Lotus
06-12-2005, 12:05 AM
Yeah, like I said, this would be my 3,000th post. I almost forgot and posted in a thread, but then I deleted the post so this would be the special one. Anyways, it took me a long fucking time to get to 3,000 posts, more than 4 and 1/2 years; 55 months, 1 week, and 1 day. I'm on fire. Anyways, here we go; the last list you guys will see for at least 2 years, if this board is even around then. I hope you all enjoy:
10. Zion I ft. Planet Asia- Critical (April 2001): Oh... shit. This song has one of the three best beats in a rap song that I have ever heard. I mean, it's simply fantastic. Nothing too complicated, but it's great. Amp Live sure does a hell of a job. Also, the rapping is so tight also. MC Zion's first verse is absolutely killer. "Yo, check out the superb tech, cashing checks thru dialect, doper than the gold around your neck/ this is my manuscript to spit, lyrics like fat spliffs, I show the whole damn world my gift". This is another song I found thanks to the "Discover" section in Napster. That's two Top 20 songs thanks to that Discover section in Napster. The chillin' is killin' us with the illest tight flows...
9. Red Hot Chili Peppers- Under the Bridge (1993 or so, whenever the song came out): When I said earlier in the countdown that I had one more RHCP song on here, you knew this had to be it. I love it so much because of the hometown pride this song shows: "sometimes I feel like I don't have a parnter, sometimes I feel like my only friend- is the city I live in... lonely as I am, together we cry." Now I ain't from LA, but the way he feels about LA is the same way I feel about San Jose. Additionally, one thing I'll never forget about this song is the lead singer running with his shirt off when that part where the chorus of singers comes in. It's hella funny, at least that's how I think of it. Anyways, this is a classic. An untouchable. It don't matter what kind of music I will listen to in the future. This song will always be in my Top 100. No matter what.
8. Blackstar ft. Common- Respiration (Edited Version) (Spring 1999): The reason I say edited is because it cuts off Talib Kweli's 2nd verse by about 8 bars, which in this case, is a good thing, maybe because I heard the edited version first. This is another song that I didn't really like when I first heard it, and it took me like 5 listens to appreciate the greatness in this song. Back in this song's prime, it was #1 on Rap City's Top 10 for about 6-8 straight weeks. The song doesn't have a great beat, but it's good enough to let Mos Def, Talib, and Common tear up. By far, Common's verse takes the cake in this one. Using the same rhyme scheme for about 8-12 bars, he straight flows. This was the first song that I heard Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and Common rap on. And since, I have become a fan of all three, but mostly a fan of Mos Def. Well, it's time for #7.
7. REM- E-Bow the Letter (Summer 1996): So this is my other REM song. I remember watching the world premier of the showing of this music video (I do have the video, but the quality is very shitty, if you have a good quality version of this, please do let me know), and I thought to myself, at the tender age of 9, "damn, this song is chill". I would always hum the beat to myself for years before I actually found this song again, about 4 years ago. This is a great song to listen to right after dusk, but before it gets dark. At least it is for me. You gotta love the melody in this song. Also, I just love how the lead singer just kinda rattles off sometimes, not even in harmony with the melody. The woman singing in this song also makes for a nice addition. For all you rock/alternative lovers, this would be a good time to stop reading, because, well, this is the last rock song on here. Sorry. But this is my list.
6. RJD2- Ghostwriter (April 2003): Yes, a little young. But still, it is the best instrumental of all-time, simply because of the horns that play two times for about 40 seconds each time. Those horns play the sweetest tunes I have ever heard in any song. But besides that, the rest of the song is golden. If any of you know anything about Joseph Campbell's description of the "Hero's Journey", this song kinda plays right into it. The song starts out on an adventure, has early successes, a downfall, an abyss, a re-juvenation, and a final triumph. Or at least that is how it sounds to me. It's the ultimate triumph song to me. The sound of those horns have brought tears to my eyes. Seriously. I'm not even fucking joking. I remember one time after I felt I made a big accomplishment, and I started thinking of those horns, and I just started tearing up. That's how beautiful it is. I've talked about this song before, but noone has really given a shit or paid attention. Maybe this will bring it a little more attention.
