It seems that many internet searchers end up at Kickin' it Old School expecting to find "Old School Rap," so it is long overdue for me to publish my top 10 rap/hip hop songs from the 80s. This is a pretty comprehensive list because rap was my music of choice in the mid-80s (before it really started to get too gangster and violent).

Just to clarify one thing before I start, this list will only include songs from the 80s. Some people consider some rap songs from the early 90s to be "old school," but for the purpose of this list those songs will not be included. So before you get concerned that I missed a particular song, please double-check to make sure it was from 1989 or earlier.

As usual, the candidates are very strong here, so I am actually going to provide you with my top 50 (with even more songs than that due to ties)!!  As added value, there will be a link to a video for each of the 50 spots though in some case it is just the song playing over a still picture. I thought this was important to let you hear the songs especially if you have never heard them, can't remember them or just wanted to bring back the memories. So without further ado, here is OLD SCHOOL'S TOP 10 RAP SONGS FROM 1980-1989 (+Bonus 40):

Honorable Mentions. "Rapper's Delight" (1979) by The Sugar Hill Gang & "Walk This Way" (1986) by Run-DMC featuring Aerosmith - Because it was technically not in the 80's, I wanted to at least give honorable mention to "Rapper's Delight" which is commonly known as the first rap hit. I probably would have had to place it in the top 10 if I included it in this list. It definitely has a disco feel to it which you can see and hear with this link to the video. I also wanted to give an honorable mention to "Walk This Way" which was from the groundbreaking album Raising Hell. This song really served to officially let rap crossover into the mainstream since it was the first rap song ever to make it to the top 5 in the Billboard Hot 100. I am a huge fan of Run-DMC, so you will see them represented well on the list below. I feel that they really took the genre to the next level and this particular song was a big part of that. Here is a link to the video for "Walk This Way."

50. "Bust A Move" (1989) by Young M.C. from Stone Cold Rhymin' [link to video] - A little commercial, but still not that bad

49. "What People Do For Money" (1984) by Divine Sounds [link to video] - Almost forgot about this one

48. "8 Million Stories" & "Basketball" (1984) by Kurtis Blow from Ego Trip [link to video for "Basketball" mentions many of the great NBA players of the time] - Probably should recognize "The Breaks" from way back in 1980 because it was one of the early successes for the genre, but I really have never liked it that much though many might rank it highly on a list like this.

47. "Egypt, Egypt" & "And My Beat Goes Boom" (1984) by Egyptian Lover from On the Nile [link to song playing "Egypt, Egypt"]

46. "Boyz-n-the Hood" (1988) by Eazy-E from Eazy-Duz-It [link to video]

45. "Words I Manifest" (1989) by Gang Starr from No More Mr. Nice Guy [link to video]

44. "Jam On It" (1984) by Newcleus [link to song playing]

43.(tie) "Paper Thin" (1988) by MC Lyte from Lyte as a Rock [link to video] & "Ladies First" (1989) by Queen Latifah featuring Monie Love from All Hail the Queen [link to video] - Wanted to recognize some of the pioneering lady rappers

42. "Don't Fight The Feelin'" (1988) by Too $hort from Life Is...To Short [link to song playing]

41. "High Rollers" (1988) by Ice T from Power [link to video] - I remember seeing Ice T for the first time rapping during the breakdance battles in the 1984 movie Breakin'

40. "Hey Ladies" (1989) by Beastie Boys from Paul's Boutique [link to video]

39. "Nobody Beats the Biz!" (1988) by Biz Markie from Goin' Off [link to song playing] - More people know him for his clown around songs like "Just a Friend" but he really was a solid lyricist

38. "Cinderfella Dana Dane" (1987) by Dana Dane from Dana Dane With Fame [link to song playing]

37.(tie) "Roxanne's Revenge" (1984) by Roxanne Shante [link to video] & "The Real Roxanne" (1985) by The Real Roxanne with UTFO [link to song playing] - The first was a response to the UTFO song "Roxanne, Roxanne" and sparked what were known as the "Roxanne Battles" between Shante and the Real Roxanne

36. "Hit It Run" & "It's Tricky" (1986) by Run-DMC from Raising Hell [link to video for "It's Tricky" which also stars magicians Penn & Teller] - DJ Jam Master Jay does not get enough credit for the group's success and he is missed after being tragically murdered in 2002. R.I.P. JMJ.

