September 24th, 2008
VH1 Votes, “Fight The Power,” As The Best Hip Hop Song Ever
Let the debates begin: VH1 has compiled its list of the 100 greatest hip-hop songs, and Public Enemy’s black power anthem Fight the Power tops the list. The cable channel will count down its list in series of shows starting Monday. At No. 2 is the Sugar Hill Gang’s groundbreaking song, Rapper’s Delight, followed by Dr. Dre’s Nuthin but a ‘G’ Thang at No. 3. Run-D.M.C.’s Walk This Way with Aerosmith and Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five’s The Message round out the top five.
Full Story: USA Today
“Fight the Power,” is a hot song but not the best Hip Hop song of all time. I Don’t agree with this top 5 at all, who can give a better list?
Suggestion Box
September 24th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
First, That’s not even PE’s best song ever….
Horrible choice
September 24th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
btnh and biggie collabo has to be #1
September 24th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Fight the power was a powerful song… I’ll rock with it run dmc sugar hill gang, and walk this way made it possible for hip hop artist to cross over into the white audience and do big numbers. with out those songs hip hop would still be local (good or bad) and there would be no way to get your music out the way you can now.
September 24th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
The whole concept of this Top 5 is Useless!
September 24th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
I don’t know about the best hip hop song ever. There are to many good hip hop songs!
http://www.myspace.com/wavesmusic360
September 24th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
How is fight the power not the number 1 hip hop song..are you crazy RTNY..? That song has so much influence in what was oging in at the time. Either you were too young to realize or you’re just begging for attention.
What’d you prefer? let me guess Lil Wayne’s “A milli”..
BTW 1st!
September 24th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Nas cant get in the top ten……………fuck this list!
September 24th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
it all depends on what generation you was born in and started listening to hip hop.. most likely if you asked a 20yr old if his favorite song of all time is “fight the power” then he’s gonna look at you like your stupid.
but I’ll bet you he’ll say it was one of lil waynes 1st song and stunt like he listened to him since he came out. lol
September 24th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Tough one to call man im 23…i remember fight the power but ya know i wasnt feelin it like that but i do know why they placed it number 1 tho…but my top 5 would be….
5. Juvenile- HA tie with Make em say ugh Master-P
4. Outkast- Playa’s Ball
3. Dr.Dre Aint nutin but a G thang
2. Keep ya head up-Tupac
1. One more chance- Biggie Smalls
I think all those songs put their region on da map the most and had every other coast feelin em the most. I know cats older than me and prolly from up north gon feel like going along the lines that vh1 took but this my route…
September 24th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Top 5 is one man’s top 5, as good or bad a opinion as any human being and as potentially wrong and worthless as any other.
September 24th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
I love black people but I hate Niggers….
How the hell you’re top 5 are;
5. Juvenile- HA tie with Make em say ugh Master-P
4. Outkast- Playa’s Ball
3. Dr.Dre Aint nutin but a G thang
2. Keep ya head up-Tupac
1. One more chance- Biggie Smalls
Juvenile..? wtf? Biggie? ….Dr. Dre. and Maybe 2 pac…..you guys have to understand globally no one knows keep ya head up..but they know nothing but a g thang why cause the chords and production and flow on the song were a problem that time and a problem now.!!!!!!!
September 24th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
top 5 is opinion! There will never be a definitive top 5 anything unless its to do with stone hard facts and stats
September 24th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
mine would be
1. unconditional love by tupac
2. Juicy by B.I.G
3. T.I. vs T.I.P. (the track from Trap Muzik) by T.I.
4. Gin and Juice by Snoop
5. The way i am by Eminem
September 24th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
yea top 5 is opinion but cats cant just be naming their favorite 5 songs thats not what this is about, it should be like the top 5 overall influential hiphop songs… thats the theme they were shooting for it will never be right on point but if some ppl just let there attachments go it can get in the ball park…like my personal top 5 would be full of jay big and down south rap songs…but i respect the aim of the list
September 24th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
what is vh1 ?
September 24th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
I think the list is base on the impact that those songs had on the culture of hip hop. Base of that notion I’d have to agree with the top 5. With the exception of “Nuthin’ But A G Thang”,all of them are before my time. I remember being in the 5 grade when the “Chronic” came through, and now looking back that album changed the game fo’real. So if the list is base on the impact and the movement that followed the songs in guestion, than you have to give them credit on that list.
P.S.
Do your research on these songs, and understand why they’re there.
