Remix culture is in hip hop’s DNA. MCs spittin’ new verses, producers flippin’ beats – it’s about makin’ a track even hotter. Some remixes go down in history as straight-up better than the original.
Now, Pete Rock might beef with Puff Daddy about who invented the remix, but Puffy took that game to another level in the ’90s. That’s the undisputed truth. Puffy’s remixes weren’t just new verses – he fused hip hop with that smooth R&B sound, makin’ hits that launched careers for Biggie, Jodeci, Mary J., and the whole Bad Boy crew. But Puffy wasn’t the only king re-inventin’ tracks.
You got legends like Large Professor, DJ Premier, and J Dilla flippin’ beats into straight-up anthems. New verses, switchin’ up the rhythm, completely changin’ the melody – these dudes had the vision to make a track even doper than the original.
From Eric B. & Rakim’s “Paid In Full (Seven Minutes Of Madness – The Coldcut Remix)” to Q-Tip’s reworking of Nas’ “The World Is Yours”, here are the best hip hop remixes of all time as ranked by real heads.
1 Public Enemy – “Shut Em Down (Pe-te Rock Mixx)”
Released: 1991
Producer: Pete Rock
Album: N/A
Legendary producer Pete Rock takes the usually hard Public Enemy style and softens the edges with a laid-back jazz-hop groove on his remix of Chuck D’s dystopian fantasy. Chuck’s rhymes about pulling the plug on the 1% by any means necessary carry even more weight with the soul sounds of the city behind him.
2 Craig Mack – “Flava in Ya Ear (Remix)”
Released: July 26, 1994
Producer: Easy Mo Bee
Album: N/A
The success of this remix was a career defining moment for up-and-coming hip-hop artist Craig Mack. The record was also a significant boost for Puffy’s then fledgling Bad Boy Entertainment. The newcomer rapper benefitted from superstar features from Biggie, LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes and Rampage.
3 Puff Daddy – “It’s All About the Benjamins (Remix)”
Released: August 12, 1997
Producer: Deric “D-Dot” Angelettie
Album: No Way Out
Although technically a remix of an earlier and relatively obscure mixtape track, this take on “It’s All About the Benjamins” is widely viewed as the definitive version of the song. An all-star cast featuring most of Diddy’s posse trade bars on a cool ensemble rap riding a classic Puff Daddy boom-bap soul groove.
4 Method Man -“I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need to Get By (Remix)”
Released: April 25, 1995
Producer: RZA
Album: N/A
With the crossover king Puff Daddy at the board, this Grammy-winning track came together as the best of both the hip-hop and R&B worlds. The track pairs Wu-Tang’s Method Man with the original queen Mary J. Blige, and Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s classic “You’re All I Need to Get By.” RZA also produced his own version with the Razor Sharp mix, which was equally dope.
5 Nas – “The World Is Yours (Tip Mix)”
Released: May 31, 1994
Producer: Q-Tip
Album: N/A
On his signature remix of this single from Nas’ now legendary debut, A Tribe Called Quest visionary Q-Tip throttled the groove back a notch to give the track a cool jazz funk. The laid-back beat gave the rapper room to drop new bars on this shoutout to the underdogs, from Philly to Queensbridge.
6 Eric B. & Rakim – “Paid In Full (Seven Minutes Of Madness – The Coldcut Remix)”
Released: October 19, 1987
Producer: Coldcut
Album: N/A
Eric B. & Rakim made the ground shake with their debut album Paid in Full , and the record’s title track is still considered one of the crowning achievements of hip-hop . Coldcut’s remix of the track made its own history as being one of the first remixes to achieve widespread crossover success.
7 The Notorious B.I.G. – “One More Chance / Stay with Me (Remix)”
Released: June 6, 1995
Producer: Sean “Puffy” Combs, Rashad Smith
Album: N/A
This 1995 remix was really a complete reinvention of Biggie’s original single from a year earlier. This version paired largely new lyrics with an entirely new beat courtesy of 80’s R&B stars DeBarge. The rapper’s wife Faith Evans lent her soulful vocals. The hip-hop slow jam was one of Biggie’s biggest hits.
8 Lil Wayne – “Lollipop (Remix)”
Released: March 13, 2008
Producer: Deezle, Jim Jonsin
Album: Tha Carter III
The original “Lollipop” was a huge hit for Lil Wayne and featured artist Static Major who tragically died unexpectedly just days before the record’s release. The remix is notable for Kanye dropping one of his best guest verses of all time .
