This is tough. I'll respond with the one that really "caught" me... although I'd heard other ones listed here before it. In fact it caught me so much, my friend and I performed it live in a talent show at school (1985)and brought the house down. I played the roll of Doug E. Fresh, and to this day, people request that I beat-box (of course they want me to do the human video game sound from the Fresh Prince & Jazzy Jeff album, or some Bizmarkie tricks). Man... I went back and bought up most of the pre-'85 records and tapes too! I deejayed a bit in highschool... so it was "work related research." my one pick: La Di Da Di - Doug E. Fresh featuring Slick Rick. (not the Snoop cover) The beat-boxing and the smooth psuedo-british vocals were just other-wordly at the time. I remember sitting with the tape deck ready listening to 93Q, waiting for the "and now for something you've never witnessed before.. hit it" and dubbing it over and over to learn the song. Good times, good times. The song is still very refreshing when compare to the constant "UFO space rap" that don't impress me these days. When all drum machines die, we'll still have vocal chords and lips. btw-Fatty, nice thread... and great first submission... the original P.E. track is legendary in itself... then they go on to combo with an actual band previously mentioned in the lyrics of the same song? Insane! They rocked it either way. If you were to mention first albums that reeled me in and sealed the deal... the list goes long. (yo, peep this... la di da di, we likes to party, we don't cause trouble we don't bother nobody, we're just some men that's on the mic, and when we rock upon the mic, we rock the mic -right- for all of y'all, keepin' y'all in health, just to see you smile and enjoy yourself, cause it's cool when ya' cause a cozy condition, and, that we create, cause that's our mission...) it's at the end of this clip... <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PHZYfxIbiuM"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PHZYfxIbiuM" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
Was that dude trying to get a RECORD contract or a MOVIE contract to work in gay p*rn? I'm guessing the latter, because I haven't heard him on a radio.
Revised Runner up: <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eJg59EEhI8Y"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eJg59EEhI8Y" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object> The winner. When rap was rap. None of this crap that is out now can compare to old school Public Enemy. <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TYcdYC483Qg"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TYcdYC483Qg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
in no order: California Love- Tupac feat. Dr. Dre <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5j6HmGzj3EQ"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5j6HmGzj3EQ" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object> Juicy- The Notorious B.I.G. <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/t6QwPgXjzCw"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/t6QwPgXjzCw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object> One Mic- Nas <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DtftuSHnWVY"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DtftuSHnWVY" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object> Renegade- Jay-Z feat. Eminem <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rNZY3NOa5pY"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rNZY3NOa5pY" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
Strong contender... <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RKIginOO_r8"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RKIginOO_r8" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object> And a definite must list... <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lg4oUdCM824"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lg4oUdCM824" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object> And, oh yes... can't believe no love yet on this one.. <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/R4WqnrEss_I"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/R4WqnrEss_I" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
BEST IMO is Jay-Z NUMB <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pgJu8wAwfgA"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pgJu8wAwfgA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object> Strong second is BIG/PUFF DADDY/MA$E- Mo Money Mo Problems <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9bEGuFSUzzk"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9bEGuFSUzzk" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
Not the best rap SONG, but it's is the best rap VIDEO of all times! <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XRRWGL_GAuY"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XRRWGL_GAuY" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
worst rap song ever- Raise Up (Bryan College Station) <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cxGNtUTOY5g"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cxGNtUTOY5g" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
5 of my favorites have already been mentioned Nas has three that should all be mentioned with Ether, One Mic and It ain't hard to Tell. Rear View by tupac is amazing. Outkast has numerous songs that are so much better than anything else. I'm going to go with "Shook Ones part 2" by Mobb Deep though, it is really one of the best sounding flows you'll ever hear and the lyrics are superb.
Geto Boys: "Mind Playing Tricks on Me." Production, flow, content, aged well, not overplayed- this is an awesome song!
I saw you were the last post in this thread and immediately "Til I Collapse" came into mind - yet no mention of Eminem at all? I gotta say I like your taste in rap, though, from what I've read. As for me, Notorious Thugs. Others come close, but that song is still just as fun to listen to as it was in '97.
yeah, I was really just going off the top of my head, I thought about all the songs I could think of for about 2 minutes, give me a day and I'll think of 20 more that I could have gone with. Til I collapse is probably just too played out in my mind. Making one of your favorite songs your ringtone really isn't a good thing