50 Years Of Hip Hop: The Rankdown Part 1 (COMPLETE)

[B-Boy]

I wanna point out that “Hey D.J.” is my favorite out of the samples for “Honey”.

[Soulsista]

15. I Ain't No Joke - Eric B. & Rakim

Formed on Long Island, DJ Eric Barrier and MC William Griffin Jr. (Rakim) released their debut album Paid In Full in 1987. The biggest hit from that album was "I Ain't No Joke" which peaked at #38 on the soul chart and helped the album go platinum.

The music video features a cameo by Flavor Flav of Public Enemy.


Points: 771
Average: 18.88
Standard Deviation: 13.892 (3rd highest)

SHOOTER - 2
BB🌕 - 2
Optical Apex - 2
emerald - 5
wyckyd - 6
willapted33 - 7
wrip - 7
aerodynamite - 9
rowellfarm490 - 10
Ivy Leegue™ - 10

singingrulebritannia - 11
312999 - 17
dremolus - solarpunk - 18
Soulsista - 20
American Idiot - 20

🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 23
gonecountry - 25
annoymous1 - 28

khan - 31
#LisaRinna - 34
jtd Thee Stallion - 35

beyoncelover - 43
chanman - 43
B-Boy - 45

Observing
samo🦕
mamooshka
Kelly's 10th Fan


Three more Top 10s will be lost with the next reveal. Only one person will lose a bottom 10.

[Ivy Leegue™]

B-Boy WHAT?!?

[Soulsista]

14. King Of Rock - Run-DMC

From the Hollis section of Queens, Run-DMC was formed by MCs Joseph Simmons (Run, the brother of Russell Simmons) and Darryl McDaniels (DMC), and DJ Jason Mizell (Jam Master Jay). "King Of Rock" was the lead single from their 1985 sophomore album of the same name. It peaked at #14 on the soul chart.


Points: 776
Average: 18.67
Standard Deviation: 8.170 (6th lowest)

Soulsista - 2
Ivy Leegue™ - 3
dremolus - solarpunk - 7

#LisaRinna - 13
khan - 14
jtd Thee Stallion - 15
singingrulebritannia - 15
annoymous1 - 15
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 16
Optical Apex - 16
wyckyd - 16
BB🌕 - 20
wrip - 20

rowellfarm490 - 21
chanman - 22
gonecountry - 22
aerodynamite - 23
312999 - 23
beyoncelover - 24
American Idiot - 24
emerald - 24
SHOOTER - 26
willapted33 - 26

B-Boy - 41

Observing
samo🦕
mamooshka
Kelly's 10th Fan


The next reveal will see six people lose a Top 10. One other person will shed a bottom 10.

[Soulsista]

13. Friends - Whodini

Whodini was formed in NYC by Jalil Hutchins, John Fletcher (Ecstasy), and DJ Drew Carter (Grandmaster Dee). They broke through in 1984 with the release of their sophomore album Escape. That album's lead single, "Friends", was their biggest hit, peaking at #4 on the soul chart and was their only Hot 100 entry. It was notably sampled in Nas' "If I Ruled The World (Imagine That)".

Ecstasy passed away in 2020.


Points: 785
Average: 18.29
Standard Deviation: 9.589 (16th lowest)

🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 4
jtd Thee Stallion - 5
Soulsista - 9
B-Boy - 10
chanman - 10
aerodynamite - 10

dremolus - solarpunk - 11
rowellfarm490 - 13
singingrulebritannia - 14
312999 - 14
annoymous1 - 14
willapted33 - 16
wrip - 18
wyckyd - 18
BB🌕 - 19
emerald - 20

beyoncelover - 21
SHOOTER - 22
gonecountry - 26
Ivy Leegue™ - 27
American Idiot - 30

Optical Apex - 31
#LisaRinna - 35

khan - 42

Observing
samo🦕
mamooshka
Kelly's 10th Fan


Four more Top 10s will be lost with the next reveal. Only one of you will lose a bottom 20.

