If you were anywhere near a radio or a block party in 1991, you heard it. That hypnotic, acoustic guitar loop. The crisp snap of the snare. Then, the voice of Greg Nice, arguably the most energetic man in the history of the Bronx, letting you know that sometimes I rhyme slow sometimes I rhyme quick. It wasn't just a catchy hook; it was a manifesto for an era where hip-hop was transitioning from the golden age into something more polished, yet somehow more raw.
The track is a masterclass in contrast. You have Greg Nice, the high-octane hype man who turned ad-libs into an art form, paired with Smooth B, one of the most underrated lyricists to ever pick up a microphone. While Greg was busy making sure the energy never dipped below a ten, Smooth B was delivering some of the most soulful, narrative-driven verses the genre had seen.
Honestly, the song shouldn't have worked as well as it did. It samples Tracy Chapman’s "Fast Car," a somber folk-rock ballad about poverty and escapism, and flips it into a swaggering New York anthem about lyrical prowess and romantic drama. It was a bold move by producer Pure Blend. In 1991, sampling a contemporary folk hit was a massive risk, but it paid off by creating a sonic landscape that felt both nostalgic and futuristic at the same time.
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The Story Behind the Lyrics
When people talk about sometimes I rhyme slow sometimes I rhyme quick, they often forget how much ground the song actually covers. It’s not just a "party" track. Smooth B spends a significant portion of the song weaving a cautionary tale about a relationship spiraling out of control due to drug use.
He talks about a girl who had it all—beauty, brains, a bright future—only to watch her succumb to the "white lady." It’s heavy stuff. It’s a stark contrast to the breezy, rhythmic flow of the chorus. This juxtaposition is exactly what gave the song its staying power. You could dance to it in the club, but you could also sit in your room and actually feel the weight of the storytelling.
Greg Nice, on the other hand, brings the "quick" to the "slow." His verses are punchy. They’re chaotic in the best way possible. He’s the guy who gave us lines like "Dizzy Gillespie plays the sax—no, he plays the trumpet!" He didn't care about being a "backpack" lyricist; he cared about the vibe. He understood that hip-hop is, at its core, about movement.
Why the Tracy Chapman Sample Changed Everything
Sampling is the lifeblood of hip-hop, but the "Fast Car" loop in sometimes I rhyme slow sometimes I rhyme quick was a turning point. Before this, most samples were pulled from 70s funk, soul, or jazz. Reaching into the 80s folk-pop catalog was unconventional.
- It broadened the audience. Suddenly, people who didn't listen to rap were humming along because they recognized the melody.
- It proved that hip-hop could be melodic without losing its edge.
- It paved the way for the "shiny suit" era of the late 90s, where pop-sampling became the standard for chart-topping hits.
Tracy Chapman's original version of "Fast Car" is about a cycle of struggle. Nice & Smooth didn't ignore that feeling; they just re-contextualized it. When Smooth B rhymes about the girl he loves losing herself, the melancholy of that acoustic guitar loop provides the perfect emotional backdrop. It’s a rare moment of vulnerability in an era often defined by bravado.
The Cultural Impact and the "Aint No Other" Album
This song was the lead single from their second album, Ain't No Other. While their debut self-titled album put them on the map with hits like "More and More Fun," it was sometimes I rhyme slow sometimes I rhyme quick that made them household names.
The music video, directed by the legendary Diane Martel, was a visual staple on Yo! MTV Raps and Video Music Box. It featured the duo in their element, rocking the oversized fits and the infectious smiles that defined the "New School" aesthetic. They looked like they were having the time of their lives, which made the audience feel the same way.
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What’s wild is how often this phrase has been referenced since. From Kanye West to random battle rappers, the "sometimes I rhyme slow" cadence is a permanent fixture in the hip-hop lexicon. It’s a rhythmic DNA that hasn't faded. You can hear its echoes in any track that balances a sung-melodic chorus with rapid-fire verses.
The Technical Brilliance of the Flow
Let’s get technical for a second. Hip-hop heads love to debate "flow," and this track is a textbook example of how to manage tempo.
The beat stays at a consistent, mid-tempo 94 BPM. This is the "sweet spot" for 90s hip-hop. It’s slow enough to groove to, but fast enough to keep the energy up. Smooth B plays with the "slow" side of this, often trailing his sentences slightly behind the beat to create a laid-back, "behind the pocket" feel.
Then Greg Nice crashes in.
He emphasizes the "quick." He uses internal rhymes and percussive consonants to make his voice sound like a drum kit. When he shouts "I'm the cream of the crop, the top of the heap," he isn't just saying words; he's hitting notes.
Misconceptions About Nice & Smooth
One of the biggest misconceptions is that Nice & Smooth were just a "fun" group. Because they had such a jovial stage presence and Greg Nice was known for his eccentricities, people sometimes overlook the technical skill involved.
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Smooth B’s verse on this track is actually quite complex. He uses a narrative structure that moves through time—starting with the initial attraction, moving to the realization of the problem, and ending with the tragic fallout. That’s hard to do in 16 bars while maintaining a flow that people can dance to.
Another mistake? Thinking they were a one-hit wonder. While sometimes I rhyme slow sometimes I rhyme quick is their biggest crossover hit, "Hip Hop Junkies" and "Old to the New" were massive underground successes. They were the bridge between the old-school park jams and the new-school industry dominance.
How to Appreciate the Track Today
If you’re revisiting the song or hearing it for the first time, don't just listen to it on your phone speakers.
- Find a high-quality vinyl rip or a lossless stream. The bass line on this track is incredibly warm. It needs room to breathe.
- Listen to the Tracy Chapman original immediately after. You’ll realize just how much Pure Blend changed the mood while keeping the soul intact.
- Pay attention to the ad-libs. Greg Nice’s "Oooh! Aaah!" and his background shouts are what give the song its "live" feeling. It sounds like they’re recording in a room full of people, even if they weren't.
The song is a reminder that hip-hop doesn't have to be one thing. It can be sad and happy. It can be slow and quick. It can be folk and rap.
Actionable Steps for Hip-Hop Enthusiasts
To truly understand the legacy of sometimes I rhyme slow sometimes I rhyme quick, you should dig into the broader context of the 1991 hip-hop scene. This was the year of The Low End Theory and De La Soul Is Dead. Hip-hop was becoming more experimental and more intellectual.
- Listen to the full Ain't No Other album. It's a cohesive project that showcases the duo's versatility beyond just the radio singles.
- Watch the live performances. Nice & Smooth were notorious for their stage shows. Seeing Greg Nice move in sync with his lyrics explains why he phrased things the way he did.
- Research the "New School" era. Look into how the Native Tongues movement influenced artists like Nice & Smooth to be more playful with their sampling and lyrical themes.
- Try to find the 12-inch remix. Many of the 12-inch singles from this era included "Dub" versions or "Acapellas" that allow you to hear the intricacies of the production and the vocal layers that are buried in the radio edit.
The beauty of this song lies in its simplicity. It doesn't try too hard, yet it accomplishes everything a great record should. It tells a story, it makes you move, and it stays in your head for thirty years. It's the definition of a timeless classic.