What’s the Best Introductory Hip-Hop Song of All-Time? Posted by Nathan S. on 10/30/13 | Filed under Debates, RH Nation Answers

It's Wednesday, also known as dry hump day, also known as "Question of the Week" day. Today with the leak of Eminem's "MMLP2" album I've been thinking about the trajectory of Em's career. It's crazy to think that the same young white kid who was introduced to the world via "My Name Is" is now a hip-hop elder statesmen. Speaking of which, where would "My Name Is" rank among the first introductory rap songs ever? I'd have it pretty low, I can't say I've ever just gone back and listened to it for kicks. So if not "My Name Is", who does have the best introductory song of all-time? 

Ok, now there's going to be some grey area here because it's hard to strictly define "introductory". I mean the first song that really gained an artist some recognition, which is often, but may not technically be their first single. For example, I don't believe "NY State of Mind" was literally the first song to come off Nas' "Illmatic", but it was definitely the one that caught on/the first song that really got people to listen to him, so I'd call that his introductory track. 

In terms of the best, I think we're really working off two criteria. One, the artist would go one to have a huge career. Two, the song holds up by itself - years, and sometimes decades, later you'd still gladly listen to it. It might even still be one of their best songs. 

Moving onto some candidates, off the top of my head I think the afformentioned Eminem "My Name Is", Kanye "Through the Wire", Lupe Fiasco "Kick/Push", Biggie "Juicy" (unless you want to consider the "Flava in Ya Ear (Remix)" his intro, Jay Z "Dead Presidents", Wu-Tang "Protect Ya Neck", the list goes on.

Interesting side note, now that I think about it more, the new generation of rappers don't really have "introductory" tracks anymore unless it's like a Trinidad James' "All Gold Everything" situation. Take Kendrick Lamar, what's his introductory track? His first hit was "Drank", but he'd released at least two full albums/mixtapes before that. Most artists have been slowly building and releasing songs for years before they break through. 

Anyway....fuck, this is hard. I think for me it really comes down to "Juicy" and "NY State of Mind". "Juicy" obviously had the larger impact as a song, but...still...I think I have to go with "NY State of Mind". That song just fucking blew my mind when I first heard it. Having trouble committing though, how do you pass up "Juicy"? Fuck...fuck it, I'm just gonna man up and go with Nas. 

Alright RefinedHype Nation, have at it. As always, I'm stoked to see what y'all come up with. I'm sure you'll be pulling out some selections I didn't even think of. Let's do the damn thing...