The Greatest Hip-Hop Beats of All-Time

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And so begins the great debate. The question of the greatest hip-hop beats of all time plagued each one us at some point. It’s a question that hip-hop producers, beat makers, MC’s, and fans have asked and argued since the beginning of time (or at least hip-hop history). Unfortunately, most people when confronted with the question have not had at their disposal the deep knowledge and passion of Crate Kings readers.

Now it’s your job to settle the argument once and for all?. Leave a comment with what you think were the greatest hip-hop beats of all time. Was there a sleeper that was truly underrated?

Depending on the nature of the comments, we may have a poll to determine what in fact is the single greatest hip-hop beat of all-time.

233 thoughts on “The Greatest Hip-Hop Beats of All-Time”

  1. Souls of Mischief-93? til infinity
    Common- The Light
    The Firm- Phone Tap
    Jay-Z- Can I Live & D’Evils
    Mobb Deep- Survival Of The Fittest
    Nas- Memory Lane, N.Y. State Of Mind, One Love, & Made You Look
    The Pharcyde- Runnin’
    Milkbone- Keep It Real
    Slum Village- Fall In Love
    Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth- T.R.O.Y
    Camp-Lo- Luchini
    Wu-Tang Clan- C.R.E.A.M.

    • Jeru The Damaja – Come Clean
      Boogie Down Productions – The Bridge Is Over
      A Tribe Called Quest – Excursions
      Salt N Pepa – Get Up Everybody (Get Up)
      Newcleus – Jam On It
      Run DMC – Peter Piper
      Notorious B.I.G. – Hypnotize
      Outkast – So Fresh And So Clean
      Dr Dre ft Snoop – Deep Cover
      Beastie Boys – So What’cha Want

  2. Group Home – Living Proof
    – Up Against the Wall (getaway car remix)
    45 King – 900 Number

    This is a crazy discussion!
    Visionaries – LOVE

    C’mon really!

    Junge Brothers – J Beez Coming Through

    EPMD -Jane
    – So whatcha sayin

    Too many!

  3. HMMM..GONNA GO RANDOM W/ THIS LIST…

    GHOSTFACE :BLOCK ROCK(PROD. BY MADLIB)

    BEATNUTS:OFF THE BOOKS(PROD. BY THE BEATNUTS)

    DR. DRE AND SNOOP DOGGY DOG:DEEP COVER(PROD. BY DRE)

    RAKIM:IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME(PRODUCED BY DJ. PREMIERE)

    JAY-Z FEATURING NOTORIOUS B.IG:BROOKLYN’S FINEST(PROD. BY SKI)

  4. PUBLIC ENEMEY-SHUT EM DOWN REMIX, BRING THE NOISE
    DE LA SOUL-ROCK CO CANE FLOW
    PETE ROCK AND CL SMOOTH-ACT LIKE U KNOW, TROY, MECCA AND THE SOUL BROTHER, I GET PHYSICAL, THE SUN WONT COME OUT, ESCAPISM
    THE BEATNUTS- LET OFF A COUPLE
    AZ-HO HAPPY JACKIE
    MADLIB-MORE RICE
    GANGSTARR-TONZ OF GUNZ, SPEAK YA CLOUT, CODE OF THE STREETS, BYS, PLAYATAWIN
    JERU DA DAMAJA-COME CLEAN, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS
    EPMD-PLEASE LISTEN TO MY DEMO
    ICE CUBE-BIRD IN THE HAND
    KOOL G RAP-BAD TO THE BONE, ROAD TO THE RICHES
    J-DILLA-JUNGLE LOVE, MY PEOPLE, CANT U SEE, PAUSE
    NAS-WORLD IS YOURS REMIX
    MAIN SOURCE-SNAKE EYES
    DAS EFX-MICROPHONE MASTERS-DOME CRACKER MIX-SPINNA MIX
    DR DRE-WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE
    GHOSTFACE-NUTMEG, WILDFLOWER, FASTER BLADE
    RAEKWON-RAINY DAYZ, KNOWLEDGE GOD
    ODB-BABY C’MON
    FAT JOE-SH-T IS REAL-PRIMO REMIX
    SHOWBIZ AND AG PARTY GROOVE
    DIAMOND D-IM OUTTA HERE, FREESTYLE THAT’S THE SH-T
    JAYLIB-NOWADAYS, STARZ, STRIP CLUB
    GOODIE MOB-LIVE AT THE OMNI, FIGHTIN
    ATCQ-LYRICS TO GO, GOD LIVES THRU
    THE LIKS-2012
    XZIBIT-HANDLE UR BUSINESS
    QUASIMOTO-HYDRANT GAME
    MURS-WALK LIKE A MAN
    JAY Z-HEART OF THE CITY, NEVA CHANGE