September 24th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
apparently those flav stans over at VH1 have never heard a lil song called out here grindin. every member of the super friends is on point and DJ Khaled seriously steps up his ad-lib game. tooooo crazy, def the best hip hop song of all time IMO
September 24th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
fuck this politacally correct list,
nuff respect and props to the innovators of this rap shit but come on “walk this way” i love run dmc but even them would tell you, that this song was not one of hip hop’s best song;heres my list
1. The Message(Melli Mel)
2.Microphone fiend(Eric B & Rakim)
3.I used to love Her(Common Sense)
4.C.r.e.a.m ,Protect your neck or Cant it be that it(Wu-tang)
5.Who shot ya(Biggie Smalls)
September 24th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
too many ppl on this blog actin like they don’t know what the fuckin question was..if u can’t give a top 5 then don’t comment, we know theres a ot of good songs ou there but bring ur top 5, that’s it
imma keep it real 4 this one..starting from best to least best
1.dear mama… tupac( beautiful song..proves that hiphop is an art and that it’s also poetry)
2. keep ur head up.. tupac(shows that hiphop can uplift positively without curse words or anger..this song is an all time classic
3 changes…tupac( this song literally got off what every young black man had on their chest..this song said it all… to the world)
4. juicy….biggie(exceptional flow….it’s a ballers anthem for when u cop that benz or whatever u rollin in and u just flashback at the hard times..good celebration song
5 shook ones…mobb deep( this is what a hardcore hiphop song’s supposed to soun like)
fuck what u say ..this is it …and tupac is as the top 3 cuz he’s equivilant to three rappers..actually he’s better than all dead and living rappers combined, he coulda easily filled up the top 5 but whatever i put other niggaz in there too.
September 24th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
FLAVOR FLAAAAAV
September 24th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
FLAVOR FLAAAAAV!
September 24th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
i luv hip hop, i luv hip hop, i luvvv hippp hoppp!!!!
1.2pac (Dear Mama)
2.Jay-z (Dead Presidents)
3.Kanye West (Jesus Walk)
4.Notorious B.I.G (Hypnotize)
5.Common (The Light)
these are my top 5, but there’s more!
Jay-z (never change)
Jay-z (allure)
Jay-z (soon you’ll understand)
Nas (one mic)
Nas (if i rulde the world)
Mobb Deep (quiet strom)
Kanye West (can’t tell me nothin)
Wu Tang (cream)
Eminem (the way i am)
2pac (keep ya head up)
AND? YES UKNOW Lil Wanye (millie,mr. carter)
p.s 2COOL4U IS JUST LIKE U?
September 24th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
SMFH @ #9 WITH JUVENILE - HA @ #5 ON TOP 5 LIST .LOL U WILDIN..
September 24th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
They said the GREATEST song…not the BEST…taht song was probably the most influental hip hop song ever, especially during its era.
September 24th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
VH1 doesn’t count.
http://hiptics.com
September 24th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
jay-z - you must love me
eminem - sing for a moment
nas- if i ruled the world
pac- dear momma
jay-z - devils (this is probably on of my fav song of all time, the word play is just disgusting)
eminem- cleaning out my closet
kanye - jesus walks
aesop rock - regrets (this shit is just to good not to mention)
September 24th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Juvenile wtf!!!!!!!!!!!! Im 22 and my top 5 is
5.)Kanye West - Jesus Walks
4.)Mobb Deep - Shook Ones
3.)Nas - Nas is Like
2.)Jay Z - Dead Presidents
1.)Biggie - Juicy
All these songs are classics in my opinion.
September 24th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
It was one most influential songs of it’s and any era. No other song has had an impact that that song during it’s time. America and especially NYC was going through some serious racial tension at a time when we thought we had past it during the 60 and 70’s as well as the black community feeling the full effects of Reaganomics. If you watch Do the Right Thing you will get a little bit of the taste of what was going on then. This same outrage would be a later set off to climax during the LA Riots.
It’s not even my favorite Public Enemy song but combine how good the song is with it’s social impact then yeah I would have to put it at the top hip hop song of all time.
September 24th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
EVEN though i was in this video when i was a kid and i love pe forever and this song this is by far not even the best song they ever did come on better then rebel without a pause better then don’t believe the hype or shut’em down now as for the best songs of all time that would be the songs that changed the game like ain’t no half steppin reminisce over you dear mama or keep your head up mind playing tricks on me they want efx opp or hip hop hooray the message it takes two shook one it ain’t hard to tell or the world is yours humpty dance fuck tha police i need love or rock the bells or i need a beat or mama said knock you out sucker mcs rockbox king of rock peter piper my adidas go see the doctor warning ten crack commandments you’re a customer you gots to chill its my thing si what you saying i ain’t no joke microphone fiend
September 24th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
why yall hatin on juvenile bruh i dont really like him but im from the south and he put us on the map way more mainstream then Master P did in my opinion…my top 5 personally would be
1 D’evils- Jay-Z
2 Say hello-Jay-Z
3 Notorious Thugs-Biggie Smalls
4 One More Chance-BIG
5 Still aint forgave myself-TI
man i prolly change my top 5 in 20 mintues but those are real to me,like my favs but some might not think they are great at all. but the first top 5 i gave was geared toward the question dude asked, cats in the south can relate, UGK, ball&G scarface…dudes like that i gurantee would be on anybodys list from down here…try givin an unbiased opinion
September 24th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
lol @ Ras Marley… they’re the herders!!!
