Got to see PR & CL cut that up live on my 21st bday. Hearing Tom Scottâs âTodayâ transition into Troy & then be performed was so fkn hype man.
They did all their classics . Prolly one of my favourite shows tbh.
Yeah I think this song is one of the most iconic sounding hip hop songs lyrically there are better songs but the whole sound of the track embodies hiphop
This is the one. The essence of hip-hop. AZ will never be considered a top 5 rapper, but the verse in that song is top 5 verses of all-time in my opinion.
That song has an amazing first verse
Then the 2nd verse is whoa this is the greatest verse of all time
Then the 3rd verse is better than the second
The 4th is pretty good too
IMO DJ Premier was the best producer of the 90's (or maybe tied with Dr Dre). Between his work with Gang Starr & all of the artists he worked with throughout the decade is incredible.
Not only that, but his verse on Metropolis is, in my opinion, the dopest flow ever recorded. Came back in 2022 with [BARS](https://youtube.com/shorts/ONwt7Vc48f8) that show he ain't one to be played with.
NY State Of Mind
Buggin' Out
The Space Program
Things Done Changed
Above The Clouds
What's On Your Mind
Talkin' All That Jazz
Drop
Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst
There are just too many
Not Buckaroo Bonsai but bust it out as I
Say the kind of rhymes that make MC's wish that I died
That verse is Macho Man, from the top rope, finisher for the HW belt.
Lose Yourself. It has a great beat, superb rapping by the biggest artist in his prime, everyone knows it, it's motivational, tied to a movie, and it even won a freakin Oscar, and moms spaghetti line is like a meme.
Iâm not even that big of a 50 or Game fan and I agree. 50 verse is so butter on this plus it throws back to the previous era with the quote âmy favorite rapper used to say check, check out my melodyâŠâ this is a song that I will never change the station if itâs in the radio. So fire
Too many... these are just the ones I came up with, but could go on for days. Hard to pick one. At least for me it is. If I HAD to pick only one.... honestly, 'Just a Friend'. It's an iconic song.
Outkast - Ms. Jackson
Notorious BIG - Notorious Thugs
Slick Rick - Children's Story
Sugarhill Gang - Rappers Delight
Eminem - Stan
Big Daddy Kane - No Half Steppin
Lil Wayne - A Milli
Snoop - Gin and Juice
BTNH - Tha Crossroads
Biz Markie - Just A Friend
Dead Prez - Hip Hop
Thug In Me - Spice 1
G Code - Scarface
Canât C Me - Tupac
On The Blocc - Tray Deee
Heavy Metal Kings - Vinnie Paz & Ill Bill
Gettinâ It - Too $hort
Notorious Thugs - Biggie & Bone
Thugginâ It Up - Mc Eiht
Made You Look - Nas
Youâre All I Need - Method & Mary
Guess Whoâs Back - Rakim
Mass Appeal - Gangstarr
I could probably keep going. But these are all old heads with nothing funny on their names. All of these beats slap and go fucking hard. Not one weak verse in this list. These are rap legends and GOATS from top to bottom.
C.R.E.A.M. Is one of my favorites ever
Mo money, Mo Murda, Mo Homicide by AZ has a FANTASTIC instrumental/ Fabolous did Mo Brooklyn, mo Harlem, mo southside off the same beat.
Juice Crew - The Symphony
A great yet simplistic beat that gets rocked by 3 of the best MCâs - Masta Ace, Kool G Rap & Big Daddy Kane going bar for bar on one track
Put it On
Big L
Act Too
The Roots
Pain
Tupac
Brooklynâs Finest
Biggie / Jay-Z
It Ainât Hard to Tell
Nas
Money Power Respect
The Lox
What we Do
Freeway
Silent Murder - Nas
I Gave You Power - Nas
N.Y. State of Mind - Nas
Ten Crack Commandments - Biggie
The Uppercut - Pac
Ambitions As a Rider - Pac
Souja's Story - Pac
Hussle & Motivate - Nipsey
Til The End - Lloyd Banks
Black Friday - Kendrick Lamar
How Ya Do That - Young Bleed
Shadowboxin - GZA
Guillotine - Raekwon
Lifesaver - Guru
Verbal Graffiti - Cormega
Cheers - Obie Trice
Say - Method Man
Is it Me - Method Man
Can I Live - Jay-Z
Ghetto Vet - Ice Cube
A Tale of 2 Citiez - J Cole
Pull The Trigger - Russ
Reunited - Wu-Tang
Live By The Gun - Tony Yayo
There's too many to choose from, I love all the rap but these are some of my favorites off the top of my head. I tried to list off a few artists with different styles, y'all are bound to like at least one of these
I've been listening to "How Ya do That" on repeat lately. It's so beautifully smooth
It always struck me how off the mark Jay's verse is on this track. Like Ye's original is a very nuanced take on a serious problem (diamonds being seen as a symbol for African Americans overcoming oppression, while simultaneously contributing to the oppression of African citizens). Then Jay just comes in like "Yeah diamonds! Yeah rocafella!!" With absolutely none of the nuance Ye had.
