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

Released: 1993 Time to breakdown a true head-bobber, “Mary” by the LA-based Freestyle Fellowship. This track is an infectious tune that takes a deep dive into the relationship between hip-hop culture and marijuana, otherwise known as Mary, a…

Released: 1989 “Whip Appeal” is a sultry 90’s R&B classic by Babyface that centers around the concept of love, connection, and the unique ‘whip appeal’ only the one you love can have on you. It reflects on the…

Released: 2018 • Features: Vince Staples, Ludwig Göransson “Ice Cold (Final Round)” by Mike WiLL Made-It, featuring Vince Staples and Ludwig Göransson, takes us on a frosty journey through the peaks and troughs of hip-hop success. Staples explores the paradoxes…

Released: 1999 “Sunshine Men” by Freestyle Fellowship draws a stark line between authentic hip-hop artists – as represented by the group themselves – and those who have sold out, contributing to a shallow, commercialized music industry. The song…

Released: 2019 “Right Here” is a lyrical showcase by Pharoahe Monch, underpinning his relentless quest to establish Queens–his home turf–on the hip-hop map. In this song, Monch leverages his signature style of punchy, clever lyricism spiced with raw…

Released: 2017 • Features: Kendrick Lamar, Gucci Mane, Rae Sremmurd In “Perfect Pint,” Mike WiLL Made-It orchestrates a reflective and vivid narrative with heavy-hitters Kendrick Lamar, Gucci Mane, and Rae Sremmurd. The song navigates through themes of success, excess, and…

Released: 2014 • Features: Lil Wayne, Kendrick Lamar, Future “Buy The World” is a bold proclamation of ambition and success from some of hip-hop’s heavy hitters. This track is about overcoming obstacles, the quest for financial capability, and the desire…

Released: 2004 • Features: Syleena Johnson Go ahead and buckle up as we ride into Kanye West’s classic, “All Falls Down”, featuring the soulful embodiment of Syleena Johnson on the hooks. The track is a symbolic chronicle of the unvarnished…

Released: 1992 The Pharcyde’s “Return Of The B-Boy” is an audacious lyrical celebration of hip-hop’s golden era, beaming with nostalgia and classic B-boy bravado. Saturated with playful wordplay and evocative imagery representative of the late ’80s and early…

Released: 1992 “Passin’ Me By” by The Pharcyde revolves around unrequited love, youthful infatuation, and the bitter medicine of missed opportunities. Through rich storytelling, the track delves into high school memories and the agonizing pursuit of the ‘dopest…

Released: 1992 “Oh Shit” by The Pharcyde is a narratively rich, humor-filled song, underscored with themes of surprise, sexual misadventures, and unexpected situations that arise in the day-to-day hustle. Each verse is a separate anecdote, but they all…

Released: 1996 “Pick It Up” by Redman serves as a bold declaration of his place in the hip-hop world and its trappings. With a keen mix of gritty street tales, braggadocio-laden lines, and heavy doses of humor, Redman…

Released: 2003 • Features: Nate Dogg “All My Life” is an intense track by rapper Freeway, featuring Nate Dogg, that paints a vivid depiction of the tough realities of life in the influential hip-hop locales, Philadelphia and California. The song…

Released: 2016 • Features: The Alchemist, Prodigy “The Gun Holds a Drum” by Havoc, featuring The Alchemist and Prodigy, offers a raw, unfiltered look into the harsh realities of street life and the brutal fight for survival. It’s a foreboding…

Released: 2018 • Features: Lil Wayne “Blood Pressure” by Freeway, featuring Lil Wayne, is a lyrical representation of the struggle and resilience that characterizes the artists’ lives and careers. In this track, these two titans of hip-hop drop some thought-provoking…

Released: 2016 • Features: The Alchemist “Maintain (Fuck How You Feel)” by hip-hop heavyweight Havoc, featuring The Alchemist, is a defiant anthem illustrating the uncompromising nature of the rapper’s hustle and rise to success. Within its hard-hitting bars, the track…

Released: 2003 • Features: JAY-Z, Beanie Sigel “What We Do,” by Freeway, featuring Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel, lays bare the stark, gritty realities of the streets, focusing on the moral paradox of surviving in the system. It’s a jarring symphony…

Released: 2016 • Features: The Alchemist, Method Man “Buck 50’s & Bullet Wounds” offers a gritty narrative of life in the streets, with its triumphs, perils, and the inevitable reality of violence. From Havoc’s firsthand perspective, we find ourselves navigating…

Released: 2016 Yo, sit back and let’s get deep into “Nutshell” by Phife Dawg, y’all ready? Now, this track serves as a powerful self-reflection. In an unforgiving lyrical display, Phife crafts a portrait of an artist who’s unyielding…

Released: 1997 “Keep It Comin” by Heavy D is a laid-back joint that encapsulates the essence of a feel-good, self-assured playboy persona, while keeping it real with deep-rooted elements of hip-hop culture. In this track, Heavy D blends…

Released: 1996 Chuck D’s “The Pride” takes listeners on a journey through the highs and lows of the Black experience in America, interweaving personal memories with wider socio-political commentary. Utilizing the powerful symbology of pride, the song explores…

Released: 2014 “Dear Dilla” by Phife Dawg is an emotionally stirring tribute to the late hip-hop pioneer J Dilla, as Phife vividly combines personal experiences with sharp critiques of the state of hip-hop. The overarching theme of the…

