Outro tracks on hip-hop albums may not always get the love and recognition they deserve, but they play a crucial role in the storytelling and creative expression that make the genre so unique.
These closing tracks are often where rappers leave their final impressions, summing up their message or providing a reflective perspective on the album as a whole. From Biggie’s haunting “Suicidal Thoughts” to Pac’s aggressive “Against All Odds,” the outro tracks on some of hip-hop’s most iconic albums have left an indelible mark on the genre. Kanye West’s “Last Call” provides a deep dive into his journey to success, while Ice Cube’s “No Vaseline” is a fiery dis track aimed at his former N.W.A. bandmates.
So let’s get into it, here are the 50 best hip hop outro songs of all time.
50. A$AP Rocky – “Purity”
Released: May 25, 2018
Album: Testing
Producer: Dean Blunt, FnZ, Delgado, Lord Flacko
49. A Tribe Called Quest – “God Lives Through”
Released: November 9, 1993
Album: Midnight Marauders
Producer: A Tribe Called Quest
48. Mobb Deep – “Party Over”
Released: April 25, 1995
Album: The Infamous
Producer: Mobb Deep, Matt Life
47. Pusha T – “S.N.I.T.C.H.”
Released: October 7, 2013
Album: My Name Is My Name
Producer: Pharrell Williams
46. J. Cole – “4 Your Eyez Only”
Released: December 9, 2016
Album: 4 Your Eyez Only
Producer: BLVK, J. Cole, Elite, Childish Major
45. DMX – “Niggaz Done Started Something”
Released: May 19, 1998
Album: It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot
Producer: Dame Grease
44. Jay-Z – “You Must Love Me”
Released: November 4, 1997
Album: In My Lifetime, Vol. 1
Producer: Nashiem Myrick
43. Eminem – “Underground”
Released: May 19, 2009
Album: Relapse
Producer: Dr. Dre, Curtis “Sauce” Wilson
42. Public Enemy – “Party for Your Right to Fight”
Released: June 28, 1988
Album: It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Producer: The Bomb Squad
41. The Game – “Why You Hate The Game”
Released: November 14, 2006
Album: Doctor’s Advocate
Producer: Just Blaze
40. Drake – “Jungle”
Released: February 13, 2015
Album: If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
Producer: 40
39. Kanye West – “Saint Pablo”
Released: June 14, 2016
Album: The Life of Pablo
Producer: Kanye West, Mike Dean, Allen Ritter, Noah Goldstein
38. 50 Cent – “Gotta Make It to Heaven”
Released: February 6, 2003
Album: Get Rich or Die Tryin’
Producer: Megahertz
37. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – “Piñata”
Released: March 18, 2014
Album: Piñata
Producer: Madlib
36. The Roots – “Can’t Stop This”
Released: August 29, 2006
Album: Game Theory
Producer: J Dilla, The Roots, The Randy Watson Experience
35. Drake – “Do Not Disturb”
Released: March 18, 2017
Album: More Life
Producer: Boi-1da, Allen Ritter, 40
34. Common – “It’s Your World (Part 1 & 2)”
Released: May 24, 2005
Album: Be
Producer: J Dilla, James Poyser, Karriem Riggins
33. UGK – “Outro”
Released: July 30, 1996
Album: Ridin’ Dirty
Producer: Pimp C
32. Kendrick Lamar – “HiiiPoWeR”
Released: April 12, 2011
Album: Section.80
Producer: J. Cole
31. The D.O.C. – “The Grand Finalé”
Released: August 1, 1989
Album: No One Can Do It Better
Producer: Kanye West
30. Dr. Dre – “Bitches Ain’t Shit”
Released: December 15, 1992
Album: The Chronic
Producer: Dr. Dre
29. Snoop Dogg – “Pump Pump”
Released: November 23, 1993
Album: Doggystyle
Producer: Dr. Dre
28. Eminem – “Still Don’t Give a Fuck”
Released: February 23, 1999
Album: The Slim Shady LP
Producer: Bass Brothers, Eminem
27. Raekwon – “Heaven & Hell”
Released: August 1, 1995
Album: Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…
Producer: RZA
26. De La Soul – “Stone Age”
Released: September 21, 1993
Album: Buhloone Mindstate
Producer: De La Soul, Prince Paul
25. Young Jeezy – “Air Forces”
Released: July 26, 2005
Album: Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101
Producer: Shawty Redd
24. Ice Cube – “The Bomb”
Released: May 16, 1990
Album: AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted
Producer: Sir Jinx, The Bomb Squad (co.)
