Good god, man, you can’t be serious. Puffy doing his “rap” aka bad grunting karaoke over a great Led Zepplin song? The worst part is that Jimmy Page didn’t appear to be visibly held at gunpoint forcing his participation.
I personally believe that “Puffy” and “Greatest Rap Song” are mutually exclusive. Especially “Come With Me”, which I find to be the most reprehensible “song” in Puff Daddy’s generally reprehensible oveure.
Great Rap Songs:
Oh My God / Award Tour - A Tribe Called Quest
Straight Outta Compton - NWA
Top Billin’ - Audio Two
My Philosophy - Boogie Down Productions
The Influence - Jurassic 5
Umi Says - Mos Def (not really a rap song)
Rock & Roll (Could Never Hip-Hop Like This) - Handsome Boy Modeling School
I Ain’t No Joke / Follow The Leader - Eric B and Rakim
New York State Of Mind - Nas
It Takes Two - Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock
I Am I Be - De La Soul
Whole Albums that must be appreciated as whole albums:
Paul’s Boutique - Beastie Boys
Three Feet High and Rising - De La Soul
De La Soul Is Dead - De La Soul
Endtroducing… - DJ Shadow
I’d type a sample lyric here if I could find any lines without cuss words. Let’s just say it’s not exactly glamorizing crack.
“Rapper’s Delight” is probably the most fun-for-all-ages represenative rap song. I loves me some Beasties, but they are not classic or “typical” rap; they just do their own thing.
My faves: Paid in Full - Eric B. and Rakim A Children’s Story - Slick Rick Talkin’ All That Jazz - Stetsasonic Peter Piper - Run DMC Say No Go - De La Soul They Want Efx - Das Efx The Choice is Yours - Black Sheep
I don’t know enough about rap to say they’re the best songs, but my two favorite rap songs are ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ by Coolio, and “Gin n’ Juice” by Snoop Dogg.
Does “Where it’s at” by Beck qualify? One of my favorite songs. Two Turntables and a Microphone, baby.
Keep Your Head Up by Tupac was great. I can’t really think of anything else right now. I can think of a ton of songs I like, but I’d be hesitant to call them the greatest ever. If something else comes to mind, I shall return.
I can’t believe no one here has mentioned Eminem. I highly recomment Guilty Conscience, The Way I Am, and Cleanin’ Out My Closet (but he really doesn’t have too many weak songs). I am a high school English teacher, and to the chagrin of my co-workers, I am a huge fan. I think he is one of the most the most incisive lyricist out there today. If you get accept the fact that he says incredibly offensive things just to get a rise out of you and take it for what it is, he’s got a lot to say and a hell of an intense way of saying it.
Other favorites:
Television, the Drug of a Nation–Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised–Gil Scott-Heron
Greatest ever - them’s big words! “Rappers’ Delight” is certainly up there. For sheer “feel good” rap I like Nelly’s “Ride Wit’ Me” - still get a tingle from that line:
“Running credit checks with no shame now…”
I guess coming from the “hood” myself I can relate. I also like the part where “City Spud” (?) jumps in - isn’t he Nelly’s step bro or something?
Also - anything by Cypress Hill - of course “Insane”. Also love that song of theirs with the weird melody, has a line something about
“Just like a bird I’m free, in a land with no fucking extradition treaty.”
Also another vote for the “Coolio” song from “Dangerous Minds”.
“White Lines” by Grandmaster Flash & Melly Mel was pretty darn good too. To think I thought it was about driving down the road when I was a kid
Great song from one of the most underrated bands ever IMHO. I’d say that Language of Violence is also a great song, as well as their version of California Uber Alles.
