A New Book Lists Most Important Rap Songs From 1979-Now
There’s a new book out there that suggests the most important rap song every year from 1979-now. See what the author is talking about after the jump.
Author Shea Serrano is attempting to do what is considered by many impossible…to pick the most important/influential rap song from every year since our history’s inception. The book is called “The Rap Yearbook” with the subtitle “The Most Important Rap Song From Every Year Since 1979, Discussed, Debated, and Deconstructed,” and you can find it on Amazon for an average price.
The book is designed as such a high school yearbook and has each song presented in photograph format with incerpts from Ice-T and illustrations from respected Arturo Torres. Each song comes with notes, lyrics, charts, and diagrams supporting his idea of the most important song of the year. Check his list of the most important rap song from every year below:
1979 ‘Rapper’s Delight’ The Sugarhill Gang
1980 ‘The Breaks’ Kurtis Blow
1981 ‘Jazzy Sensation’ Afrika Bambaataa and the Jazzy Five
1982 ‘The Message’ Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
1983 ‘Sucker M.C.’s’ Run-DMC
1984 ‘Friends’ Whodini
1985 ‘La Di Da Di’ Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick
1986 ‘6 in the Mornin” Ice-T
1987 ‘Paid in Full’ Eric B. and Rakim
1988 ‘Straight Outta Compton’ N.W.A
1989 ‘Fight the Power’ Public Enemy
1990 ‘Bonita Applebum’ A Tribe Called Quest
1991 ‘Mind Playing Tricks on Me’ Geto Boys
1992 ‘Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang’ Dr. Dre, featuring Snoop Dogg
1993 ‘C.R.E.A.M.’ Wu-Tang Clan
1994 ‘Juicy’ The Notorious B.I.G.
1995 ‘Dear Mama’ Tupac
1996 ‘California Love’ Tupac, featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman
1997 ‘Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down’ Puff Daddy, featuring Mase
1998 ‘Ruff Ryders’ Anthem’ DMX
1999 ‘My Name Is’ Eminem
2000 ‘Big Pimpin” Jay Z, featuring UGK
2001 ‘Takeover’ vs. ‘Ether’ Jay Z vs. Nas
2002 ‘Grindin” The Clipse
2003 ‘In Da Club’ 50 Cent
2004 ‘Still Tippin” Mike Jones, featuring Slim Thug and Paul Wall
2005 ‘Gold Digger’ Kanye West, featuring Jamie Foxx
2006 ‘Hustlin” Rick Ross
2007 ‘International Players Anthem’ UGK, featuring Outkast
2008 ‘A Milli’ Lil Wayne
2009 ‘Best I Ever Had’ Drake
2010 ‘Monster’ Kanye West, featuring Rick Ross, Jay Z, Bon Iver, and Nicki Minaj
2011 ‘Niggas in Paris’ Jay Z and Kanye West
2012 ‘Same Love’ Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
2013 ‘Control’ Big Sean, featuring Kendrick Lamar and Jay Electronica
2014 ‘Lifestyle’ Rich Gang, featuring Young Thug and Rich Homie Quan
What do you think of Serrano’s list? Do you agree? What would your list look like? Let us know in the comments below!
Sources: HHE, Ambrosia For Heads
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