  5. WUTANG-SCARY HOURS, CREAM, PROJECTS REMIX, BELLS OF WAR
    COMMON-HOT SH-T, HUNGRY, 1/2 MANY
    ROYAL FLUSH-MAKIN MOVES
    SMIFF N WESSUN-LET’S GET IT ON
    JAY Z – DECEMBER 4TH, PSA, ALLURE
    JUNGLE BROTHERS-IN TIME, PROMO, JB’S COMIN THRU
    OC-TIMES UP
    BDP-SOUTH BRONX, LOVES GONNA GET CHA
    NAS-REPRESENT, MEMORY LANE
    NOTORIOUS BIG-MY DOWNFALL, MACHINE GUN FUNK, STORY TO TELL
    OC-WHAT I REPRESENT
    MIC GERONINMO-IM SO HIGH
    BEATNUTS-LET OFF A COUPLE
    THE ROOTS-SECTION, SPARK
    MOS DEF-SUNSHINE, NEW WORLD WATER
    TALIB KWELI-GOOD TO YOU
    CASUAL-DIDNT MEAN TO, THAT’S HOW IT IS
    MOBB DEEP- THE REALEST
    D-12-NASTY MIND
    LARGE PRO-IJUSTWANNACHILL, MAD SCIENTIST

  6. Vanilla Ice – Havin’ A Roni
    Chicago Bears – Shufflin’ Crew
    Rappin’ Duke – Da-Haa
    Paula Abdul feat. MC Skat Kat – Opposites Attract
    Theme from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

    Honorable Mentions :
    California Raisins – Books, Check ‘Em Out
    Bart Simpson – Do The Bartman
    Kids Inc. – Kids Inc. Rap

  7. **Dr. Dre- G Thang, Let Me Ride, Xxplosive, The Next Episode, Bitch N’s, Still Dre, Phone Tap, Deep Cover…

    **DJ Premier-NY State Of Mind, Ex Girl to Next Girl, Mass Appeal, Come Clean, Downtown Swinga (every version!), 10 Crack Commandments, Nas is Like, BABY PA (group home farandole flip, fuckin crazy!!!) Brownsville, Friend or Foe, Firing Squad, You Know My Steez, Above The Clouds, Royalty, Now You’re Mine, BYS……..

    **Pete Rock-TROY no question, The Boss, Skinz, It’s Like That, Shut Em Down remix, Jump Around Remix, Slow Down remix, Real Hip Hop remix, Down with the King, THE FADES EM ALL REMIX!!!!!! FIERY HOT SHIT!, One Life To Live, The Saga Begins, Fakin Jax, Center Of Attention, True Master, Soul Brother #1 and #1 Soul Brother, Pete’s Jazz, Play Dis Only at Night, Mind Blowin, Mind Over Matter, and Grown Man Sport. The Mary J. Blige Family Affair remix was ridiculous too.

    Dilla-Stakes is High, Runnin, Word Play, Get Ahold, Nag Champa, Dooinit, Find My Way, Shake em Down, Give It Up, Dynamite, Untitled, Get Dis Money, Players, The Nyro Beat, Fall In Love, React, What Up, Turn Me Up Some, It Ain’t Safe No More, Workinonit, Fever/Sum Spooky Shit, Stilts/Watching Smurfs on Shrooms, Busta, Flyyyyyy, The Red, Starz, Raw Shit, Make Em NV, Reckless Driving, Nothing Like This, The Midnight Express Loop, A Film Called Pimp, The Timmy Thomas shit Jay E & Doom rhymed on, The Smokey Robinson beat with the crazy Jamerson bassline…

    RZA- C.R.E.A.M., Can It Be, Ice Cream, Verbal Intercourse, Poisonous, Wisdom Body, Bring The Pain, All That I Got Is You, Wildflower, Motherless Child, Triumph, Liquid Swords, Shadowboxing, 4th Chamber, Criminology, Incarcerated Scarfaces…

    Rock Co Kane
    Luchini
    Benjamins Remix
    Tried by 12
    Slang Editorial
    The Blast
    Who Shot Ya
    Give The Drummer Some
    In The Ghetto (Rakim)
    Ego Trippin
    The Bridge
    The Bridge is Over
    Eric B. for President
    Lyrics to Go
    Electric Relaxation
    Buddy Remix
    Choice is Yours remix
    PSA-Jay Z
    Takeover
    Danger-Blah
    America’s Most Blunted
    Return Of the Loop Digga
    Devil In A Blue Dress
    Snow
    etc etc

    • oh shit. I forgot One Love…
      Large Pro’s It’s A Boy Remix for Slick Rick
      Smoke Dope and Rap Dre Dog/24 Deep Bro Lynch Hung
      Return Of the Gangsta- Kast
      Meatgrinder
      Take Em To War-KGR

      Fuck, I love beats.

