# What is the Best Rap Song and Group(even though I don't like rap) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 9, 2000, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rap-song-and-group-even-though-i-dont-like-rap/40480 "2000-11-09T17:14:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rap-song-and-group-even-though-i-dont-like-rap/40480/1 "2000-11-09T17:14:12Z")
While I don’t like rap, I do like a few rap songs and groups because they are actually pretty catchy tunes. I would have to say it is between Cypress Hill’s “Insane in the Membrane”, Tone Loc’s “Wild Thing” or my new favorite (that I love to hear when I am working out) House of Pain’s “Jump Around”. Just even having that tune in my makes me start bobbing(I guess that is the right term) my head around. 😃 Well what are your picks or do you agree mine are the best. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rap-song-and-group-even-though-i-dont-like-rap/40480/2 "2000-11-09T17:18:28Z")
_The Message_ Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rap-song-and-group-even-though-i-dont-like-rap/40480/3 "2000-11-09T17:21:22Z")
White Lines - Grandmaster Flash & Melly Mel ---
**Author:** ![Starbury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Starbury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starbury)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rap-song-and-group-even-though-i-dont-like-rap/40480/4 "2000-11-09T17:25:41Z")
Any song on _A Tribe Called Quest’s_ “Low End Theory” ---
**Author:** ![monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monster)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rap-song-and-group-even-though-i-dont-like-rap/40480/5 "2000-11-09T17:53:44Z")
I enjoy anything by Run DMC, especially “Mary, Mary” (not just because it samples the Monkees) Also, The Beastie Boys, “Paul Revere’s Ride” ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rap-song-and-group-even-though-i-dont-like-rap/40480/6 "2000-11-09T18:00:59Z")
Public Enemy, particularly “Bring the Noise,” but anything off of _It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back_. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rap-song-and-group-even-though-i-dont-like-rap/40480/7 "2000-11-09T18:01:01Z")
I think _Sabotage_ by the Beastie Boys might be stretching the genre a little, but _Can I Kick It_ by A Tribe Called Quest, _Bug Powder Dust_ by Bomb The Bass & others and _Nouveau Western_ by MC Solaar would be my top three. ---
**Author:** ![ReservoirDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@ReservoirDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReservoirDog)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rap-song-and-group-even-though-i-dont-like-rap/40480/8 "2000-11-09T18:31:08Z")
I don’t think I’m qualified to hazard a guess regarding the best of all time, but currently there are four which I consider to be at the top: DMX Busta Rhymes Cypress Hill OutKast If you saw OutKast on Letterman last night, you would have to agree. ---
**Author:** ![Palandine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/958977/32.png) [@Palandine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palandine)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rap-song-and-group-even-though-i-dont-like-rap/40480/9 "2000-11-09T18:35:00Z")
Almost anything off Public Enemy’s “Apocalypse 91: the Enemy Strikes Black” I LOVE Public Enemy, although as a white girl I feel a little self-conscious blasting it while driving around (kind of puts me in the mind of “Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)” by the Offspring) 🙂 Still, Chuck D rules. If you’re going to listen to rap, listen to Public Enemy. ---
**Author:** ![Mojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rap-song-and-group-even-though-i-dont-like-rap/40480/10 "2000-11-09T18:50:26Z")
I’ll second most anything off PE’s _Nation of Millions…_, add Run DMC’s _Peter Piper_, Lotsa Tribe Called Quest, LL Cool J’s _Rock the Bells_, Eric B & Rakim’s _Paid In Full_ (and _Don’t Sweat The Technique_), Slick Rick’s _Children’s Story_, … ---
**Author:** ![Blunt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Blunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blunt)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rap-song-and-group-even-though-i-dont-like-rap/40480/11 "2000-11-09T19:03:36Z")
Best rap song - Eric B. is President, by Eric B. and Rakim Best rap group - Wu-Tang Clan (if you include member’s solo albums as Wu-Tang albums, most people do.) Best rap album - Enter the Wu-Tang Most underrated rapper/group: Kool Keith, and anything by Ultramagnetic MC’s or Dr. Octagon Best individual rapper (MC) - impossible to say, here’s a few: Q-Tip, Method Man, Snoop Dogg, Rakim, GZA Most overrated MC - Eminem, he is more of a novelty than anything. Best producer: either the RZA or Dr. Dre ---