[Soulsista]

12. I'm Bad - LL Cool J

Born on Long Island and raised in Queens, James Todd Smith was signed to Def Jam Records at the age of 16. "I'm Bad" was the lead single from his second album, 1987's Bigger And Deffer. It peaked at #4 on the soul chart and was his first Hot 100 entry. Samples his own "Rock The Bells", Rhythm Heritage's "Theme From S.W.A.T.", 7th Wonder's "Daisy Lady", the Q2B siren from the Federal Signal Corporation, and interpolates the theme from Courageous Cat And Minute Mouse. It was sampled in Eminem's "Kamikaze" and spawned a diss track from Ice-T called "The Syndicate".


Points: 790
Average: 18.08
Standard Deviation: 8.510 (8th lowest)

aerodynamite - 5
B-Boy - 6
Ivy Leegue™ - 6
Soulsista - 8

gonecountry - 11
beyoncelover - 12
wrip - 12
312999 - 12
American Idiot - 13
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 14
#LisaRinna - 14
emerald - 15
Optical Apex - 18
rowellfarm490 - 20

willapted33 - 21
annoymous1 - 22
singingrulebritannia - 24
chanman - 27
khan - 27
SHOOTER - 27
wyckyd - 29
jtd Thee Stallion - 30
BB🌕 - 30

dremolus - solarpunk - 31

Observing
samo🦕
mamooshka
Kelly's 10th Fan


The last song to miss the Top 10 has eight Top 10s, two bottom 10s, and one perfect ranking.

[Soulsista]

11. Planet Rock - Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force

Born in The Bronx, Lance Taylor changed his name to Afrika Bambaataa after visiting Africa. He formed The Soul Sonic Force with Mr. Biggs (Ellis Williams), Pow Wow (Robert Allen), The G.L.O.B.E. (John Miller), and DJ Jazzy Jay (John Byas). Their biggest hit came in 1982 with "Planet Rock". It peaked at #4 on the soul chart and was their lone Hot 100 entry. Samples "Trans-Europe Express" by Kraftwerk which was done without permission. Tommy Boy Records agreed to give Kraftwerk $1 for every record sold.


Points: 825
Average: 16.63
Standard Deviation: 11.850 (14th highest)

312999 - 2
aerodynamite - 4
singingrulebritannia - 6
rowellfarm490 - 6
Optical Apex - 6
emerald - 9
annoymous1 - 9
Soulsista - 10

🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 11
dremolus - solarpunk - 12
jtd Thee Stallion - 13
khan - 13
Ivy Leegue™ - 13
American Idiot - 14
B-Boy - 15
BB🌕 - 15
beyoncelover - 18
gonecountry - 20

willapted33 - 22
#LisaRinna - 27
wrip - 29

wyckyd - 35

SHOOTER - 44
chanman - 46

Observing
samo🦕
mamooshka
Kelly's 10th Fan

[Soulsista]

The Top 10:

Big Daddy Kane - Ain't No Half Steppin'
De La Soul - Me Myself & I
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - The Message
N.W.A - Straight Outta Compton
Public Enemy - Fight The Power
Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock - It Takes Two
Salt-N-Pepa - Push It
Slick Rick - Children's Story
The Sugarhill Gang - Rapper's Delight
Young MC - Bust a Move


Five more will be revealed tomorrow...the bloodbath begins as multiple #1s will go down!

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tags}jtd Thee Stallion B-Boy beyoncelover singingrulebritannia chanman khan rowellfarm490 aerodynamite SHOOTER American Idiot 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 willapted33 gonecountry BB🌕 wrip emerald Ivy Leegue™ dremolus - solarpunk 312999 Optical Apex wyckyd annoymous1 #LisaRinna samo🦕 mamooshka Kelly's 10th Fan

[312999]

Boo! this should have been top 10, at least over Big Daddy Kane.

[B-Boy]

Mar 15, 2023 10:42:27 GMT -5 Ivy Leegue™ said:

B-Boy WHAT?!?

What? The “Honey” comment or the Eric B & Rakim ranking.

[wyckyd]

Mar 15, 2023 11:54:18 GMT -5 Soulsista said:

The Top 10:

Big Daddy Kane - Ain't No Half Steppin'
De La Soul - Me Myself & I
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - The Message
N.W.A - Straight Outta Compton
Public Enemy - Fight The Power
Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock - It Takes Two
Salt-N-Pepa - Push It
Slick Rick - Children's Story
The Sugarhill Gang - Rapper's Delight
Young MC - Bust a Move

All in my top 13! W

[Ivy Leegue™]

Mar 15, 2023 12:13:10 GMT -5 B-Boy said:

Mar 15, 2023 10:42:27 GMT -5 Ivy Leegue™ said:

B-Boy WHAT?!?