  8. The grandaddy of them all is probably “Funky Drummer” by James Brown. What beat has been used more times than that one in Hip Hop’s history?

    But once Hip Hop became “Hip Hop”, as a known entity, I think “Sucker MC’s”, by Run DMC, set in motion the idea that a Hip Hop song is all about beats & rhymes.

  9. 3 x Dope – Mr Sandman
    Earl the Poet – Highnoon
    Uptown – Dope on Plastic
    Ultramagnetic MC’s – Give the Drummer Some
    Public Enemy – Rebel Without a Pause
    Eric B & Rakim- Microphone Fiend
    Marly Marl & Craig G – Droppin Science
    YZ – Thinkin of a Master Plan
    BDP – My Philosophy
    D Nice – Call me D Nice
    Big Daddy Kane – Aint No Half Steppin
    7A3 – Coolin in Cali
    K9 Posse – Aint Nuttin To It (12″ version)
    Nice n Smooth – Funky For You
    Lakim Shabaazz – If You See a Devil Smash Him
    Intelligent Hoodlum – Arrest the President
    Latee – This Cuts Got Flava
    Steady B – Let the Hustlers Play
    Chubb Rock – Treat em right
    Masta Ace – Go Where I send Thee
    Masta Ace – Music Man
    Ed o G – Gotta Have It
    7A3 – Goes Like This
    Public Enemy – Timebomb
    Stezo – To The Max
    JVC Force – Strong Island
    Special Ed – Ya Wish Ya Could
    Mantronix – Who Is It
    Mantronix – King of The Beats

  10. Lord Finesse-True and Living
    Black Moon-Slave
    De La Soul-Eye Know
    J Dilla-Think Twice
    Wu Tang Clan- Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber
    Main Source-Looking at the Front Door
    Quasimoto-Discipline 99 Pt. 1
    MF DOOM-Gas Drawls
    A Tribe Called Quest-Clap Your Hands
    Pete Rock-Straighten It Out

  11. Lord Finesse-True and Living
    Black Moon-Slave
    De La Soul-Eye Know
    J Dilla-Think Twice
    Wu Tang Clan- Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber
    Main Source-Looking at the Front Door
    Quasimoto-Discipline 99 Pt. 1
    MF DOOM-Gas Drawls
    A Tribe Called Quest-Clap Your Hands
    Pete Rock-Straighten It Out

  12. a few off the top of my head that no one mentioned:

    mobb deep – shook ones pt 2
    dilla – won’t do
    2pac – str8 ballin, picture me rollin, pour out a little liquor, do for love (can’t believe in 91 comments no one mentioned a 2pac song!?)

  13. What’s the criteria for great…historical significance? personal opinion? innovative production techniques? the lyrics on top of the beat? the chopping of the sample track? Great is kind of a generalization, as evidenced by these 50+ lists. I mean naming 20 Dilla beats isnt really the point here is it?

