I know, this post has a total linkbait title– there are hundreds of rap songs that could be crowned the darkest, the baddest, or the most moving. Shootouts with the federales, the bustin’ of slugs upon enemies, and the curse of the crack-pipe are common enough motifs, rich fodder for countless ghetto ballads.

But one song sticks in my mind more than others: “Dance With the Devil” by Immortal Technique.

The Peruvian born, Harlem raised artist solidified his reputation engaging in fiery battle raps. He eventually released Revolutionary Vol. I, the excellent Revolutionary Vol II, and The 3rd World as well as a grab-bag of freestyle raps, mixes and odds & ends that can be found strewn across the hip hop underground.

Immortal Technique’s lyrics are at once insightful and incendiary, and packed with leftist outrage and astonishing metaphors. For example, in one lyric he refers to a subway full of workers as a “multicultural slave ship”, and in another, brands Condaleeza Rice a “new age Sally Hemmings”.

The rapper is currently in an interesting place, too underground to fully break into the mainstream, yet well known enough to have gathered a large following. This may actually be the best place for him to be, for signing onto a major label would likely force him to abandon his more extreme lyrics–something he says he would never do.

Anyways…”Dance With the Devil” from Technique’s first album gets my vote. Despite its raw production, the song works so well because it tells a conventional, almost stereotypical ghetto story and then suddenly punctuates it with a horrifying twist. The flow which facilitates the final revelation is relentless, gripping and not soon forgotten:

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