Through an outstanding demonstration of the sprawling, multifaceted hip-hop scene of the 70s, the American dream of a whole generation of African Americans visualized a new cultural influence that portrayed their associations to poverty, criminality, police brutality and unemployment. Through the creation of stereotypes and role models, hip hop has viewed broadly the post-civil rights of the black America producing a music genre that was meant to alter the scenery of the music industry in the following years.
But it was much more than that. With their exceptional emcee storytelling skills, influential lyrics, and socially conscious views, and anchored by first-class quality scratching and outstandingly inspiring hip hop rhythm, hip hop songs have influenced a substantial audience globally.
To my view, the top 5 of the most popular hip hop songs are:
DR. DRE – NUTHIN’ BUT A ‘G’ THANG FROM THE ALBUM THE CHRONIC (1993)
Breeding elements of hip hop, jazz, funk and soul made Nuthin’ But A ‘G’ Thang the first G Funk hip hop song. Dr. Dre created an alternative hip hop subgenre, using saxophone and flute instrumentation, slow bass beats and melodic synthesizers. Consistent rhyming telling stories about sex, drugs, and violence in the black hoods of Los Angeles satisfied the need of black America for civil rights in a society full of negative stereotypes. Nuthin’ But A ‘G’ Thang reached #1 on Billboard chart and #3 in the big rap singles in the UK, while The Chronic is widely viewed as a groundbreaking album that re-defined West Coast hip hop.
GRANDMASTER FLASH AND THE FURIOUS FIVE – THE MESSAGE FROM THE ALBUM THE MESSAGE (1982)
The Message is one of the first hip-hop songs describing the ghetto life in Brooklyn and the urban despair of African Americans in the 80s.
Merging their black roots with streetwise beats Grandmaster Flash produced a hip-hop masterpiece, whose chorus “Don’t push me ‘cuz I’m close to the edge” has become one of the most recognizable choruses in hip-hop music history. The Message was ranked #51 in the List of Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and #3 in the 100 Greatest Rap Songs.
RUN D.M.C. – IT’S TRICKY FROM THE ALBUM RAISING HELLÂ (1986)
Run D.M.C. is the Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman and Nirvana of hip-hop. With their great impact on the development of hip hop in the 80s they turned hip-hop into mainstream music just like Louis Armstrong did for jazz, Benny Goodman for swing and Nirvana for alternative rock.
Ready for a breakthrough into the mainstream, Run D.M.C. launched their third album Raising Hell and hit a blockbuster by becoming the first hip hop group to go gold, platinum, and multi-platinum, and to appear on the Rolling Stone cover. It’s Tricky was the smash hit of Raising Hell spitting quick-tongue remarks and screaming roaring threats.
SLICK RICK – CHILDREN’S STORY FROM THE ALBUM THE GREAT ADVENTURES OF SLICK RICK (1988)
Children’s Story is an all-time, forever classic hip-hop song combines funk elements with beats, anchored by the unique emcee style of Slick Rick. The incessantly flawless stream of half-American, half-English accent and the creative way he puts together a story of a routine situation imitating the voices of a woman or a child ranked Children’s Story in #44 on the 100 Greatest Rap Songs and made Slick Rick one of the a genius storytellers in the history of hip hop; overall, a must-have album.
THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. – BIG POPPA FROM THE ALBUM READY TO DIE (1995)
The Brooklyn born Notorious BIG is widely regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, not only for the music he produced but also for hi lifestyle. Sex, drugs and guns made The Notorious BIG a huge idol of the obese African Americans of the 90s, who forgot about their appearance and focused on the rhyme, rhythm and reason.
The extraordinarily sweet rhyming ability of The Notorious Big anchored by melodic synthesizers, smooth trumpets, and soft strings made Big Poppa Grammy Nominated and Billboard Award Winning smash hit achieving platinum sales.
I work as a financial and investment advisor but my passion is writing, music and photography. Writing mostly about finance, business and music, being an amateur photographer and a professional dj, I am inspired from life.
Being a strong advocate of simplicity in life, I love my family, my partner and all the people that have stood by me with or without knowing. And I hope that someday, human nature will cease to be greedy and demanding realizing that the more we have the more we want and the more we satisfy our needs the more needs we create. And this is so needless after all.
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