  14. Here are a few that MAY get slept (I CAN GO ON FOR DAYS):
    Artifacts – Wrong Side of the Tracks
    Erule – Listen Up
    AZ & Pete Rock – Rather Unique
    KRS-ONE – My Life
    Madvillian (you know who) – All CAPS
    EPMD – So Whatcha Sayin”
    K-os – Rise Like The Sun (Part 1: The Dawn)
    M.O.P. – Blue Steel Rmx
    Group Home – Up Against the Wall Rmx
    Craig Mack – Flava In Ya Ear
    Lord Finesse – You Know What I’m About
    De La Soul & Vinyl Reanimators – Stakes Is High Rmx
    Pete Rock & CL – Specialize
    Showbiz & A.G. – Next Level
    Godfather Don – Properties of Steel
    L Da Headtoucha & Vinyl Reanimators – Too Complex
    Polyrhythmaddicts (you know who) – Motion 2000
    Big L – Street Struck
    Madvillian (you know who) – Rhinestone Cowboy
    Public Enemy – Terminator X to the Edge of Panic
    Special Ed – I Got It Made
    Pete Rock & CL – Main Ingredient
    LL – Rock the Bells
    Reflection Eternal – The Blast
    Common – I Used to Love Her
    M.O.P. – Handle Ur Business
    O.C. – Your Life (Sole In the Hole Sdtrk)
    Main Flow & 7L – Where I’m From
    Madlib – The Official
    O.C. – Times Up
    KRS-ONE – My Philosophy
    A Tribe Called Quest – Award Tour
    Skyzoo & 9th – Stop Foolin’ Yourself
    Masta Ace – Brooklyn Masala
    J-Treds – Make It Happen
    Organized Konfusion – STRESS
    Non-Phixion & Premier – Rock Stars
    Da Youngstas & K-Def – Mad Props
    Ground Floor & Showbiz – One, Two
    Nas & Large Pro – It Ain’t Hard to Tell
    Madvillian (you know who) – Accordion
    Mobb Deep – Shook Ones II
    Pete Rock & Public Enemy – Shut’em Down Rmx
    Large Professor & Common – Ressurrection Extra P Rmx
    Pharoahe & Diamond D – The Light
    Dilla – Nothing Like This
    A Tribe Called Quest – Oh My God
    Dilla – Won’t Do
    Biz – Nobody Beats the Biz
    Organized Konfusion – Fudge Pudge
    Dilla – The Red
    Marley Marl – The Symphony
    Black Moon – Who Got The Props
    Walkin’ Large – Reachin’
    Gangstarr – Mass Appeal
    Slum Village – Go Ladies
    Pete Rock & Das Efx – Real Hip Hop
    *If you ain’t up, get up……………………………………I’M JUST SAYIN’!!!

  15. T.R.O.Y./ Down With The King
    Come Clean
    Just Hanging Out
    Everything Remains Raw/ Whooha !
    Ante Up
    C.R.E.A.M.
    I Don’t Know / Player

  16. OUTKAST-RED VELVET, CRUMBLIN HERB
    FUNKDOOBIEST-ROCK ON-BUCKWILD REMIX
    SLUM VILLAGE-I DONT KNOW, WEBE THEEM
    NICE N SMOOTH-DOPE ON A ROPE, CASH IN MY HANDS REMIX
    INI-GROWN MAN SPORT
    DIAMOND D-FU-K WHAT YA HEARD
    BIZ MARKIE-MAKE THE MUSIC, VAPORS, NOBODY BEATS THE BIZ
    ERIC B AND RAKIM-RUN FOR COVER, NO OMEGA, ERIC B FOR PRESIDENT, MY MELODY, PAID N FULL, MICROPHONE FIEND
    3RD BASS-TRIPLE STAGE DARKNESS
    THE BEATNUTS-BEATNUTS FOREVER
    LLOYD BANKS- I GET HIGH
    HI TEK-ALL I NEED IS YOU, SUN GOD, KEEP IT MOVIN, SO TIRED
    DR DRE GAME-HIGHER, THIS IS HOW WE DO
    J-DILLA-LIGHTWORKS, RUNNIN, I REALLY LOVE YOU, I CANT STAND TO SEE YOU CRY, PEOPLE, OUTRO
    9TH WONDER AND BUCKSHOT-FOOD FOR THOUGHT, NO COMPARISON, THE FORMULA, GO ALL OUT
    DEFARI- ODDS AND EVENS
    BIG DADDY KANE AND BIG L-PLATINUM PLUS
    KEITH MURRAY-GET LIFTED-ORIGINAL AND REMIX-THE MOST BEAUTIFULLIST
    THE LIKS-MAKE ROOM, ONLY WHEN IM DRUNK, LIKWIT
    EPMD-IT’S MY THING
    COMMON-RESSERECTION-ORIGINAL AND LARGE PRO MIX, I USED TO LOVE HER
    THE ROOTS-ADRENALINE
    WUTANG-9 MILLIE BROS, HOLLOW BONES, KLAP YA HANDS, COCK YA HAMMER, THE ABDUCTION, SHAME ON A NI–A, FOR HEAVENS SAKE, REUNITED, IT’S YOURZ
    PUBLIC ENEMY-REBEL WITHOUT A PAUSE, WELCOME 2 THE TERRORDOME
    STETSAONIC-GO STETSA
    BIG DADDY KANE -RAW, AINT NO HALF STEPPIN
    RZA-KISS OF THE BLACK WIDOW, BROOKLYN BABIES, HOLACAUST,
    SAMURI SHOWDOWN, A DAY TO GOD IS A 3000 YEARS
    SNOOP DOGG-HENESSY N BUDDHAH, B-PLEASE, MURDER WAS THE CASE, VATO
    PERCEE P- NO TIME FOR JOKES REMIX
    MED-CANT HOLD ON
    JADAKISS-BY YOUR SIDE

