Let me start from the beginnin', at the top of the list

Released: 2019 “Suge” by DaBaby is a braggadocious track where the North Carolina rapper asserts his dominance in the game, akin to Suge Knight, the infamous co-founder of Death Row Records, known for his intimidating manner. The lyrics…

Released: 1996 • Features: The Notorious B.I.G. In “Da B Side,” Da Brat pairs up with The Notorious B.I.G. to drop a powerful track that emphasizes their firm grip and command over the hip-hop scene. A definitive collaboration, showing the…

Released: 1994 “Funkdafied” by Da Brat is an anthem of `90s hip-hop with its essence rooted in the celebration of her identity and that distinctive funk influence on her musical style. Brimming with swagger and enigmatic wordplay, this…

Released: 2012 “Grown Up” by Danny Brown is a reflective track that captures his journey from hardships of youth to his current successes as an artist. The song paints a vivid picture of Brown’s evolution, not only in…

Released: 2016 • Features: Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, Earl Sweatshirt “Really Doe” is a powerful 2016 collaboration by Danny Brown featuring Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, and Earl Sweatshirt. The song encapsulates the challenges of transitioning from a grimy street life to the…

Released: 2010 “Street Fighter Riddim” by D Double E is a gritty and energizing grime track that’s deeply rooted in street culture, video gaming, and braggadocio elements that embody hip hop. The song cleverly takes its inspiration from…

Released: 2000 • Features: Chino Moreno, Everlast “Superstar” is a layered critique of the music industry, drenched in Cypress Hill’s blend of hip-hop and rock. Through stark self-reflection and brutal honesty, the lyrics illustrate the highs and lows of fame,…

Released: 2024 • Features: Joey Bada$$ “Vertino,” from Conway the Machine featuring Joey Bada$$ is a deep dive into the harsh realities of the streets, revealing unflinching truths about criminal life and the pursuit of survival. The song uses gritty…

Released: 2022 • Features: Benny The Butcher, Westside Gunn “John Woo Flick” by Conway The Machine, featuring Benny The Butcher and Westside Gunn, is a bold assertion of dominance and power, with a strong undercurrent of menace. These artists intertwine…

Released: 2003 In “Ready Set Begin”, Craig G uses his gritty bars to provide a raw narrative on the commercialization of hip hop and the struggles of navigating the music industry. The track, produced by DJ Premier, is…

Released: 2021 • Features: Ludacris, JID “Scatter Brain” is a gritty track by Conway the Machine, with features from Ludacris and JID. The track delves into the harsh truths of street life, the pursuit of success in the music industry,…

Released: 2005 Indeed, if you want a hip-hop track brimming with deep self-reflection and raw desire for change, you can’t look past “Be (Intro)” by Common. Taking it verse by verse, you see a man grappling with his…

Released: 2000 “The Light” by Common is a soulful homage to true love, highlighting the nuances of a deep, respectful relationship and expressing the artist’s commitment towards nurturing it. Common blends his lyrical prowess, his understanding of the…

Released: 2005 “GO!” by Common is a charged exploration of sensual desire, fleeting attraction, and the unpredictability of romantic relationships. It’s a raw, unfiltered account of the rapper’s experiences with a captivating woman, doused in allure and uncertainty,…

Released: 1997 Common’s track “Invocation” from his fourth studio album “One Day It’ll All Make Sense” is a lyrical journey of self-reflection and observational snapshots of life on the streets, contrasted with the hopes and aspirations of a…

Released: 2008 Stepping into the groove of Chris Brown’s “Forever,” we find ourselves immersed in a euphoric celebration of dance, love, and living in the moment. The banger is unapologetically romantic and upbeat, employing common club tropes to…

Released: 2019 • Features: Drake On “No Guidance” by Chris Brown featuring Drake, the duo serenades a woman who’s got it all; independent, self-sufficient, knows her worth and doesn’t settle for less than she deserves. Through their hypnotic, dulcet tones,…

