Top 100 Greatest Rap Songs (Revised)
Friday April 21, 2006
If you've peeped the top 100 rap songs page lately, you'll notice that I've tweaked the list a bit. Based on popular demand, I've included some photos and album links (the ones that say "Compare Prices") to complete the history of those songs selected. Thanks to everyone that emailed me to applaud the effort put into the top 100, especially to the lady that observed my double inclusion of "I Seen A Man Die." Yeah, these things happen occasionally. I'd also like to clarify that the list is based on aesthetic value and overrall impact of the songs rather than sales and popularity. I'm aware that there are several other songs that are as tight as the ones chosen or even better. However, these 100 songs are here to help quantify the standards of greatness as far as hip-hop songs go. So, I present to you once more the Top 100 Greatest Rap Songs.
I'd like to hear from you in the comments section below - what do you think of my top 100 list?
Album art © Relativity
Comments
its not that much change but there is stil a change and.. i dont realy think there should be any of the rapers of today on there like jadakiss and 50 cent cus they cant rap theres not many nas songs and hes on the best rappers and talib kweli what hapened to him and i can see what you can try to do like try to include every rapper on there which is good but.. some realy dont belong in that list but good job though its prety good
I understand what you’re saying about the inclusion of 50 and Jada, but my focus was on the songs, not on the artists.
I’ll ask my other questions later as im in a rush right now, but i noticed Common Sense took the top spot…explain please? As i think Nas – “One Mic” Salt N’ Pepa – Push It amongst MANY other songs are better then “I used to love h.e.r” Although i see how you could rank it quite high…just need a specific and detailed explanation please.
Honestly, anyone who’s actually listened to “I Used To Love H.E.R.” and understands the true essence of emceeing needs no further explanation. And, like I said, “I’m aware that there are several other songs that are as tight as the ones chosen or even better. However, these 100 songs are here to help quantify the standards of greatness as far as hip-hop songs go.”
Slick, just because your job involves posting this doesn’t mean you cant admit you’re wrong. Run DMC – Walk This Way is all the way down…it changed music and yet Kanye and MOP are ahead…right…
Quantify the standards of Hip Hop? Explain then, why 50 Cent and The Game are listed? 50, is a pop singer who thinks hes gangster…just like Kevin Federline…how Gangster’s paradise or Shed So Many tears along with Let The Rhythm Hit Em is not ahead of those chumps amazes me…also, ever heard of KRS ONE – Bridge is Over? Ice T? I hear they’re decent…..jeez. You should check out DigitalDream…they have the true list of greatness…btw, why isn’t Hammer on this list…he was ajoke yes, but “U Cant Touch This” was a song to be remembered (better than “Dreams” or “Many Men”) And Fabolous wouldn’t be in the top 500…there are many songs that top “Breathe”…Mo Money? I’ll Be Missing You? Doug E. Fresh Tha Show?
You really need to re-shuffle the top 10 too…Common is a great artist and that song is legendary, but to judge a song you have to combine:
Impact, Influence, Lasting Popularity, and Quality.
1 other thing…California Love, U-N-I-T-Y, F*** Tha Police and Missy deserve a mention…and when it comes to Tribe…Bonita and Excursion.
“Impact, Influence, Lasting Popularity, and Quality.”
All of which “I Used To Love HER” easily possess. Well said, money. I couldn’t have thought of that myself.
Yes, I Used To Love HER does contain all 4 of those catogories…however, so do 1000+ other songs, so you’re obviously drifting away here…your response was loose and weak, you failed to address several other points i had made, for example: 50 Cent, Game, Fabolous? Surely the likes of Hammer, KRS-ONE and Missy deserve their spots?
For a writer that asked to hear comments from the public, you sure aren’t taking this seriously and perhaps have been proved wrong?
Please tell me once again that 50, Game and Fab are light years ahead the likes of Hammer, Missy, California Love? Excursion? De La Soul??
And this time, try to take more than 5 seconds writing the response…
Any top 100 list with Eminem makes the list completely not credible, especially Stan.
