The Table: School Time Music includes Pink Floyd, Van Halen, and the Best Philly Rappers

break.thingsIt is school time my friend and I know that because I heard the newly arrived college kids in my town laughing at me while I was running the track last night. The Sounds of Fall. So for lunch today, I thought we could bite into some good music that will get your minds off the sounds of chalk screeching down a black board.

International

Pink Floyd comes to represent the best part of my education. The flying pig band continues to speak of non-conformity and independence from social structure that inhibit free will and thought. Enjoy how great it is not to be legally obligated to enter another schoolroom.

What are your favorite school theme songs?

National

We know that school was a drag, but sometimes a cool teacher would make it bearable. They were the teachers who hit play on the VCR and let you eat in class. They would start showing holiday films right after Thanksgiving break and discuss the Eagles despicable game plan on Mondays. This is a tribute to all the great teachers that have molded young American minds.

Who was your favorite teacher in school? (be honest this is not a job interview)

Local

Now we get to Philadelphia. Home of some of the most screwed up schools in our fledging, philistine republic. We got the music: top 10 Rappers in Philly History. I hope all you new college students roaming the streets of Philly your first week will pay attention to Schoolly D. He is the beginning of gangsta rap. I know Jay-Z and Drake will be chilling on the Parkway this weekend, but spend some time with this list and you will get your history lesson done as well as a great playlist for next Thursday's party.

Comments

[Patrick Edmonds]

1. I think you probably stole everyone who reads this website's choice, but I think Motley Crue's "Smokin in the Boys room" really captured my sad experiences in high school, even though I didn't smoke much and tried to avoid the boys room as much as possible. It stunk in there.
2. I'm pretty sure this song was not meant to commemorate the coolest teachers in school. Either way, Mrs. D was my favorite, and she never once showed us a movie or let us eat in class. She actually taught me something.
3. No question? The Roots are unquestionably the greatest rap group from Philadelphia, and although not individual rappers, it's a disgrace that they're not on the list.

[James Dugan]

1. We're Not Going to Take It -- Twisted Sister
2. My Latin teacher, Fr. Bamber, was the best. You sat in awe of a guy who I was convinced knew Cicero. He spoke Latin fluently and believed in its greatness. He would expect you to memorize large swaths of the original text all week and have a quiz every Friday. You didn't know if you were going to have to translate Latin to English or English to Latin. You knew it came from that week. You had to do it word from word for 100%. He was no joke and I learned if anything is well learned, you need to memorize it. We did Cicero Speeches, Seneca Plays, Aenied, Julius Caesar Letters, New Testament Epistles.
3. I love the Roots, but that list is awesome.

[Nick Carraway]

Black Thought from the Roots is without question the greatest rapper Philly has ever produced and I can't believe Beanie Sigel beat him out. I'm also surprised the list didn't include the more recent rapper Meek Mill - this dude was at the bar fight between Drake and Chris Brown, that's gotta count for some street cred.