These days, the term b-side usually refers to an artist’s lesser known songs and deep album cuts, so for all you youngsters all there, here’s a quick history lesson.
Back in the days of vinyl, the b-side was usually the other side of a single (the a-side). The formula would typically be, the a-side for the radio and the b-side for the streets.
There have been cases in the past where the b-side got so hot that it would overtake the a-side and demand it’s own single release – see Gang Starr and Jay Z below.
So let’s get into it, here are the 23 greatest hip hop b-sides of all time (in no particular order).
Raekwon – “Incarcerated Scarfaces”
Released: September 25, 1995
B-side to: “Ice Cream”
Appears on: Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…
Gang Starr – “DWYCK”
Released: December 29, 1992
B-side to: “Take it Personal”
Appears on: Hard to Earn
Run-D.M.C. – “Peter Piper”
Released: May 29, 1986
B-side to: “My Adidas”
Appears on: Raising Hell
EPMD – You’re a Customer
Released: 1987
B-side to: “It’s My Thing”
Appears on: Strictly Business
Slick Rick – “Mona Lisa”
Released: June 15, 1989
B-side to: “Hey Young World”
Appears on: The Great Adventures of Slick Rick
Big Daddy Kane – “Warm It Up, Kane”
Released: August 3, 1989
B-side to: “Smooth Operator”
Appears on: It’s a Big Daddy Thing
Wu-Tang Clan – “Method Man”
Released: May 3, 1993
B-side to: “Protect Ya Neck”
Appears on: Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Main Source – “Live At The Barbeque”
Released: 1991
B-side to: “Just Hangin’ Out”
Appears on: Breaking Atoms
Ice Cube – “No Vaseline”
Released: October 29, 1991
B-side to: “Steady Mobbin'”
Appears on: Death Certificate
Gang Starr – “Check The Technique”
Released: 1991
B-side to: “Step In The Arena”
Appears on: Step In The Arena
The Notorious B.I.G. – “Unbelievable”
Released: August 9, 1994
B-side to: “Juicy”
Appears on: Ready to Die
Raekwon – “Glaciers of Ice”
Released: June 27, 1995
B-side to: “Criminology”
Appears on: Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…
Jay Z – “Ain’t No Ni**a”
Released: February 20, 1996
B-side to: “Dead Presidents”
Appears on: Reasonable Doubt
Redman – “How To Roll A Blunt”
Released: August 25, 1992
B-side to: “Blow Your Mind”
Appears on: Whut? Thee Album
Nas – “The World Is Yours (Tip Mix)”
Released: May 31, 1994
B-side to: “The World Is Yours”
Appears on: N/A
MC Shan – “The Bridge”
Released: 1986
B-side to: “Beat Biter”
Appears on: Down by Law
Jay Z – “A Million And One Questions / Rhyme No More”
Released: February 3, 1998
B-side to: “The City Is Mine”
Appears on: In My Lifetime, Vol. 1
Audio Two – “Top Billin'”
Released: October 15, 1987
B-side to: “Make It Funky”
Appears on: What More Can I Say?
Big Daddy Kane – “Wrath of Kane”
Released: 1988
B-side to: “I’ll Take You There”
Appears on: It’s a Big Daddy Thing
Run-D.M.C. – “Sucker M.C.’s”
Released: August 10, 1983
B-side to: “It’s Like That”
Appears on: Run-D.M.C.
Doug E. Fresh & MC Ricky D – “La Di Da Di”
Released: August 13, 1985
B-side to: The Show”
Appears on: N/A
The Notorious B.I.G. – “Who Shot Ya?”
Released: February 20, 1995
B-side to: “Big Poppa”
Appears on: N/A
Eric B. & Rakim – “My Melody”
Released: 1986
B-side to: “Eric B. Is President”
Appears on: Paid in Full
