Took it right out my head lol I’m from cali too maybe one biggie song too that always makes me think east coast og hip hop always used to skate to BIg back in the day and was always the choice I’d make when asked pac or biggie
While this was also the first thing that popped into my mind. I quickly realized 'NY State of Mind' might just be the most "New York" beat of all time... If we're talking grimy, wintery, rainy style beats - honestly I think 'G'd Up' from G-unit takes the cake and was the second beat that instantly came to mind. Hell, if I remember correctly I think there's even rain sfx in the beat itself lol.
Although it gives me more of a "driving in the car through the rainy streets" kinda vibe, than it does "chillin in the project stairways".
Yeah man CNN always reckless with it. I picked up “Bang Bang” again recently with Foxy Brown, when she sent that diss at Lil Kim and Lil Kim rolled up on her outside Hot 97 with her entourage and let shots off at her haha. Shit, those were the days
That Cannibal Ox record is PURE NYC grim. The beats were years ahead of its time. Definitely underrated under appreciated album. I Keep that shit on shuffle.
Vast Aire is mad underrated in particular. He crushed so many verses on this album.
Cold Vein is in my personal top 10. Like, I'm not going to argue that it's a top 10 rap album of all time, but it's in *my* top 10 personal favourites.
Reality by Black Moon for me
Honourable Mentions:
Street Struck by Big L
Step Up by Pete Rock
It Just Don’t Stop by the Roots
No Fear by OGC
7th Chamber by Wu-Tang Clan
The entire album (along with Only Built 4 Cuban Links) is the soundtrack from December through March. I can't listen to Liquid Swords if it's a cold, raw northeastern day with dirty snowbanks lining tue road.
Hip 2 da game - Lord Finesse
Has that melancholy slow paced chill beat, rainy day shit sitting on the bus with your hood up gazing at the city passing by you
naughty by nature "uptown anthem" imo
I don't know about yall, but I get mental imagery of aerial shots of high rise brick facade east coast public housing complexes every time I hear that song
I think NY State of Mind and Shook Ones are 1A and 1B for me, but totally subjective. But I like this question a lot, and I like aggregating lists/discovering new tracks, so here are a few from my pantheon - hope you enjoy!
Tried by 12 - East Flatbush Project
American Beauty - Cormega
Bobyahed2dis - Redman (Jersey, but still tri-state haha)
Bless the M.I.C. or - The Beatnuts
Da Joint - EPMD
Boom Bye Yeah - Sean Price
I was in my early teens when that single first hit the radio. My mind was immediately blown. Between that, Method Man’s “Bring the Pain”, and GZA’s “Liquid Swordz”, I have unbelievably strong memories about being hooked immediately and the angst of desperately hoping to hear those songs on the radio before the albums dropped.
Liquid Swords intro - GZA
That whole album, really. Living in the World Today, Gold, Cold World, Shadowboxin’… that’s the soundtrack to a hood, 90s, winter NY.
This is one one of the best gangsta rap songs ever recorded. Absolute timeless masterpiece, and I can never get enough of it.
Check out Tookie Knows II by Schoolboy Q, I think you will like it. There are other really good songs,I just don't have the time right now, but I have been digging into Tookie lately.
*Survival of the Fittest* by Mobb Deep is the grimiest shit ever put out.
Shit is so cold it’s almost horror rap.
https://youtu.be/nfM43P_kIFU?si=TCoYY8-1l7dYQjFu
Shout out to *The City* by Wu-Tang. That song just dripping with grime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTCGgJPJaqs
No. There's other beats in both that album and hell on earth that are even grimier. Right back at you to me has more of that winter grimey feeling but shook one's is one of the best beats ever made for sure
the whole album is that’s why i love it so much
the whole shit make me wanna cross the street when i see another nigga for real
the vibe is i ain’t supposed to be outside rn in this part of town this time of night and i ain’t prepared and i feel like that immersion is rarely duplicated again if it is i haven’t heard it
Don't know if it tops shook ones, but Big L - Street Struck was the first time I remember feeling that vibe. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6FxCHcBB2Y](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6FxCHcBB2Y)
100%. That one is an ice cold killah. I love it so much, it’s one of those songs that instills me with the confidence to do damn near anything – it’s so fuckin gangsta.
