Peter Rosenberg Doesn’t Think Tupac, Snoop Hit Single Is Top 50

Peter Rosenberg of Hot 97’s Ebro In The Morning does not agree with Tupac and Snoop Dogg’s 1996 hit single being a top 50 hip hop song.

As hip hop celebrates its 50th birthday, the debates of top 50 lists continue to circulate throughout the culture. Billboard and Vibe kicked things off when they released their collaborative Top 50 Rappers of All Time list. The G.O.A.T list was topped by Jay-Z as Rick Ross closed out the list at number 50.

Hot 97’s morning show Ebro In The Morning has also dived into the conversation but with their own top 50 list, Top 50 Songs In Hip Hop History. Co-hosts Ebro, Laura Stylez and Peter Rosenberg will select 10 songs every Thursday until August 10th. Listeners will ultimately determine which songs make the top 50 list by casting their votes on the Hot 97 app and website.

In a recent episode, the best songs from the 1996-2000 era were selected. Black Star Definition, Dr. Dre Next Episode and Nas If I Ruled The World were 3 out of the 10 selected. Co-host Ebro nominated Tupac’s 1996 hit single 2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted featuring Snoop Dogg.

The song selection surprised Rosenberg who disagreed with Ebro’s pick. “Never thought I’d see you throw away a pick like this,” said Rosenberg. Ebro found himself once again going to war for the late rap icon. Previously on an episode of Rap Life Review, co-host Lowkey stated Tupac was not a good rapper and ranked too high on Billboard and Vibe’s Top 50 list at number 4.

“What are you talking about bro?,” Ebro was clearly upset by Lowkey’s comments. “Bro wrote Dear Mama and Keep Ya Head Up and Brenda’s Got A Baby, like full stories. One song is one story. It didn’t deviate from the topic at all, which is something that many of the greats have never been able to do in one song. They deviate for a punch line or they don’t stay on topic for the sake of swag or whatever they are trying to do. ‘Pac would do a whole song on one topic.”

Ebro’s response to Rosenberg was no different. According to Ebro just as Tupac landing on the number 4 spot on Billboard/Vibe’s top 50 list fit their criteria, so did Tupac’s 1996 single 2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted fit into Hot 97’s top 50 song’s criteria.

• Quality Of Song – Do you listen beyond the 1st verse; or to completion?
• Sustained Cultural Relevance – Does the song stand the test of time?
• Impact – How influential was the track during the time of release?
• Novelty Or Not? – Was the song a novelty song? (ex: “Ice Ice Baby”, “Can’t Touch This,” “Laffy Taffy” etc.)

“The Tupac disrespect this week is gotta stop. It’s two days in a row,” said Ebro. “This record comes on today. It plays all the way through. It was huge when it happened. Tupac and Snoop. And Snoop was on trial at the time and he was in the courtroom. You even remember the visuals all these years later.

Tupac and Snoop Dogg would have the opportunity to perform the song during a live performance at the legendary Hour of Blues back on July 4th of 1996.