23. Jay-Z – “Where Have You Been”
Released: October 31, 2000
Album: The Dynasty: Roc La Familia
Producer: T.T.
22. Kanye West – “Gone”
Released: August 30, 2005
Album: Late Registration
Producer: Kanye West
21. Kendrick Lamar – “Mortal Man”
Released: March 15, 2015
Album: To Pimp a Butterfly
Producer: Sounwave
20. The Notorious B.I.G. – “You’re Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You)”
Released: March 25, 1997
Album: Life After Death
Producer: Sean “Puffy” Combs
19. Mobb Deep – “Quiet Storm (Remix)”
Released: August 17, 1999
Album: Murda Muzik
Producer: Havoc, Jonathan “Lighty” Williams
18. GZA – “B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)”
Released: November 7, 1995
Album: Liquid Swords
Producer: 4th Disciple
17. Madvillian – “Rhinestone Cowboy”
Released: March 23, 2004
Album: Madvillainy
Producer: Madlib
16. Black Star – “Twice Inna Lifetime”
Released: September 29, 1998
Album: Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star
Producer: Hi-Tek
15. Jay-Z – “My 1st Song”
Released: November 14, 2003
Album: The Black Album
Producer: Aqua, Joe “3H” Weinberger
14. Public Enemy – “Fight the Power”
Released: July 4, 1989
Album: Fear of a Black Planet
Producer: The Bomb Squad
13. Clipse – “Nightmares”
Released: November 28, 2006
Album: Hell Hath No Fury
Producer: The Neptunes
12. Jay-Z – “Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)”
Released: September 11, 2001
Album: The Blueprint
Producer: Bink
11. Lil Wayne – “Fly Out”
Released: December 6, 2005
Album: Tha Carter II
Producer: T-Mix, Batman
10. Kendrick Lamar – “Duckworth”
Released: April 14, 2017
Album: DAMN.
Producer: 9th Wonder, Bēkon
9. Eminem – “Criminal”
Released: May 23, 2000
Album: The Marshall Mathers LP
Producer: Bass Brothers, Eminem
8. Future – “Codeine Crazy”
Released: October 28, 2014
Album: Monster
Producer: TM88
7. Ice Cube – “No Vaseline”
Released: October 31, 1991
Album: Death Certificate
Producer: Sir Jinx, Ice Cube
6. OutKast – “Chonkyfire”
Released: September 29, 1998
Album: Aquemini
Producer: OutKast
5. 2Pac – “Against All Odds”
Released: November 5, 1996
Album: The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory
Producer: Makaveli, Hurt-M-Badd
4. Kanye West – “Last Call”
Released: February 10, 2004
Album: The College Dropout
Producer: Kanye West, Evidence, Porse
3. Nas – “It Ain’t Hard to Tell”
Released: January 18, 1994
Album: Illmatic
Producer: Large Professor
2. A Tribe Called Quest – “Scenario”
Released: September 24, 1991
Album: The Low End Theory
Producer: A Tribe Called Quest
From the thumping bassline to the intricate wordplay, “Scenario” is a tour-de-force of lyrical prowess and sonic excellence. Each member of the crew delivers a standout performance, with Busta Rhymes stealing the show with his shape-shifting flow and dynamic delivery.
1. The Notorious B.I.G. – “Suicidal Thoughts”
Released: September 13, 1994
Album: Ready to Die
Producer: Lord Finesse
Few rap songs are as haunting and raw as The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Suicidal Thoughts,” the final track of his classic debut album, Ready to Die. In this track, Biggie calls up Puff in the middle of the night to confess that he’s about to commit suicide, revealing the innermost thoughts and emotions that drove his troubled life. In many ways, “Suicidal Thoughts” is the ultimate outro track. The track’s fictional death serves as a poignant reminder of Biggie’s own tragic death, which occurred just a few months after the release of his follow-up album, Life After Death.
