Now time for a new segment real quick before we blow into list week. Last week, it was announced that Das Racist broke up. Not only had they broken up, but they’ve actually been broken up for months. Heems, Kool A.D., and Dapwell (Who, let’s admit, really didn’t do anything) won’t make music together anymore.

I’ve been a big fan of their stuff, including their nearly game-changing mixtapes Shut Up, Dude and Sit Down, Man. I’m also one of the only people who thought that Relax was pretty great. They just an ear for great beats and smart lyrics. Plus, these guys did bring in a huge line of underground rappers such as Danny Brown, Mr. MFN eXquire, Despot, and brought El-P back from a near hiatus. So, in honor of them not being a band anymore, I present my 5 favorite Das Racist songs, in no particular order.

You Oughta Know (From Shut Up, Dude)

Probably my favorite Das Racist production this far, the sample of Billy Joel’s Movin’ Out gets me every time. So does their weird “sing-along” over it.  Kool A.D. and Heems have some fantastic lines and delivery on this track, too. It’s just a great song where everything just works.

Rainbow In the Dark (From Shut Up, Dude and Relax)

This track is great, showing a lot of weird charisma and charm from Kool A.D., a great beat that switches from subtle to kind of booming. While Heems isn’t really the focus, it still manages to feel as if he’s there. Plus, this is the best I’ve ever heard Kool A. D. rapping, so that’s something, too.

Who’s That? BROOOWN (From Shut Up, Dude)

This is the first Das Racist song I ever heard. The beat, while initially incredibly annoying, it grew on me as something loud and oddly defiant. The lyrics are, as usual, pretty great. The beat is pretty great, too. Also, Heem’s verse is pretty great, too. This song made me a fan, and while at first it annoyed me, it grew into something I really loved.

Michael Jackson (From Relax)

The lead single to their debut album got a lot of mixed response. The song doesn’t make too much sense, the beat is an aggressive 90s fighting game theme sped up, and this is the most aggressive thing they’ve released. But that’s why I love it. It keeps the Das Racist style but amps up the energy a bit. Heems sounds like an absolute monster on his verse, and Kool A.D. sounds out of place (In a good way?) with his incredibly calm delivery.

Girl (From Relax)

This is another song that some people don’t like. It shows a clear pop direction, focusing more on the absolutely amazing beat and Kool A.D.’s earnestyl off-key singing. But that’s what’s great about it. The rhythm, verses, style, and pop attitude is something that showed something new for Das Racist. A direction that we’ll sadly never get to see anymore of. Unless Heems and Kool A.D. decide to take it into their solo releases. We’ll have to wait and see.