Music, as we know it, is actually a form of art.  Being an art form, music is subject to different interpretations.  What you consider as melodious music may not be true for other people.  Music is also a medium for expressing one's thoughts and feelings.  Songs are usually poems.  Instead of simply being read, they are sung and therefore, become lyrical and more powerful in expression.  Hence, music, even in ancient times, were mediums to express feelings of happiness, sorrow, turmoil, anger and of course, love.

Music has evolved through time.  There are different musical genres today.  Some genres are entirely unique in itself.  Sometimes, one genre is an offshoot of one or more genres with a twist.  One such genre is Hip Hop, which was developed as part of the Hip Hop culture. 

Hip Hop originated in the 1970s in South Bronx, New York City as a form of artistic culture.   There are five major characteristics or “pillars” that identify Hip Hop culture MCing (Rapping), DJing, B-Boying (Breakdancing), Graffitti Writing and Beatboxing.  “Rap” is often used synonymously with Hip Hop which is not entirely accurate. To be called Hip Hop involves the practice of the entire subculture.

Hip Hop music has gained mainstream popularity worldwide since the late 1980s.  It reached its peak in the early 2000s.    In more than two decades of Hip Hop music, countless Hip Hop songs and artists flourished and skyrocketed to fame.

Trying to determine the Top Ten Hip Hop Songs of all time can be an overwhelming task.   There is no single music authority that can dictate what the Top Ten Hip Hop Songs are.    It will be quite a subjective choice which is understandable considering that Hip Hop music is an art and subject to various interpretation.   If you still want to know the Top Ten Hip Hop Songs, there can be a sample list which can be further categorized into different periods – week, month, year, and decade or even of all time.

The easiest way to find out the Top Ten Hip Hop Songs for the week, the month or even a certain year is to check out the music website such as www.at40.com, www.mtv.com, or www.billboard.com which is perhaps the most-referred to website for tabulating music popularity.

Below is the Top Hip Hop song for the decade and of all time. 

• Number One Hip Hop Song of the Decade - B.O.B by Outkast         
• Number One Hip Hop Song of All Time - The World Is Yours by Nas

You may not agree with the choices but you might like them!

Johny Cash was one of the most popular American singers and song writer. An alternative country icon, he was one of the most popular country music artist. He has also contributed towards many other genres like blues, folk and gospel. Top Ten Hip Hop Songs echoed with his distinct, deep bass-baritone voice. He was seen as a pioneer of rockability and rock and roll in the 1950's. He recorded such classics as “Folsom Prison Blues”, “I Walk the Line” etc. He later emerged as an international representative of country music. Johny Cash attempted to get a contract at the Sun records studio during the initial stages of his career where he mostly sung gospel songs which were regarded as something unmarketable. Subsequently, he won over the producer with new songs in his frenetic style. “Hey Porter” and “Cry Cry Cry” were some of the renowned Top Ten Hip Hop Songs at this period.

Cash eventually recorded his next tracks like “I Walk the Line” which then became the No. 1 in the pop charts of the country, followed by “Home of The Blues” and others. Cash's songs were most consistent at the Sun studio. Later, Cash collaborated with Columbia Records and gave one of his biggest hits namely “Don't take your Guns to Town”. Cash released a number of concept albums that included “Ballads of The True West” with Cash's narration and “Bitter Tear” with songs depicting the troubles of the Native Americans.

Top Ten Hip Hop Songs in the album Nashville Skyline was a duet with Bob Dylan and also won a Grammy award. In the 1990's, he recorded the album “American Recordings” which was accompanied only by his Martin dreadnought guitar, that Cash played throughout his career. It also won the Grammy Award for The Best Contemporary Folk Album. Cash then released “Unchained” which again won a Grammy Award for the Best Country Album. Later in his career, most of Hip Hop Songs reflected themes of sorrow and redemption. In 1999, he received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. His last public performance was at July 5, 2003 concert when he sang “Ring Of Fire” before which he read a statement about his late wife that he just wrote before taking the stage at the concert. No other artist's songs could have touched the world of music quite like his music. Top Ten Hip Hop Songs are as deeply American as the stars and stripes that remain on the country's flag.