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

Released: 2022 • Features: Blockhead, Lupe Fiasco That vibing track with Aesop Rock and Lupe Fiasco is “Pumpkin Seeds”, which also features Blockhead. It’s a gripping narrative exploring existential anxieties, introspection, and societal pressures. The lyrics unveil a complex understanding…

Released: 1995 “Sugar Hill” by AZ can be seen as a vivid portrayal of the rapper’s aspirations for wealth and a luxurious lifestyle. The lyrics reflect themes of hustle, ambition, struggle, and survival, painting a picture of AZ’s…

Released: 1998 When we get into the rap virtuoso AZ’s “New Life,” we find ourselves exploring a journey of transformation; a relentless pursuit of a better existence, illuminated through the prism of a hardened, streetwise perspective. This track…

Released: 2019 • Features: Swae Lee “Sunflower – Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” by Post Malone and Swae Lee orbits around the themes of emotional turbulence in the context of a relationship. It’s a powerful commentary on the volatility that often…

Released: 2006 • Features: DJ Premier “The Format” by AZ is a testament to authenticity, resilience, and triumph over adversity. It’s a gritty narrative about overcoming trials, rising to the top and staying true to one’s craft and roots. AZ…

Released: 1995 In “Rather Unique,” hip-hop icon AZ crafts a lyrical self-portrait that encapsulates his individuality, resilience, and lyrical prowess. The track is a profound exploration of his life experiences, identity, and worldview, deftly interwoven with incisive social…

Released: 2015 • Features: The Weeknd, Swae Lee, Future “Drinks On Us” by Mike WiLL Made-It featuring The Weeknd, Swae Lee, and Future is an anthem of dominance and indulgence in the hip-hop industry. The song exudes a sense of…

Released: 1993 “Inner City Boundaries” by Freestyle Fellowship is a deeply introspective track that uses sharp poetic language to discuss themes of self-awareness, freedom, and cultural pride. This tune is a definitive declaration of the group’s resolve to…

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…