When I was a kid, around 5-6 years old, my parents provided my sister and I with all of those cool Dr. Seuss story books. Some included "Will You Please Go Now", "There's A Wocket In My Pocket", and of course my favorite "Green Eggs and Ham". Even at that young age I remember being super impressed by Dr. Seuss's "rhyming" style, -"I do not like green eggs and ham,I do not like them Sam I am"- . He was the best. Fast forward to 4th or 5th grade. I was a class clown at Rosa Scott Middle School in Ridgeland,MS where I spent 10 years of my childhood, and at times my teacher, Ms Griffin, allowed me to read funny stories I would create that rhymed in a simular style of the good Doc. Not long after, I remember being in my room listening to WJMI and hearing "Now what you hear is not a test - I'm rappin to the beat, And me,the groove,and my friends are gonna try to move your feet. See I am Wonder Mike and I'd like to say hello, To the black,to the white,the red and the brown, the purple and yellow." WOAH! I couldn't believe what I was hearing. See, at that time there was no such thing as "Rap",well, at least not in Mississippi it wasn't. I couldn't believe I was hearing someone doing what I was doing, just a thousand times better of course. This was my introduction to what we now know as Rap music and the first "rapper", Dr. Seuss(as far as I'm concerned), planted a seed that would soon turn into a full-scale love affair.
That being said, I want to share my 3 favorite rap songs of all time. Please feel free to share your top 3 in the comment section.
"Rockin It"-Fearless Four 1982
This song gets me OPEN! It captures the essence of the early Bronx sound. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five was my favorite group from that first generation of rappers but "Rockin It" was my favorite song. A few years ago I was able to hang out with Tito and Mike C in the Bronx at Crotona Park and got a chance to tell them how much they inspired me.
"Made You Look"-Nas 2003
This track Is pure energy. New school flows with old school flavor. When I drop this on the 1200's, you know I'm droppin some M.O.P., some KRS, some Ice Cube,all that "tear the club up" Rap. This may possibly be the perfect rap song.
"Rappers Delight"- Sugarhill Gang 1979
Of course I couldn't leave this one out. This is the song that started it all for me. The song that "changed the game" as they say these days, the music game that is. 3 million records says it all. This song never gets old but long version only please.
Ok, your turn......
Okay, so this was MUCH harder than I thought it would be--which is why it has taken so long. I'm still not completely happy with settling for just these three (I need a top 10). But here are three of my all time favs.
ReplyDelete3. LL Cool J - "I'm Bad"
LL is, without question, one of the best to ever pick up the mic and this song captures the golden age sound of hip-hop like almost nothing else. (The video for this song also capture the look, since LL rocked the consummate hip-hop style back then.)
2. Public Enemy - "Bring The Noize."
Ridiculous rhythms, smart samples, wicked scratching, powerful Chuck D. rhymes, and Flavor Flav on the back up. This one has nearly everything a great hip-hop song can offer. This is also just one of many great songs featured on one of the most important rap albums ever.
1. Eric B. & Rakim - Juice (Know The Ledge)
Rakim absolutely leveled the emcee playing field when this track dropped--not that he had any more than half a dozen emcees standing anywhere near him at the time. This song did in '92 what Nas' "Made You Look" did exactly 20 years later: bodied the competition.
My Top 3 favorite Rap songs of all time was:
ReplyDeleteUltramagnetic MC's "Feelin' It,
Seborn & Puma "They Call Me Puma"
XClan "Verbs Of Power".
T La Rock - Its Yours
ReplyDeleteSpoonie G - Spoonin Rap
Schooly D - PSK
tight list!
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