Poptime

Herein, I collect and count down my favorite pop, rock, r&b and hip hop singles released between the time I was born (1/74) and right this minute. Ordering is pretty loose and arbitrary until I reach the top 10 or so, when rankings will really mean something.

I'm limiting myself to things that have actually charted in the Billboard Hot 100 (or Billboard subcharts or foreign equivalents when applicable). Otherwise, trying to narrow a list down to 101 songs would be border on impossible.

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  1. Artist: 2Pac featuring Dr. Dre
    Song: California Love
    Year: 1996
    Highest Chart Position: #1 (Billboard Hot 100)

    I only found out recently that Roger Troutman didn’t just guest on this song, providing the vocoder bits (as was his trademark), but actually recorded it himself years earlier.  Basically, the only original parts of the 2Pac version are the verses laid down by him and Dr. Dre.

    No matter, however.  This is not only the finest, most accomplished bit of music ever birthed by Death Row, but near the top of any group of the most elite rap singles in the whole of the ’90s.  Seriously, this thing is a party in a box.  Just hit play. 

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