Top Ten Hip Hop Songs Of All Time

Tweet

Top Ten Hip Hop Songs Of All Times

Whether you call it rap or hip-hop, the fact remains that hip-hop has become one of the world’s biggest-selling musical genres. Its influence on our society cuts across several cultures. It was a difficult task coming up with this list of Top 10 Hip Hop Songs Of All Time. This list consists of songs that represent all of what rap stands, while you might not agree with the list, feel free to add your own top 10 lists in the comments section

Listed in no particular order

Top 10 Hip Hop Songs Of All Time

1. Rapper’s Delight-

This was one of the first releases from The Sugarhill Gang in 1979 and is known as the song that started it all. In fact, “I said a hip-hop, a hippie to the hippie, the hip, hip a hop” was the first time the term hip-hop was ever used. Not only has this song been on numerous top ten lists but it is on VH1’s 500 greatest songs of all times list, that’s why we’ve listed it as one of the songs on our Top 10 hip hop songs of all time

2. Tha Crossroads

When Bone Thugs-N-Harmony original wrote this song, it was called “Crossroads” but after the passing of their mentor Eazy-E, they remixed it in his honor and renamed it “Tha Crossroads”. It immediately made it to top ten lists across the U.S. and is now on VH1′s 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.

3. Dear Mama

After record producer Tony Pizarro commented to 2Pac that “he always makes references about his mama in songs” and “that’s a song in itself”, 2Pac made this as a tribute to his mother Afeni Shakur. The library of Congress has since preserved Dear Mama in the National Recording Registry for its cultural significance.

4. Big Poppa

The song was Notorious B.I.G.’s (Biggie Smallz) first ever top ten hit. It has appeared in multiple movies such as Hardball, Media Goes To Jail, Super Bad and the biography of his life Notorious. After his death a remix “We’ll Always Love Big Poppa” was made.

5. Straight Outta Compton-

N.W.A. released this song to show the frustration that was felt in many inner cities (Eazy-E was from Compton) and soon after it was dubbed the “gangsta rap anthem”. Although this song also made it onto top 10 lists almost immediately, it wasn’t until after his death that it made it onto VH1′s 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.

6. In Da Club-

It has been described as “a tailor-made mass-market good-time single” and became 50 Cent’s first number one single. It has won 50 Cent many awards such as “best new artist” and “best rap video” and is credited for starting 50’s career.

7. Hard Knock Life-

This song is also known as the “Ghetto Anthem” and when artist Jay-Z was asked what it meant he said “I wanted to represent and tell the story of everybody who’s been through what I’ve been through”. This song has been on many top 10 lists including debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200.

8. Changes – 2pac
The song makes references to the Black Panther Party.”Changes” is one of 2Pac’s most notable and popular songs.

9. Lose Yourself – Eminem
The song earned Eminem five Grammy nominations at the 46th Grammy Awards in 2004 and the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2002, making it the first ever rap song to have received this accolade, this is one of the best rap songs ever, that’s why we’ve listed it as one of the top 10 hip hop songs of all time

10. Snoop Doggy Dogg / Gin and Juice

A top 10 hit single on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, peaking at number eight, “Gin and Juice” was nominated for the 1995Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. The song was also voted the 69th Greatest Rap song as ranked in rap.about.com and number eight on VH1′s 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop, a top 10 hip hop song on our list.

Originally published on May 19, 2012, updated on April 16, 2013, Pls. feel free to add yours in the comments section below