**Author:** ![seriousart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@seriousart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seriousart)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rap-song-and-group-even-though-i-dont-like-rap/40480/12 "2000-11-09T19:08:39Z")
Again, Public Enemy. It Takes A Nation Of Millions is widely considered one of the most important rap records of all time. Check out [allmusic.com](http://allmusic.com)’s review of it here: [http://allmusic.com/cg/x.dll?p=amg&sql=A28187](http://allmusic.com/cg/x.dll?p=amg&sql=A28187) where it begins “Arguably the best hip-hop album ever made…” It was particularly significant at the time becuse it was one of the first hip hop albums concerned more with pride and responsibility than material possesions, IE: Run DMC. This is the album that first enlightened my little white boy self to a culture otherwise foriegn to me. It’s a brilliant album, but not imediately accessable or catchy as “Jump Around”, if that’s more what you’re looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Odieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@Odieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odieman)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rap-song-and-group-even-though-i-dont-like-rap/40480/13 "2000-11-09T19:13:22Z")
Easy, I’ll go with the first really influential rap song, which is “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. The lyrics are even more relevant today then when it came out around tewenty (!) years ago. Keith ---
**Author:** ![occ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@occ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/occ)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rap-song-and-group-even-though-i-dont-like-rap/40480/14 "2000-11-09T19:50:05Z")
Listen to “Fallin’” on the Judgement Night soundtrack. Its a collaboration between De La Soul and Teenage Fanclub. Great song, even if you don’t really like rap. ---
**Author:** ![Bobby\_Drake2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f0a364/32.png) [@Bobby\_Drake2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobby_Drake2)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rap-song-and-group-even-though-i-dont-like-rap/40480/15 "2000-11-09T20:23:20Z")
“Bust a Move” by Young M.C. … ok im tripping… but really id have to say “Juicy” by the Notorious BIG ---
**Author:** ![SaxFace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SaxFace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaxFace)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rap-song-and-group-even-though-i-dont-like-rap/40480/16 "2000-11-09T20:33:29Z")
I have to agree with all the others who said “It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back” by **Public Enemy** as the best rap album. It’s amazing. My favorite song off that album is “ **Night Of The Living Baseheads** ”. ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rap-song-and-group-even-though-i-dont-like-rap/40480/17 "2000-11-09T20:58:25Z")
My favorite rap song is “It takes two” by Rob Bass and DJ EZ Rock. It is very catchy and fun to listen to.I agree with you about “Jump Around”. ---
**Author:** ![sk8rixtx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/858c86/32.png) [@sk8rixtx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sk8rixtx)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rap-song-and-group-even-though-i-dont-like-rap/40480/18 "2000-11-09T21:06:45Z")
Chicken Huntin’ - ICP (hell yea’ I’m down wit da’ clown!) Still Not a Playa’ - Big Pun C.R.E.A.M. - Wu-Tang Clan Rumpshakker - Wreckxn’Effect and Best Group… hmmmmm… NWA probably… ---
**Author:** ![Sue\_Jo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Sue\_Jo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sue_Jo)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rap-song-and-group-even-though-i-dont-like-rap/40480/19 "2000-11-09T21:26:32Z")
I agree with your first line. I dont’t even like rap. The most I’ve ever heard is the 30 seconds worth waiting at the light when some loser has the bass turned to Stun. ---
**Author:** ![Milossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Milossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milossarian)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2000, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rap-song-and-group-even-though-i-dont-like-rap/40480/20 "2000-11-10T00:34:14Z")
Best group: Public Enemy Best Song: “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rap-song-and-group-even-though-i-dont-like-rap/40480.md?page=2)