It's Bigger Than Hip-Hop: MY Top 100 Rap Songs of All Time Pt. 1: 100-76

Namaste and welcome my friends, family, and fellow knowledge seekers to another posting on my blog: The Quiet Mouse Strikes Back. Today I'm starting a 4 part blog series to explore my own personal top 100 favorite songs in the genre of RAP. Soon to follow will be a similar posting for my top 100 favorite songs in the Rock n' Roll genre. Stay tuned for that!!!

I think a little brief history lesson in my personal self is required to understand why I am making a posting like this. I distinctly remember the advent of Mtv and how it forever changed the music industry, starting in the 1980's. The first song ever played was "Video Killed the Radio Star" by the Buggles. Not too far down the road rock n' roll was gripping the nation with its melodic guitar licks and rap music was beginning from the oppression of inner city black youth with songs like "Fuck the Police" from N.W.A. and "Cop Killer" by Ice T.
 Mtv had 2 shows, back to back that unquestionably changed my preferences to music: Headbanger's Ball and Yo! Mtv Raps! Outside of the rock genre, I found myself finessed by hip hop and rap; by the lyrics of the Sugar Hill Gang, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, KRS One, LL Cool J, Ice T, Easy E, Public Enemy, and many many more... and I fell in love with the vibe and beats of this enterprising music, filled with emotion and soul. A bit later came the east coast vs. west coast music rivalry spearheaded by 2 men that were actually friends in real life in Biggie Smalls, aka the Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac. And still the rap game continues to evolve. Ice Cube released "Nobody Wants to Die" on the Mafia 3 soundtrack, not to even mention DJ Hero...
Before that, in the late 90's, Eminem emerged from Detroit to shake up and redefined the industry, not just for rap music, but for pop and hip-hop in general. He made it okay to be white and like rap and hip-hop music, and a whole slew of new white rappers like Kid Rock, Big B, Lil' Whyte, Pall Wall, Kottonmouth Kings, Subnoise Soldiers, ICP, DJ Clay, etc. came out of the underground scene into more of the mainstream.
Special props to Matisayahu for his hit "King Without a Crown" and "My Band" and "Purple Pills" by D-12, that barely didn't make the list.

That being said, without further ado, in descending order here is part 1 of 4 of MY personal top rap songs of all time 100-76

100: "So Far" by Eminem
So Far by Eminem

99: "Mind Playing Tricks On Me" by the Ghetto Boys
Mind Playing Tricks On Me

98: "Bonnie & Clyde" by Jay-Z and Beyonce
Bonnie & Clyde

97: "Fancy" by Iggy Azalea
Fancy

96: "Forgot About Dre" by Dr. Dre ft Eminem
Forgot About Dre

95: "Party Up" by DMX
Party Up

94: "Shake That Ass" by Eminem ft Nate Dogg
Shake That Ass

93: "C.R.E.A.M." by the Wu Tang Clan
C.R.E.A.M.

92: "99 Problems" by Jay-Z
99 Problems

91: "It Was A Good Day" by Ice Cube
It Was A Good Day

90: "Crack A Bottle" by Eminem ft Dr. Dre and 50 Cent
Crack A Bottle

89: "Sure Shot" by the Beastie Boys
Sure Shot

88: "Fight the Power" by Public Enemy
Fight the Power

87: "Full Clip" Gang  Starr
Full Clip

86: "Hustler Music" by Lil' Wayne
Hustler Music

85: "Getting Crazy" by Devin the Dude
Getting Crazy

84: "California Love" by Tupac ft Dr. Dre
California Love

83: "Still Fly" by Big Tymers
Still Fly

82: "Big Pimpin'" by Jay-Z ft. UGK
Big Pimpin'

81: "the Best Day" by Atmosphere
Best Day

80: "Nothin' But A G Thang" by Dr. Dre
Nothin' But a G Thang

79: "Keep Their Heads Ringin'" by Dr. Dre
Keep Their Heads Ringin'

78: "Wooooo!" by Mac Lethal
Woooo!

77: "I'm Addicted" by DJ Clay
I'm Addicted

76: "Balla Baby" by Chingy
Balla Baby



Remember now that this is only part 1 of 4, descending down to MY #1 favorite rap song of all time. Thanks for taking the time to join me today and I certainly hope you come back for the next 3 blogs to see how this list will end. Some great songs on the way, no doubt. Hope you enjoy this music and I'll post again soon for part 2 of 4.

Memorial Day

Namaste and welcome to my blog. I'm gonna keep this short, since it's a holiday and I'm sure we all have other things to do like bbq and spend times with friends and family. So let's jump right in...

I feel, as a veteran, like the freedoms we have in this nation get taken for granted. Freedom of speech is taken as "freedom to be an asshole". And our freedom to assemble often comes at the cost of massive littering of garbage on our city streets, beaches, lakes, and rivers, et cetera.
What is the worst part to me, is the disrespect to those veterans who served in the armed forces, and to the ones who died in those rich man's wars, just for Americans to trash our once beautiful country with total disregard for the planet and fellow citizen's.
Many many soldiers and sailors have given the ultimate sacrifice of their lives for this idealist notion of preserving liberty and justice for all.

I have mad respect for that ideal of sacrifice for nation and people and those who have served (and those who died) with honor and integrity for that ideal. What I don't respect is the bull shit reason so many American sons and daughters have died in war for some rich man's game of war profiteering. The ENTIRE life of my children this nation has been at war bombing and causing genocide around the globe under the guise of bringing freedom or national security. For the record, national security ENDS at our border. Overthrowing sovereign elected governments in other nations is NOT national security... it's war profiteering. Along with all the times our presidents have forced troops to break international laws like the Geneva convention and the treaties made by the United Nations.

I'm gonna wrap this up by stating that I whole heartedly support the troops and their heroism in the face of certain danger across the globe. I, however, do NOT support our government's imperialism that is touted as "national defense", with over 900 bases in over 100 different countries around the world. Everyone else in the world sees it for what it is... why can't Americans? Ethnocentrism and nationalism is why.
So while you are out enjoying the holiday remember that this nation is our home and it reflects badly upon us all when we treat our people and lands like shit while getting shit faced and throwing garbage everywhere... this ISN'T the freedom our founding fathers had in mind, nor meant for sons and daughters to die for. Folks need to read a history book today, lest we, as a nation, find ourselves repeating the same mistakes of the past over and over again. This has been the one and only Quiet Mouse. Peace be with you.