  17. Melle Mell – The Message, #1 PERIOD!!!
    Rakim – Know the ledge
    Public Enemy – fight the power
    Grandmaster Caz – the subway theme
    Nas – halftime

  18. Man! That is such a hard question but…
    1. Ras Kass – Soul on Ice (Diamond D Remix)
    2. Biggie – Who Shot Ya
    3. Nas – Memory Lane
    4. Pete Rock – T.R.O.Y
    5. J Dilla – The Red
    6. Madlib – The Official
    7. Wu Tang – Protect Ya neck
    8. Jay-Z – D’evils
    9. Main Source – Lookin’ at the front door
    10.Smoothe & Trigger – Broken Language

  19. Word fam.. These dudes be buggin’ man 4real… Greatest beats in hip-hop of all time… Now hip-hop is 30+ years old, and you trying 2 give it 2 madvillain? Or “takeover”??? C’mon sun!!!

  20. the world is yours- nas- illmatic- pete rock
    the saga begins-rakim-pete rock
    unbelievable- b.i.ggie – dj premiere
    mass appeal-gangstarr-premo
    down with the kings -run-dmc- pete rock
    mama said knock you out-ll.cool.j- marley marl
    breakadawn-de la soul- prince paul
    go stetsa- stetsasonic-prince paul
    top billin-audio two
    light as a rock- mc lyte-audio two
    south bronx -bdp
    the bridge-mc shann
    no body beats the biz- biz markie
    cream-wu tang
    heaven or hell- wu tang
    shook ones-mobb deep
    funky enough- the d.o.c
    fall in love- slum village
    raise it up-slum village
    dont curse -heavy d and others-pete rock
    the rockwilder- meth and redman
    redmans whole first album
    epmd all of their albums
    all of dr dre s albums

  21. Greatness is more than the best or most creative, it has to be a phenomenal beat and have historial impact. As 2pac is the greatest rapper but they are many better at rapping.

    the best –

    T.R.O.Y. – undisputed champion as you see it is in the most lists in this discussion.

    the rest –
    Children’s Story – the greatest hiphop song of all time has to have one of the greatest beat
    The Message – became a hit three times; probably can again
    Rebel without a Pause – need this be explained?
    Eric b is President – need this be explained?
    South Bronx – need this be explained?
    Shook Ones Pt II – need this be explained?
    You’re a customer – need this be explained?
    Planet Rock – multiple genres (florida bass, freestyle and more) invented off this beat
    Drag Rap (Showboys) – genres (bounce and it’s descendents) invented of this beat
    PSK – became one of the great breakbeats
    Friends (Whodini) – timeless song and became a great breakbeat
    Paul Revere – became one of the great breakbeats
    Back that azz up – mixed orchestral sounds with complex drum programming and the bounce beat spawning many later producers sounds. have you ever been to a club in the South?
    Front Back and Side to Side – monster song. along with Pocket full of stones established the Southern rap and production vocabulary. All live organ and rhythm guitar using producers pay homage
    Nothin but G Thang – changed all rap production after it. solidified g-funk as the West Coast sound and mainstreamed hardcore rap (for better or worse). Established replaying samples as a standard production technique.
    Come Clean – East Coast answer to G Thang and I can’t leave Premier off the list
    C.R.E.A.M. – need this be explained?

  22. Dj Shadow: Organ Donor
    Jeru the Damaja: Come Clean
    Group Home: Supa Star
    Dr Dre: Nothin But a G Thing
    Pharcyde: Passin me By
    Slum Village: Fall in Love
    T.R.O.Y
    Souls of MIschief: “93” Til in Infinity
    Nas: One LOve
    Divine Styler: Ain’t Sayin Nothin