9 LL Cool J – “I Shot Ya (Remix)”
Released: 1995
Producer: Trackmasters
Album: Mr. Smith
By 1995 LL Cool J was already a decade into his iconic career. So he used the remix of “I Shot Ya” as an opportunity to highlight some emerging NYC rappers including; Fat Joe, Foxy Brown, Prodigy of Mobb Deep and Keith Murray. The latter two rappers used the platform to diss each other on the same track.
10 Method Man & Redman – “How High (Remix)”
Released: August 15, 1995
Producer: Erick Sermon
Album: Blackout! / How High
Method Man (Wu-Tang Clan) and Redman (Def Squad) were old friends and both well established artists when they dropped their first collaboration. “How High” would eventually spawn a movie. This hit remix on its soundtrack was built around a sample of the 70’s disco hit “Fly Robin Fly” by Silver Convention.
11 Talib Kweli – “Get By (Remix)”
Released: March 11, 2003
Producer: Kanye West
Album: N/A
12 Nas – “Made You Look (Remix)”
Released: September 10, 2002
Producer: Salaam Remi
Album: N/A
13 Mobb Deep – “Quiet Storm (Remix)”
Released: August 17, 1999
Producer: Havoc, Jonathan “Lighty” Williams
Album: Murda Muzik
14 Kanye West – “Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)”
Released: August 30, 2005
Producer: Kanye West, Devo Springsteen, Jon Brion
Album: Late Registration
15 AZ – “Doe Or Die (Remix)”
Released: 1996
Producer: RZA
Album: N/A
16 Jay-Z – “A Million and One Questions (Premiere Remix)”
Released: 1998
Producer: DJ Premier
Album: N/A
17 A Tribe Called Quest – “Scenario (Remix)”
Released: March 13, 1992
Producer: A Tribe Called Quest
Album: N/A
18 A$AP Ferg – “Work REMIX”
Released: May 14, 2013
Producer: Chinza, Fly Beats
Album: Trap Lord
19 Capone-N-Noreaga – “L.A., L.A. (Kuwait Mix)”
Released: June 17, 1997
Producer: Marley Marl
Album: The War Report
20 Rich Boy – “Throw Some D’s (Remix)”
Released: March 13, 2007
Producer: Lil Jon
Album: Rich Boy
21 House of Pain – “Jump Around (Pete Rock Remix)”
Released: May 5, 1992
Producer: Pete Rock
Album: House of Pain
22 2Pac – “California Love (Remix)”
Released: February 13, 1996
Producer: Dr. Dre
Album: All Eyez on Me
23 Naughty by Nature – “Hip-Hop Hooray (Pete Rock Remix)”
Released: 1993
Producer: Pete Rock
Album: N/A
24 Nas – “Street Dreams (Remix)”
Released: October 22, 1996
Producer: Trackmasters
Album: N/A
25 Unk – “Walk It Out (Remix)”
Released: October 3, 2006
Producer: Unk
Album: N/A
26 M.O.P. – “Ante Up (Robbin-Hoodz Theory) (Remix)”
Released: September 9, 2000
Producer: DR Period
Album: N/A
27 Pharoahe Monch – “Simon Says (Remix)”
Released: October 19, 1999
Producer: Lee Stone, Pharoahe Monch
Album: Internal Affairs
28 50 Cent – “I Get Money (Forbes 1-2-3 Remix)”
Released: September 17, 2007
Producer: Apex
Album: N/A
29 Clipse – “Grindin’ (Remix)”
Released: August 20, 2002
Producer: The Neptunes
Album: Lord Willin’
30 Future – “Mask Off (Remix)”
Released: May 23, 2017
Producer: Metro Boomin
Album: Future
31 Young Jeezy – “Go Crazy (Remix)”
Released: August 16, 2005
Producer: Don Cannon
Album: Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101
32 Kendrick Lamar – “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe (Remix)”
Released: March 17, 2013
Producer: Sounwave
Album: Good Kid, M.A.A.D City
33 Black Moon – “I Got Cha Opin (Remix)”
Released: March 28, 1994
Producer: Da Beatminerz
Album: Enta da Stage
34 Big L – “Ebonics (Premo Mix)”
Released: October 18, 1998
Producer: DJ Premier
Album: N/A
35 The Game – “It’s Okay (One Blood) (Remix)”
Released: November 7, 2006
Producer: D-Roc, Reefa
Album: Doctor’s Advocate
36 50 Cent – “P.I.M.P. (G-Unit Remix)”
Released: August 12, 2003
Producer: Mr. Porter
Album: Get Rich or Die Tryin’
37 Missy Elliott – “Hot Boyz (Remix)”
Released: November 9, 1999
Producer: Timbaland
Album: Da Real World
38 Jeru the Damaja – “You Can’t Stop the Prophet (Pete Rock Remix)”
Released: October 25, 1994
Producer: Pete Rock
Album: N/A
39 Raekwon – “Can It Be All So Simple (Remix)”
Released: August 1, 1995
Producer: RZA
Album: Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…
40 ScHoolboy Q – “THat Part (Black Hippy Remix)”
Released: July 8, 2016
Producer: Cardo, Yung Exclusive, Cubeatz, Sounwave
Album: Blank Face LP
Better than the original? Well, that’s a good question. Do you prefer hearing four dope verses from Schoolboy, Kendrick, Ab-Soul and Jay Rock, or would you rather hear Kanye screaming “OK OK OK OK OK OK!”