Released: 2008 On the surface, “Queen Majesty” by Heavy D seems to be an ode to a woman who he perceives as regal and untouchable, but beneath that, it’s a testament of his deep and intense affection towards…

Released: 1997 • Features: The LOX, Black Rob, DMX “24 Hrs. to Live” is a bombastic hip-hop track by Mase, The Lox, Black Rob, and DMX that confronts an existential question: What would you do if you only had 24…

Released: 1999 “Dancin’ In The Night” by Heavy D is a deeply emotional odyssey that navigates the complexities of life and turmoil, delicately interweaving themes of despair, escape and resilience. Through a combination of evocative storytelling and introspective…

Released: 2005 • Features: Diddy “Breathe, Stretch, Shake,” by Harlem-born Mase featuring industry titan Diddy, is a triumphant return anthem that celebrates Mase’s comeback to the rap game after a five-year hiatus. Through hard-hitting bars interwoven with complex hip-hop linguistics,…

Released: 1996 “Smoke Buddah” by Redman is a classic hip-hop anthem paying homage to the ‘smoker’s lifestyle’, intertwined with Redman’s signature lyrical dexterity and off-kilter humor. It touches on the themes of camaraderie, marijuana use, and street life,…

Released: 1995 “Runnin'” by The Pharcyde tells a compelling tale of persistent struggles — the unending hustle and the discombobulation the struggle brings with it. At its core, it speaks about the existential challenges of growing up, the…

Released: 1988 • Features: Dr. Dre, MC Ren “Eazy-Duz-It” is a raw, unfiltered look into the rugged street life of Compton, a narrative straight from the heart of gangsta rap pioneer himself, Eazy-E. This 1988 hit single, produced by Dr.…

Released: 2016 • Features: Sonny Digital Let’s dive into the gritty streets and ambitious hustles as etched in the hard-hitting lyrics of the track “I’m The Man” by 50 Cent featuring Sonny Digital. This track is 50’s powerful testament about…

Released: 1993 “Gimme That Nutt” by Eazy-E is a brazen exploration of the rapper’s sexual escapades and a testament to his boastful nature. The lyrics are filled with graphic descriptions and explicit language that reflects his unapologetic approach…

Released: 2005Features: The Game, Tony Yayo, Young Buck, Lloyd Banks”Hate It Or Love It”, by 50 Cent and The Game, is a quintessential hip-hop anthem that dwells deep into the harsh truths of the street life while simultaneously…

Released: 1997 • Features: Diddy “Lookin’ at Me” by Mase featuring Puff Daddy, is a braggadocious track that takes aim at the haters while celebrating success in the rap game. The lyrics weave together a story about street credibility, wealth,…

Released: 2003 • Features: Nate Dogg We kickin’ it off with the certified G-Unit classic, “21 Questions” by the sensational 50 Cent, featuring the incomparable Nate Dogg spittin’ heavenly hooks. This joint is a heartfelt query into the depths of…

Released: 2019 “Circles” by Post Malone presents a raw and emotive exploration of a faltering and cyclical romantic relationship. The overarching theme of the song revolves around a love that’s grown cold, a flame that despite efforts can’t…

Released: 2023 • Features: Los Tucanes De Tijuana, Eden Muñoz At the heart of “La Tierra del Corrido – Spotify Singles” by the Fuerza Regida, featuring Los Tucanes De Tijuana, Eden Muñoz is a celebration of heritage, culture, and the…

Released: 2023 • Features: Manuel Turizo “Una Cerveza” by Fuerza Regida, featuring Manuel Turizo, is a melancholic journey exploring one man’s love lost and his attempts to drown his sorrows. Through the lyrics, the artist paints a vivid picture of…

Released: 1991 “Buggin’ Out” by A Tribe Called Quest (ATCQ) is a hip-hop classic that dropped from their iconic album “The Low End Theory”. Featuring the lyrics of Phife Dawg and Q-Tip, the song is a lyrical exhibit…

Released: 2022 • Features: Alfredo Olivas Immerse yourself in the raw world of “Me Tocó Morir,” (I Had to Die) by Fuerza Regida featuring Alfredo Olivas. This joint right here, it’s a gripping tale of life and death in the…

Released: 2023 “SABOR FRESA” by Fuerza Regida is a vivacious track, chock-full of party vibes, swagger and street lingo. As we disembark on this lyrical exploration, the song presents itself as a vibrant testament to youthful indulgence, with…

Released: 1991 “Vibes and Stuff” by A Tribe Called Quest is an iconic track that beautifully embodies the hip-hop ethos. It’s a lyrical journey through the highs and lows of the rap game, with a strong message of…

Released: 2018 • Features: Too $hort In the track “Ain’t Got No Haters” by Ice Cube featuring Too $hort, a staple of West Coast hip-hop, the duo assert their dominance in the game, highlighting their success and status while dismissing…

Released: 1994Features: Das EFX Aight, let’s go deep into “Check Yo Self,” by Ice Cube featuring Das EFX. This ain’t some pop chart remix, this here’s a track that expands and flips the original like a scratch on…

Released: 2000 • Features: Mack 10, Ms. Toi Let’s get into “You Can Do It,” a fiery cut from Ice Cube featuring Mack 10 and Ms. Toi. This late ’90s bop ain’t your typical hip-hop jawn, but a celebration of…