Spring Break
Acronyms in music
Stephen Ortiz
Issue date: 10/2/08 Section: Focus
Our lead review today, "Paper Trail," is by an artist with an acronym for a name. What it stands for? I have no clue. But there are some acronyms I can tell you about. Here are five of my favorite acronym-titled songs.
"C.R.E.A.M." Wu-Tang Clan
What It Stands For: "Cash rules everything around me."
Why It's Great: From Method Man saying, "Cash rules everything around me / Cream, get the money / Dolla, dolla bills ya'll," to Raekwon and Inspector Deck's slick verses, "C.R.E.A.M." is a Wu-Tang essential. The acronym itself is still used in songs by rappers like Nas to the U.G.K.
"B.O.B." Outkast
What It Stands For: "Bombs over Baghdad."
Why It's Great: Why isn't it great? Arguably the best Outkast song in their extensive hits library. It features Andre 3000 when he was still weird (well, weirder than he is now) and rapping, Big Boi spitting one of his fastest and most complex verses and an electro-rock beat unlike any other.
"O.P.P." Naughty By Nature
What It Stands For: The proper definition is "other people's property" but frontman Treach suggests something a bit different when he raps, "O is for other, P is for people scratchin' temple / The last P...well ... that's not that simple / It's sorta like another way to call a cat a kitten."
Why It's Great: This 1991 jam sampled the Jackson 5's "ABC" and propelled Naughty By Nature to platinum status. A staple of '90s pop culture, "O.P.P." is a fun, house party song that, despite its racy lyrics, takes on an innocent disposition thanks to genius production and sampling.
"B.Y.O.B." System of a Down
What It Stands For: "Bring your own bombs."
Why It's Great: System of a Down's first single off of "Mezmerize" took a regularly used acronym for bring your own beer and transformed it into a political message. It's loud, fast and very frantic.
"A.D.I.D.A.S." Korn
What It Stands For: "All day I dream about sex."
Why It's Great: It's a shameless song, but it knows it, and that's cool. It's got that classic Korn feel (you know, that grungy, rough guitar sound) and a sing-a-long chorus about daydreaming the naughty? So bad, it's good.
"C.R.E.A.M." Wu-Tang Clan
What It Stands For: "Cash rules everything around me."
Why It's Great: From Method Man saying, "Cash rules everything around me / Cream, get the money / Dolla, dolla bills ya'll," to Raekwon and Inspector Deck's slick verses, "C.R.E.A.M." is a Wu-Tang essential. The acronym itself is still used in songs by rappers like Nas to the U.G.K.
"B.O.B." Outkast
What It Stands For: "Bombs over Baghdad."
Why It's Great: Why isn't it great? Arguably the best Outkast song in their extensive hits library. It features Andre 3000 when he was still weird (well, weirder than he is now) and rapping, Big Boi spitting one of his fastest and most complex verses and an electro-rock beat unlike any other.
"O.P.P." Naughty By Nature
What It Stands For: The proper definition is "other people's property" but frontman Treach suggests something a bit different when he raps, "O is for other, P is for people scratchin' temple / The last P...well ... that's not that simple / It's sorta like another way to call a cat a kitten."
Why It's Great: This 1991 jam sampled the Jackson 5's "ABC" and propelled Naughty By Nature to platinum status. A staple of '90s pop culture, "O.P.P." is a fun, house party song that, despite its racy lyrics, takes on an innocent disposition thanks to genius production and sampling.
"B.Y.O.B." System of a Down
What It Stands For: "Bring your own bombs."
Why It's Great: System of a Down's first single off of "Mezmerize" took a regularly used acronym for bring your own beer and transformed it into a political message. It's loud, fast and very frantic.
"A.D.I.D.A.S." Korn
What It Stands For: "All day I dream about sex."
Why It's Great: It's a shameless song, but it knows it, and that's cool. It's got that classic Korn feel (you know, that grungy, rough guitar sound) and a sing-a-long chorus about daydreaming the naughty? So bad, it's good.
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