“Never Talk Down” was released as a single on both
@therealrappin4tay ’s masterpiece, the #OffParole album, and
@tooshort ’s monumental #GettinIt LP, (Album Number Ten). The songs have slightly different mixes. Though many consider the track a #tooshort song, I tend to lean more 4-Tay for a couple of reasons. An easy place to start is the release date — “Off Parole” was released two months before “Gettin’ It”. I'm not sure who dropped the single first (I only own the 12-inch promo from “Off Parole”), but as soon as I can dig up a “Gettin’ It” promo, I'll check the notes. However, the date doesn't matter really, and here’s why…
The reason I feel like it’s a 4-Tay song is in the track’s arrangement. Both artists have two verses, but 4-Tay not only has the opening verse — he also leads the chorus, meaning that for most of the time the record spins, we are also listening 4-Tay rap. When #MCBreed takes the mic, he shouts out #Rappin4Tay’s name first each time as he name-drops the Bay Area lineup. IMHO, Rappin’ 4-Tay is the leading man in both appearance and the stakeholder in the overall running time of the song. As a matter of fact, I can’t see why “Never Talk Down” would ever be considered a Short Dog song outside of a boring “popularity contest” argument.
And just in case there were any more questions about “whose song is it?”, here's a quote from Genius.com: “The version of 'Never Talk Down' that appears on Too $hort’s Gettin’ It album is technically a remix. It was originally listed as the “Shorty B Street Drum Mix” on the 12” single to Rappin’ 4-Tay’s original.”
What do you think? Validity or BS? I put a poll on the post for you to decide, so choose carefully.
Regardless, it’s a helluva track. Too $hort and 4-Tay did work on all four of their verses, and in the end, it's a big win for hip-hop that the song appears on both of those classic albums.
This is all love to both rappers by the way, you know I'd “never talk down on a playa”.
Event:
@nationwidepresents “Tha Playaz Club.”
@ndubk
Artists: Rappin’ 4-Tay
Host:
@jorge.8.24 @deandrachanelleyourfashiongirl
DJ:
@slikkboogie__
Venue:
@whiskeybarrel 
