Hannibal Buress Drops New Rap Single About Judge Judy

In case the title is confusing, the answer is “Yes.  THAT Hannibal Buress.  The comedian.”  The 37-year-old Chicago native began doing stand-up in the early 2000s, but his career has taken several twists and turns over the years, even prior to becoming forever labeled as the guy who ruined Bill Cosby‘s life, after simply referencing already well-known sexual assault allegations in a bit during a 2014 club show that went viral from an audience member’s cell phone recording.  As a writer, he worked for a short period of time on both SNL and 30 Rock, where he also performed several bit onscreen roles.  In the film world he’s starred in movies like TAG, had minor parts in films like Spiderman Homecoming and Baywatch, and even voices a character in the Secret Life Of Pets series.  His most well known roles are probably as the Ed MacMahon-style sidekick on The Eric Andre Show, and the character of “Lincoln” on Broad City.  But while he possesses the titles of comedian, actor, writer, and producer, one aspect that seems to be mentioned much less, but has regularly permeated his entire career is music.

Buress has regularly demonstrated ties to the hip hop world, and the experimental Los Angeles Low End Theory / Brainfeeder Records scene, especially.  Perhaps his deepest connection is to LA-based Chicago transplant Open Mike Eagle, who was his resident advisor at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.  OME once appeared on the Eric Andre Show as a challenger running an obstacle course for a Rapper Ninja Warrior segment, alongside fellow emcees like Danny Brown, Nocando, and Asap Rocky.  Hannibal worked with Mike a lot and, prior to that, even spit a verse on the song “Doug Stamper (Advice Raps)” from his 2014 album, Dark Comedy.  Other Chicago artists have also collaborated with him, like Chance The Rapper, who included him in his 2013 “NaNa” 5K music video, and BJ the Chicago Kid who, not only put him on the track “Nothin But Love,” but also tapped him to play the role of a problematic mullet-sporting Cupid in his video for “The New Cupid” ft. Kendrick Lamar.  Similarly, the comic rapped on the Jean Grae X Quelle Chris track “OhSh,” while physically appearing with Eric Andre in their video for “Gold Purple Orange,” another song that he isn’t on from the exact same album.  Additionally, he has contributed intros and interludes on releases from acts including The Cool Kids, Static Selektah, and Lil Dicky.  Then there’s the Hannibal Burress robot doppleganger that once took part in a “bass off” versus Thundercat, and when, at last year’s Adult Swim Festival, Hannibal tricked the crowd by posing as MF DOOM during Flying Lotus‘s Captain Murphy set.  In 2013, YouTube streamed something called The Big Live Comedy Show as part of their comedy week event, wherein Burress, backed by Skrillex as his DJ, performed a song called “Gibberish Rap,” while donning matching 90s Puff Daddy-style shiny suits with his hype man, actor Ryan Phillippe.  Beyond all of that is his Matrix-themed freestyling alias, Morpheus Buress that spit hot fyah about eating “walruses orifices” before sipping a 40oz in a satin-lined coffin to close out an Eric Andre Show episode.

So… I guess the point is that Hannibal Buress does, in fact, have a documented history in the rap game and it’s not as left field as it might seem for him to release a track of his own.  He’s clearly a comedian first and foremost, but those who know, know.  In fact, during his interview on the hot wing eating talk show, Hot Ones, host, Sean Evans first asks him about his verse on the Frederick Scott song “Versace Breakfast” before asking him to end his appearance with a freestyle rap.

Today, Hannibal Burress releases a brand new track simply titled, “Judge Judy.”  Produced by Chrome Sparks, the song includes a healthy dose of T-Pain-style auto-tune and features Ron Lamont, who recently worked with the comedian on his remix to “We’re Playing Basketball” surrounding his celebrity All Star Game appearance in February.  The lyrics on “Judge Judy” are delivered from the perspective of a former defendant on the courtroom reality show, who was being sued for back rent.  It’s an interesting choice of subject matter for someone that, during a 2014 Conan interview, complained about throwing a party in a former rental and finding himself at odds with the owner who he referred to as “a real monster” that “sucked,” only to find himself as part of some left field, controversial social media blow-back, complete with memes accusing him of becoming some sort of predatory, anti-rent control landlord, himself, years later.  But, to Burress, the creation of this tune really stems more from his fascination with and curiosity about the type of people that willingly subject themselves to her wrath on National televisoin.

Hannibal elaborates:

“Judge Judy is an examination of Judy’s longevity and tenacity in a simple format.  5200 episodes of the same scenarios.  Why do people go on the show knowing that there’s a good chance of being berated? Does their fandom blind them so much that they’re willing to be embarrassed on national television by the legend?   What happens when they return to their hometowns?  Do they ever live it down or is it a stain on them forever? Chrome Sparks killed the beat.  Ron Lamont did an amazing job on the hook.“

Check out the track below.  Then, you can tune into ABC at 8/7 pm CST tonight to catch Hannibal Burress on the celebrity edition of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire where he will be competing for the Chicago-based arts and technology center/charity that he founded, Melvina Masterminds.