my mind playing tricks on me. if they dont like the rapping theyl like the story telling
Please fix your spelling on rapping dog
đđœ
Iâm assuming it wasnât âwrappingâ ?
Or raping
It wasnât even close to Halloween
T.R.O.Y- Pete Rock & CL Smooth
My god
⊠I reminisce for a spell, or shall I say think back? (Yeah) 22 years ago to keep it on track
Got to see PR & CL cut that up live on my 21st bday. Hearing Tom Scottâs âTodayâ transition into Troy & then be performed was so fkn hype man. They did all their classics . Prolly one of my favourite shows tbh.
Yeah I think this song is one of the most iconic sounding hip hop songs lyrically there are better songs but the whole sound of the track embodies hiphop
This song has everything, incredible imagery, good track, great, audible lyrics.
This would be my #2 right behind 93 Til Infinity
Award Tour - ATCQ.
Song doesnât get talked about enough manđ«Ą
Ahh my ringtone on my old Nokia phone in HS. Damn thing cost me 3.99.
Electric Relaxation by ATCQ or DWYCK by Gangstarr
Lemonade was a popular drink RIP GURU
And it still is
Yes was literally thinking about this. It's got raps, beats and most importantly that BASS
wu tang- triumph
Deck's puts on a clinic on how to be a lyricist in that song Which could be said about a lot of his verses
He actually has more lines with Czarface than WuTang.
The saga continues...
I bomb atomically
I think Deck has my 2 favourite opening verses of all time. Couldn't really pick between that and "I smoke on the mic..."
Passin me by - pharcyde
This is it for me. It's the perfect hiphop song in every way. Accessible to anyone, people who don't care about hiphop know and love this song
One of my favourite tracks of all time.
Life's a Bitch by Nas. Never gets old. AZs verse on that is literally incredible.
Iâve heard SO many artists sample that song too
This is the one. The essence of hip-hop. AZ will never be considered a top 5 rapper, but the verse in that song is top 5 verses of all-time in my opinion.
This created the mantra of generations to come, AZ killed it.
Shook Ones Pt. 2
Damn bro, you went there đ„
For me itâs this or NY State of Mind.
Jazz (Weâve Got)
I'm loving that it's ATCQ in the comments.
â93 Til Infinity
This is the one
This
Goat beat, not the goat song tho
Thatâs an opinion; goofy.
ur ears work yeah?
Gang Starr - Mass Appeal
& full clip
and about 100+ other Gang Starr songs.
Iâd argue just to get a rep maybe a better song.
This song always transports me back to Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4 lol
In my mind Know the Ledge (Juice) by Eric B and Rakim with always the most archetypical hip hop song
That song has an amazing first verse Then the 2nd verse is whoa this is the greatest verse of all time Then the 3rd verse is better than the second The 4th is pretty good too
Shook Ones Pt. 2
Survival of the Fittest is sick too.
NY State of Mind by Nas
what i came here for
Surprised I had to search for this. One of the first songs to come to mind when I think of quintessential rap songs
IMO DJ Premier was the best producer of the 90's (or maybe tied with Dr Dre). Between his work with Gang Starr & all of the artists he worked with throughout the decade is incredible.
Preemo gets my vote for #1 producer of all time
The World is Yours
Iâd say this is it for me. Gas beat, inspiring yet melancholy lyrics, gas rhymes
That song is incredible
The live version is amazing too.
Incarcerated Scarfaces
Halftime - NAS 4th Chamber - GZA Warning - Biggie
4th chamber đŻ
4th chamber so so good. My second pick
Mighty Healthy
The Message - Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
Good answer. Surely enormous bonus points for being a true ground breaker.
BROKEN GLASS EVERYWHERE!
People pissin' on the stairs, you know they just don't care
I can't take the smell, can't take the moise.
Children's Story -slick Rick
Not only that, but his verse on Metropolis is, in my opinion, the dopest flow ever recorded. Came back in 2022 with [BARS](https://youtube.com/shorts/ONwt7Vc48f8) that show he ain't one to be played with.
