best hip hop songs
Ask any two people for a list of their best hip hop songs and you’ll be lucky to come up with one or two. Still, I’ve been in the game for over a decade and I wanted to share with you my list of the best hip hop songs of all time. So without further ado…
Rosa Parks from Outkast. This song was their hit single from the 5-Mic album “Aquemini”. The intro featured several vocals with no instruments, and the hoe in the middle of the track is legendary. This song seamlessly blends the complementary talents of Andre 3000 and Big Boi, and was a great launching pad for Outkast’s continued commercial success.
Lodi Dodi by Snoop Dogg. Everyone, and I mean everyone, knows the lyrics to this song. You could play it at a party and the whole crowd would sing along. This classic Snoop track pays homage to Slick Rick’s first track of the same name. Without a doubt one of the best Snoop Dogg songs of all time.
Grandmaster Flash’s message. This song started hip hop. He elevated rap music from something on the streets to a style heard around the world. The positive message showed people the power of a rapper with something to say. In terms of influence, it would easily qualify as one of the best hip hop songs ever.
I Got Soul by Rakim and Eric B. Arguably the best song on their best album, Rakim dazzles listeners with some of the best lyrics ever written, delivered with Eric B’s fresh beats. Best Lyric: “When I Write I’m caught between the lines, I run away, when I finish the rhyme.”
My way of being Eminem. This haunting track is Eminem’s chance to vent his frustrations to the world, covering topics like his influence on children, his inability to move past his past success (“I’m not going to be able to topple My Name Is”), and general anger. . feels towards criticism that he feels is wrong. The song is a throwback to an old Rakim song, a lost reference for many of his younger listeners, and an incredible display of fluidity and lyrical skill. Without a doubt, one of the best hip hop songs of the last decade.
These are my top five tracks, ever. Admittedly, something like this can be argued a million ways, and there are several thousand honorable mentions. What are your best hip-hop songs right now?