Released: 2023 • Features: Megan Thee Stallion “Bongos” by Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion is an explosive anthem of female empowerment and sexual confidence. The song is filled with raunchy language, bold metaphors, and catchy rhythmic lines that catch…

Released: 2020 • Features: Megan Thee Stallion “WAP” by Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion is a bold and unapologetic anthem of sexual empowerment and female desire. The song has struck chords of controversy, conversation, and celebration across cultural lines,…

Released: 1987 “South Bronx” is an iconic track by the legendary hip-hop collective, Boogie Down Productions (BDP), led by KRS-One and Scott La Rock. This anthem is a robust declaration of the group’s origins in the South Bronx,…

Released: 1988 Stepping onto the scene with an intellectual swagger and unadulterated audacity, Boogie Down Productions’ “My Philosophy” is an anthem of defiance, educating listeners while asserting hip-hop’s ability to uplift and critique. Using razor-sharp lyrics, KRS-One gives…

Released: 1987 “9mm Goes Bang” by Boogie Down Productions, spearheaded by influential emcee KRS-One, is a gripping narrative about the realities of street violence and the drug trade. Tinged with rawness and a no-holds-barred approach, it underscores the…

Released: 2021 • Features: The Alchemist “Level Tipping Scales” by Boldy James, featuring The Alchemist, is a distinct track that delves deep into the gritty realities of hustling, highs, and heartbreaks of street life, all wrapped up in an unconventional…

Released: 2021 • Features: The Alchemist Steering straight into the heart of hardcore street life, “Great Adventures” by Boldy James, featuring The Alchemist, is a relentless ride into the grimy realities of the hustle. Right from the opening lines, the…

Released: 2020 • Features: Pusha T, Swizz Beatz, Killer Mike “Good Morning” by “Black Thought”, featuring Pusha T, Swizz Beatz, and Killer Mike, is a powerful commentary on social issues such as privilege, racism, and drug abuse that are deeply…

Released: 2020 • Features: ScHoolboy Q “Steak Um” by Black Thought, featuring ScHoolboy Q is an unflinching exploration of racial disparity, the grotesque reality of systemic oppression, and resilience in the face of it all. It’s an audacious critique embedded…

Released: 2013 • Features: Lil Wayne, Jhené Aiko “Beware” by Big Sean, featuring Lil Wayne and Jhené Aiko, is a layered narrative about the agonies and animosities of a toxic love affair. It tells a tale about the painful rift…

Released: 1994 “Sure Shot” by the Beastie Boys is a lyrically dense, classic hip-hop jam that champions individuality, work ethic, and respect for women. Taking the listener on a rhythmic journey, the Beastie Boys use their rhyme patterns…

Released: 2001 Aesop Rock, known for his highly abstract lyrics layered with metaphors and clever wordplay, drops heavy ink on his epic track “Daylight.” This word maestro unfurls the complexities of his psyche, exploring the essence of life’s…

Released: 2023 • Features: Lil Wayne “Big Dog” is a track by Benny The Butcher featuring Lil Wayne that underscores the transformation and rise to dominance of the two artists in the rap game. Trading verses back and forth, they…

Released: 2018″Babs” by Benny The Butcher, one of the most respected rappers in the game today, serves as a rugged narrative of resilience, personal struggle, and a relentless rise from the grim streets of Buffalo, New York. The…

Released: 2024 In her track “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM,” Beyoncé serves up an audaciously bold call to authenticity, urging those around her to lay their metaphorical cards on the table. This ain’t a game of poker, it’s life. Beyoncé…

Released: 2024 • Features: Miley Cyrus “II Most Wanted” by Beyoncé, featuring Miley Cyrus, spins a tale of young, reckless love intertwined with the thrill of being on the run. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of enduring commitment, bold…

Released: 2024 Right off the jump, Beyoncé’s “JOLENE” gives us a reinterpretation of Dolly Parton’s classic, but this time embodying hip-hop’s brassy defiance. It’s a song about marital loyalty, confronting temptation, and asserting one’s place, all served icy…

