In one of the most obvious snubs in recent history, some limey bastard over at the BBC music website went and ran a poll on the best rap songs of all time by surveying 108 international ‘critics’. From this list of retired bloggers, Twitter pests and two bit hacks (with a handful of actual legitimate journalists scattered about, plus Slick Rick – who gets bonus points for listing ‘Warm It Up, Kane’ as his number two), there were several glaring omissions. Most concerning was the fact that not a single Australian made the cut, while two New Zealander’s were consulted (!?). This is the music poll equivalent of writing ‘WAR’ over Fat Albert.
While I’m not fussed that the mighty Conservative Rap Coalition was not invited to participate, surely they could have dug up at least one Aussie rap fan to speak their piece? Clearly this is another example of our former jailers getting mad that we have superior beer and more attractive women. Even going beyond the Australian aspect, some other opinions which would have been valuable include Harry Allen, Dave Tompkins, the ego trip crew, The Martorialist, P Brothers, Stretch and Bobbito, The Fat Lace crew, Nelson George, J The Sultan, Bonz Malone, O-Dub…the list goes on.
Here is the hall of shame of the top fives lists if you need a laugh, and the final top twenty is here (‘Juicy’ won, natch).
For the purposes of scientific record, please list your own person Top 5 Raps and I’ll add up the ones with the most votes at some point.
Here are mine to set it off:
1. ‘Cold Gettin’ Dumb’ – Just-Ice
Kurtis Mantronik really outdid himself on this one, while Just delivers an enduring stream of consciousness Brag Rap extravaganza.
2. ‘Housing The Joint’ – Schoolly-D
This is still the ultimate Schoolly song to me…not to mention the fact that I didn’t pick up the Spoonie Gee lines until around twenty years later.
3. ‘This Cut’s Got Flavor’ – Latee
Incredible 45 King beat and powerful raps. What more could you ask for? This also holds a nostalgic place in my cold, cold heart on account of first hearing the first four bars on a Red Alert tape from his KISS-FM show.
4. ‘Funky’ [Remix] – Ultramagentic MC’s
I’ve heard that many fans thought of this as a downgrade compared to the iconic original, but cot-damn it if that dusty drum snippet and horn stab isn’t the epitome of certified dope, sealed off with the most brutal scratching ever.
5. ‘Bad To The Bone’ – Kool G Rap and DJ Polo
Peak G Rap over an amazing, rolling beat that never relents.
1. Ice Cube – The Nigga Ya Love To Hate
Grand intro off debut. First thing we all heard probably at the same time.
2. Gangstarr – Dwyck
Started weird posse song that works trend.
3. Kool G Rap – It’s A Shame
That bassline.
4. Real Live – Crime Is Money
Happy K Def beat, anti social lyrics
5. Souls Of Mischief – ’93 Till Infinity
Still fresh
Maaaan, those lists are wack! Queen Latifah made quite a few great songs but the very mediocre U.N.I.T.Y wasn’t one of them. Yet I see it pop up in many lists of (most probably) ‘critics’ who were born in the late 90s and have no idea or context whatsoever. One of them even listed ‘Aiight Chill’ by Gang Starr. That’s a beat with a few shout-outs, not even a song…
1. Eric B & Rakim – Lyrics Of Fury
That lo-fi production makes it feel like you’re at a basement session with Eric and Ra. Lyrically and flow-technically STILL ahead of its time!
2. Big Daddy Kane – Set It Off
In total command of the very fast beat with an ill James Brown guitar stab.
3. A Tribe Called Quest – Sky Pager
Such a perfect jazzy beat and such a great flow on it. Perfection.
4. Common – The Sixth Sense
Common at his lyrical peak over an incredible beat by Premier.
5. Nas – Nas Is Like
Exactly the same comment (just replace Common with Nas)
Not even looked at the list, I already know it’ll be laughable.
The BBC is a joke,overrated, bloated & thinks it’s far better than it actually is.
