10 Musical Shifts That Fell Flat On Their Face

Dee Dee Ramone is one of the reasons we’re still talking about the Ramones today. For as much as people rag on the band for being basic, Dee Dee was the one who founded the group that single handedly created the punk rock movement. Dee Dee could have easily kept writing letter-perfect punk for the rest of time, but instead he decided to ruin his track record by trying his hand at rap.

Given everything that seems wrong with this idea on paper, one can almost see this working. After all, punk rock and hip hop both have roots in New York City and are both known for being from the streets first and foremost.

Masking himself as Dee Dee King, most of the songs released during this time end up feeling like throwaways from lesser hip hop acts. Ramone’s original approach was always known for its simplicity, but this is where the charm wears off and it starts sounding dumb.

It’s noble of Dee Dee to still try to sound dangerous after years of punk rock bombast, but these verses have no business being anywhere near stuff like the Beastie Boys or Run-DMC. All musicians should follow their muse, but in terms of making enjoyable music, Dee Dee should have probably stuck to what he knew best.