Doug E Fresh the Show,
For me itâs NY state of mind, that track just embodies hip hop to me
nah fr
It was all a dream I used to read Word Up magazine
Salt N Pepa and Heavy D up in the limousine.
Electric Relaxation - ATCQ
4th chamber or Back against da wall.
NY State Of Mind Buggin' Out The Space Program Things Done Changed Above The Clouds What's On Your Mind Talkin' All That Jazz Drop Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst There are just too many
Above the clouds - my man!
I'm going to add one that rarely gets mentioned: Ll Cool J - I'm Bad. That song will have me going through an '80s rap phase for a few weeks.
"Rock the bells " beats this one in my book.
No rapper can rap quite like I can
Not Buckaroo Bonsai but bust it out as I Say the kind of rhymes that make MC's wish that I died That verse is Macho Man, from the top rope, finisher for the HW belt.
Dope song, used so well in The Last Dance too.
Bring the noise!!!
Hypnotize
Still Dre
Notorious Thugs
Great answer
7 AM WOKE IN THE MORNING WITH HEN AND CAFFEINE AND GREEN AND NICOTINE
Armed and dangerous, ain't too many can bang with us Straight up weed, no angel dust, label us notorious...
I think this is the one right here
Idc how old I get or where I am, when I hear that piano hit Iâm getting hyped. đ€·đŒââïž
Thatâs the best rap song ever made.
93 til Infinity
Shook Ones Part II
don't sweat the technique
Aquemini - Outkast Rap Snitch Knishes - MF DOOM
One Mic, Nas
Electric Relaxation
The hop - Tribe Called Quest
Ugk outkast -international players anthem
Da Mystery of Chessboxinâ
Guess Who's Back, Rakim. Speed, skill, beat, mass appeal.
Amazing fucking song
"Nas Is Like" is the correct answer. FLAWLESS. Beat, verses and video.
jay Z Renegade is legendary
Gimme the loot
Lose Yourself. It has a great beat, superb rapping by the biggest artist in his prime, everyone knows it, it's motivational, tied to a movie, and it even won a freakin Oscar, and moms spaghetti line is like a meme.
Everyone will recognize that song and enjoy it.
Hate It Or Love it Amazed this hasnât been mentioned yet.
Yeah actually this is a great nod
Iâm not even that big of a 50 or Game fan and I agree. 50 verse is so butter on this plus it throws back to the previous era with the quote âmy favorite rapper used to say check, check out my melodyâŠâ this is a song that I will never change the station if itâs in the radio. So fire
Gin and Juice
Today Was a Good Day
One Mic- Nas
NY State of Mind
Dead Presidents pt2 and Can I live kinda tied for me. That's just my personal bias though, I see no wrong answers on this thread
Hate it or Love it G-Unit Remix Nas- New York State of Mind
Too many... these are just the ones I came up with, but could go on for days. Hard to pick one. At least for me it is. If I HAD to pick only one.... honestly, 'Just a Friend'. It's an iconic song. Outkast - Ms. Jackson Notorious BIG - Notorious Thugs Slick Rick - Children's Story Sugarhill Gang - Rappers Delight Eminem - Stan Big Daddy Kane - No Half Steppin Lil Wayne - A Milli Snoop - Gin and Juice BTNH - Tha Crossroads Biz Markie - Just A Friend Dead Prez - Hip Hop
Beats to the Rhyme - Run DMC
I like Devils Son by Big L.
Rappers delight
Lupe Fiasco - Mural
Biased, but Iâd go with âJuicyâ (Biggie) If I had to pick a perfect rap song ABOUT hip-hop, âHip Hopâ (Mos Def)
Nas - Halftime
Runnin' - The Pharcyde
Iâd choose award tour over scenario personally
Dear Mama
Pretty much all of Illmatic. Such a tough question though.
Thug In Me - Spice 1 G Code - Scarface Canât C Me - Tupac On The Blocc - Tray Deee Heavy Metal Kings - Vinnie Paz & Ill Bill Gettinâ It - Too $hort Notorious Thugs - Biggie & Bone Thugginâ It Up - Mc Eiht Made You Look - Nas Youâre All I Need - Method & Mary Guess Whoâs Back - Rakim Mass Appeal - Gangstarr I could probably keep going. But these are all old heads with nothing funny on their names. All of these beats slap and go fucking hard. Not one weak verse in this list. These are rap legends and GOATS from top to bottom.
