Top Five Rap Tracks That Ripped Off Classic Rock Songs

Does the Godfather of Heavy Metal get crunk? You bet he does.

​It seems like enough time has passed since the sweaty-armpit era of mainstream rock (otherwise known as the Nu-Metal Dark Ages) that we can finally, maybe, approach the subject of fusing hip-hop with rock and roll.

It wasn't always Fred Durst commanding an audience of pigmen to "break shit." Or Kid Rock (before he was a cowboy) walking around like a living greased watermelon contest.

Run D.M.C. are often credited with being one of the first to incorporate a rock dialect (see: guitars) into rap's sonic lexicon, and "Walk This Way" is the definitive statement. Check Crossfade's top five rap tracks that ripped off classic rock.




5. From Hair Metal to Booty Bass
Van Halen's "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" vs. 2 Live Crew's "Fuck Shop"
Rock, rap, whatever. Both 2 Live Crew and Van Halen are ultimately just soundtracks for wet t-shirt volleyball tournaments.





4. The Wizard of Crunk
Ozzy Osbourne's "Crazy Train" vs. Trick Daddy and Lil Jon's "Let's Go"
Lil Jam manages to turn the ultimate '80s cocaine anthem into a bonafide new millennium booze jam.





3. The Notorious Dollar B.I.N.
Herb Alpert's "Rise" vs. Notorious B.I.G.'s "Hypnotize"
OK, so Herb Alpert isn't exactly classic rock 'n' roll. But good lord, that bass line is fire. Biggie took it from the dollar bin to over a million ... Sold, that is.





2. Flavor Flav Gets Caught in a Mosh
Slayer's "Angel of Death" vs. Flavor Flav
Amid all the killer thrashing in that Slayer clip, we're pretty sure we see the good doctor Flav crowd surf in and out of the frame in full regalia -- viking helmet, giant clock necklace, blinged-out watch with a pentagram, etc.





1. It Doesn't Matter If You're Black or White
Steely Dan's "Peg" vs. De La Soul's "Eye Know"
Here's a pitch for our new Web 2.0 project: Fill two respective stadiums with Steely Dan and De La Soul fans, and arm everyone with Twitter Machines. Then switch the lineups! And watch the panic unfold in real time.

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