Chuck D famously characterized hip-hop as the CNN of the streets -- a compelling and accurate statement. But have you ever watched old cable-news clips? It's weird. Something now old and played out was, for a moment, breaking news on the cutting edge.

In a culture obsessed with having the latest gadgets and flossiest digital items, hip-hop has always thrived on the latest technology too. So, today many hip-hop songs have aged into fine vintage classics; for
example, Tribe's meditation on romance, "Bonita Applebaum," or mabye Pete Rock and CL Smooth's "T.R.O.Y.," a rap about life and family. But, um, Maceo's "Nextel Chirp"? Yeah, not exactly a timeless notion, to say the least. Beyond that little ditty from a few years ago, hip-hop has a nice track record of references that today seems quaint. Here we present the 10 most outdated tech references in hip-hop, with an example of what the line might be in 2009.



"Chips that power nuclear bombs power my Sega" -- Jeru the Damaja on "Return of the Crooklyn Dodgers"

This was actually a pretty insightful line from Jeru, as years later reports would circulate that you actually could use a Playstation to power a range of sophisticated digital weaponry. Still, Segas are mad old.

Updated: "Chips that power IEDs power my PS3"



"Motorola two-way page me" -- Jay-Z on "Give It 2 Me"

Wow, OK. This sexy notion sounds a lot less sexy when we're talking about a chunky, bleeping hunk of junk.

Updated: "Blackberry BBM me"



"Going to the bathroom / Two-way on the TV / Come back it's my baby daddy / Trying to see who's beeping me" -- La Chat on "Two Way Freak"

While the notion of texting back and forth is still relevant, all of Three 6 Mafia lost their contacts in the great Sidekick data suck of 2009.

Updated: "Going to the bathroom / iPhone on the TV / Come back it's my baby daddy / Trying to see who's tweeting me"



"I got matching VCRs and a Big Magnavox" -- Jay-Z on "Politics As Usual"

As the Sinatra of hip-hop, we had two include two of Jay's lines. This one's older and radder. Two VCRs! Think about it.

Updated: "I got matching Blu-rays and a projector Samsung box"



"Beep me 911 / or call me on my cell" -- Missy Elliot on "Beep Me 911"

Some rappers decided to commit fully to a particular mode of communication. This is kind of like writing a song about Ma Bell. Oh, wait -- sorry, Beastie Boys.

Updated: "Gchat me 911 / or call me on Skype"



"Conceptually, a pager is so complex / 'Cause I be standin' by the phone ready to flex" -- Phife Dog on "Skypager"

In their ode to the Skypager, Tribe -- instead of sounding outdated -- made quite an interesting time capsule. But really, how complex were these things?

Updated: "Conceptually, Android is so complex / 'Cause I be waiting at Verizon, ready to flex"



"CBRs and VCRs / ATV's and big-screen TV's, n**ga please" -- Prodigy on "Quiet Storm"

Right back atcha.

Updated: "AppleTV in HD / DVDs and LCD TVs, n**ga please"



"I'm on point, like a fax machine you get the message" -- Method Man on "What the Blood Clot"

I guess people still use fax machines, right? Still, not really a "cool" thing to rap about in '09.

Updated: "I'm on point, like Gmail you get the message"



"I picked up my car phone to perpetrate like I was talking" -- The Fresh Prince on "Parents Just Don't Understand"

Oh wow, car phones. Which was basically a cell phone with a number pad and a base, right? They might actually have to bring those back now that it's a $500 fine to talk on your cell.

Updated: "I waited till I parked to perpetrate like I was talking"



"Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis / When I was dead broke, man, I couldn't picture this" - Notorious B.I.G. on "Juicy"

This is perhaps the mother of all outdated tech references. While these consoles don't exist anymore, the games live on in retro infamy. Maybe Biggie knew it it was the golden era?

Updated: "Nintendo emulator, Wii Shop channel / When I was dead broke, I could only afford flannel."