoods all across America, everyone especially the youth feel trapped and believe there is no way out. I thought it was very intelligent and wise for MC Shan to instill hope into the youth, especially the youth of Queensbridge to never give up on there dreams and never be distracted by the haters.

[@huddycombs2166]

Very in-depth brake down... thanks for the upload..

[@leonardbrothers1012]

Keep doing your thing, man. I've seen a few of these now and I really like the way you break down the artists, their bars, flows, impact, etc. I hope to see more of these in the future. There are a lot of cats I'd like to hear you break down at some point.

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Peace . Thanks for looking

[@osirisvalera3995]

How can Shan ever fall off if he help pioneer this. OMG I think I'm having a rap attack. Juice Crew 2019.

[@h.s936]

Shan was a beast in his time.

[@DUSM]

Definitely one of my favorite emcees. I remember anxiously waiting for every one of his albums to drop. Lyrically skilled and very technical with his delivery. Sadly underrated, but without dispute one of the foundational pillars in the history of hip-hop!

[@vibez_kru01]

Professor Jay... Just started watching this lesson on Shan. I’m about 12 mins in and you’re talking about the ‘Feed The World’ track. Two things... I think the track was made due to the situation in Ethiopia when the famine caught global attention spawning the Band Aid track, the Live Aid concert, and the American multi artist track ‘We Are The World’. Shan probably did it as a contribution from Hip Hop as Hip Hop wasn’t getting any mainstream attention at that point in time. Secondly, I don’t think it’s fair to solely blame Shan for the weakness of the track. It was produced by Marley, so they should both share the blame to b fair. That’s not to take anything away from either Marley or Shan, but realistically no one artist is going to have a 100% dope track record no matter who it is. Peace.

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

I hear you bro. I just didnt like it. There are plenty of message tracks that are still good rap songs like A.F.R.I.C.A. by Stetsasonic. I just didnt like Feed The World. Shan didnt even like it.

[@majikmanheru3539]

SHAN wa The Man

[@hassanburton9063]

MC SHAN IS KING 👑!!!! PHUNK WHAT CHA HEARD.....YA HEAR ME? WITHOUT SHAN THERE WOULD BE NO TRAG, NAS, MOBB, CNN WITH THE EXCEPTION TO THE MOTHER OF DA BRIDGE....ROXANNE SHANTE. HE'S IS THE FATHER END OF DISCUSSION. Now Give him a MURAL OR A MONUMENT!! PLEASE

[@LordLuckyGodspeed]

Straight facts couldn't say it any better

[@knucklegame2860]

Nahh that's a "Far Reach" sayin there will be NO Nas, Trag, Mobb deep ect." Come onn now, Can't be Serious. They would've made it "Regardless", God gave them the "Gift", NOT Shan

[@DuckAlertBeats]

MM Scratch.. Still goosebump material.. Always will be

[@mrsotrill]

Good looking out 🔥 Real talk, I was recently in the cut and jammed Never Rock A Party about TEN times straight. Shan was the truth & like many others with their comments, feel he doesn't get his just praise for puttin' down & keepin' it 💯. Left Me Lonely is another joint that stays in rotation heavily. I follow Shan on his IG page & he's still doin' him! Respect & great work my dude. 👊

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Never Rock A Party and Words Of A Freestyle were my joints

[@staybalancedn]

This channel is like a true hip hop interactive course. Set up a patreon to get you some supporters and donations

[@ngray902]

This man was the King Of New York! Respect due! And did it without cursing or the use of the n-word.

[@jazmost]

When I first heard the Marley Scratch record I thought Shan was Crime Master Tee from Mantronix.

[@franciscogomez5341]

I’ve always heard the music first, then the lyrics. “The Bridge” had a different ground breaking sound for its time. From the echo in the vocals, to sampling the kick & snare from “Impeach the president” and re-arranging them. That was new and unique out here in South Central L.A. at the time.

[@castedynasty1426]

Francisco Gomez for me considering I live in the 3rd world even then the bridge was a dream...that hook? Damn I only knew the songs history recently but that hook remained in my subconscious since I heard it initially

[@box5bastard277]

True, and as a kid I always thought Marley had sampled elephants for that horn sound in the bridge yell

[@sdatkb]

Shan was the man in the Juice crew before the rest came on . (Bullet sneakers , bullet proof vest chilling like a villain from the old Wild West .)

[@zinakan]

Very dope. Thanks for taking time to do this. Peace!

[@jerometurner3317]

Mc Shan's I pioneered this is just as dope as listen to my Melody.

[@ItsMeJoshLee]

He got this 14 year old English white kid into HipHop back in the day lol. Am 46 now and still have his first 2 albums.😁

[@madimakes]

IMO "Born to be Wild" is one of the most underrated classics of the era. It embodied so much of that style...people don't respect how Shan's use of space in his flow lent itself so well with Marley's (classic) reverb (style). This record had a feel that matched its cover perfectly, and Marley put in extra work on them beats.

[@paxtongay5703]

I’ma be Brutally Honest. If it wasn’t for that DOWN BY LAW ALBUM I wouldn’t have given a DAMN about Hip Hop, STRICTLY R&B!

[@BlackKanoli]

I see who young LL Cool J got inspired from for sure. Long live Hip Hop!