HHC Top 100 rap singles 20-11

#20, 17 & 14 - Eric B & Rakim

Onwards and upwards: (Please use the zshare links, not the fileden ones because of this.)

20. Eric B & Rakim – Paid in Full (zshare) – 1987 – Paid in Full (buy album here)
The first rhyme I ever learned – I didn’t have to try. The words of Rakim’s rap seem to naturally flow; it’s almost as if all these words exist just to be in this exact order. This is probably one of my favourite rhymes ever along with the part of Rappers Delight that begins “Well I was coming home late one dark afternoon”.

19. LL Cool J – Mama Said Knock You Out (zshare) - 1990 – Mama Said Knock You Out (buy album here)
“Don’t call it a comeback! I’ve been here for years.” LL used to rhyme hard, now he rhymes for the girls in the clubs – Shame. (Generalisation I know)

18. Slick Rick – Children’s Story (zshare) – 1988 – The Great Adventures of Slick Rick (buy album here)
The be-patched one does what he does best with this track, he tells a story in his lazy London/New York accent. This track, which bore some resemblance to a later misdemeanour and arrest (he shot his cousin), was self produced.

17. Eric B & Rakim – Eric B is President (zshare) – 1986 – Paid in Full

16. A Tribe Called Quest – Can I kick it? (zshare) – 1990 – People’s Instinctive Travels… (buy album here)
I’ve recently been thinking of making a range of products with rap lyrics on them. The inspiration for this was ATCQ, can you imagine a doormat that quotes “Wipe your feet really good on the rhythm rug”? It would be my pride and joy.

15. Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel – Whitelines (Don’t do it) (zshare) – 1983
1983! Mental. I can’t believe that this is that old. So many people review old albums and the same old quote comes out: ‘it hasn’t aged’. Often writing that is a blatant lie; I read a recent review of ‘It takes a nation…’ which included those overused words, that album has aged! However, I feel it is justifiable to say that ‘Whitelines’ hasn’t aged, it’s still relevant and it’s still unequalled sonically.

14. Eric B & Rakim – Follow the Leader (zshare) – 1988 – Follow the Leader (buy album here)
The fattest bassline to ever grace a classic hip hop track? You decide. On its own it would be menacing but coupled with the jaunty brass stabs it makes perfect music to saunter down the street to. Be careful what your face looks though; those lyrics will provoke a scowl that frighten the average old lady.

13. Wu-Tang Clan – Protect Ya Kneck (zshare) – 1994 – Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (buy album here)
I love that guy who rings up the radio station, he has the coolest ever way of saying ‘because’. This is another Wu track that displays how their unique lyrical stylings fit the gritty beat in a way that other MC’s could only dream of.

12. Boogie Down Productions – South Bronx (zshare) – 1986 – Criminal Minded (buy album here)
Fresh for 86, suckers. For ’07? Not so fresh but good nonetheless.

11. O.C. – Time’s up (zshare) – 1994 – Word…Life (buy album here)
This was one that I hadn’t ever heard until I decided to compile this top 100. I can’t be bothered to go and check but I’m pretty sure this is the hypnotic, heavy beat they use in the battles in 8 Mile.

HHC Top 100 rap singles 80-71 *updated*

# 77. Slick Rick – La-Di-Da-Di (thanks to fly by night)

Here’s the next fix of tracks to either add to or build your collection with. *I've just added Zshare links for all tracks in this one post since fileden has failed me, hope it works.*

80. EPMD – You Got’s to Chill (zshare)– 1988 – ‘Strictly Business’ (Buy here)
Funkeeeee! Slow and funky. This is another one for home dancing, this time with a mate, preferably in a small room where you can execute all manner of confined but wild moves.

79. Run DMC – Runs House (zshare)– 1985 – ‘Tougher than Leather’ (Buy here)
A very likeable Run DMC track here, sounds slightly more up-to-date than some of their other famous tracks.

78. Eminem – Guilty Conscience (zshare) – 1999 – ‘The Slim Shady LP’ (Buy here)
The track (out of 2) by Em that deserves to make this list. This was an important track, it ensured slim wasn’t a one hit wonder and made everyone realise that Dre would never fall off. The single version seemed to be an afterthought as the chorus really propelled it into the charts, good afterthought.

77. Slick Rick – La-Di-Da-Di (zshare)– 1985 – ‘The Art of Story Telling’ (Buy here)
How weird is Slick Ricks accent?! Being a UK import to the US meant he had a half English accent. Doug E Fresh makes this track, um… Fresh. Everybody in the world probably knows at least one line from this track (no thanks to a certain Mr. Williams – not Pharrell, Robbie!).

76. Gang Starr – Full Clip (zshare)– 1999 – ‘Full Clip: A Decade of Gang Starr’ (Buy here)
Nod Nod Nod. That’s my head and it’s not falling asleep, it’s nodding to a classic piece of Primo production. In case you can’t quite remember which track this is, it’s the one that starts: “Big L rest in peace”, yup, you know the one.

75. Boogie Down Productions – Poetry (zshare)– 1987 – ‘Criminal Minded’ (Buy here)

74. A Tribe Called Quest – Bonita Applebum (zshare)– 1990 – ‘Peoples Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm’ (Buy here)
Waa wa waa wow – the twangy sitar sound that you know so well, maybe from ‘Killing me softly’. This came before. A nice chilled out love song.

73. Pharcyde – Ya Mama (zshare) – 1992 – ‘Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde’ (Buy here)

72. Sugar Bear – Don’t Scandalise Mine (zshare) – 1988
Throw yo’ hands up and jump, this is a pure party track to be lodged firmly between, well…any track from that era that used this break.

71. Dr. Dre & Snoop Doggy Dogg – Deep Cover (zshare) – 1992 – ‘Deep Cover OST' (Buy here)