35. "Road to the Riches" (1989) by Kool G. Rap & DJ Polo from Road to the Riches [link to video]

34. "6 In the Morning" (1987) by Ice T from Rhyme Pays [link to song playing]

33. "Roxanne, Roxanne" (1984) by UTFO from Roxanne, Roxanne [link to video]

32. "You Gots to Chill" (1988) by EPMD from Strictly Business [link to video]

31. "Fat Boys" & "Stick 'em" (1984) by The Fat Boys from Fat Boys [link to video for "Fat Boys"]

30. "Freaks Come Out At Night" (1984) by Whodini from Escape [link to video] - Could have also included "Friends" and "Five Minutes of Funk" both from that same album

29. "Push It" (1987) by Salt-n-Pepa from Hot, Cool & Vicious [link to video]

28. "Children's Story" (1988) by Slick Rick from The Great Adventures of Slick Rick [link to video] - Slick Rick's best moments were as the rapper with Doug E. Fresh's Get Fresh Crew

27. "How Ya Like Me Now" & "Wild Wild West" (1987) by Kool Moe Dee from How Ya Like Me Now [link to song playing "How Ya Like Me Now"] - Kool Moe Dee was one of the members of the Treacherous Three during the early 80's and had an ongoing feud with LL Cool J

26. "Let's Get It Started" & "Turn This Mutha Out" (1988) by MC Hammer from Let's Get It Started [link to video for "Let's Get It Started"] - Most people think of the 90's Hammer and "You Can't Touch This" but he is underrated for his rapping talent which he showed when he burst on the scene

25. "Rock Box" & "Hard Times" (1984) by Run-DMC from Run-DMC [link to video for "Rock Box"]

24. "Gittin' Funky" & "Rollin' With Kid n' Play" (1988) by Kid n' Play from 2 Hype [link to video for "Rollin' With Kid n' Play"] - Became better known for the House Party movies, but were favorite rappers of mine before that

23. "I'm Not Going Out Like That" & "Run's House" (1988) by Run-DMC from Tougher Than Leather [link to video for "Run's House"] - I wish I could have found a video for "I'm Not Going Out Like That" because I feel that is one of the group's best and more underrated songs

22. "Criminal Minded" (1987) by Boogie Down Productions from Criminal Minded [link to song playing] - The rapping genius behind BDP is the great KRS-One

21. "Brand New Funk" & "Time To Chill" (1988) by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince from He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper [link to video for "Brand New Funk"] - They are probably better know for "Parents Just Don't Understand" but Will Smith is an underrated rapper as I discussed in this past issue of Kickin' it

20. "We Got Our Own Thang" & "Big Tyme" (1989) by Heavy D. & The Boyz from Big Tyme [link to video for "We Got Our Own Thang"]

19. "Straight Outta Compton" (1988) by N.W.A. from Straight Outta Compton [link to video] - Though I am not a fan of gangster rap, this super group took the genre by storm and rap would never be the same

18. "Paid In Full" (1987) by Eric B. & Rakim from Paid In Full [link to video] - Rakim might be the best pure rapper ever

17. "Fight the Power" (1989) by Public Enemy from Do The Right Thing soundtrack [link to video] - ranks on my Best Songs from 80's Movies list

16. "King of Rock" (1985) by Run-DMC from King of Rock [link to video]

15. "Me, Myself and I" (1989) by De La Soul from 3 Feet High and Rising [link to video]

14. "It Takes Two" (1988) by Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock from It Takes Two [link to video] - Like many of the songs on this list, I can still recite this song from start to finish

13. "Self Destruction" (1989) by Stop the Violence Movement [link to video] - Collaboration between several East Coast rappers including Boogie Down Productions, Public Enemy, Heavy D., Doug E. Fresh, MC Lyte and Kool Moe Dee created a great song with a greater message. Similar song by the West Coast Rap All-Stars called "We're All in the Same Gang" might have made this list, but was released in 1990.

