The Best Nods & References To The Hip-Hop Culture In Marvel's Luke Cage

Marvel’s Luke Cagee is ripe with Hip-Hop culture references that can be appreciated mostly by 80’s babies and 90’s toddlers. That being said a lot of these homages would go over the heads of anyone who wasn’t totally immersed in the culture during Hip-Hop’s halcyon days, the golden era or the 90’s.

While a lot of websites decided to compile lists of the show’s many Marvel Comics and Marvel Cinematic Universe references (there were practically hundreds) found throughout Luke Cage, HipHopWired decided to assemble the very much appreciated Hip-Hop related references, sayings, and iconic cameo appearances that we caught throughout the smash series.

So we’ve jotted down every last one that we noticed and while some of these are just wild shots in the dark, it kind of makes sense if you think about it…or just wish it to be true.

We’re also going to acknowledge that there’s a good chance we didn’t catch every last reference that could’ve been hiding in plain sight so please feel free to add your two cents on what we might’ve missed or might’ve misinterpreted.

So enjoy as HipHopWired presents The Best Nods & References To Hip-Hop Culture In Marvel’s Luke Cage.

Moment Of Truth

The Biggie Portrait

Icon: Notorious B.I.G.

The most obvious of all references is probably one that Lil Yachty wouldn’t have caught had he not received a huge backlash for his lack of Hip-Hop recognition earlier this year. The portrait of the King of New York, The Notorious B.I.G. a.k.a. Frank White a.k.a. The G.O.A.T., that hung in Cottonmouth’s lair is one of the most famous images of the dearly departed. It was also the first eye catcher that set up what would be an abundance of Hip-Hop related references throughout the series.

Photos: Netflix

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Mrs. Wu

Reference Maybe: Wu-Tang Clan

Just sayin’, it could be a nod to The Wu-Tang.

Diamondback

Reference Maybe: Ludacris’ song “Diamond In The Back”

Another “maybe” scenario but like Luke Cage, Willis “Diamondback” Stryker IS from the state of Georgia so it’s plausible that he was a Ludacris fan in the 00’s.

Code Of The Streets

“Brother got more jobs than a Jamaican.”

Reference: Stereotypical hood ish heads used to say back in the day

When Cottonmouth told said Luke Cage had “more jobs than a Jamaican” it was a throwback hackneyed joke heads used to say about anyone who had more than one job. The notion gained immense popularity thanks to the classic comedy 90’s show In Living Color.

Fun fact: In Living Color helped launch the careers of The Wayans brothers (all 100 of them), Jim Carrey, Jennifer Lopez (she was a Fly Girl), and Jamie Foxx. Check out the sketch below.

Who’s Gonna Take The Weight?

Bring Da Muthaf*ckin’ Ruckus

“Bring Da Ruckus” playing while Luke took out Cottonmouth’s crew wasn’t a reference so much as it was off the meatrack. Just felt obligated to throw this in here.

Step In The Arena

Is Squabbles the Poet?

Reference: Oz

Though he’s an entirely different character, Squabbles is played by the same actor – Craig muMs Grant – who played fan favorite character Poet on HBO’s 90’s hit prison series, Oz. We acknowledge that this could be a total reach or a cleverly planted character for the culture.

Five Deadly Venoms, Clan Of The White Lotus, Five Fingers Of Death, etc.

Reference: Kung Fu Flicks

Growing up in the 70s and 80’s meant you watched tons of kung-Ffu flicks from overseas. I mean, where do you think Wu-Tang Clan got their name from, a menu? When speaking on them, Squabbles mentioned watching them on 42^nd street (grindhouse status more than likely), but because movie theaters were expensive and having cable was an even greater luxury, most heads caught them on TV on Saturday afternoons or late nights and watched them into the wee hours of the morning. Everyone went to school on Monday morning swearing they were Black Belts. None of us were nor did we own any real black belts. Everyone wore sweats or pants that fit just right or just tight everyday. Great times.

Just To Get A Rep

“You wanna go to war? I’ll take you to war.”

Reference: Scarface

Brian DePalma’s classic 1980’s film about a Cuban immigrant (played by Al Pacino) produced countless classic phrases, lines, and scenes that will live forever thanks mostly in part to Hip-Hop and the impact it had on the culture. Any true Hip-Hop head would know that the majority of rappers not only made references to the timeless picture, but have also sampled its audio and score (“Criminology,” “Push It,” It’s Mine,” etc).

“This mob’s not deep enough.”

Reference To: Mobb Deep

When Luke responded to Cottonmouth’s threat of war with “This mob’s not deep enough” it surely seemed like a wink to one of Hip-Hop’s best duo’s of the golden era. Straight outta Queensbridge, Mobb Deep is one of the most recognized and revered Hip-Hop groups of the 90’s. Along with Nas, Mobb Deep helped solidified the QBC as one of the most formidable NYC Hip-Hop clicks of the decade. Not only did the Infamous Mobb go on to sell millions of records (not stream “sell” either), they also helped pave the way for numerous other QB rappers to make some noise of their own.