5. Nightcrawlers- Push the Feeling On (Originally 1993-95, somewhere in there): I'm not sure if you guys remember, but when I was talking about the song that took me like 7 years to find, this is the song I was talking about. They used to play this shit on the radio all the time when I was like 6, 7, or 8. And they still play it every so often, because it's so perfect. Anyways, I never knew what the song was called, and I even put this song on my last countdown on TPWW, calling it "Unknown Artist-Unknown Song", putting it at like 25-27, or something like that. That's how good the song is; it made the top 25 without me knowing what it was called. Anyways, I went on an all-out search about 6-7 years ago and came up with nothing. Then I tried the year after that, nothing. I finally found the song in June of 2002, with it's title and everything. Boy that was a great day. Thanks to Leslie in the Mid-Day playing it on the House Mix that Wild 94.9 has from 12-1 and posting the playlist. If any of you house fans are wondering, the version I like is without the singing, but it still has that guy saying "Their lives are full of 'something', their lives are 'something'". If any of you guys know what that motherfucker is saying, please do let me know. I've been trying to figure it out for like 10 years. I tried slowing the song down on my computer, reversing it, and I still couldn't get. What a fucking lastima.
4. Raekwon ft. Ghostface Killah and Blue Raspberry- Rainy Dayz (March 2001): I remember saying they wanted to see Wu-Tang in the Top 10. Well, this is as close to Wu-Tang as you are going to get on my countdown. This is another song that has one of what I consider the 3 best beats of all-time. It's so fucking crazy. I mean, SHIT! If you have ever listened to this song, and you're a fan of rap, you'd agree. The rapping by both Ghostface and Raekwon is on point and classic, but what really elevates this song is Blue Raspberry's singing on the chorus. It just puts this song on a pedestal. I know the song is called "Rainy Dayz", but my favorite time to listen to this song is at dusk, when it is partly cloudy, and the clouds are all pink and shit, and so is the sky. The beat just reminds me of a time like that. I got this one thanks to Rukus, who none of you probably remember, unless you're RDD (maybe) or AAA (maybe) or Silent, or me. Whooooo!!!!!!!! This song is just about perfect. The only thing I would like is to have like the last 20 seconds of this song be the beat without any singing. That would be sick, but not enough to push it into the Top 3.
3. Nas- Nas Is Like (Spring 1999): Excuse me pushing the "submit" button. That was an accident. Anyways, back to the countdown. This is the last of the 3 songs that I said had 3 of the best beats in rap of all-time. DJ Premier is a god. No shit. This is Premier's best beat. Another Rap City Top 10 song, or at least that's how I first heard it, like those other ones I mentioned. Anyways, this might have the best beat of those 3, but I won't say that for sure. In addition to one of the best beats, Nas spits fire on this one. Nas is a legend to begin with, but this one is pure greatness. Nas could have just dropped a bunch of shit besides this song, and I would still consider him to be a good rapper. I especially like the 3rd verse on this song. It's the shortest verse (16 bars), but saying "I'm like" at the beginning of every bar and the similies he uses are hella tight. Classic, great, untouchable.
2. Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony- Tha Crossroads (Summer 1996): I remember when this song first appeared on the Daisy Fuentes MTV Top 20 Countdown on Saturday Mornings, it debuted at #9, which was crazy, beacuse no song before had started lower than like 16 or 15 or something like that. And I wasn't in to rap then either, so I didn't really like it the first time. But it didn't take me long to start loving this one. An instant classic on the MTV Top 20, it was an instant classic for me as well. The music video for this song is probably the best music video ever made, no shit. It might be a little corny because it was made in '96, but it is awesome. With Eazy E in the clouds, that black dude who takes people to heaven, and BTH rapping in the church, it's hella tight. Another thing about this song is that it really has no structure to it, other than a chorus. It sounds like a bunch of hooks with a chorus. It's weird, but that's what makes it so good.
1. Tupac- Keep Ya Head Up (Spring 2000 or so): So this is my favorite song of all time. What really makes this song #1 is Tupac's lyrics. Even though the song was made in 1991, the song still relates to what happens in today's society. Also, the song doesn't have any corny, awkward lines in it, like most rap songs made in that era. Tupac's 2nd verse is the best on this song. "Last night my buddy lost his whole family/it's gonna take the man in me to conquer this insanity". I don't think there is anyone who can say with a straight face that this song is garbage, no matter what you listen to. It's just one of those songs. "Dyin' inside/ but outside you lookin' fearless". It was the song I listened to all of the summer before I went into Freshman year of High-school. The tone of the song just kinda matched my mood. But whatever. That was fucking 4 years ago, and I'm glad I'm not back at that point in my life. I'll never forget something YOUR Hero said to me the night before I started high school "These could be the best 4 years of your life or the worst 4 years of your life. It depends on what you make of it". Those words rang pretty true. At least the "depends on what you make of it" part. I wouldn't say it was horrible, but high school sure got a lot more enjoyable when I sarted to make something of it. Sorry for the tangent. I just wanted to thank YOUR Hero for the advice, 4 years removed from the situation. I'll rep him when I can, not that a rep means a god damn thing from me anyways. OK, no more tangent time, back to the song. But I don't really have much more to say. "Keep Ya Head Up" by Tupac is, simply put, the best song ever made... at least from my point of view.