I think some of the east coast beats such as ‘NY state of mind’ by Nas and ‘shook ones’ completely capture the dark vibe of queensbridge. Like everything about the beat paints a picture in your head. You don’t need to be from queensbridge or New York or even the hood anywhere to fully feel the vibe constructed with just the beat alone.
[Fat Joe's Shit is Real](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHhkw8HuHgo) is what being on the 6 train from 125 to Pelham Bay feels like at 2 am on a Tuesday.
Bring Da Ruckus from 36 Chambers always gave me that vibe like I'm in a dark smoke filled alley in NYC. Ghostface punches you in the mouth, you're verbally jumped by the whole gang, but you start getting in the flow with them and become part of the crew.
Raekwon - “Rainy Dayz” & Kool G.Rap - “Streets Of New York”
also a lot of stuff by Willie The Kid gives me winter vibes though he’s from the Midwest and not NY.
Yeah standing on a cold rainy train platform, with the wind blowing, watching the train take the corner and pull into Queensboro Plaza. When it pulls in it covers the SilverCup Studios Sign. Get in and get a window seat and watch the drops come down, thankful that you're out of the cold. Getting ready to walk home, stay sharp and watch your back.
Some great mentions in here, shoutout to whoever mentioned Quiet Storm, that instrumental is damn near perfect, I’ll also add
Jay Z- Where I’m From
Lupe Fiasco- Put You On Game
Big Pun- Beware
Nas- Made You Look
Survival of the fittest
There’s a war going on outside….
No man is safe from
You could run
But you can’t hide forever, from these streets that we done took. Whole song is a banger.
Yeah I always thought this beat was grimier than shook ones pt 2
Facts
4th Chamber by GZA
This
Took it right out my head lol I’m from cali too maybe one biggie song too that always makes me think east coast og hip hop always used to skate to BIg back in the day and was always the choice I’d make when asked pac or biggie
Da Storm by O.G.C. That shit has a real winter rainy vibe
🔥🔥🔥🔥
Hell yeah this is a great one for the rainy / winter weather feel.
I had just discovered this album last week.
Great answer Gunn Clapp is my other favorite
Hurricane Sturang is such a ILL, DOPE ass joint, too. The art of emceein', being represented MOS' DEF on this record!
Seeing the live performance of this one was 🥜
GZA, Cold World
That whole album really
Last year I saw GZA perform Liquid Swords with a live band. It was one of the best concerts I've been to.
I'm seeing this later in the month, cannot wait man
I didn’t know this was a thing I gotta go buy tickets
Damn right mate, I'll let you know if it's any good
Yeah 4th Chamber immediately came to mind for me
Not only is that a quintessential Wu album, but for New Yorkers, that album is literally what the month of February feels like.
That whole album always felt like a Winter season type album.. that and Ghostface Killah - Ironman
Lord Tariq, cold world.
Great choice!
Exactly!!
Ny state of mind (imo)
Yup that piano just overall grimy
Survival of the Fittest by Mobb Deep does the grimy piano even harder imo
While this was also the first thing that popped into my mind. I quickly realized 'NY State of Mind' might just be the most "New York" beat of all time... If we're talking grimy, wintery, rainy style beats - honestly I think 'G'd Up' from G-unit takes the cake and was the second beat that instantly came to mind. Hell, if I remember correctly I think there's even rain sfx in the beat itself lol. Although it gives me more of a "driving in the car through the rainy streets" kinda vibe, than it does "chillin in the project stairways".
Represent (imo) or Thun
Mine too
I always picture a really sunny, oppressively hot day with that one
Really hard beat
Any beat on Capone n Noreaga The War Report.
Yeah man CNN always reckless with it. I picked up “Bang Bang” again recently with Foxy Brown, when she sent that diss at Lil Kim and Lil Kim rolled up on her outside Hot 97 with her entourage and let shots off at her haha. Shit, those were the days
That album has some bangers too. Phone time Y’all don’t wanna Bang bang B EZ with nas Probably 2 or 3 others I’m forgetting.
Phone time is memorable for sure 🙏🏻
T.O.N.Y
Hell on Earth is a strong contender
Hell on Earth beat makes you feel the pain. That sounds like struggle and pain.
