Probably the most popular genre of music right now. Rap has been dominating everyone's playlists for almost a decade. In those 10 years, there has been a lot of, let's all be honest, stupid, pointless and braindead songs, that might made a few people stay away from the genre itself. But, that does not change the fact that rap offered us a lot of incredible tracks. Today, I'm counting down my picks for the best 15 rap/hip-hop songs of all time.
A hidden gem. I know a lot of people who love OG hip-hop that have not heard of this song. Three-6 Mafia are pretty well known, mainly because of their later work, which does not do them any justice. Their debut record is a phenomenal album that has this song as a stand out track. "Sweet Robbery" is a dark, menacing track that is filled with incredible verses and flows. The beat is simple, but it works amazingly on this song.
By far the best song Wayne ever did. His flows, storytelling and voice changes are absolutely perfect. The beat is really beautiful but also kind off scary? That piano is sooo dark and heavy. Back on storytelling, I really can't believe how catchy him talking about these topics is. And then Kendrick starts his verse... The way he also changes his voice is so impressive, his breath control too. Both Wayne and Kendrick destroyed this song, making "Mona Lisa" one of the best, most creative songs rap offered us ever.
Yep... Logic is on this list. And if you don't agree with me, have you ever even listened to this song? Almost 10 minutes of insane bars, crazy beat, amazing storytelling and even his dad has his part in this song. Logic has mada countless terrible songs in his career. His run of awful albums is also pretty impressive, but I will always defend his first two LPs. This song does not need any defense, there is absolutely no way you can listen to it and think that it isn't amazing. Wish we got more tracks like this from him, but oh well...
While "Big Poppa" doesn't offer anything revolutionary, it is a timeless classic. There's no denying that, it's a fact. Every person alive knows the chorus of this song, as well as the beat of it. Sometimes less is more, that's why this song remained this popular, even though it only has one same beat on loop for its entire run-time and Biggie doesn't change his flow at all.
Yet another timeless classic. Big Boi and Andre 3k create the most catchy career of their careers on here, while still having their unique, trademark verses. The beat is what gives this track a big big boost, as well as the goofy chorus that is bound to stay stuck in your brain for hours after finishing this song.
Such an incredible song where Eminem flexes his unique song writing as well as his incredible ability to story tell. I remember being so shocked when I was a ten year old once the song got to that, plot twist part. Kinda same like Logic, Eminem has made a lot of cringe songs in his career, but to say "Stan" isn't a masterpiece is insane. The instrumental, voice changes and emotions all make this song feel more like a movie then a simple rap song.
JID takes us on a journey on this one. If you try really hard, you could probably imagine yourself being with him whilst he was getting his freshman of the year award. It's a great, emotional song, on which JID proves to everyone once again how good of a song writer and story teller he is.
Travis has made an idiot out of himself multiple times, but the hunger he had on his earlier songs resulted in him making some absolutely amazing tracks, the best one being this powerhouse right here. Production is out of this world. His voice is more then an instrument, it's literally the whole point of the first half of the track. Once it changes into that, almost boom bap type of instrumental, we get to hear the best verse from Travis Scott, ever. "90210" is by far his best track, only making his sound change hurt more.
The most famous song by the most famous hip hop group ever. I would be wasting words if I start explaining why Wu-Tang is legendary and how revolutionary they were and still are. "C.R.E.A.M." or "Cash Moves Everything Around Me" is probably a song that has been used as a sample most out of any ever. Rightfully so, the chorus is extremely catchy and easy to remember. The verses are also memorable, to say the least, making this track stand as a highlight for the whole rap genre.