That top 20 looks like a track list from a recent ‘greatest rap ever’ compilation where they begrudgingly added some proper rap from the 90s.
When multiple people choose Eminem’s Lose Yourself but nobody picks anything by Spoonie Gee or Suga Free then you the BBC asked the wrong folk to contribute.
The Aussie snub was clearly spite for Neighbours being better than any British soap.
How very dare other people compile lists of their personal favourite songs huh? “Juicy” aint even the best drummer in The Beatles. Anyway, I’m more an album lover than a singles fan but the five songs that spring to mind right this very moment are:
5) The Coup “Piss on your grave”
4) X-Clan “Funkin Lesson”
3) Gang Starr “Above the clouds”
2) MOP “Ante Up”
1) Wu Tang Clan “Da Mysteries of Chess Boxin”
Then again, as I typed that, this five came to mind:
5) Digital Underground “No Nosejob”
4) BDP “My Philosophy”5)
3) Benefit “If I owned a midget”
2) Geto Boys “My mind’s playing tricks on me”
1) Ice-T “high Rollers”
…but then again…Could do this all day….
With enough monkeys and the right typewriters, you can manufacture whatever result you desire. That’s the nature of the crowdsourcing beast.
La di da di – Doug E Fresh and Slick Rick
Come on. It’s a no-brainer.
Welcome to the Terrordome – Public Enemy
This was the greatest rap group ever at their absolute peak.
Grinding – The Clipse
Every element of this song was totally unfuckwitable.
My Mind’s Playing Tricks On Me – Geto Boys
The most harrowing 4 minutes in rap history.
Ante Up – MOP
Guaranteed to set shit off.
1. A Tribe Called Quest ‘God lives though’
2. Souls of Mischief ‘Make Yorlur Mind Up’
3. Silent Eclipse (MC D) ‘How Many Die’
4. Da Buze Bruvaz ‘Cage Match’
5. Ghostface Killah ‘Iron Maiden”
I’ve always wrestled with this but here we are – and this is not just about my personal preference but also impact and influence
1 – The Message
2 – I Know You Got Soul
3 – Rebel Without A Pause
4 – I’m Bad
5 – Straight Outta Compton or PSK What does it Mean….
then don’t mention BDP, Ice t, Kane, Ultra………….
Ease Back – Ultra
Contact – The Beatnuts
I Luv – M.O.P. featuring Freddie Foxxx
Top Billin’ – Audio Two
I Ain’t No Joke – Eric B. & Rakim
There are many more of course but these ones make me feel proud to be a Hip-Hop head.
1. Jvc force – strong Island
2. Crooklyn Dodgers – crooklyn
3. Slick rick – childrens story
4. Ultrmagnetic – funky remix
5. Bdp – my philosophy
I’m guessing one of the Kiwis was ol’ fuck face himself Zane Lowe
God, “Lose Yourself” is the shittiest fucking overrated hip-hop song ever made. I don’t think anyone who’s actually a rap fan would choose that as a favorite.
I could never choose just five, but here are five top favorites off the top of the dome:
1. Kool G Rap & Polo – Men At Work
2. Divine Force – Holy War
3. Main Source – Looking At The Front Door
4. De La Soul – I Am I Be
5. Public Enemy – Welcome To The Terrordome
@SonnySeven: Thankfully no sign of the Zaneinator.
Great list my man…
Which cold getting dumb Robbie….
The Message-flawless
Doggy Dogg World-masterpiece art
Slippin-powerful reflection
Tommy’s Theme-rap Olympics
(Tie)Love’s Gonna Getcha
I Gave You Power
…. what’s up with the no love for BDP? Think this is the 2nd time I asked…
@$yk: ‘Criminal Minded’ is tied with the first Ultra as my favourite album ever, but I like those five songs more than any one BDP track.
I prefer the original ‘Cold’ for the way the beat changes, but the raps in part 2 are amazing.