September 24th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Fuck 5
KRS-1: Self Destruction, Rapture, Sound of da police
Public Enemy: Fight The Power, Fuck the Police
Biggie/Bone Thugs-n-Harmony: Notorious Thugs
Eazy E: Boyz-N-The Hood
2Pac: Hail Mary, Ambitions As A Ridah, Get Around,Me and My Girlfriend
Rakim: My Melody, Juice, I Ain’t No Joke
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony: 1st of tha Month, Foe the love of money, 9mm
Eminem: The Way I Am
Salt-n-Pepa: Mic Check, Push It, Let’s Talk About Sex, Shoop
Nas: Blunt Ashes, Ether, Got urself a gun, If I ruled the World, One Mic, Made U look
Mos Def: Oh No, Ms. Fat Booty
Ghostface Killah: Cherchez La Ghost
The LOX/Lil Kim: Money, Power & Respect
Snoop Dogg: Gin & Juice, Whats my name, Murda Was The Case, Lodi Dodi
Digable Planets: Rebirth Of Cool
Busta Rhymes: Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See, Dangerous, Everything Remains Raw, Touch It Allstar Remix
Whodini: Freaks come out @ night, One Love
Camp Lo: Luchini Aka This Is It
JJ Fad: Supersonic
Twista: Overnight Celebrity, Mobsters Anthem
Foxy Brown: BK Anthem, Oh Yeah, Tables Will Turn
Jay-Z: U Don’t Know, Breathe Easy, Excuse Me Miss, Renegade, Dirt Off Your Shoulder, Knock the Hustle
Jadakiss/Nas: Show Discipline, Kiss Is Spittin, Knock Yourself Out
Roxanne Shanté: Roxanne’s Revenge
Dr Dre: Deep Cover, Fuck Wit Dre Day, Nigga Witta gun, Forgot about Dre, Let Me Ride, Nuthin’ But a “G” Thang
Big Daddy Kane: Ain’t No Half Steppin’, Raw
Fugees: Fu-gee-la, Ready Or Not
Method Man/Mary J.: All I Need, Method Man, Release Yo’ Delf
Cam’ron: Down & Out, Killa Cam
A Tribe Called Quest: Check The Rhime, Electric Relaxation, Bonita Applebum
Lady Of Rage: Afro Puffs
LL Cool J: Mama Said Knock You Out, I Shot Ya
Das EFX: They want EFX
Lost Boyz: Renee
N.O.R.E: Superthug, Grimey
Clipse: What happend to that boy, Grindin
Run DMC: Rock Box, Adidas, Peter Piper, Walk This Way
MC Lyte: Paper Thin, Poor Georgie
Ice Cube: Check Yo Self, It Was a Good Day
Wu-Tang: C.R.E.A.M., Protect Ya Neck
Freeway: What We Do, Night Shift
Mobb Deep: Shook Ones & Quiet Storm w/ Lil Kim
Fabolous: Breathe
Lil Kim: Crush, No Time
The Pharcyde: Runnin
Wreckx-N-Effect: Rump Shaker
Outkast: 2 Dope Boys, ATLiens, So Fresh So Clean, Elevators
DMX: Stop Bein Greedy, Damien, Whats My Name, Money Cash Hoes
Too Short: Freaky Tales, Blowjob Betty
Ruff Ryders: Down Bottom
Scarface: My Block, Maryjane, Smile, Guess Whos Back
Queen Latifah: Ladies 1st, U.N.I.T.Y.
UGK: The Game Belong To Me
Brand Nubian: Slow Down
Common: The Light, The Corner, Testify
Three 6 Mafia: Sippin’ on Some Syrup, Stay High
Shyne: Bad Boyz
Talib Kweli: Perfect Beat, Get By, The Blast
50 Cent: Wanksta, Patiently Waiting, In Da Club, I get Money, P.I.M.P.
Juvenile: HA!