So there you have it- my list. Took me a month or two to complete it, but it's done. I'll update it in 2007, but most likely 2008 or 2009; we'll see. So, thanks for reading, and thanks to YOUR Hero for your advice, I didn't realize how right you were until this year.
10. Zion I ft. Planet Asia- Critical (April 2001): Oh... shit. This song has one of the three best beats in a rap song that I have ever heard. I mean, it's simply fantastic. Nothing too complicated, but it's great. Amp Live sure does a hell of a job. Also, the rapping is so tight also. MC Zion's first verse is absolutely killer. "Yo, check out the superb tech, cashing checks thru dialect, doper than the gold around your neck/ this is my manuscript to spit, lyrics like fat spliffs, I show the whole damn world my gift". This is another song I found thanks to the "Discover" section in Napster. That's two Top 20 songs thanks to that Discover section in Napster. The chillin' is killin' us with the illest tight flows...
9. Red Hot Chili Peppers- Under the Bridge (1993 or so, whenever the song came out): When I said earlier in the countdown that I had one more RHCP song on here, you knew this had to be it. I love it so much because of the hometown pride this song shows: "sometimes I feel like I don't have a parnter, sometimes I feel like my only friend- is the city I live in... lonely as I am, together we cry." Now I ain't from LA, but the way he feels about LA is the same way I feel about San Jose. Additionally, one thing I'll never forget about this song is the lead singer running with his shirt off when that part where the chorus of singers comes in. It's hella funny, at least that's how I think of it. Anyways, this is a classic. An untouchable. It don't matter what kind of music I will listen to in the future. This song will always be in my Top 100. No matter what.
8. Blackstar ft. Common- Respiration (Edited Version) (Spring 1999): The reason I say edited is because it cuts off Talib Kweli's 2nd verse by about 8 bars, which in this case, is a good thing, maybe because I heard the edited version first. This is another song that I didn't really like when I first heard it, and it took me like 5 listens to appreciate the greatness in this song. Back in this song's prime, it was #1 on Rap City's Top 10 for about 6-8 straight weeks. The song doesn't have a great beat, but it's good enough to let Mos Def, Talib, and Common tear up. By far, Common's verse takes the cake in this one. Using the same rhyme scheme for about 8-12 bars, he straight flows. This was the first song that I heard Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and Common rap on. And since, I have become a fan of all three, but mostly a fan of Mos Def. Well, it's time for #7.
7. REM- E-Bow the Letter (Summer 1996): So this is my other REM song. I remember watching the world premier of the showing of this music video (I do have the video, but the quality is very shitty, if you have a good quality version of this, please do let me know), and I thought to myself, at the tender age of 9, "damn, this song is chill". I would always hum the beat to myself for years before I actually found this song again, about 4 years ago. This is a great song to listen to right after dusk, but before it gets dark. At least it is for me. You gotta love the melody in this song. Also, I just love how the lead singer just kinda rattles off sometimes, not even in harmony with the melody. The woman singing in this song also makes for a nice addition. For all you rock/alternative lovers, this would be a good time to stop reading, because, well, this is the last rock song on here. Sorry. But this is my list.
6. RJD2- Ghostwriter (April 2003): Yes, a little young. But still, it is the best instrumental of all-time, simply because of the horns that play two times for about 40 seconds each time. Those horns play the sweetest tunes I have ever heard in any song. But besides that, the rest of the song is golden. If any of you know anything about Joseph Campbell's description of the "Hero's Journey", this song kinda plays right into it. The song starts out on an adventure, has early successes, a downfall, an abyss, a re-juvenation, and a final triumph. Or at least that is how it sounds to me. It's the ultimate triumph song to me. The sound of those horns have brought tears to my eyes. Seriously. I'm not even fucking joking. I remember one time after I felt I made a big accomplishment, and I started thinking of those horns, and I just started tearing up. That's how beautiful it is. I've talked about this song before, but noone has really given a shit or paid attention. Maybe this will bring it a little more attention.
5. Nightcrawlers- Push the Feeling On (Originally 1993-95, somewhere in there): I'm not sure if you guys remember, but when I was talking about the song that took me like 7 years to find, this is the song I was talking about. They used to play this shit on the radio all the time when I was like 6, 7, or 8. And they still play it every so often, because it's so perfect. Anyways, I never knew what the song was called, and I even put this song on my last countdown on TPWW, calling it "Unknown Artist-Unknown Song", putting it at like 25-27, or something like that. That's how good the song is; it made the top 25 without me knowing what it was called. Anyways, I went on an all-out search about 6-7 years ago and came up with nothing. Then I tried the year after that, nothing. I finally found the song in June of 2002, with it's title and everything. Boy that was a great day. Thanks to Leslie in the Mid-Day playing it on the House Mix that Wild 94.9 has from 12-1 and posting the playlist. If any of you house fans are wondering, the version I like is without the singing, but it still has that guy saying "Their lives are full of 'something', their lives are 'something'". If any of you guys know what that motherfucker is saying, please do let me know. I've been trying to figure it out for like 10 years. I tried slowing the song down on my computer, reversing it, and I still couldn't get. What a fucking lastima.