What? The “Honey” comment or the Eric B & Rakim ranking.

Eric B and Rakim rating and now the King of Rock rating!!! At least we agree on LL!

[Ivy Leegue™]

Shocked to see Half-Steppin in the Top 10! Not shocked at ALL to see Bust A Move aka a wedding reception song to be Top 10.

[SHOOTER]

Planet Rock is monumental in hip-hop but Afrika has just one too many molestation accusations for my liking.

[B-Boy]

Mar 15, 2023 14:25:41 GMT -5 Ivy Leegue™ said:

Mar 15, 2023 12:13:10 GMT -5 B-Boy said:

What? The “Honey” comment or the Eric B & Rakim ranking.

Eric B and Rakim rating and now the King of Rock rating!!! At least we agree on LL!

Oh yeah. Run DMC was in my bottom 10. They were higher initially but the list was so competitive.

[Soulsista]

Welcome back!

We break into the Top 10 with the song that has the 4th highest SD. A #1 will be lost, along with four other Top 5s. Three of you will lose a bottom 10.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tags}jtd Thee Stallion B-Boy beyoncelover singingrulebritannia chanman khan rowellfarm490 aerodynamite SHOOTER American Idiot 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 willapted33 gonecountry BB🌕 wrip emerald Ivy Leegue™ dremolus - solarpunk 312999 Optical Apex wyckyd annoymous1 #LisaRinna samo🦕 mamooshka Kelly's 10th Fan

[Soulsista]

10. Ain't No Half Steppin' - Big Daddy Kane

Born in NYC, Antonio Hardy got his start as member of Marley Marl's Juice Crew. His debut album, Long Live The Kane, was released in 1988. "Ain't No Half Steppin'" was the biggest hit from that album, peaking at #53 on the soul chart. Samples the Heatwave song of the same name, plus "UFO" by ESG and "Blind Alley" by The Emotions.

Apologies to willapted33...


Points: 835
Average: 16.21
Standard Deviation: 13.727 (4th highest)

willapted33 - 1
khan - 2
singingrulebritannia - 3
rowellfarm490 - 4
BB🌕 - 5
aerodynamite - 6
dremolus - solarpunk - 6
B-Boy - 7
wrip - 9
#LisaRinna - 9
SHOOTER - 10

Optical Apex - 11
jtd Thee Stallion - 12
chanman - 13
wyckyd - 13
American Idiot - 17
emerald - 17

Soulsista - 26
annoymous1 - 27
beyoncelover - 28
Ivy Leegue™ - 30

🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 41
312999 - 43
gonecountry - 49

Observing
samo🦕
mamooshka
Kelly's 10th Fan


The next reveal has the 5th lowest SD. Five Top 10s will go down. Only two of you will lose a bottom half ranking, and neither of them are bottom 20s.

[Soulsista]

9. Bust a Move - Young MC

Born in London and raised in Queens, Marvin Young released his debut album Stone Cold Rhymin' in 1989. That album contained his biggest hit, "Bust a Move". It peaked at #2 on the rap chart, #9 on the soul chart, #7 on the Hot 100, and hit #1 in Australia. Samples "Found a Child" by Ballin' Jack, "Radio-Activity" by RoyalCash, "Scorpio" by Dennis Coffey & The Detroit Guitar Band, "Daytime Hustler" by Bette Midler, and features Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers on bass. It was the first song to win a Grammy for Best Rap Performance.


Points: 911
Average: 13.04
Standard Deviation: 7.915 (5th lowest)

wrip - 2
beyoncelover - 3
annoymous1 - 3
gonecountry - 4
chanman - 5
American Idiot - 7
emerald - 7
B-Boy - 9
rowellfarm490 - 9
khan - 10

Soulsista - 12
Ivy Leegue™ - 12
wyckyd - 12
BB🌕 - 13
312999 - 13
willapted33 - 15
SHOOTER - 16
jtd Thee Stallion - 17
singingrulebritannia - 19
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 19

#LisaRinna - 23
Optical Apex - 25
aerodynamite - 28
dremolus - solarpunk - 30

Observing
samo🦕
mamooshka
Kelly's 10th Fan


Three #1s will bid farewell with the next reveal. Only two of you will lose a bottom 20.