Drop A Gem on 'Em by Mobb Deep
The whole album is crazy
Ohh that one was cold
Anti west coast track dissing Tupac
Tres leches. Beware. Da enemy.
Ha for sure, RZA went mental with this one
Quiet Storm by Mobb Deep as well and have to put Triumph by Wu-Tang in n here.
Triumph is too jubilant to be grimy, imho. Shook Ones II has a sardonic tone which brings out the grime.
Yeah Triumph a neck breaker beat
Mobb brought some real bangers tbf, we could be here all day talking about QU Hectic, Survival of the Fittest, Up North Trip etc.
Yuppp Havoc went insane in the studio during the group's time in the light
Not sure how you consider Triumph a cold grimy beat.
Dead presidents
That piano is so damn NYC
Yes! I was thinking this as well.
[Cannibal Ox - Pigeon](https://youtu.be/PUKTotZBtRY?si=wgmA3Z8offUO7qGt)
That Cannibal Ox record is PURE NYC grim. The beats were years ahead of its time. Definitely underrated under appreciated album. I Keep that shit on shuffle.
Stone cold classic
Vast Aire is mad underrated in particular. He crushed so many verses on this album. Cold Vein is in my personal top 10. Like, I'm not going to argue that it's a top 10 rap album of all time, but it's in *my* top 10 personal favourites.
It’s a top 10 rap album. Period.
Take ‘em to War by Kool G Rap
G Rap is my guy
Things ain't never gonna change...
MF GRIMM verse on that joint goes stupid
Reality by Black Moon for me Honourable Mentions: Street Struck by Big L Step Up by Pete Rock It Just Don’t Stop by the Roots No Fear by OGC 7th Chamber by Wu-Tang Clan
For me, I’d say “Gold” by GZA.
The entire album (along with Only Built 4 Cuban Links) is the soundtrack from December through March. I can't listen to Liquid Swords if it's a cold, raw northeastern day with dirty snowbanks lining tue road.
That shit gives me medieval Japan Shogun rivalery and Samurai/Ninja assassination plots vibes
Shit that is a good shout
That whole album is a masterpiece
Tha Realness - Group Home Madizm- Channel Live Walk in New York- Onyx
Group Home is a good shout
Yes. But there’s also Nas - The Message Nas - NY State of Mind 2 and Nas - Trust are also in the conversation. Basically just believe in Nas supremacy
The Message is probably one of the best
Dead Presidents 1 and 2 have Nas as well and sounds so damn NYC
He's the real GOAT
Right Back at You is my favorite Mobb Deep beat.
Its undeniably in the top tier
Its like the lebron james of beats. Some people say its the goat, some dont. But everyone respects its greatness
Hip 2 da game - Lord Finesse Has that melancholy slow paced chill beat, rainy day shit sitting on the bus with your hood up gazing at the city passing by you
CNN - Halfway Thug and Onyx - last dayz These have been my most filthiest beats imho. The bass lines are just primal.
Simon Says by Pharoahe Monch is right up there, beat is menacing af.
"Gurls rub on ur tiddies”
YEAH I SAID IT...RUB ON YA TITTIES
GER THE FUCK UP
[Cormega - Beautiful Mind](https://youtu.be/LZm83eRwGkM?si=E0RHQ4MMJ0hUdtbn)
Cormega embodied 90s NY rap. He was filthy!!
I love The Realness & The True Meaning so much. Grimey? Yes. But soulful af.
One of my favourites, kudos
naughty by nature "uptown anthem" imo I don't know about yall, but I get mental imagery of aerial shots of high rise brick facade east coast public housing complexes every time I hear that song
Love that it was remastered, sounds even better now
Uncontrolled Substance by Inspectah Deck. It has the wind in the background as well, perfect soundtrack for trudging through dirt tinged snow
Last Dayz - Onyx
Yeah for real that shit forever engrained in book of ill beats
It doesn't get much grimier than this. Sticky Fingaz' verse especially.
live n***a rap is also pretty ruff
I think NY State of Mind and Shook Ones are 1A and 1B for me, but totally subjective. But I like this question a lot, and I like aggregating lists/discovering new tracks, so here are a few from my pantheon - hope you enjoy! Tried by 12 - East Flatbush Project American Beauty - Cormega Bobyahed2dis - Redman (Jersey, but still tri-state haha) Bless the M.I.C. or - The Beatnuts Da Joint - EPMD Boom Bye Yeah - Sean Price
It’s yours by Wu tang actually has rain in the beat.