A lot of good songs but my beef with the list is where the hell is Triumph? If lyrics matter in hip hop then where is this song? You be hard pressed to find a verse that come close to INspectah Deck’s on Triumph. And I used to Love Her is 1. I dunno personally it doesnt quite make the cut for me fo 1 atleast.
A lot of good songs but my beef with the list is where the hell is Triumph? If lyrics matter in hip hop then where is this song? You be hard pressed to find a verse that come close to INspectah Deck’s on Triumph. And I used to Love Her is 1. I dunno personally it doesnt quite make the cut for me for 1 atleast.
Honestly,Dear Mama is de greatest song of all tym,theres no song thats so well written from verse1 to de end,lyrically,emotionally,its just de best.Its one of dose songs u can play anytime n people will go nuts
I think what he has done here is good. Although we may not all agree on the same positioning of the songs, i think most of them belong on this list. 2 peoples top 100 will never be the same, give the guy a break.
He has done a great job on this list.. only one exception… Tha Crossroads should be higher it is a great song about a legend (Eazy-E) Should be in top 10, also I think more outkast songs should be on there, they are the best rap group of all time
Eminem isnt really a bad rapper, he just makes weird songs
but Lose yourself was a good 1
eminem is the best rapper of all time by far and he is a fonominal actor/rapper/person.
this sucks why cant you just put the freakin song name.
o well.
bang me.
please.
Honestly i think thier are a lot of great songs left out that should be in thier. There should be atleast 5 tupac like life goes on, changes, in the air tonight, picture me rolling, or still tears drop and closed caskets.
And eminem should probably have a couple more songs in my opinion but this whole list is opinonated so i don’t really care. I’m just disappointed this guy didn’t give love to tupac because without him half these songs wouldn’t exist because he made rap what it was and is.
@Mr. X
Get Off Pac dick
this is a good list…but wu tang songs are underrated on here…i mean all that i got is you on no 87,i would put it at least 40 places up…and luniz’ i got 5 on it i would put on at least no 50…thats all…and one more thing…wu tangs triumph should be definetly on the list…on at least place 20 or somethin…peace
why is many men by 50 rated so higg? justseein some songs rated behind it makes me say wtf so Protect Ya neck, It was a good Day, are not as good as Many men WTF
need more dre
i think tupac shud be up there more…like changes.california love, runnin’ (dyin to live) ya kno nigga
there r a lot of songs in this list that i would never have even spared a thought. i think more nas and wu tang would have strengthened it a bit. plus more tribe and boogie down productions would too. they all have great songs that have much more “aesthetic value” and impact than the likes of 50. plus i think T.R.O.Y should have taken top spot, but that’s just my opinion.
suck ur own dame stick ass hole
Very interesting list; I can see you tried to incorporate songs from all styles and artists, which might not necessarily equal ‘100 greatest’, yet give 100 songs that display the diversity, vibrance and power of Rap.
Some interesting picks, e.g. LOVED the inclusion of “Get By” at 25 and “Lyrics of Fury” at 5 (incidentally, I’d probably have it at 1). Shows you actually have listened to a substantial number of records & tried to make intelligent opinions.
I’d of course disagree with some (any 50 Cent; “Mosh”) as well as change songs by certain artists (e.g. ATCQ – “Award Tour” ahead of “Scenario”; BDP – “Stop the Violence” ahead of “My Philosophy”) but that just shows there is always some subjectivity.
Some criticism, though, for missing out Main Source – “Just A Friendly Game of Baseball”; and Blackstar – “Definition” amongst others, but you did admit you had to leave out some greats.
A 2Pac debate is pointless because everyone will have a different opinion about his songs
Finally..I love Common, but FOUR songs (incl one at number 1)…yet somehow you omitted “Retrospect For Life”??? Shame on you
I think that you sould include some classic songs such as Moment of truth or Full Clip by Gangstarr Or something like Jeru tha damaja’s tracks
Good list, but i really think that you could delve deeper in to each artists repetoir. I understand you can’t give an artist too many songs on the list(my list would be filled with Eric B.&Rakim), but artists like Rakim and Lupe have better songs than you have listed.