I collected 10 lists of the Best Rap and Hip-Hop songs of all time from various sources on the Internet and combined them into a single meta-list. Here are the results – every song that was listed by three or more of the original sources. I was a little surprised that more recent songs did not make the list – only nine songs from 2000-Present, and none from 2007-Present. For a list of Best Hip Hop and Rap Albums, go here.
On 8 Lists
The Message – Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five (1982)
7 Lists
Nuthin’ But A ‘G’ Thang – Dr. Dre, feat. Snoop Doggy Dog (1992)
It Was A Good Day – Ice Cube (1993)
C.R.E.A.M. – Wu-Tang Clan (1993)
Stan – Eminem, feat. Dido (2000)
6
Straight Outta Compton – N.W.A. (1988)
Mind Playin’ Tricks on Me – Geto Boys (1991)
Juicy – Notorious B.I.G. (1994)
5
Rapper’s Delight – Sugar Hill Gang (1979)
Planet Rock – Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force (1982)
Fight The Power – Public Enemy (1990)
Mama Said Knock You Out – LL Cool J (1990)
They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.) – Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth (1992)
Dear Mama – 2Pac (1995)
4
Push It – Salt-N-Pepa (1986)
Walk This Way – Run-D.M.C., feat. Steven Tyler & Joe Perry (1986)
Children’s Story – Slick Rick (1988)
Scenario – A Tribe Called Quest, feat. Busta Rhymes (1992)
Keep Your Head Up – 2Pac (1993)
Shook Ones Pt. II – Mobb Deep (1994)
Regulate – Warren G, feat. Nate Dogg (1994)
I Used To Love H.E.R. – Common (1994)
Gin & Juice – Snoop Dogg, feat. Dr. Dre (1994)
Gangsta’s Paradise – Coolio (1995)
California Love – 2Pac, feat. Dr. Dre & Roger Troutman (1995)
Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) – Jay Z (1998)
In Da Club – 50 Cent (2003)
3
The Breaks – Kurtis Blow (1980)
La Di Da Di – Doug E. Fresh & the Get Fresh Crew (1985)
Top Billin’ – Audio Two (1987)
Paid in Full – Eric B. and Rakim (1987)
I Need Love – LL Cool J (1987)
Rebel Without A Pause – Public Enemy (1987)
Ain’t No Half Steppin’ – Big Daddy Kane (1988)
Parents Just Don’t Understand – DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (1988)
The Symphony – Marley Marl, feat. Masta Ace, Craig G, Big Daddy Kane & Kool G Rap (1988)
Just A Friend – Biz Markie (1989)
Me, Myself and I – De La Soul (1989)
The Humpty Dance – Digital Underground (1990)
O.P.P. – Naughty By Nature (1991)
Protect Ya Neck – Wu-Tang Clan (1993)
New York State of Mind – Nas (1994)
I’ll Be There For You/You’re All I Need to Get By – Method Man, feat. Mary J. Blige (1995)
The Crossroads – Bone Thugs-N-Harmony (1996)
Ms. Jackson – Outkast (2000)
B.O.B. – Outkast (2000)
Get Ur Freak On – Missy Elliot (2001)
Lose Yourself – Eminem (2002)
99 Problems – Jay Z (2004)
Jesus Walks – Kanye West (2004)
What You Know – T.I. (2006)