1. Fat Boys – The Fat Boys – Another commercial success story. Originally known as the Disco Three, the Fat Boys eventually realized that naming themselves the obvious may work in their favor. This song was their introduction to the world at large. The group contained the Human Beatbox (a.k.a. Buffy) who passed in 1995 from natural causes.
2. Roxanne – UTFO – This was the song that launched a thousand rap battles. UTFO was a fun rap group that emerged with energy, style, and personality, in the mid-80s. This song, about a fictitious girl from “around the way,” named Roxanne, spurned several responses from female MCs, claiming to be the “real” Roxanne. At first, the battles were between UTFO and the Roxannes, but then the battles turned into Roxanne-on-Roxanne battles. CLASSIC hip-hop moments!
3. I’m Bad – LL Cool J - LL continued forging his signature on the rap game in this harder-than-hard attack on any sucka who dared to try him. It’s a lyrical slaughter from beginning-to-end. A personal favorite.
4. I Need Love – LL Cool J - In a stroke of genius, LL did a complete 180-degree turn, compromising his uber-macho image for hip-hop’s first love ballad. . . and probably its best. This Jekyll-Hyde image has been LL’s driving force behind his prolonged success, and also the driving force behind his naysayers.
5. Paul Revere – Beastie Boys – Before these guys, White rappers were non-existent. These Brooklyn kids had just the right swag to pull it off and gain instant success. Well-deserved, because these guys found a way to stay true to hip-hop, yet all-the-while forming their own image, fusing rock with hip-hop. They are an absolute romp! This song is my favorite of theirs, simply because of that bassline.
6. Walk This Way – Run DMC ft. Aerosmith – This song basically made it official: RUN DMC were the godfathers of hip-rock. The first collaboration between a rock group (Aerosmith) and a rap group (Run DMC). It was a megahit, bringing hip-hop further into the mainstream. Also causing hip-hop purists to grow more and more nervous.
7. Ain’t No Half-Steppin’ – Big Daddy Kane – BDK is the guy other guys want to be. Smooth and suave, Kane could woo the ladies, but his street edge and hard lyrics could shut down the hardest MC on the mic. His career teeter-tottered like LL’s, because he came on the scene known for his raw lyrics, but soon started to become pegged as a lady’s man with his smoother tracks. This track was his introduction to the world. An incredible song with incredible lyrics and wordplay.
8. Children’s Story – Slick Rick – After parting ways with Doug E. Fresh—amicably—Slick Rick took his storytelling skills and went solo. “Children’s Story” is a great story, which could be considered “gangsta rap,” if the story did not come across like a children’s story. This song is best heard while watching the music video. It’s a keystone caper, put to a hot beat and lyrics. This is a certified CLASSIC!
9. Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos – Public Enemy - In the late 80s, Public Enemy erupted on the scene with their 2nd album, “It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back,” a blatant spit-in-the-face to the status quo. P.E. pioneered the conscious era of hip-hop, when rap took on the government, White oppression, American History, and Black apathy. This song is all about Chuck D giving the prison system and the government a big middle finger. This song changed my life! Public Enemy grew to be one of my all-time favorite rap groups ever.
10. Do Wah Diddy – 2 Live Crew – While Public Enemy was using their freedom of speech to say whatever they pleased to “The Man,” 2 Live Crew—who reigned from Miami, FL—was keeping hip-hop light and fun, in the tradition of humorous stories. However, they used their freedom of speech to spice up their vulgarity-laced lyrics. This song was cleaned up for their music video, however, it is a fun take on an American pop classic. This version is DIRTY, so play with caution.
11. Fight the Power – Public Enemy – Wow! How do I describe this masterpiece? Chuck D pulls no punches with this song. Before this song, I’d never heard anyone take on the Elvis legacy, nor John Wayne. It was exciting! This song is a riot-starter—a call to arms. It helped me to find my power and voice. A very special song. Also recently voted by VH1 as the #1 Hip Hop Video of All Time!
12. Cha Cha Cha –MC Lyte – Lyte was the first solo female MC to come onto the scene with the same braggadociousness of her male predecessors. This song was not her first single, but it’s one of her best, to me. In this song, her style is smooth, yet the lyrics go hard, establishing her as a force with which to be reckoned.
13. I Got the Knack – Everlast – Many people don’t know that the front man for House of Pain (“Jump Around”) was actually a solo artist in 1989, who rolled with Ice-T and the Rhyme Syndicate. Everlast would later be known for his gruff, grovelly voice, but when he was a solo artist, his voice was mild, and at times almost timid. This single from his first album has a thumping beat that’s easily danceable. Representin’ for the White rappers!
14. Funkin’ Lesson – X Clan – On the heels of Public Enemy’s Black Power message came X Clan with their Af-romantic messages. Dressed from head-to-toe in Afro-centric garb, and carrying walking sticks, their image sometimes walked a fine line between Africa and the pimps in Blaxploitation flicks of the 70s. However, the extremely articulate Brother J had a very intelligent flow and often had great poetry within his lyrics. Professor X acted as sort of the all-wise leader who never “rapped,” but was never short on words. He died in 2005 from spinal meningitis. In 1995, long-time member, Sugar Shaft, died from complications due to AIDS.
15. U Can’t Touch This – MC Hammer – Hammer received A LOT of heat from the hip-hop community during this time for “selling out” and going WAAAY mainstream, but this song is a hyped-up classic! I think most were jealous of his success. Many today are chasing his success still. His lyrics were remedial, but his energy and personality could not be touched.
16. Steppin’ to the A.M. – 3rd Bass – A true-to-form, White hip-hop group that surfaced with the blessings of the rap community at large. This was their first single. They achieved mediocre success, but garnered a lot of respect. Later beefed with MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice.
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