  23. Greatest BEATS… of ALL TIME? hmm…just BEATS? aight…
    in no order:

    T.R.O.Y.- pete rock & cl smooth
    PAUL REVERE- The beastie boys
    MIND PLAYIN TRICKS ON ME- Geto Boys
    YOUNG GIFTED & BLACK-Big daddy kane
    BONITA APPLEBUM- A Tribe Called quest
    LIVE AT THE BARBQUE – Main Source
    THEY WANT EFX- Das Efx
    OPP- Naughty By Nature
    FLAVOR OF THE MONTH-Black Sheep
    I GAVE YOU POWER- Nas
    D EVILS- Jay Z
    HITS FROM DA BONG- Cypress Hill
    THE CHOICE IS YOURS- Black Sheep
    ALL 4 DA MONEY- Comptons Most Wanted
    THE MAGNIFICENT- Special Ed
    I GOT IT MADE- Special Ed
    ALWAYS INTO SOMETHIN- NWA
    ST8 UP MENACE-MC Eiht
    CHA CHA CHA- Mc Lyte
    REBEL WITHOUT A PAUSE-Public Enemy
    4th CHAMBER- GZA
    AINT NO FUTURE IN YO FRONTIN – Mc Breed
    SIMON SAYS- Pharoah monch
    ANTE UP- MOP
    RHINESTONE COWBOY -MF DOOM
    CRUMBLIN HERB- Outkast
    THE SYMPHONY – The Juice Crew
    PLAYAS-Slum Village
    NUTMEG-Ghostface Killah
    THE WORLD IS YOURS (tip mix)- Nas
    THE WORLD IS YOURS- Nas
    SLAVE- Black Moon
    97 MENTALITY -Cappadonna
    SALLY-Stetsasonic
    PLANET ROCK-Afrikka Bambatta
    SMOOTH OPERATOR -Big daddy Kane
    CRIMINOLOGY- Raekwon
    JAZZY BELLE- Outkast
    I GOTCHA OPIN- Black Moon
    I GOTCHA OPIN (remix) -Black Moon
    BUCKTOWN- Smif n wessun
    AINT NO HALF STEPPIN- Big Daddy Kane
    STOP,LOOK,LISTEN- Mc lyte
    BUCK EM DOWN – Black Moon
    DONT BELIEVE THE HYPE- Public Enemy
    WINTER WARZ- Ghostface killah
    360- Grand Puba
    MOTHERLESS CHILD- Ghostface Killah
    METHOD MAN- method man
    PLAY PLAYA- Big Mike
    I AINT NO JOKE-Eric b & Rakim
    HOW TO SURVIVE IN SOUTH CENTRAL- Ice Cube
    MICROPHONE FIEND- Eric b & rakim
    DONT SWEAT THE TECHNIQUE- Eric b & rakim
    PAID IN FULL- Eric b & rakim
    KNOW THE LEDGE- Eric b & rakim
    TRIUMPH- Wu Tang clan
    DAIRY OF A MADMAN- Gravediggaz
    WU TANG CLAN AINT NUTTIN TO FK WIT – Wu tang clan
    NUTTIN BUT A G THANG- Dr Dre & Snoop
    GIVE UP THE GOODS- Mobb Deep
    GOD pt III – Mobb Deep
    WHO SHOT YA?-Biggie
    10 CRACK COMMANDMENTS – Biggie
    SHOOK ONES pt II- Mobb Deep
    WRATH OF MY MADNESS -Queen Latifah
    CREAM-Wu Tang Clan
    SPOTTIEOTTIEDOPALISCIOUS -Outkast
    JUNGLE MUSIC- Jeru the damaja
    D ORIGINAL – Jeru the damaja
    WILD COWBOYS- Jeru the damaje
    LOVES GONNA GETCHA- BDP
    COLD WORLD-GZA
    DWYCK-Gangstarr
    ONE 4 ALL- Brand Nubian
    SLOW DOWN – Brand Nubian
    PUNKS JUMP UP TO GET BEAT DOWN- Brand Nubian
    SHIT IZ REAL- fat joe
    STAGES & LIGHTS – sadat x
    FLOW JOE- fat joe
    STEP 2 DA REAR – Grand puba
    ERIC B FOR PRESIDENT- Eric B & Rakim
    HOW MANY EMCEES?-Black moon
    MONA LISA – Slick Rick
    BOYZ N DA HOOD-Eazy E
    MY MIND SPRAY-Jeru the damaja
    NAPPY HEADS-The fugees
    JINGLIN BABY-LL COOL J
    RAMPAGE- EPMD
    VAPORS- Biz Markie
    MAKE THE MUSIC- Biz Markie
    SILILOQUY OF CHAOS- Gangstarr
    BYS- Gangstarr
    CAN I KICK IT?- A Tribe called quest
    VERBAL INTERCOURSE- Raekwon
    NOBODY BEATS THE BIZ- Biz Markie
    WU GAMBINOS- Raekwon
    RAW-Big Daddy kane
    LONG LIVE THE KANE- Big daddy Kane
    THE WRATH OF KANE- Big daddy Kane
    LYRICS OF FURY- Rakim
    BROOKLYN ZOO-Ol Dirty Bastard
    DONT CHU KNOW ptI – Ol Dirty Bastard
    DONT CHU KNOW ptII – Ol Dirty Bastard
    SET IT OFF- Big Daddy Kane
    JUS TO GET A REP- Gangstarr
    PAPER THIN- Mc Lyte
    TAKE IT PERSONAL -Gangstarr
    TIMES UP- OC
    THE REALEST- Mobb Deep
    THE MOST BEAUTIFULLEST THING IN THIS WORLD -Keith Murray
    DA ROCKWILDER- Redman & Method Man
    HOW ABOUT SUM HARDCORE? – MOP
    SHADOWBOXIN- GZA
    CODE OF THE STREETS-Gangstarr
    BLUE STEEL- MOP
    YOU GOTS TO CHILL- Epmd
    TOP BILLIN-Audio two
    HIP HOP JUNKIES-Nice & Smooth
    LIQUID SWORDZ- GZA
    I GOTTA HAVE IT-Ed o.g. & da bulldogs
    SOUL BY THE POUND-Common Sense
    DEEP COVER-Dr Dre
    VOCAB- The Fugees
    YOU DONT KNOW-Jay Z
    UPTOWN ANTHEM- Naughty By Nature
    SO WHATCHUSAYIN? – EPMD
    RAWADDICT- Jaylib
    BLACK SUPERMAN- Above the law
    GROWIN UP IN DA HOOD- Comptons Most Wanted
    ONE IN A MILLION- Pete rock & cl smooth
    SALLY GOT A 1 TRACK MIND- Diamond D
    PETER PIPER- Run Dmc
    THINK TWICE- Jay Dee
    SMOOTH OPERATOR- Big Daddy Kane
    KEEP YA HEAD UP- 2pac
    HOLLA IF YA HEAR ME- 2pac
    PLUG TUNIN- De La Soul
    AINT NO FUN- Snoop Doggy Dogg
    BRING DA PAIN- Method Man
    FAKIN THE FUNK- Main Source
    CHECK THE RHiME- A Tribe Called Quest
    SCENARIO- A Tribe Called Quest
    BLOOD MONEY- CNN
    SOUTH BRONX- BDP
    THE BRIDGE IS OVER- BDP
    ELECTRIC RELAXATION – A Tribe Called Quest
    MY MELODY – Eric B & Rakim
    SERIOUS- Steady B
    CHAMPION OF LOVE – 991 volts
    FAT POCKETS- Showbiz & AG
    GRAND GROOVE- Inteligent Hoodlum
    COME CLEAN- Jeru the damaja
    UNBELIEVABLE- Biggie
    STRICTLY FOR THE LADIES – lord finesse & dj mike smooth
    CHIEF ROCKA- Lords of the underground
    SOOPAMAN LOVA – Redman
    PUT IT IN YOUR MOUTH- Akinelye
    TONY- CNN
    FALL IN LOVE-Slum village
    FIREWATER- fat joe
    THE WHAT- Biggie
    NIGGAS BLEED- Biggie
    SOLIDERS OF DARKNESS- Sunz of man
    PASS THE PEAS- De la Soul
    WHERE IM FROM- Jay z
    THROW YA GUNZ- Onyx
    TRAGEDY- Rza
    ILL STREET BLUES- Kool g rap & dj polo