Ok, here it flows:
1. Hands Of A Stranger – Hard Knocks, 1992, fable and musical perfection
2. Lost In The System – Da Lenchmob, 1992, J-Dee solo tip
3. The Wreckoning (OG Version) – Lateef The Truth Speaker, 1995, the killer loose freestyle flow, early Josh Davis
4. Flexi Wit Da Tech(nique) – Artifacts, 1994, the highest grade battle raps with that beat!
5. Follow The Leader – nuff said…
5. Dr. Dre – The day the niggaz took over
4. CNN – Illegal Life
3. Nas – Memory Lane
2. Mobb Deep – Shook ones II
1. Wu Tang Clan – Protect ya neck
1. Gangstarr JFK to LAX
2. Eric B & Rakim Jujce
3. POLO and G Rap Men At Work
4. Nas Memory Lane
5. Biggie everyday struggle
6. Rae Ghost Nas Verbal Intercourse
Not as shite as I thought it would be, I expected Eminem, Kanye Kardashian, Drake,Cardi fkn B & Lil Wayne to be some variant of the top 5.
Still shit though.
Props to the guy who put Kreayshawn’s Gucci Gucci in his top 5,excellent trolling & still preferable to Kanye & the rest.
5 rise & fall- nas
4. Why-organized konfusion
3 small time hustler- dismasters
2 the youth-meccalicious
1 original style-rakim
1. Eric B & Rakim – ‘Follow The Leader’ – still the benchmark of lyricism, Ra at his peerless best
2. KRS-One – ‘Outta Here’ – that crushing Premo beat & vintage KRS in full blastmaster mode
3. Ed OG & Da Bulldogs – ‘I Gotta Have It’ – my favourite sample flip ever. Just beautiful, beautiful music & Ed O’s poetic flow
4. Nas – ‘Represent’ – had to choose something off ‘Illmatic’ and this is the joint
5. Brand Nubian ‘Wake Up’ (SD50s Remix) – sometimes after listening to a Griselda mixtape, I need to put this on to reset my hip-hop chi. Joyous.
I agree with your “cold” sentiment…..mantronix was so ill with the 808 that I bought that mantronix album hoping he was gonna drop some dj heat….boy was I disappointed LoL
And shout out to the crc for putting up some heavy top 5s….. salute
Off topic but any plans for a belated Jimmy Spicer tribute Rob?
1. Black Moon – I Gotcha Opin (Remix)
2. Big L – Devil’s Son
3. Raekwon – Ice Cream
4. Crooklyn Dodgers – Return of the Crooklyn Dodgers
5. – Beatnuts – Reign of the Tek
Impossible question really.
Love the female kiwi academic who only listed female acts…Nicki Minaj and Cardi B best rap of all time? fuck off
My bad, Hard Knocks was 1991…
Yo my top 5 can change hourly.
1) The Message- Grandmaster flash & furious 5
2) Rock Box- Run-Dmc
3) My Uzi Weights a ton- P.E.
4) Fuck Compton- Tim Dog
5) I’m Bad- LL Cool J
– Rakim, Microphone King.
– Masters of Ceremony, Keep on Moving.
– EPMD, Total Kaos.
– Jeru, Come Clean.
– Nas, NY State of Mind.
@SonnySeven: Good call, I’m on the case.
In The Ghetto-Rakim
Take the Bait (12 inch version)-Craig G
Set it Off-Big Daddy Kane
Product of the Environment (remix)- 3rd Bass
Looking for the Perfect Beat- Afrika B.
Message From the Boss (unmixed) -Ultra
Niggaz Don’t Give a Fuck (Womack Sample version) Dogg Pound
Bridge is Over- BDP
👌
@dj davito – yes mate.
…no love for “ego trippin”, “bait”, “the symphony” and “time’s up”?
@mAx: Can’t speak for everyone but I’ve heard those songs so much I prefer something a little less celebrated for these type of lists. All classics of course…
Yoooo…..
delta force 1>bait
Kool Keith bopping on the Ave rocking a telephone and cape intro with the ill sample and jewels on the raise it up video>>>>ultra’s catalog
LoL love this hip hop yo