“Shoot First” by Apathy, featuring B-Real and Celph Titled
Apathy’s message is simple: “Shoot first, ask questions last.” This lack of apology is just part of what makes this track so damn good. Coming off the rapper’s album Wanna Snuggle?, “Shoot First” honors the basics of hip-hop: a dope beat, on-point rhymes and an all-around fun flow. Whether it’s Apathy comparing playing X-Box to “shootin’ at a dead mutant,” B-Real punctuating his verse with the first line of the hook or Celph Titled irreverently referencing Cabbage Patch dolls, every MC brings it. With a plucky, Roots-esque beat, it’s hard not to feel just a little bit gangsta when you bump this song. As cliché as it might be to lament Top 40 rap, most singles are dissatisfying when measured against this instantly classic track. These three minutes will remind you to just do your thing.