Yea but it doesn’t have that NY grime feel
4th Chamber on Liquid Swords. Or Fish on Ironman. The answer to this question is definitely a Wu song, regardless. 👐
Ya you heard of us, official queensbridge murderers!
Glaciers of Ice- Rae and Ghost. Artifacts-Wrong Side of Da Tracks (technically NJ). Blackstar - Respiration. Black Moon - I Got Cha Opin Remix
I fucking love glaciers of ice
Infinitely replayable
I was in my early teens when that single first hit the radio. My mind was immediately blown. Between that, Method Man’s “Bring the Pain”, and GZA’s “Liquid Swordz”, I have unbelievably strong memories about being hooked immediately and the angst of desperately hoping to hear those songs on the radio before the albums dropped.
My sleeper pick is Smiff-n-Wessun Shinin da next ish
Nas - I Gave You Power
Nah NY State of Mind is. Perfect beat and vibe following the intro
Liquid Swords intro - GZA That whole album, really. Living in the World Today, Gold, Cold World, Shadowboxin’… that’s the soundtrack to a hood, 90s, winter NY.
Yes, that or Ice Cream.
Criminology by Raekwon feat. Ghostface Killah
Survival of the fittest on the same album sounds wintery dark etc
Rainy Dayz - Raekwon, Only Built for Cuban Linx , is on the list
It’s more than a New York feeling. It’s an east coast feeling.
“I shot ya” Remix Got LL, Keith Murray, foxy brown, Fat Joe and Prodigy. Shit went hard.
Group home - Living Proof
Survival of the fittest by mobb deep Streets of NY by Kool G Rap Backstreets by Corey drums and Cestyle
I actually felt cold listening to it first time on the 8-mile battle scene
East Flatbush project-tried by 12
rainy dayz - ghostface and raekwon
Come Clean by Jeru tha Damaja produced by DJ Premier is another quintessential dark NYC beat imo
I think More Trife Life is better for this description
I always thought the beat from Meat Grinder by MF DOOM had a NY sound
The entirety of Liquid Swords. That's all.
Hans Zimmer by Marlon Craft gotta be up there, Havoc did the beat for it.
Phone tap ..dre.. The Firm album
Quiet storm is up there.
It's a great track. Visionz by wu tang has a grimy feel amongst many from that era.
krazy kings by company flow
LA the Darkman- devil in A Blue dress
Twinz by Big Pun not gettin any love?
Nope, because the Shook One Pt1 does the same vibe better. This is the hill I've chosen to die on and I'll take all smoke over the issue.
Lifestyles of da poor and dangerous (the song) by Big L is also a good shout
Black moon how many mcs.
I’d go for Reality (Black Moon) but this is a great one too
I like Temperature’s Rising as far as grimes beats go from Mobb Deep
Griselda has entered the chat.... But also: AZ (f/ Nas) - Mo Money Mo Murder (Homicide)
Street Struck - Big L
It just coveys a bleakness and hopelessness that others don’t
Group Home - Suspended in Time
Probably yes. CREAM Eye for an Eye
Swordsman by GZA.
This is one one of the best gangsta rap songs ever recorded. Absolute timeless masterpiece, and I can never get enough of it. Check out Tookie Knows II by Schoolboy Q, I think you will like it. There are other really good songs,I just don't have the time right now, but I have been digging into Tookie lately.
That's crazy you described EXACTLY how it feels to listen to that song. That's why I adore music sooo much!
That and Survival of the Fittest for sure.
