My friend Erwin sent me this great post from The Smoking Section the other day because he knows how much Angela and I love “The Wire.”  We’re still obsessed with it, and I for one get jealous when my good friends (ahem Beauty Maven) run into Marlo out in D.C and snap photos with him. I actually plan on spending some part of V-day weekend curled up in my bed revisiting season 3, because who wouldn’t want to spend Valentine’s Day looking at Idris Elba?

 

The good folk at TSS apparently love the show just as much as we do because Jesse H. had to spend an awful long time trying to figure out which rappers mirror characters from the show. The explanations are a bit short but he covered just about all of my favorite characters. Most of it’s spot-on, a few I disagree with though, but these are my favorites: (And just because people are beefing over who came up with this idea first, I have no problem saying I lifted all these photos from TSS because I’m lazy and they did such a good job at it)

 

Andre 3000 as Lester Freeman

 

 

 

 

TSS says: These wise vets are intensely cerebral while having a creative outlet that helps them make money while expressing themselves. Both have also expressed discontent or disinterest with the state of their environments.

 

Kiana says: Y’all know I love me some Andre 3000 and truth be told, if I had to be a stripper, I’d be like the one who Lester took in as wifey just because she got to mess around with his old, but fine, behind. Plus people always seem to underestimate 3 stacks, but then he drops 16 bars out of no where, that let you know dudes smart enough to solve some murderous mayhem case sorta like Lester did.

 

Da Brat as Snoop

 

 

TSS says: “How my hair look? You look good, girl.”

 

Kiana says: Snoop would have definitely clocked a female over the head with a bottle like Brat just did to land a spot in the pen. And remember when Snoop dressed up like a girl and rode on the back of a motorcycle to shoot up some body’s corner? She looked just like Da’ Brat when she tried to get girly. Plus, major props to Jesse H. for quoting one of my favorite moments from the final season. It was brilliant.

 

50 Cent as Marlo Stanfield

 

 

TSS says: Masters in exaggerated acts of self-promotion for the sake of their own names, these dudes are cold hearted, and not afraid to stoop to any level in their pursuit of power, typically at the embarrassment of their opponents.

 

Kiana says: Even though my heart was always with Stringer Bell, I respected Marlo when he tried to take over some of the Barksdale corners. He seemed smart, he was ruthless, and I loved how he didn’t say much. I felt the same when Fiddy came up. I loved “Get Rich or Die Tryin” but now Fiddy gets on my damn nerves. Both Marlo and Fiddy are cold-blooded. I wanted Marlo to die sooooo bad after what he did to Prop Jo (I won’t spoil everything for y’all slow folk) and now that Fiddy is threatening people’s mom, I really wouldn’t mind if he disappeared off the charts permanently.

 

T.I. as Michael

 

 

 

TSS says: They both exude loads of talent and unspoken confidence, but have had some troubles with the wrong side of the law. Michael made it alive to the series end. Hopefully T.I. will too.

Kiana says: Since Michael is of age in real life, I have no problem saying that the only reason I agree with this is because they are both fine. That. is. all.

 

Now for the ones I’d have to disagree with…

 

Lil Wayne as Bodie

 

 

TSS says:  Both progressed from bouts of juvenile delinquency to mature into effective salesmen. Bodie met a tragic ending after some rash decisions, perhaps the same fate awaits Wayne after his foray into rock?

Kiana says: Jesse asks a valid question about Wayne’s career as a rock star, but I loved Bodie so much I think it’s a bit insulting to compare him to a dude who once said he didn’t like cocaine  because it gave him acne. Bodie was a bit rough around the edges but he was way more intelligent than Wayne. Plus everybody knows Wayne is a pretend gangster, whereas Bodie actually went out like a champ when he could have just ran away like Poot.  In fact, Lil Wayne is more like the Poot of “The Wire” instead of Bodie.

 

Shyne as Wee-Bey

 

 

Tss says:  Down to take a charge for their crews, maybe a little thick-skulled at times, but they know how to keep it real emotionally when the time presents itself. Plus, they’re both still in prison.

 

Kiana says: I’m not disputing the fact that Shyne took a major one for the team but if there’s anybody out there that has sacrificed a lot in the name of former Bad Boy artists, it’s B.I.G.’s good friend D-Roc. Dude has spent some time in prison over Biggie and Lil’ Kim, and is still locked up over that Lil’ Kim legal drama.  Combat Jack gives D-Roc his props over at his site.  I know the guy isn’t a rapper but neither is D’Angelo and TSS says he should play Bubbles (another misfire).

 

Asher Roth as McNulty

 

 

 

TSS says: White, perpetually drunk and perfectly okay with it.

 

Kiana says: If we’re going to use being white and a drunk as qualifiers, I think Eminem would have been a better fit (TSS says Eminem should be Mayor Carcetti).  Bubbles was right to call McNulty “McNutty” and Eminem is a nut! As crazy as they both are, no one can deny the fact that they are both great at what they do. Both are geniuses, yet so many people want to destroy them.

 

I on the other hand don’t want to destroy anyone over at TSS. That drop was awesome no matter who came up with the idea. Check out the whole thing here.

Tags: 50 Cent, André 3000, Asher Roth, Da' Brat, Eminem, Lil Wayne, Rappers on The Wire, Shyne, T.I., The Smoking Section, The Wire, TSS