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9/24: What’s your favorite hip hop song of all time
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
VH1 is the master of creating lists for the sake of argument (and a show that can repeated ad nauseum): best songs of the ’80s, bets metal songs, top 100 albums, top 50 most awesomely bad songs, et. al.
Now the network, once known in the 80s as the “soft rock” version of MTV, is offering up the top 100 best hip-hop songs of all time.
The network has not released the full list but the top 5 are:
1- “Fight the Power” by Public Enemy
2- “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugar Hill Gang
3- “Nuthin but a ‘G’ Thang” - Dr. Dre
4- “Walk This Way” Run DMC and Aerosmith
You can see the classic video here.
5- “The Message” - Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five.
That’s not a bad top 5. The only top 10 female act was “Push It” by Salt ‘N Pepa. Others on the list include Eminem, Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, Snoop Dogg, Biz Markie, Black Sheep and J.J. Fad, according to the Associated Press. We don’t have the full list just yet. Next week, VH1 debuts the hourly shows, which will naturally feature talking heads from hip-hop’s past and present (as well as random folks who have nothing to do with hip hop).
We’ll post all the acts that have Atlanta ties once we get it.
What would you place in your top 5?
Comments
By Pro Hater
September 25, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this
I already know what this blog is going to turn into. You know, there does not have to be a blog or comment section on everything AJC.
By lilkim8671
September 25, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this
My favorite “classic”, video would be “G Thang”,by Dr.Dre& Snoop Dogg
By Green Tea
September 25, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this
Hey “LilKim” what would be your favorite classic video??
By blackpanther
September 25, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this
1989 the number another summer (get down) Sound of the funky drummer Music hittin’ your heart cause I know you got soul (Brothers and sisters, hey) Listen if you’re missin’ y’all Swingin’ while I’m singin’ Givin’ whatcha gettin’ Knowin’ what I knowin’ While the Black bands sweatin’ And the rhythm rhymes rollin’ Got to give us what we want Gotta give us what we need Our freedom of speech is freedom or death We got to fight the powers that be (faint voice in the background)Let me hear you say
Chorus Fight the power Fight the power Fight the power Fight the power Fight the power Fight the power Fight the power Wheve got to Fight the powers that be.
As the rhythm designed to bounce What counts is that the rhymes Designed to fill your mind Now that you’ve realized the prides arrived We got to pump the stuff to make us tough from the heart It’s a start, a work of art To revolutionize make a change nothin’s strange People, people we are the same No we’re not the same Cause we don’t know the game What we need is awareness, we can’t get careless You say what is this? My beloved, lets get down to business Mental self defensive fitness (Yo) bum rush the show You gotta go for what you know Make everybody see, in order to fight the powers that be (faint voice in background) Lemme hear you say… Fight the Power
Chorus
Chorus
Elvis was a hero to most(3x) But he never meant, s** to me you see Straight up racist that sucker was Simple and plain Mother f*** him and John Wayne Cause I’m Black and I’m proud I’m ready and hyped plus I’m amped Most of my heroes don’t appear on no stamps Sample a look back you look and find Nothing but rednecks for 400 years if you check Don’t worry be happy Was a number one jam Damn if I say it you can slap me right here (Get it) lets get this party started right Right on, c’mon What we got to say Power to the people no delay Make everybody see In order to fight the powers that be
Chorus
What we got to say fight the power,cmon(x3)
By Mookie Pookie
September 25, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this
This is my favorite hip hop song AND video…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQTuYo6HmiQ
By qwerty
September 25, 2008 1:53 PM | Link to this
No list of best hip-hop tracks is complete without the all-time best, right here.
By Yup
September 25, 2008 7:58 PM | Link to this
Looks like a police lineup to me…
It’s also incorrect to have “hip-hop” and “song” or “music” in the same sentence — the three are incompatible!!
By Curious
September 25, 2008 8:07 PM | Link to this
I’m curious, what language is hip-hop, English? Does one have to have graduated from at least the 5th grade to produce or listen to hip-hop?
By youcalledit
September 25, 2008 8:19 PM | Link to this
The first poster called it, so we aim to please —- “THUGS”!!!!!!!
By Lily White
September 25, 2008 11:01 PM | Link to this
By Angie aka Beautiful
September 26, 2008 12:55 AM | Link to this
i love players ball by outkast.
By Jimmy from Marietta
September 26, 2008 3:52 AM | Link to this
It’s Hard to deny any PE jam as the number 1. If you go by pure relevance and its importance to Hip Hop, it’s hard to argue with any of the top 5.
As for “Walk this Way”, it was undeniably a cross over smash, but it isn’t even the best song on “Raising Hell”. It might make a top one hundred, but not a top 5 on my list. To me, Run DMC’s earlier hit, “King of Rap” is a better mix of Rap and Rock. Even so, I can see why “Walk” got a nod for top 5.
But if the list is about what’s still a jam versus a rapper group’s relevance, then I would replace “Walk” with Rob Base’s “It Takes Two.” That joint came out circa 1988 and still sounds as fresh today.
Slick Rick’s “Bed Time Story” is another good example of a jam that still sounds as fresh today, even when it’s just being sampled by Montel “This is how we do it” Jordan.
If the basis is popularity and how well the song has held up, you also HAVE to consider Sir Mix a Lot’s “Baby Got Back”. It’s still relevant, funny and very accurate. The power of the black female’s BUTT, can’t be denied!
I personally never get tired of hearing Tribe’s “Bonita Applebum”, nor Biggie’s “One More Chance.”
I wonder where Biggie hit the list? If not 5, surely he’s top 10.
VH1’s list at first glance seems to be more about relevance than popularity. If so, then: Why is there no Eric B & Rakim in top 5? How’s that possible? No mention of BDP and KRS-One? Whodini? I got to see this list!
By kelli
October 8, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this
Some of my favorites
Lil Kev and the Alivia Annette Show -The Joker Chris Brown -Wall to Wall Keke Palmer-Keep It Moving Ne-Yo-Crazy