Slick Rick: Teenage Love, La di da di, Childrens Story
Sugarhill Gang: Rappers’ Delight
8Ball & MJG: Relax & Take Notes
T.I.: Motivation, What u know
Marley Marl: The Symphony
Craig Mack: Flava in ya Ear
Biggie: Juicy, 10 Crack Commandments, Mo Money Mo Problems, Fuck u tonight, Who Shot Ya, Nasty Boy
Crucial Conflict: Hay
Junior M.A.F.I.A.: Get Money
The Roots: Next Movement, I Remain Calm, U got Me
Lauryn Hill: Lost Ones
G-Unit: Poppin them thangs, Stunt 101
Sillk da Shocka/Mystikal: It Ain’t My Fault
MC Shan: The Bridge
Cypress Hill: Kill a Man, Insane in the membrane
Did Marky Mark (Good Vibrations), House Of Pain (Jump Around)& Blondie (Rapture) make it to the list? Probly did..u know how they do
September 24th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
@ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Damn pookie, u came wit the whole hundred? Good sh!t in there though!
September 24th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
cant complain wit public enemy at number 1
but dr.dre nuthin but a g thang????
and they aint put no biggie,jayz, or nas in that top 5.
here we go again
how was nuthin but a g thang bigger than some records made by those 3 east coast mc’s. yea i’m biased so what
September 24th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
“how was nuthin but a g thang bigger than some records made by those 3 east coast mc’s. yea i’m biased so what”
Possibily because this song launched death row to an extent and Put the 1st 2 nails in the couffin of NY hip hop! Now niggas jus rap, and ain’t even self proclaimed rappers!?
September 24th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
FUCK YOU FIGHT THE POWER IS THE BEST HIP HOP SONG EVER DATS”S THE ONLY ONE I AGREE WITH OUTTA DAT TOP FIVE CAUSE WU TANG AND NAS NEED TO BE UP THERE
September 24th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
GET THE FUCK OUTTA HERE VH1 DON’T KNOW SHIT ABOUT HIP-HOP BEST HIP-HOP SONG EVER IS COMMON - I USED TO LOVE HER…. VH1 STUPID FUCKS WHAT NUMBER DID THEY PUT THAT COMMON SONG FUCK OUTTA HERE
September 25th, 2008 at 1:09 am
greatest hip hop songs..
1. BIG - juicy
2. Pac - changes
3. Rakim - check out my melody
4. Nas - any song off illmatic — NY state of mind
5. to many to choose from
lmfao #9 juvenile is on ur top five 4 real????????????? is mannie fresh in ur top 10?
September 25th, 2008 at 9:11 am
ill swtich it up for you and go from the right side to the left side just some of my favs
east
1. Nas - It anit hard to tell
south
2. Scarface feat 2pac - Smile
Midwest
common - resurrection / 6th sense
West
Dr Dre - let me ride / xplosive
September 25th, 2008 at 10:06 am
@2cents…….here we go
“Possibily because this song launched death row to an extent and Put the 1st 2 nails in the couffin of NY hip hop! Now niggas jus rap, and ain’t even self proclaimed rappers!?”
actually ny hiphop hit an all time high, AFTER dr.dre era. so they didnt put a nail in anything. yea it launched death row which in turn sat itself in that chair and is now dead. but biggie’s juicy launched an empire named badboy which is still alive and thriving today, well puff is anyway. or jayz hard knock life which propelled the biggest living rap star today from marcy to madison ave(whether or not, u like his music, u cant deny his legacy). or nas who could go down as one of the most prolephic mc’s to touch the mic and is still going strong today.
dr.dre didnt kill any of these things, they all peaked after dre, and are still relevant and important in hiphop today, so i think they are more important
*steps back, and awaits a response*
September 25th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Since it came out over 20 years ago I dont think I have been to a party where Eric B. for President wasn’t played.
September 25th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Yo #33 I cosign damn near all them songs, I cant really call a top 5 list, cause they are too many damn songs thats considered hip hop to me. Diffrent songs for diffrent moods and diffrent occasions. I can still bump a song that could be 10- 15 years and still listen to it like its still revelant. Thats the good thing about music.
September 25th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
that song cant be the greatest cause everyone doesnt know it,and they still dont play it today
September 25th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
to be a best hip hop ever,that means its played all around up to this date and everyone from young to old knows it
i think it might be g thang
September 25th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
with this list ima put songz that is INTERNATIONAL.. thats wat you really should be aiming for.. cause if it got INTERNATIONAL then it must be a great song…
2pac- Until The End Of Time
The Fugees- Ready Or Not
Nas-If i ruled The World
Puff Daddy ft Faith Even- I’ll Be missing You
Dr. Dre- Still Dre
November 16th, 2008 at 3:57 am
a lot of the songs on the list aren’t hip hop and if it weren’t for rappers delight there wouldn’t be modern day hip hop so that should definitely be over fight the power.
November 16th, 2008 at 3:57 am
a lot of the songs on the list aren’t hip hop and if it weren’t for rappers delight there wouldn’t be modern day hip hop so that should definitely be over fight the power.