[Soulsista]

8. Children's Story - Slick Rick

Born in London and raised in The Bronx, Richard Walters met Dana Dane in high school and they formed the Kangol Crew. He later met Doug E. Fresh and joined his Get Fresh Crew, performing on the songs "The Show" and "La Di Da Di". Slick Rick was the third artists to sign with Def Jam Records and released his debut album The Great Adventures Of Slick Rick. The biggest hit from that album was "Children's Story", which peaked at #2 on the rap chart and #5 on the soul chart in 1989. It samples "Think (About It)" by Lyn Collins and interpolates the bassline from the Bob James song "Nautilus". And it was notably sampled in Montell Jordan's 1995 smash "This Is How We Do It".

Apologies to singingrulebritannia, SHOOTER, and wyckyd...


Points: 912
Average: 13.00
Standard Deviation: 9.917 (19th lowest)

singingrulebritannia - 1
SHOOTER - 1
wyckyd - 1
rowellfarm490 - 3
B-Boy - 4
dremolus - solarpunk - 4
#LisaRinna - 4
Ivy Leegue™ - 5
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 8
willapted33 - 8
BB🌕 - 9
Optical Apex - 9

Soulsista - 11
beyoncelover - 16
chanman - 16
American Idiot - 16
khan - 19
emerald - 19

jtd Thee Stallion - 21
312999 - 21
aerodynamite - 24
wrip - 25

gonecountry - 32
annoymous1 - 35

Observing
samo🦕
mamooshka
Kelly's 10th Fan


Two more #1s will be lost with the next reveal. One other person will shed a bottom 10.

[Soulsista]

7. Straight Outta Compton - N.W.A

N.W.A consisted of Dr. Dre (Andre Young), Ice Cube (O'Shea Jackson), Eazy-E (Eric Wright), Arabian Prince (Kim Nazel), DJ Yella (Antoine Carraby), and MC Ren (Lorenzo Patterson), and were one of the pioneers of gangsta rap. Their debut album Straight Outta Compton was released in 1988. The title track is considered one of the greatest hip hop songs ever, but it didn't chart until the release of the Straight Outta Compton movie in 2015. It peaked at #9 on the rap chart, #13 on the R&B chart, and #38 on the Hot 100.

N.W.A would release one more album in the '90s before disbanding. They've had several reunions since. Of course, Dr. Dre and Ice Cube would go on to find even greater success after going solo.

Apologies to wrip and annoymous1...


Points: 916
Average: 12.83
Standard Deviation: 11.231 (19th highest)

wrip - 1
annoymous1 - 1
aerodynamite - 2
jtd Thee Stallion - 3
SHOOTER - 3
#LisaRinna - 3
American Idiot - 5
willapted33 - 5
khan - 8
gonecountry - 8
wyckyd - 8
singingrulebritannia - 10
BB🌕 - 10
dremolus - solarpunk - 10

rowellfarm490 - 12
emerald - 13
beyoncelover - 14
312999 - 16
Ivy Leegue™ - 20

Soulsista - 24
Optical Apex - 26
B-Boy - 27

chanman - 37

🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 42

Observing
samo🦕
mamooshka
Kelly's 10th Fan


So, what song misses the Top 5? It's got three #1s, four other Top 5, and four bottom half rankings.

[Soulsista]

6. Push It - Salt-N-Pepa

Formed in Queens, Cheryl "Salt" James and Sandra "Pepa" Denton were first known as Super Nature. They recorded "The Showstopper" as part of a class project for Salt's then-boyfriend Hurby "Luv Bug" Azor. The song saw moderate success, and Hurby changed the duo's name to Salt-N-Pepa. Later adding DJ Latoya Hanson, they recorded their debut album Hot, Cool & Vicious. Hansen left before the album was released, and was replaced with Deidra Roper, who became DJ Spinderella.

The single "Push It", released in 1987, wasn't originally on the album. It was later added after performing well on the radio. It peaked at #28 on the soul chart and #19 on the Hot 100, and topped the charts in Belgium and The Netherlands. Samples "Keep On Pushin'" by Coal Kitchen and interpolates "You Really Got Me" by The Kinks. It also quotes lines from two James Brown songs, "I'm a Greedy Man" and "There It Is". The song was nominated for a Grammy and helped Salt-N-Pepa become the first female rappers to go gold or platinum.

