How We Made the Best Hip-Hop Songs of All Time List

The editors of 'Rolling Stone' polled the following blue-ribbon panel of artists, record producers, industry professionals and music journalists

Jermaine Dupri, Chuck D and Rick Rubin.

Michael Bezjian/WireImage; Mike Coppola/Getty Images; Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

December 5, 2012 3:20 PM ET

Artists/Producers
Busta Rhymes
Big Boi, Outkast
Luther Campbell
Mike Diamond, Beastie Boys
Jermaine Dupri
Adam Horovitz
Kurupt
Talib Kweli
MC Lyte
Tom Morello
Q-Tip
Questlove, The Roots
Nas
Vernon Reid
Boots Riley, The Coup
Pete Rock
Rick Rubin

Journalists/Music Executives
James Bernard, former editor, The Source
Nathan Brackett, Rolling Stone
Cortez Bryant, Bryant Management
Reginald Dennis, former editor, The Source
Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone
Will Hermes, Rolling Stone
Christian Hoard, Rolling Stone
Craig Kallman, Atlantic Records
Alan Light, journalist
Monica Herrera, Rolling Stone
Jonathan Ringen, Rolling Stone
Dante Ross, Warner Bros.
Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone
Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone

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“Is It True”

Brenda Lee | 1964

As the British Invasion reached its peak in 1964, Brenda Lee went from Nashville to London to record one of her hardest-rocking hits, her perky vocal backed by a stuttering, squalling guitar. That guitar was played by session musician Jimmy Page, yet to skyrocket to fame with first the Yardbirds and then Led Zeppelin. "She said to me, 'I've come here to make a record with the British sound,'" remembered producer Mickie Most. "She felt she wouldn't get the same sound in Nashville because they're only just catching up on the British beat group sound of about six months ago."

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How We Made the Best Hip-Hop Songs of All Time List