Godspeed you! Kanye West. What a great "progressive" rap song. You can say whatever you want about this dude, I hate him as a person, but to say he isn't one of the best, most creative artists of all time, with a truly rich catalog, is a straight up lie. It all got to the boiling point on "Runaway", resulting in one of the most emotional, heavy, hard hitting and catchy rap songs, ever. Production is absolutely out of this world, unreal. The whole song flows perfectly. Pusha T also has a career changing verse on this track, giving us some memorable bars. The ending is both beautiful and terrifying, but also artsy and incredible. The difference between this song and the number 15 song is huge, while the difference between "Runaway" and the number 1 track isn't.
Three out of eleven members of Wu-Tang Clan team up on this song, making one of the best straight bars type of song ever. Every second of "4th Chamber" is pushing you to the edge of your seat. From it's start to it's end you get swarmed with rhymes and word play like you never heard before. Each member gives us a lot of unique and interesting flows as well as really inteligent word play. The beat is unreal, way ahead of it's time. This entire track, as well as the whole album, "Liquid Swords", also is.
The most fascinating song on this list to be honest. This is abstract hip-hop heritage right here. A 10 minute track filled with pain and tragedy. The ambient is eerie and off-putting, Earl's bars and effort, or lack off effort, only make this track feel even more haunting then it already is. Creepy piano that on some occasions glitches out, mix with that truly horror like violin is bound to give you nightmares. If you struggle with depression, grief, identity crisis or mental health in general, SKIP THIS SONG! Or don't... Who am I to order all of you around.
Probably the best rap song of this decade. Denzel absolutely snapped on this one. Through his career he has made countless quality tracks, but none of them are even close to "Walkin'". Insane, eerie, creepy but still hard intro is what welcomes you to this juggernaut of a song, and then near the 2 minute park, once the beat finally drops, Denzel delivers one of the best verses of all, entire time. And it just keeps going, he never stops. This song always leaves me impressed and blown away. A true modern masterpiece. I hope that one day he actually tops this track, he for sure has the potential to do so.
Bohemian Rhapsody of rap. Every artist featured gives their best, all of them literally had some of the best verses of their respective careers on this track. Danny and his, let's say unique, voice start this one, then Kendrick has his part, a chorus. Imagine being that certain that you have a hit on your hands that you "waste" Kendrick Lamar on a chorus... However, that's not the case, after an incredible, energetic verse from Ab-Soul and another Kendrick hook, he actually also spits, and my God does he spit. Even better than his "Mona Lisa" verse, probably his best feature ever. Earl Sweatshirt also has an incredible verse, that is so hard that you absolutely have to make *that* face when you listen to it. "Really Doe" wouldn't be this good if it wasn't for that goofy but super creative beat, that scratches the right part of your brain.
Everybody knew Kendrick was going to be at the number one song, which song was the question. I honestly feel that he is underrated sometimes, even though he accomplished more then any rapper ever, I feel like we don't respect him enough. Hell, look at the whole... "mustard" meme that is viral... I mean yeah he kinda did that to himself, but please, everyone, especially all of younger generations, remember him as a generational artist, an incredible songwriter and a kind soul.
"SAMIDOT" which is short for the title of this 12 minute MOVIE is the hardest song I have ever listened to in my life. One thing that every human wants is to be remembered, in the first part of the song Kendrick talks to the dead brother of a person he knew and the dead sister that he already mentioned on his earlier project. He talks about the cursed circle that is all round him and everyone around him too. The circle of killings, circle of revenge. There's also a dig at the society they all live in. How poor all of them are and how many sickening things they do purely to survive. All those three things have something in common - thirst. People "dying of thirst" to be remembered, "dying of thirst" to get revenge and literally, dying of thirst.
Second part of the song continues that concept of thirst, but in a more metaphorical way - finding forgiveness, for yourself, for the society, for the dead and for the persons you want to see dead. At the end, the song ends with a snippet from a real life conversation that was held in Compton, when an older man said; "You see, you are dying of thirst. Do you know what that means? You need holy water. You need to be baptized, with a spirit of the Lord.". If you want me to talk about the instrumentals, there's two of them, both of which are absolutely incredible and sound exactly as they should - humble and honest.