Shea Serrano’s The Rap Year Book has taken the book market by storm since its release last October, landing on the bestseller lists at the New York Times, the Washington Post and Amazon. Now, the former Grantland staffer’s detailed analysis of the best rap song from every year, 1979-2014, looks to be getting a documentary production deal. The ever-excitable Serrano announced the news yesterday on his Twitter feed:
AYYYYYYYYYYYYE listen to this a real actual production optioned TRYB they’re gonna try and make it into a documentary series oh shit oh shit
If you haven’t checked out The Rap Year Book yet and you care about the genre, now might be a good time. Here’s the list Serrano’s come up with:
1979: “Rapper’s Delight” – The Sugarhill Gang 1980: “The Breaks” -Kurtis Blow 1981: “Jazzy Sensation” – Afrika Bambaataa and the Jazzy Five 1982: “The Message” – Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five 1983: “Sucker M.C.’s” – Run-DMC 1984: “Friends” – Whodini 1985: “La Di Da Di” – Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick 1986: “6 in the Mornin’” – Ice-T 1987: “Paid in Full” – Eric B. and Rakim 1988: “Straight Outta Compton” – N.W.A 1989: “Fight the Power” – Public Enemy 1990: “Bonita Applebum” – A Tribe Called Quest 1991: “Mind Playing Tricks on Me” – Geto Boys 1992: “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang” – Dr. Dre, featuring Snoop Dogg 1993: “C.R.E.A.M.” – Wu-Tang Clan 1994: “Juicy” – The Notorious B.I.G. 1995: “Dear Mama” – Tupac 1996: “California Love” – Tupac, featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman 1997: “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down” – Puff Daddy, featuring Mase 1998: “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” – DMX 1999: “My Name Is” – Eminem 2000: “Big Pimpin’” – Jay Z, featuring UGK 2001: “Takeover” vs. “Ether” – Jay Z vs. Nas 2002: “Grindin’” – The Clipse 2003: “In Da Club” – 50 Cent 2004: “Still Tippin’” – Mike Jones, featuring Slim Thug and Paul Wall 2005: “Gold Digger” – Kanye West, featuring Jamie Foxx 2006: “Hustlin’” – Rick Ross 2007: “International Players Anthem” – UGK, featuring Outkast 2008: “A Milli” – Lil Wayne 2009: “Best I Ever Had” – Drake 2010: “Monster” – Kanye West, featuring Rick Ross, Jay Z, Bon Iver, and Nicki Minaj 2011: “Niggas in Paris” – Jay Z and Kanye West 2012: “Same Love” – Macklemore and Ryan Lewis 2013: “Control” – Big Sean, featuring Kendrick Lamar and Jay Electronica 2014: “Lifestyle” – Rich Gang, featuring Young Thug and Rich Homie Quan