Apologies to beyoncelover, 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲, and Ivy Leegue™...


Points: 917
Average: 12.79
Standard Deviation: 10.056 (20th lowest)

beyoncelover - 1
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 1
Ivy Leegue™ - 1
gonecountry - 2
annoymous1 - 2
B-Boy - 3
Soulsista - 5
jtd Thee Stallion - 6
312999 - 6
#LisaRinna - 6
chanman - 7
dremolus - solarpunk - 8
wyckyd - 10

BB🌕 - 14
SHOOTER - 18
willapted33 - 18
rowellfarm490 - 19

Optical Apex - 21
singingrulebritannia - 23
American Idiot - 25
aerodynamite - 27
wrip - 27
emerald - 27
khan - 30

Observing
samo🦕
mamooshka
Kelly's 10th Fan

[Soulsista]

The Top 5:

De La Soul - Me Myself & I
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - The Message
Public Enemy - Fight The Power
Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock - It Takes Two
The Sugarhill Gang - Rapper's Delight


Which of these classics will take home the crown?

Find out when 50 Years Of Hip Hop: The Rankdown Part 1 concludes tomorrow!

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tags}jtd Thee Stallion B-Boy beyoncelover singingrulebritannia chanman khan rowellfarm490 aerodynamite SHOOTER American Idiot 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 willapted33 gonecountry BB🌕 wrip emerald Ivy Leegue™ dremolus - solarpunk 312999 Optical Apex wyckyd annoymous1 #LisaRinna samo🦕 mamooshka Kelly's 10th Fan

[singingrulebritannia]

2 4 5 9
12

Love every song left but "It Takes Two" dropping out first would be ideal

[312999]

I am going to predict.

1. The Message
2. Fight The Power
3. Rappers Delight
4. It Takes Two
5. Me Myself & I

[wrip]

Sad to see my top 2 miss top 5 but also top 10 is still really great!

3 4 5 6 13, all of these are great!

[gonecountry]

If I can't have White Lines for the win, I'm pulling for the Message. That said, solid Top 5!

[jtd Thee Stallion]

1 2 4 7
22

Rooting for my 4 to win since I would've had it at #1 if I ranked this again today.

[willapted33]

2 3 4 9 10

any of these would be great winners but especially one of my 2-4

[Soulsista]

Welcome back to the conclusion of 50 Years Of Hip Hop: The Rankdown Part 1!

The first song leaving us today has twelve Top 5s, including one who will get a perfect ranking. Only three people will lose a bottom half ranking.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tags}jtd Thee Stallion B-Boy beyoncelover singingrulebritannia chanman khan rowellfarm490 aerodynamite SHOOTER American Idiot 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 willapted33 gonecountry BB🌕 wrip emerald Ivy Leegue™ dremolus - solarpunk 312999 Optical Apex wyckyd annoymous1 #LisaRinna samo🦕 mamooshka Kelly's 10th Fan

[Soulsista]

5. Fight The Power - Public Enemy

Public Enemy was formed on Long Island by Chuck D (Carlton Ridenhour) and Flavor Flav (William Drayton), and later adding members Professor Griff (Richard Griffin) and Terminator X (Norman Rogers). Their best known song came with the 1989 release of "Fight The Power". From the soundtrack to Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing, it topped the rap chart and peaked at #20 on the soul chart, and features a sax solo by Branford Marsalis. Contains numerous samples and remains one of the most influential songs in hip hop.


Points: 964
Average: 10.83
Standard Deviation: 9.467 (15th lowest)

rowellfarm490 - 2
wyckyd - 2
Soulsista - 3
khan - 3
aerodynamite - 3
American Idiot - 3
gonecountry - 3
emerald - 3
singingrulebritannia - 4
willapted33 - 4
BB🌕 - 4
Optical Apex - 5
wrip - 6
beyoncelover - 8

SHOOTER - 11
annoymous1 - 12
Ivy Leegue™ - 14

jtd Thee Stallion - 22
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 22
dremolus - solarpunk - 22
#LisaRinna - 22
B-Boy - 26
312999 - 27
chanman - 29

Observing
samo🦕
mamooshka
Kelly's 10th Fan


The next reveal will see someone lose their #1. Another will lose a bottom 10.