Kickin' it old school

Warning: If you just want football updates, skip this post.

I planned on spending the downtime between the start of practice and interviews doing some advance work for future stories, but … The discussion over the new pregame video has inspired me.

My top 10 list of old-school rap songs.

Old school in this case, because it’s my list, is mid-to-late 80s, which an allowance for certain early 90s tunes that have that flavor. It also doesn’t include crossover pop hits, like “Bust a Move” or anything from DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. (And I don’t begrudge Will Smith, it’s just that, well, it just doesn’t FEEL old-school, ya know?)

As for the early 80s, maybe it’s just me but it just feels kind of rough. I realize Run DMC, Grandmaster Flash and Sugarhill Gang were pioneers. But … eh.

Note: Certain songs, especially those by Slick Rick and anybody from the NWA cannot make this list for family reasons. In fact, I can’t even spell out NWA.

1. Rob Base … It takes two ... video
2. Tribe Called Quest … Check the Rhyme video
3. Pete Rock and CL Smooth … They Reminisce ... video
4. Public Enemy … Fight the Power ... video
5. NWA … Straight Outta Compton ... video
6. Geto Boys … Mind Playing Tricks on Me ... video
7. Wu Tang Clan … Cream ... video
8. Tribe Called Quest … Bonita Applebaum ... video
9. Slick Rick … Teenage love ... video
10. Public Enemy … Don’t Believe the Hype video
10. (tie) NWA ... Express Yourself ... video

Sorry.

We now return to your regularly scheduled blogging about tight ends and Aaron Murray.