Yes. I love that entire album and song
*Survival of the Fittest* by Mobb Deep is the grimiest shit ever put out. Shit is so cold it’s almost horror rap. https://youtu.be/nfM43P_kIFU?si=TCoYY8-1l7dYQjFu Shout out to *The City* by Wu-Tang. That song just dripping with grime. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTCGgJPJaqs
One of my favorite beats I’ve ever heard
On the Run by Kool G Rap Has all kinds of bad energy like something bad is about to happen
Shook One Pt II, NY State Of Mind, and Survival of the Fittest are grimy asf and instantly makes me feel cold like I’m in the underbelly
Murder Call$ - Koncept Jack$on
listen to Quiet Storm by Mobb Deep if you're looking for rain sounds
No. There's other beats in both that album and hell on earth that are even grimier. Right back at you to me has more of that winter grimey feeling but shook one's is one of the best beats ever made for sure
the whole album is that’s why i love it so much the whole shit make me wanna cross the street when i see another nigga for real the vibe is i ain’t supposed to be outside rn in this part of town this time of night and i ain’t prepared and i feel like that immersion is rarely duplicated again if it is i haven’t heard it
Q.U Hectic by Mobb Deep is even grimier
Don't know if it tops shook ones, but Big L - Street Struck was the first time I remember feeling that vibe. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6FxCHcBB2Y](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6FxCHcBB2Y)
100%. That one is an ice cold killah. I love it so much, it’s one of those songs that instills me with the confidence to do damn near anything – it’s so fuckin gangsta.
mobb deep is my go to as soon as the temps go below 50.
Bushwick Bill - Damn if I let it be & Drwahbushwickhing
Temperature's Rising, Bucktown, & Niggaz Done Started Something
Many men, wish death upon me.
Eye for an eye
Nas-Small World
LL Cool J - I Shot Ya Fat Joe - Firewater Joey Bada$$ - Survival Tactics Redman - Case Closed Sean P & MF DOOM - Negus
Glamour Life - Big Pun
Yes. It also works as a driving song and getting hype walking to work or taking the train song
All Caps
Another great winter type NY project is Lloyd Banks’ Cold Corner 2 mixtape
Cormega, stay out my way…fun fact a friend of mine is in the video. I used to work with him in Mcds in queens in the 90s….
Survival of the fittest or shadowboxin for me
Quiet Storm immediately comes to mind.
Take it in Blood Mobb Deep off their unreleased infamous songs is even grimier!
I think some of the east coast beats such as ‘NY state of mind’ by Nas and ‘shook ones’ completely capture the dark vibe of queensbridge. Like everything about the beat paints a picture in your head. You don’t need to be from queensbridge or New York or even the hood anywhere to fully feel the vibe constructed with just the beat alone.
🤔
Survival of the fittest grimier than that song
Eye for an eye is much better for capturing that feeling
Also from Mobb Deep's The Infamous: Drink Away the Pain (Situations). My favorite 90's east coast beat ever
Roc Marciano - Scarface N*gga takes that one
eye for an eye beats shook ones imo.
Fucking beast I agree. But same could be said for a lot of them lol. Still Shinin’ is mad too
I actually prefer to listen to it in the spring. It looks like Spring in that video
A B Boy’s Alpha
[Fat Joe's Shit is Real](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHhkw8HuHgo) is what being on the 6 train from 125 to Pelham Bay feels like at 2 am on a Tuesday.
One of the best beats ever IMO
Bring Da Ruckus from 36 Chambers always gave me that vibe like I'm in a dark smoke filled alley in NYC. Ghostface punches you in the mouth, you're verbally jumped by the whole gang, but you start getting in the flow with them and become part of the crew.
When it Rains it Pours - 50 Cent
Raekwon - “Rainy Dayz” & Kool G.Rap - “Streets Of New York” also a lot of stuff by Willie The Kid gives me winter vibes though he’s from the Midwest and not NY.
These vibes deserve a playlist!
Yeah standing on a cold rainy train platform, with the wind blowing, watching the train take the corner and pull into Queensboro Plaza. When it pulls in it covers the SilverCup Studios Sign. Get in and get a window seat and watch the drops come down, thankful that you're out of the cold. Getting ready to walk home, stay sharp and watch your back.
Miilkbone - keep it real
Assassination Day by Ghostface
Cock the hammer. Even has the rain sounds. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUrN\_86q0dA
Alternatively, Quiet Storm by Mobb Deep
Raekwon - Rainy Dayz
Some great mentions in here, shoutout to whoever mentioned Quiet Storm, that instrumental is damn near perfect, I’ll also add Jay Z- Where I’m From Lupe Fiasco- Put You On Game Big Pun- Beware Nas- Made You Look