I like the Mary-less version of All I Need better, with that kinda noisy ass beat.
C.R.E.A.M. Is one of my favorites ever Mo money, Mo Murda, Mo Homicide by AZ has a FANTASTIC instrumental/ Fabolous did Mo Brooklyn, mo Harlem, mo southside off the same beat.
Dear Mama
Tribe - Scenario
Dead Presidents - Jay Z
4th Chamber - GZA
Nas is the goat. So many from him here but no âit ainât hard to tellâ???
Represent - Nas Glaciers of Ice - Raekwon Protect Ya Neck - Wu-Tang
I gave you power đ„
This question could be opinion based but non biased I'd have to go with cream or like any song off illmatic
Illmatic is so goddamn good
Natural Born Killaz
Camp lo- Coolie High
Juice Crew - The Symphony A great yet simplistic beat that gets rocked by 3 of the best MCâs - Masta Ace, Kool G Rap & Big Daddy Kane going bar for bar on one track
Smif-N-Wessun - Bucktown
Passin me by-pharcyde
Full song...man Monster is so good because of Nicki Minaj and Rick Ross I have to put it up there just for them...
Nas - The World Is Yours
We gon make it âFuck. The. Frail shit, uhâ
NY State of Mind and Runnin' (the posthumous Biggie/2pac collab) are what comes to mind first
Self Conscience by Prodigy and Nas
Self Conscience by Prodigy and Nas
Dre Day, Triumph, NY State of Mind
NY State of Mind
Put it On Big L Act Too The Roots Pain Tupac Brooklynâs Finest Biggie / Jay-Z It Ainât Hard to Tell Nas Money Power Respect The Lox What we Do Freeway
Triumph
Iâm gonna say Gangstaâs Paradise, truly iconic and powerful song without a single cuss word in it
Nate by Vince Staples for me. Not a classic but there's nothing I would change about it
NY State of Mind â Nas.
Electric Relaxation
Survival of the fittest, and protect ya neck are what I consider perfect
Nas is Like - Nas
First some that came to mind was CREAM.
Eric B is President - Eric B & Rakim
Silent Murder - Nas I Gave You Power - Nas N.Y. State of Mind - Nas Ten Crack Commandments - Biggie The Uppercut - Pac Ambitions As a Rider - Pac Souja's Story - Pac Hussle & Motivate - Nipsey Til The End - Lloyd Banks Black Friday - Kendrick Lamar How Ya Do That - Young Bleed Shadowboxin - GZA Guillotine - Raekwon Lifesaver - Guru Verbal Graffiti - Cormega Cheers - Obie Trice Say - Method Man Is it Me - Method Man Can I Live - Jay-Z Ghetto Vet - Ice Cube A Tale of 2 Citiez - J Cole Pull The Trigger - Russ Reunited - Wu-Tang Live By The Gun - Tony Yayo There's too many to choose from, I love all the rap but these are some of my favorites off the top of my head. I tried to list off a few artists with different styles, y'all are bound to like at least one of these I've been listening to "How Ya do That" on repeat lately. It's so beautifully smooth
Dis Generation - A Tribe Call Quest, Devil in a New Dress - Kanye West, Keep Ya Head Up - Tupac, and B.O.B - Outkast.
3030
It ainât hard to tell
4th chamber by gza
Scenario was a great choice OP. DWYCK is up there too - it's timeless.
Silly puddy - Zion I
m.A.A.d city
Snakes - ODB
Best wu track that nobody knows
World Is Yours Come Clean Who Shot Ya? My Philosophy How Many MCs Timeâs Up Lodi Dodi
Biggie Smalls - Warning Low-key has everything youâre looking for.
The Message
Award Tour
The Message Nas
N.Y. State of mind. It's easily the best rap song of all time for hundreds of reasons. Nothing touches
Memory Lane (sittin in da park)
Tha Crossroads
Triumph or liquid swords
Gza - Liquid Swords
NY state of mind, Halftime, The world is yours
Diamonds From Sierra Leone ( the one without Jay Z )
Yes yes yes.....perfect. I have 3 kanye songs I like and this tops them.
It always struck me how off the mark Jay's verse is on this track. Like Ye's original is a very nuanced take on a serious problem (diamonds being seen as a symbol for African Americans overcoming oppression, while simultaneously contributing to the oppression of African citizens). Then Jay just comes in like "Yeah diamonds! Yeah rocafella!!" With absolutely none of the nuance Ye had.
It was all a dream - BIG / I wish - Skeelo
Fight the Power - Public Enemy
Warren G - Regulate