Dapper Dan

Icon: Dapper Dan, fool!

Dapper Dan. Homage: Dapper Dan, fool! Since the 80’s Harlem’s own Dapper Dan’s been tailoring everyone from Hip-Hop royalty to street legends with over the top pimp-ish attire that was second to none. The OG customizer worked magic on both his clientele and their automobiles, but once word got overseas that he was using knockoff Gucci and Louis Vuitton trademark imprints for his own creations, they took immediate action and made sure he never went commercial—while ripping off the style he created.

Did Detective Shakima “Kima” Greggs Get Promoted to Captain Betty Aubrey?

Reference: The Wire

Another favorite character from a classic HBO series brought on board for the people. Sonja Sohn played Detective Shakima Greggs on the Baltimore based cops and hustlers drama, The Wire and years later returns as Captain Betty Audrey on Luke Cage. Coincidence or does Marvel know how to please its Hip-Hop fan base?

Photo: abebooks.com

“Benign Neglect”

Reference: Can’t Stop Won’t Stop: A History Of The Hip-Hop Generation By Jeff Chang

Cottonmouth’s henchman, Koko, references Can’t Stop Won’t Stop by Jeff Chang when suggesting “benign neglect” might be an answer for dealing with Luke Cage. While he got shot in the dome for his effort, this book is worth reading even if it may mean catching a hot one for educating yourself on some Hip-Hop history. Okay, maybe it’s not that serious but it’s still something any true Hip-Hopper or anyone curious about the culture should read at least once in their lifetime.

Manifest

“Got that John Blaze shit.”

Reference: 90’s Hip-Hop slang

Though Method Man used the nickname “Johnny Blaze” for himself (a comicbook reference to Ghost Rider), the term “John Blaze” was used to imply that something was hot fiyah. Hustlers would say that they had the “John Blaze” product and their customers would say that said product had them “John Blazed” later on that day. He also said…

“Fly, Pelican Fly”

Reference: Scarface

Another catchy saying from the classic flick.

Blowin’ Up The Spot

“Can You dig it?” & “Come out and play.”

Reference: The Warriors

No, not the Golden State Warriors, Mr. or Mrs. millennial. The cult classic 70’s flick, The Warriors. Another film which provided us with much joy, thrill, and excitement along with these two classic sayings.

Take It Personal

“A few ILLMATIC deaths.”

Reference: Illmatic

Nas’ classic debut and arguably the greatest Hip-Hop album ever made, Illmatic. Before that album dropped can’t no one remember anyone ever using that word for anything. After it dropped everything was “Illmatic” from rhymes to chopped cheese sandwiches.

Now You’re Mine

“What You talkin’ about Willis?”

Reference: Different Strokes

A show about an old white millionaire who took in two Black children from the slums of Harlem The quote “What you talkin’ ‘bout Willis?” was made famous by the biggest little star of the show, Arnold Drummond (R.I.P Gary Coleman).

Sidenote: We in the hood suspect this show might’ve inspired some of today’s top white Hollywood celebs to adopt Black children from third world countries. Either that or it was just the trend amongst them for some odd reason.

Soliloquy of Chaos

Method Man

Icon: Method Man

A.k.a. Meth a.k.a. Johnny Blaze a.k.a. Tical a.k.a. The Iron Lung a.k.a. Hot NiKkles a.k.a. – son had a lot of aliases, b. And as dope as it was for him to be a part of Luke Cage, it does make us wonder why it wasn’t Cam’ron, Juelz Santana or even one of the A$AP Mob members or any other of the many Harlem rappers that made a name for themselves in the rap game. We ain’t complaining though.

Sway

Icon: Sway

Sway is one of, if not, the most recognizable and beloved Hip-Hop media personalities in the game. Having been in the game since the early 90’s, the OG Hip-Hop journalist is considered by many to be the Tom Brokaw of the culture.

The Glow

Reference Maybe: The Last Dragon

Ok, we’ll admit that we’re really reaching with this one. Like Scottie Pippen arm length reaching forreal. After Diamondback turned Harlem’s Paradise into rubble he went to hide out at some warehouse near the Harlem River. Coincidentally enough, that warehouse does look a bit like the one where the villainous Sho’nuff shot the fair one with the heroic Bruce Leroy and found “the glow” to whup some ass in the process in the classic film The Last Dragon. In this scene of Luke Cage, Diamondback is cornered by Selena’s little brother and his murderous mariachi band of brothers, but is able to take them all down after he opens up a box which contains a special super suit that glows.

Again we’ll admit that this is a Stretch Armstrong reach but anything is possible in the MCU. That said if there isn’t a reference to the greatest hood martial arts movie of all-time in any of the Luke Cage episodes then Marvel really dropped the ball on that one.

Also if you’ve never seen The Last Dragon but have seen The Karate Kid like 100 times then you played yourself up to this point in life.