Why "The Message"? Rolling Stone says that with the song's stern “Don’t push me/ ’cause I’m close to the edge” warning, the 1982 hit by the South Bronx collective was able “to tell, with hip-hop’s rhythmic and vocal force, the truth about modern inner-city life in America.”

Here's the Top 10:

1.    “The Message” – Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
2.    “Rapper’s Delight” – Sugarhill Gang
3.    “Planet Rock” – Afrika Bambaataa and the Soul Sonic Force
4.    “Sucker M.C.’s” – Run-DMC
5.    “Mind Playing Tricks on Me” – Geto Boys
6.    “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang” – Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Doggy Dogg
7.    “Fight the Power” – Public Enemy
8.    “Juicy” – Notorious B.I.G.
9.    “Straight Outta Compton” – N.W.A.
10.  “Paid in Full” – Erik B. and Rakim

The selection panel included Rolling Stone staffers and such hip-hop experts as Questlove of The Roots. The full Top 50 list will appear in the December 7th issue of Rolling Stone and is online now.

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