    Im not even sure where to end! theres so many!
    BACK THEN list like this werent even neccessary man! Whats even more pathetic is were STILL marveling over the 80s & 90s like music stopped after that, and nobody ever speaks on it TRUTHFULLY!
    like why hasnt a song come along and touch us like “fight the power”? “brendas got a baby”? all the shit and advancements in Life and NOT ONE cats made a song to touch the masses? you mean to tell me it only works if I listen to 10yr old music? incredible sad and not fair all rolled into one!!
    I think for hip hop to “live on”… blogs GOT-TO-GO! the whole blogging era, the know it all mentality has got to fuckin go man! shit is brain mush! Im sick of college geeks with the 80 syllable words tryin to be ‘open’ to everything! mixing up the true school rules to fit your logic! all these damn opinions and forums is just unneccessary! everyday niggas reliving the 90s online SO MUCH that the new age kids rebel… by the millions…against EVERYTHING that is the culture! The die hard weezy fan cant understand how ready 2 die is better than the carter! he doesnt wanna hear it!
    Why in the world are their still reviewing CLASSIC albums that came out a decade ago anyway? for what? All these new age kids learn to do is resent the fact guys like your jay-zs or ll cool j’s wont “sit they old ass down somewhere”! The kids dont wanna take the art serious but they want legendary status and respect.
    what is hop hop anymore anyway? let a blogger tell it theres no such thing as “real hip hop” and will argue the very street values that hip hop was built on!!
    Hip hop needs to get out of the suburbs and colleges and get back to the streets. we dont need more hybrid pop stars poppin & lockin bussin raps but dont know shit about the rock steady crew or melle mel. that entire mentality train of though and process is fuckin poison. No surgeon can operate without knowing the human body and what to do! same goes for MCs and rappers! even young MC knew the rules…vanilla ice… hammer…they cut from that cloth and they were the pop stars of our day!
    my opinion I could care less about yours bullshit is bullshit fuck it…

