What’s so special about a title track on a hip hop album? For the most part, rappers use title tracks as a way to represent an album’s core message
Take Nas’ “Stillmatic,” for example. The title track announced his comeback to a rap landscape that had written him off, and served as a rallying cry for his fans. Similarly, Jay-Z’s “Blueprint” reflected on his life and the people who helped him get to his current position, setting the tone for one of the most iconic albums in hip-hop history.
But it’s not just about defining an album’s core message. Title tracks can also be used as thematic starting points or to establish a particular sound or mood. OutKast, for example, used title tracks on their first three projects to define their unique sound and style, setting them apart from their peers and helping to establish them as one of the most influential hip-hop duos of all time .
On this list, we celebrate the 50 greatest title tracks in hip-hop history, from Ice Cube’s “AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted” to Warren G’s “Regulate” and Eric B. & Rakim’s “Paid in Full.”
Honourable mentions:
OutKast – “Stankonia (Stanklove)”
Released: October 31, 2000
Album: Stankonia
Producer: Earthtone III
Isaiah Rashad – “Cilvia Demo”
Released: January 28, 2014
Album: Cilvia Demo
Producer: Joseph L’Étranger
J. Cole – “4 Your Eyez Only”
Released: December 9, 2016
Album: 4 Your Eyez Only
Producer: BLVK, J. Cole, Elite, Childish Major
Big K.R.I.T. – “Cadillactica”
Released: November 10, 2014
Album: Cadillactica
Producer: DJ Dahi, DJ Khalil
Wu-Tang Clan – “Iron Flag”
Released: December 18, 2001
Album: Iron Flag
Producer: RZA
Jay-Z – “American Gangster”
Released: November 6, 2007
Album: American Gangster
Producer: Just Blaze
Rapsody – “Laila’s Wisdom”
Released: September 22, 2017
Album: Laila’s Wisdom
Producer: Nottz
Kids See Ghosts – “Kids See Ghosts”
Released: June 8, 2018
Album: Kids See Ghosts
Producer: Kanye West, Kid Cudi, Plain Pat, Andrew Dawson, Justin Vernon, Noah Goldstein
The Game – “The Documentary”
Released: January 18, 2005
Album: The Documentary
Producer: Jeff Bhasker, Jeff Reed
Lauryn Hill – “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”
Released: August 25, 1998
Album: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Producer: Lauryn Hill
Birdman & Lil Wayne – “Like Father, Like Son”
Released: October 31, 2006
Album: Like Father, Like Son
Producer: T-Mix
50. Ice Cube – “The Predator”
Released: November 17, 1992
Album: The Predator
Producer: DJ Pooh
49. Boogie Down Productions – “Criminal Minded”
Released: March 3, 1987
Album: Criminal Minded
Producer: DJ Scott La Rock, KRS-One
48. Run-D.M.C. – “King of Rock”
Released: January 15, 1985
Album: King of Rock
Producer: Larry Smith
47. Cyhi the Prynce – “No Dope on Sundays”
Released: November 17, 2017
Album: No Dope on Sundays
Producer: Mark Byrd, Lex Luger, Novel, Shawty Redd, HighDefRazjah, Young Love
46. OutKast – “Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik”
Released: April 26, 1994
Album: Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik
Producer: Organized Noize
45. DMX – “Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood”
Released: December 22, 1998
Album: Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood
Producer: Swizz Beatz
44. Eric B. & Rakim – “Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em”
Released: June 19, 1990
Album: Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em
Producer: Eric B. & Rakim
43. DJ Quik – “Safe + Sound”
Released: February 21, 1995
Album: Safe + Sound
Producer: DJ Quik, G-One
42. Method Man – “Tical”
Released: November 15, 1994
Album: Tical
Producer: RZA
41. UGK – “Underground Kingz”
Released: August 7, 2007
Album: Underground Kingz
Producer: Pimp C
40. Jay-Z – “4:44”
Released: June 30, 2017
Album: 4:44
Producer: No I.D.
39. Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock – “It Takes Two”
Released: August 9, 1988
Album: It Takes Two
Producer: Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock, William Hamilton
38. Rakim – “The 18th Letter (Always and Forever)”
Released: November 4, 1997
Album: The 18th Letter
Producer: Father Shaheed
37. Missy Elliott – “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)”
Released: July 2, 1997
Album: Supa Dupa Fly
Producer: Timbaland
36. Drake – “Take Care”
Released: November 15, 2011
Album: Take Care
Producer: Jamie xx, 40
35. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – “Piñata”
Released: March 18, 2014
Album: Piñata
Producer: Madlib
34. Big L – “Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous”
Released: March 28, 1995
Album: Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous
Producer: Lord Finesse
33. Schoolboy Q – “Blank Face”
Released: July 8, 2016
Album: Blank Face LP
Producer: Sounwave, Tony Russell
32. Gang Starr – “Moment of Truth”
Released: March 31, 1998
Album: Moment of Truth
Producer: DJ Premier, Guru
31. The Notorious B.I.G. – “Ready to Die”
Released: September 13, 1994
Album: Ready to Die
Producer: Easy Mo Bee
30. Tyler, the Creator – “Goblin”
Released: May 10, 2011
Album: Goblin
Producer: Tyler, the Creator
29. The Fugees – “The Score”
Released: February 13, 1996
Album: The Score
Producer: Diamond D, Wyclef Jean, Lauryn Hill, Pras, Jerry “Te Bass” Duplessis
28. Run the Jewels – “Run the Jewels”
Released: June 26, 2013
Album: Run the Jewels
Producer: El-P, Little Shalimar
27. EPMD – “Strictly Business”
Released: June 7, 1988
Album: Strictly Business
Producer: EPMD
26. Lil Wayne – “Carter II”
Released: December 6, 2005
Album: Tha Carter II
Producer: T-Mix, Batman
25. Kendrick Lamar – “Good Kid” / “M.A.A.D City”
Released: October 22, 2012
Album: good kid, m.A.A.d city
Producer: Pharrell Williams / Sounwave, THC, Terrace Martin
24. Young Jeezy – “Thug Motivation 101”
Released: July 26, 2005
Album: Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101
Producer: Shawty Redd
23. UGK – “Ridin’ Dirty”
Released: July 30, 1996
Album: Ridin’ Dirty
Producer: Pimp C
22. Big Daddy Kane – “Long Live the Kane”
Released: June 21, 1988
Album: Long Live the Kane
Producer: Marley Marl
21. 2Pac – “Me Against the World”
Released: March 14, 1995
Album: Me Against the World
Producer: Soulshock and Karlin
20. Common – “Resurrection”
Released: October 4, 1994
Album: Resurrection
Producer: No I.D.
19. OutKast – “ATLiens”
Released: August 17, 1996
Album: ATLiens
Producer: OutKast
18. GZA – “Liquid Swords”
Released: October 10, 1995
Album: Liquid Swords
Producer: RZA
17. Eric B. & Rakim – “Follow the Leader”
Released: July 25, 1988
Album: Follow the Leader
Producer: Eric B. & Rakim
16. Run-D.M.C. – “Raising Hell”
Released: May 27, 1986
Album: Raising Hell
Producer: Rick Rubin
15. 2Pac – “All Eyez On Me”
Released: February 13, 1996
Album: All Eyez On Me
Producer: Johnny “J”
14. Jay-Z – “Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)”
Released: September 11, 2001
Album: The Blueprint
Producer: Bink
13. Nas – “Stillmatic (The Intro)”
Released: December 18, 2001
Album: Stillmatic
Producer: Hangmen 3
12. Mobb Deep – “Front Lines (Hell on Earth)”
Released: October 4, 1996
Album: Hell on Earth
Producer: Havoc
11. Meek Mill – “Dreams and Nightmares”
Released: October 30, 2012
Album: Dreams and Nightmares
Producer: The Beat Bully
10. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five – “The Message”
Released: July 1, 1982
Album: The Message
Producer: Edward G. Fletcher, Sylvia Robinson
9. LL Cool J – “Mama Said Knock You Out”
Released: September 14, 1990
Album: Mama Said Knock You Out
Producer: Marley Marl
8. Warren G – “Regulate”
Released: April 28, 1994
Album: Regulate… G Funk Era
Producer: Warren G
7. Ice Cube – “AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted”
Released: April 17, 1990
Album: AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted
Producer: The Bomb Squad, Ice Cube (co.), Sir Jinx (co.)
6. Jay-Z – “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)”
Released: September 29, 1998
Album: Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life
Producer: The 45 King
5. Eric B. & Rakim – “Paid in Full”
Released: July 7, 1987
Album: Paid in Full
Producer: Eric B. & Rakim
4. Common – “Be (Intro)”
Released: May 24, 2005
Album: Be
Producer: Kanye West
3. OutKast – “Aquemini”
Released: September 29, 1998
Album: Aquemini
Producer: OutKast
2. Souls of Mischief – “93 ’til Infinity”
Released: September 28, 1993
Album: 93 ’til Infinity
Producer: A-Plus
1. N.W.A. – “Straight Outta Compton”
Released: July 10, 1988
Album: Straight Outta Compton
Producer: Dr. Dre
