Normally when VH1, MTV2 or whom ever puts together a list relating to Hip-Hop or Rap Music it is often notably very bad. The current-day down south influenced Rap is often mixed in with the Golden Era legends and records that can easily be considered classics. Most artists from the south and those they influence should not even be mentioned in the same breath as the legends that helped to make Rap Music a worldwide phenomenon.
Rolling Stone Magazine, however, has put together a list of the top 50 rap records of all-time. Although Rolling Stones' list is not perfect, the top ten is actually impressive, and comes close to what the general consensus is among the children of the 80's.
The top 10 are:
10: "Paid In Full", Eric B. And Rakim
9. "Straight Out Of Compton", NWA
8. "Juicy", Notorious B.I.G.
7. "Fight The Power", Public Enemy
6. "Nuthin' But A G Thing", Dr. Dre And Snoop Dawg
5. "My Mind Is Playing Tricks On Me", Getto Boys
4. "Sucker MC's", Run-DMC
3. "Planet Rock", Afrika Bambaataa And The Soul Sonic Force
2. "Rappers Delight", The Sugar Hill Gang
1. "The Message", Melle Mell
Although the top 10 list comes close, there is no way a Notorious B.I.G. record should be in the top 10 over the many classics by L.L. Cool J. "Juicy" by B.I.G. could easily be replaced by L.L.'s "Rock The Bells" or "Mama Said Knock You Out". "Juicy" should be in the top 20 as oppssed to the top 10.
It was However good to see "Sucker MC's and "Fight The Power" make the top 10. It was also a pleasant surprise to see "Planet Rock" inside the top 3. Picking "The Message" as number 1 is exceptionally accurate. Melle Mell, can easily be considered the most important rapper in the history of recorded Rap Music. Melle (Melvin Glover) Mell mastered the art form before the rest of the world knew what it was. He brought a level of poetic flair to rap lyrics that did not exist before him. His freestyle skills were very strong from the time he began, and he single handedly created the sub-genre known as conscious rap with "The Message".
Doing a socially relevant Rap record was a way to make a quick hit after Melle Mell made it popular in 1982. Run-DMCs' first single "Its' Like That" (And That's The Way It is), was a Conscious Rap record- although the term "Conscious Rap" wasn't even being used yet at the time.
Much respect to Rolling Stone Magazine for doing what can be considered an objective top 10 that actually resonates with fans that have followed Rap from its beginning.