41 Chief Keef – “I Don’t Like (Remix)”
Released: September 14, 2012
Producer: Young Chop, Kanye West, The Twilite Tone, Noah Goldstein
Album: Cruel Summer
42 Migos – “Versace (Remix)”
Released: July 8, 2013
Producer: Zaytoven
Album: N/A
43 Busta Rhymes – “Touch It (Remix)”
Released: May 2006
Producer: Swizz Beatz
Album: The Big Bang
44 Trinidad James – “All Gold Everything (Remix)”
Released: September 18, 2012
Producer: Gallaspy
Album: Don’t Be S.A.F.E.
45 Ras Kass – “Soul on Ice (Remix)”
Released: November 26, 1996
Producer: Diamond D
Album: N/A
46 ASAP Rocky – “Pretty Flacko (Remix)”
Released: January 15, 2013
Producer: SpaceGhostPurrp
Album: Long. Live. ASAP
A$AP Rocky’s original “Pretty Flacko” stands as a testament to the Harlem rapper’s unique style and sound. With its hypnotic beat and distinct flow, it represented a merging of east coast lyricism with modern production. The remix, however, was a game-changer. Introducing additional verses and a revamped beat, it showcased Rocky’s adaptability and his knack for pushing musical boundaries. This reinvented version breathed new life into an already outstanding track, emphasizing A$AP Rocky’s position as a true innovator in the genre.
47 Rick Ross – “Hustlin’ (Remix)”
Released: March 11, 2006
Producer: The Runners, Rick Ross
Album: Port of Miami
Rick Ross’s “Hustlin’” was already a definitive anthem capturing the essence of Miami’s luxurious hustle. The track, with its catchy hook, became synonymous with Ross’s rise in the hip-hop industry. The remix took this foundational piece and magnified its allure, bringing in additional verses that played with the song’s central theme, while also attracting a wider audience. The added layers of lyrical dexterity served to further solidify “Hustlin’” as a hallmark in Ross’s illustrious career.
48 Kanye West – “Power (Remix)”
Released: August 20, 2010
Producer: Mike Dean, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dawson, Happy Perez, Swizz Beatz, Kanye West, S1
Album: N/A
Better than the original? This one is a tough one. On one hand, I love the updated production which feels grander and bolder than the original, and of course, Hov’s appearance. On the other, I’m not sure how I feel about the second half of the song, where Kanye is rapping over a sample of Snap!’s hip house hit, “The Power,” while Swizz is yelling “show time” in the background. I think if pressed, I’m stick with the original, but it’s close.
49 DJ Khaled – “I’m So Hood (Remix)”
Released: August 28, 2007
Producer: The Runners
Album: We the Best
Better than the original? Definitely. The original line-up of “I’m So Hood” features T-Pain, Trick Daddy, Rick Ross and Plies, but typical for anything DJ Khaled does, the remix needed to be way bigger. That’s why he grabbed Young Jeezy, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Big Boi, Lil Wayne, Fat Joe, Birdman and a new verse from Rick Ross, to turn the track into one of the most iconic anthems of the 2000s.
50 Terror Squad – “Lean Back (Remix)”
Released: June 14, 2005
Producer: Lil Jon, Eminem, Scott Storch
Album: All or Nothing
Better than the original? No. The remix features superstar appearances from Ma$e, Eminem, and Lil Jon, but nothing will top the original version of just Fat Joe and Remy Ma. This is one of the cases where more superstar power really didn’t add much to the song.
