Lamont's Lists: The Top 50 Hip Hop Songs Of All Time (#s 40-31)

 40. Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik - Outkast (1994) - I'll admit I had a hard time taking any rap group from the south seriously before Outkast came along.  But Southernplayalistic - with it's dusty groove that blended harmoniously with Andre and Big Boi's funky funky rhymes - single-handedly made me change my tune.

39. Jump Around - House Of Pain (1992) - If you're going to have one hit, you might as well make it a party starter like Jump Around. To this day, despite its somewhat gimmicky rap/rock trappings, it never fails to get the dance floor hoppin'.

38. Flava In Ya Ear (Remix) - Craig Mack (1994) - Easy Mo Bee put his foot into the neck-snappin' beat for the original version of Flava In Ya Ear, which featured impressive lyrics from Bad Boy's next big thing, Craig Mack. But when Biggie got a hold of the remix the song quickly became unforgettable. 

37. Road To The Riches - Kool G Rap & DJ Polo (1989) - I'm still blown away by the degree of difficulty that Kool G Rap displayed with his vocals on Road To The Riches. Limericks, similes and an endless supply of interior rhymes, all coexisted effortlessly with a perfectly crafted narrative about grit and determination. It remains as a singular achievement in lyrical dexterity.

36. Back That Azz Up - Juvenile (1998) - The title of this song and its rather blunt hook belie the fact that Back That Azz Up is actually a devastating piece of song craft. Mannie Fresh's production work is stellar and Juvenile's rapid-fire rhymes - vulgar as they may be - are deceptively complex and exceptionally entertaining. And that's all before we get our first taste of soon-to-be superstar Lil Wayne's first bars..."wha-wha-wha, what...drop it like it's hot!"

35. The New Style - The Beastie Boys (1986) - Mike D once described The New Style as a fantasy version of the Beastie Boys' real lives. Even if their wild younger days (filled with beer, girls and "a lot of cursin'") only amounted to a fraction of this much fun, it's not hard to see why they blew up in the mid-80s on their way to becoming hipster icons.

34. O.P.P. - Naughty by Nature (1991) - On O.P.P. Naughty By Nature made the idea of sneaking around with someone's else's significant other sound less like cheating and more like a bouncy, raucous, mischievous good time.

33. Slam - Onyx (1993) - Fredo Star said that with Slam - a song Onyx only recorded after Jam Master Jay (the owner of their record label) ordered them back to the studio because the debut album they turned in still needed a proper lead single - the group wanted to bring heavy metal style slam dancing to rap. They over-delivered on the track, which became a monster hit, while also ushering in the mosh pit as an essential component of extra-lit hip hop concerts.

32. The Message - Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five (1982) - Establishing hip hop as a force for political consciousness...check. Delivering the most indelible hook in rap history...check. The influence of The Message reaches far and wide across the globe. The simple fact is, hip hop would not have made it to 50 without it.

31. My Philosophy - Boogie Down Productions (1988) - Coming at the peak of his powers - and just months after the tragic loss of his DJ, Scott La Rock - My Philosophy represents the finest showcase for KRS-One's effervescent rap skills. 

Check Back Later To See The Rest Of The Top 50 And Find Out Which Song Is #1