Christmas Countdown: 773

Chance the Rapper and Jeremih try to keep Christmas real by sweet singing about Jesus, then slipping in some rap about the troubles of the world–you should Christmas out those bad times for those put upon! Chance ends “Joy” with the shout-out: I’m on my 773 love, probably a reference to a Chicago phone code (made famous in the hit “Jeremih Loves 773” which also includes the other Chi-town area code 779).

Christmas Countdown: 800+

Kanye got together with Cam’ron, Jim Jones, Vado, Cyhi Da Prynce, Pusha-T, Musiq Soulchild, Teyana Taylor, and Big Sean and freestyled all about the fun and chaos of “Christmas in Harlem.” It’s all about women and dollars with a touch of family. Cyhi admits he won’t be home for the family though, as he’s more than 800 miles away. I do love the Teyana Taylor recurring verse, and that–apart from an N-word or two, the casual obscenity is not in this holiday celebration.

Christmas Countdown: 808

808 is popular in hip hop, i’m guess, from the rhythm machine often used (Roland TR-808), and not from the police code for disturbing the peace.

Take Ifan Sivac (please!) and the “Winter Christmas” ‘song’ that makes you stretch to figure out the language native to these ‘singers.’ Nauseous pop that includes the 808 hits that hard, full of trap.

Less embarrassing, an energetic rap from Saevus (feat. Ballad and Pap!land) “Christmas & 808’s” chuckles and ruffles and BLUE ALERTS like it’s fun.

Sampling in 808 on blast Far East Movement (feat. MNEK) winds up some melody with “Christmas in Downtown L.A.

Filthy and fun, “Christmas Cookies” by Blight Dolezal goes full chipmunk rap with BLUE ALERT to spare. Don’t believe me? Careful: Please fill me with up your nutmeg please do it I’ll beg Drill my ass with your penis under the sunset Bang it like a 808 drum leave the pussy upset. Oh my.

Also carnally intent, “WHERE THE GIFTS AT” by Alexander FRE$co is the usual complaint to Santa (How you 808 and still can’t put down the fuckin plate?) about skipping certain kids. OutBLUE-ALERTrage galore. Rap’s that way.

More fun is the “Jingle Bells” parody by 4melodia (feat. London Elixir, Dalicia La Fleur & Mattie B). Oh what fun it is to shake your bells like an 808! Warning, there may be twerking.

Millionaire’s Estate will Make the 808 big bust in “Litmas,” a Christmas rap carol with a sinister back beat. Plenty of naughtiness to go around, but not a single profanity proffered. (My preference!)

Christmas countdown: 1000*

The REAL meaning of Christmas–(by the thousand)?

Shanta Fuentes’s wishlist Has grown a thousand feet (Where she hopes that Everyone would find peace) in “Snow Baby (Fa La La La Love)”. Diva pop blues that dances more than preaches.

Composercleo laments that There are people in this world Spending a thousand something. But his “Screwge” is a playful be-boppity rap which just complains about the commercialism of gifting. The alternative, he hints, is family.

Christmas Countdown: 1200

Party rap from 69 Boyz, Quad City DJ’s, K-Nock and the whole Quad City family off the dam fine Quad City All Star Christmas album asks whatcha gunna get him/her for that special gift. The boys ask for a twelve disc changer and on and on. The girls start with twelve hundred dollars. So “What You Want for Christmas” makes our list of numbers. Worth it at the given price point.

Christmas Countdown: 1843

Calle Bini has a convivial rap style combining science, anthropology, history and Christmas in “One Degree.” I guess it means we’re not all that separated from each other, but Chas Dickens gets a shout-out for penning his ‘Carol’ in 1843 and popularizing religious observation as being about family.