Released: 2024 We’re diving headfirst into Queen Bey’s “BODYGUARD”, a pulsating anthem of possessiveness and protective love. Essentially, this song is a passionate promise that Beyoncé makes to her beloved – to guard him, protect him and shield…

Released: 2023 • Features: Garfield Bright of Shai “MY SUB PT 6” by Big K.R.I.T., featuring Garfield Bright of Shai, is an unabashed love letter to powerful subwoofers and the visceral feel of bass-heavy music whilst cruising on vogue tyres…

Released: 2011 • Features: Ludacris, Bun B “Country Sh*t (Remix)” by Big K.R.I.T., featuring Ludacris, and Bun B is an anthem heralding the distinctive culture, lifestyle and values of the Southern United States, particularly where it intersects with hip-hop. Each…

Released: 1995 “Put It On” by Big L is a testament to his lyrical prowess and unforgiving e street-wise persona, all in true New York City rap style. Throughout the song, Big L conveys his toughness, extraordinary talent,…

Released: 2016 • Features: Fat Joe “The Enemy” by Big L, featuring Fat Joe, is a head-nodding track that tells the story of street life, justice and survival, touching on the testing implications of transitioning from an illicit way of…

Released: 2016 • Features: 2Pac “Deadly Combination” is a hard-hitting track by Big L, featuring the legendary 2Pac, that paints a stark picture of the realities of the hip-hop culture, street life, and the struggles they faced. In this song,…

Released: 1998 • Features: Fat Joe Let’s step into the world of “Twinz” by Big Pun, featuring Fat Joe. A classic example of East Coast hip-hop, this track takes us on a wild journey through the streets of the Bronx,…

Released: 1998 “Beware” by Big Pun is a raw manifestation of his fierce persona and artistry within the 90s hip-hop scene. In no uncertain terms, the song serves as a stark warning to his rivals, boasting about his…

Released: 2000 • Features: Donnell Jones “It’s So Hard” by Big Pun, featuring Donnell Jones, stands as a defiant testament to Big Pun’s resilience in the face of the cutthroat hip-hop game and his struggles with the trappings of fame.…

Released: 2015 • Features: Jhené Aiko Aiight fam, here’s the rundown on Big Sean’s “I Know” off the “Dark Sky Paradise” album featuring the soulful Jhené Aiko. This joint delivers a blend of melancholy vibes and comforting reassurances as Sean…

Released: 2020 • Features: Post Malone Big Sean and Post Malone vibe together on “Wolves,” a gritty track where they reflect on their struggles, loyalty, and resilience. Using wolf-pack dynamics as a metaphor, they depict their journey from humble beginnings…

Released: 1999 Let’s dive into “The Truth” by Philadelphia’s own Beanie Sigel, a gritty track that’s all about keeping it real, unfiltered candor, and an unapologetic portrayal of his tough upbringing and life on the streets. The underlying…

Released: 1994 “Sabotage” by the Beastie Boys is an explosive expression of defiance and frustration engineered in the cryptic language of the streets and the vernacular of rebellion. It’s a protest anthem aimed at exposing deceptive and undermining…

Released: 1998″Intergalactic” by the Beastie Boys is a powerful space-themed tribute to hip-hop that underlines the group’s unconventional and innovative approach to the genre. With references to classic hip-hop, sci-fi, and their own idiosyncratic style, the Beastie Boys…

Released: 2001″Beanie” by Beanie Sigel stands as a testament to his reputation, his craft, and the harsh realities of the streets. Acknowledging the environment that shaped him, Beanie Sigel narrates his journey with raw passion, unapologetically reflecting on…

Released: 2005 • Features: Melissa Jay In “Feel It In The Air,” Beanie Sigel speaks on his anticipations of betrayal, going through a challenging situation, and his prevailing ability to remain steadfast despite his circumstances. He uses his lyrics to…