12. "Rock the Bells" & "I Can't Live Without My Radio" (1985) by LL Cool J from Radio [link to song playing "Rock the Bells"] - I remember seeing LL for the first time in an impressive scene from the 1985 movie Krush Groove and here is a link to watch it for yourself

11. "Top Billin'" (1988) by Audio Two from What More Can I Say? [link to video need to turn volume up a little on this one to hear]

10. "Ain't No Half Steppin'" (1988) by Big Daddy Kane from Long Live the Kane [link to video] - Kane is one of my all time favorites and I also could have included "Raw" from that same album

9. "Paul Revere" (1986) by Beastie Boys from License to Ill [link to song playing] - I could have included this entire album ("Brass Monkey," "Girls," "The New Style" and more) though "Fight For Your Right" received the most mainstream attention

8. "My Philosophy" (1988) by Boogie Down Productions from By All Means Necessary [link to video]

7. "The Symphony" (1988) by Marley Marl's Juice Crew from In Control Volume 1 [link to video] - Impressive collaboration by rappers Craig G., Master Ace, Kool G. Rap and Big Daddy Kane which has always been one of my favorites

6. "Rebel Without A Pause" & "Don't Believe the Hype" (1987) by Public Enemy from It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back [link to video for "Don't Believe the Hype"]

5. "Follow the Leader" (1988) by Eric B. & Rakim from Follow the Leader [link to video turn up the volume a little for this one]

4. "Planet Rock" (1982) by Afrika Bambaataa & the Soul Sonic Force [link to video] - Bambaataa was an originator and innovator with other greats like "Looking For the Perfect Beat" which were perfect for break dancing

3. "Sucker M.C.'s" (1984) by Run-DMC from Run-DMC [link to song playing]

2. "The Show" & "La Di Da Di" (1985) by Doug E. Fresh & the Get Fresh Crew [link to song playing "The Show"] and [link to song playing "La Di Da Di"] - I had the 12" single that had both of these songs on it and I played that thing to death

1. "The Message" (1982) by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five [link to video] - Out of respect, there should be no argument that this is number one and "Don't push me because I'm close to the edge, I'm trying not to lose my head. It's like a jungle sometimes, it makes me wonder how I keep from going under."

There's my list which includes a literal who's who on the rap scene during the mid to late 80's. Let me know if there are any songs or artists you feel should be included. Hope you enjoy all of those great links. Those are still many of my favorite rap songs even when you add in the last 18 years. Hope you enjoyed the trip down memory lane and if you are too young to have heard these the first time around, then I encourage you to give them a listen.

That will wrap up this special issue of Kickin' it Old School. Thanks so much for reading. Though it is not what you would consider traditional 80's music, old school rap music was a big part of the 80's for me. If you are interested in reading more of my 80s related issues, please click there for a summary of those. If you are interested in reading more of my Top 10 lists, please click there for a summary. You can also always click on the Archives in the upper left hand column or use the Google Search Box at the top of the right hand column to find any other issues you may have missed. If you are a fan of Kickin' it, PLEASE CLICK ON THE FACEBOOK LOGO in the upper right hand column. This will take you to the new Fan Page where I ask you to then click on the "Like" button. Even if you are not a Facebook member yet, please consider joining and registering as a fan at that page. Let other 80s fans know about it as well! Peace and much love.

Check this out: I came across this picture of an interesting product. You know, the regular stuff is SO fattening that you really should give this a try...

 

Quote of the day: "Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent." -Victor Hugo