4. Raekwon ft. Ghostface Killah and Blue Raspberry- Rainy Dayz (March 2001): I remember saying they wanted to see Wu-Tang in the Top 10. Well, this is as close to Wu-Tang as you are going to get on my countdown. This is another song that has one of what I consider the 3 best beats of all-time. It's so fucking crazy. I mean, SHIT! If you have ever listened to this song, and you're a fan of rap, you'd agree. The rapping by both Ghostface and Raekwon is on point and classic, but what really elevates this song is Blue Raspberry's singing on the chorus. It just puts this song on a pedestal. I know the song is called "Rainy Dayz", but my favorite time to listen to this song is at dusk, when it is partly cloudy, and the clouds are all pink and shit, and so is the sky. The beat just reminds me of a time like that. I got this one thanks to Rukus, who none of you probably remember, unless you're RDD (maybe) or AAA (maybe) or Silent, or me. Whooooo!!!!!!!! This song is just about perfect. The only thing I would like is to have like the last 20 seconds of this song be the beat without any singing. That would be sick, but not enough to push it into the Top 3.
3. Nas- Nas Is Like (Spring 1999): Excuse me pushing the "submit" button. That was an accident. Anyways, back to the countdown. This is the last of the 3 songs that I said had 3 of the best beats in rap of all-time. DJ Premier is a god. No shit. This is Premier's best beat. Another Rap City Top 10 song, or at least that's how I first heard it, like those other ones I mentioned. Anyways, this might have the best beat of those 3, but I won't say that for sure. In addition to one of the best beats, Nas spits fire on this one. Nas is a legend to begin with, but this one is pure greatness. Nas could have just dropped a bunch of shit besides this song, and I would still consider him to be a good rapper. I especially like the 3rd verse on this song. It's the shortest verse (16 bars), but saying "I'm like" at the beginning of every bar and the similies he uses are hella tight. Classic, great, untouchable.
2. Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony- Tha Crossroads (Summer 1996): I remember when this song first appeared on the Daisy Fuentes MTV Top 20 Countdown on Saturday Mornings, it debuted at #9, which was crazy, beacuse no song before had started lower than like 16 or 15 or something like that. And I wasn't in to rap then either, so I didn't really like it the first time. But it didn't take me long to start loving this one. An instant classic on the MTV Top 20, it was an instant classic for me as well. The music video for this song is probably the best music video ever made, no shit. It might be a little corny because it was made in '96, but it is awesome. With Eazy E in the clouds, that black dude who takes people to heaven, and BTH rapping in the church, it's hella tight. Another thing about this song is that it really has no structure to it, other than a chorus. It sounds like a bunch of hooks with a chorus. It's weird, but that's what makes it so good.
1. Tupac- Keep Ya Head Up (Spring 2000 or so): So this is my favorite song of all time. What really makes this song #1 is Tupac's lyrics. Even though the song was made in 1991, the song still relates to what happens in today's society. Also, the song doesn't have any corny, awkward lines in it, like most rap songs made in that era. Tupac's 2nd verse is the best on this song. "Last night my buddy lost his whole family/it's gonna take the man in me to conquer this insanity". I don't think there is anyone who can say with a straight face that this song is garbage, no matter what you listen to. It's just one of those songs. "Dyin' inside/ but outside you lookin' fearless". It was the song I listened to all of the summer before I went into Freshman year of High-school. The tone of the song just kinda matched my mood. But whatever. That was fucking 4 years ago, and I'm glad I'm not back at that point in my life. I'll never forget something YOUR Hero said to me the night before I started high school "These could be the best 4 years of your life or the worst 4 years of your life. It depends on what you make of it". Those words rang pretty true. At least the "depends on what you make of it" part. I wouldn't say it was horrible, but high school sure got a lot more enjoyable when I sarted to make something of it. Sorry for the tangent. I just wanted to thank YOUR Hero for the advice, 4 years removed from the situation. I'll rep him when I can, not that a rep means a god damn thing from me anyways. OK, no more tangent time, back to the song. But I don't really have much more to say. "Keep Ya Head Up" by Tupac is, simply put, the best song ever made... at least from my point of view.
So there you have it- my list. Took me a month or two to complete it, but it's done. I'll update it in 2007, but most likely 2008 or 2009; we'll see. So, thanks for reading, and thanks to YOUR Hero for your advice, I didn't realize how right you were until this year.