Joe's Jams 02.03.09: The Top 25 80s Old School Rap Songs 10-1

Posted by Joe Rivett on 02.03.2009

Number 1 won't surprise most people but numbers 2-5 probably will. Find out what the greatest old school rap song of all time is...

To celebrate the return of Backspin on Sirius Radio, I made a top 25 list of my favorite 80s rap songs. Last week I profiled 25-11 HERE



10. NWA - Straight Outta Compton

I love the saxophone in the background. This was the perfect first single for the group as it told their story well. Ice Cube outshines the others in the group in this one:

Straight outta Compton crazy motherfucka named Ice Cube
From the gang called Niggaz With Attitudes
When I'm called off I got a sawed off
Squeeze the trigger and bodies are hauled off
You too boy if ya fuck with me
The police are gonna hafta come and get me
Off yo ass that's how I'm goin out
For the punk motherfuckeras that's showin out
Niggaz start to mumble, they wanna rumble
Mix em and cook em in a pot like gumbo
Goin off on a motherfucka like that
with a gat that's pointed at yo ass
So give it up smooth
Ain't no tellin when I'm down for a jack move
Here's a murder rap to keep yo dancin
with a crime record like Charles Manson
AK-47 is the tool
Don't make me act the motherfuckin fool
Me you can go toe to toe, no maybe
I'm knockin niggaz out tha box, daily

9. LL Cool J – I'm Bad

It is funny how this song and "I need love" are on the same album. I like how it is only LL's second album yet he already knows he's the greatest:

Never retire or put my mike on the shelf
The baddest rapper in the history of rap itself
Not bitter or mad just provin' I'm bad
You want a hit give me a hour plus a pen and a pad

MC's they retreat cause they know I can beat 'em
And eat 'em in a battle and the ref won't cheat 'em
I'm the best takin' out all rookies
So forget Oreos eat Cool J coookies

I'm bad

8. Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock – It Takes Two

This was great rap song from the 80s that also did well as a dance song. I always wanted to hear Ric Flair yell "woo" in this song. However, the sampling of James Brown works well.



7. Beastie Boys – No Sleep Till Brooklyn

I love the guitar better in this song than "Fight For Your Right". Plus it has more of a rap beat. I love MCA's part at 1:52 when the song slows down for a little.

6. NWA – Fuck Tha Police

Other than the social commentary in this song, I love the mock court case. This is probably the best anti-establishment song ever. What also makes this song great is that each individual rapper does not outshine each other.

5. Run DMC – You Talk Too Much

Everywhere I have worked, there is always that one damn person that never shuts up. Every time he talks to me I just think of this song. I love the lyrics too:

Hey! You over there, I know about your kind
You're like the Independent Network News on Channel 9
Everywhere that you go, no matter where you at
I said you talk about this, and you talk about that
When the cat took your tongue, I say you took it right back
Your mouth is so big, one bite would kill a Big Mac



4. Slick Rick – Children's Story

For those not into old school, Montel Jordan sampled and borrowed heavily from this song. Slick Rick's British voice makes him unique and he tells a story better than most rappers in this song.

3. Slick Rick with Doug E Fresh – La Di Da Di

Doug E Fresh does a great human beat box in this song. I love the way Slick says "Stretch" in the beginning of the song. Snoop later did a nice rendition of this song.

2. Sugarhill Gang – Apache

This is sampled from the Incredible Bongo Band's version of "Apache". Not to be forgotten Vanilla Ice sampled this from his Ninja Rap from the movie Turtles 2. This song is probably too politically incorrect to play nowadays with all of the Indian references. It is a hell of a song to dance to. In addition, I love the phrase: "Tonto, Jump on it".



1. Grandmaster Flash – The Message

I love the passion in Grandmaster Flash's voice. This song tells the real story of living in the ghetto without having to use cussing:

Broken glass everywhere
People pissing on the stairs, you know they just don't care
I can't take the smell, I can't take the noise no more
Got no money to move out, I guess I got no choice
Rats in the front room, roaches in the back
Junkie's in the alley with a baseball bat
I tried to get away, but I couldn't get far
'Cause a man with a tow-truck repossessed my car

The other notable in this song is the excellent synthesizer. I feel like the background is a perfect theme for a pimp. Ice Cube uses it well in "Check Yo Self", however, Puff Daddy almost killed this song with "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down". I say that because Puff Daddy uses almost no emotion in his voice.