    • fab 5-leflah leflah
      smoothe da hustlsa-broken language
      master ace-letter to the better original
      doug e fresh-the show
      ultra magnetic- ego trippin, give the drummer some
      LL COOL J-TO DA BREAK OF DAWN
      ODB-RAWHIDE
      DA BUSH BABEES-REMEMBER WE-SALAAM REMI REMIX
      AKINEYLE- IN THE WORLD-ORIGINAL LARGE PRO MIX
      AZ-YOUR WORLD DONT STOP-ORIGINAL MIX
      KRS 1-P IS STILL FREE-PRIMO MIX
      KURIOUS-UPTOWN SH-T
      BRAND NUBIAN-PUNK JUMPS UP-ORIGINAL AND DIAMOND REMIX, WAKE UP, ALL 4 1
      POSITIVE K-STEP UP FRONT
      MADLIB-ANTHENAGIN
      REDMAN-TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT ORIGINAL AND REMIX
      SCARFACE-NOW I FEEL YA, MR SCARFACE IS BACK
      MC EIGHT-ALL 4 THE MONEY
      KING T-AT YOUR OWN RISK-MARLEY MARL REMIX
      LORDS OF THE UNDERGROUND-CHIEF ROCKA
      EPMD-IM MAD, FUNKY PIANO, GET THE BOZACK, KNICK KNACK PATTY WACK
      MOBB DEEP-GODFATHER PART 3
      NOREAGA-BLOOD MONEY PT 3
      KRS 1-OUTTA HERE, MC’S ACT LIKE THEY DONT KNOW
      AL TARIQ-CRIME PAYS
      JAZZY JEFF AND CL SMOOTH-ALL I KNOW
      PUBLIC ENEMY-SHOW EM WATCHA GOT, PUBLIC ENEMY #1, TIMEBOMB
      THE LEGION-KRILLS
      CHI ALI-FUNKY LEMONADE-REMIX
      HEAVY D-BLUE FUNK
      CYPRESS HILL-BOOM BIDDY BYE BYE, PHUNKY FEEL ONE, STONED IS THE WAY OF THE WALK, HOW I COULD JUST KILL A MAN, WHEN THE SH-T GOES DOWN
      HELTAH SKELTAH-LET THE BRAINS FLOW
      ONYX-LAST DAYZ
      KING T-FREESTYLE GHETTO
      BUSTA RHYMES-THE HEIST, SO HARDCORE, HOLLA, PUT YA HANDS WHERE MY EYES CAN SEE

  24. Times Up
    Return of The Crooklyn Dodgers
    T.R.O.Y.
    N.Y. State of Mind (fuggit any Illmatic beat)
    The Bridge
    I Used to Love H.E.R.
    Day One
    Furious Anger

  25. It’s too difficult to put this down…I’ll just add 20 random favorite tunes just to keep it short:

    1. ATCQ – Electric Relaxation
    2. Artifacts – Wrong Side of Da Tracks
    3. Arsonists – Venom
    4. Souls Of Mischief – ’93 Till Infinity
    5. Pharcyde – Passin’ Me By
    6. Akrobatik – Remind My Soul
    7. Ice Cube – It Was A Good Day
    8. Smif-N-Wessun – Bucktown
    9. Gangstarr – Mass Appeal
    10. Wu Tang – C.R.E.A.M.
    11. Dj Krush – On The Dub-ble
    12. Dj Shadow – Midnight In A Perfect World
    13. Company Flow – 8 Steps To Perfection
    14. CNN – Invincible
    15. Cunnynlinguists – Mic Like A Memory
    16. Showbiz & AG – Next Level (Premo’s Remix)
    17. EPMD – Da Joint
    18. Cypress Hill – Insane In The Brain
    19. House Of Pain – Legend
    20. Fugees – Mask

  26. T.R.O.Y- PETE ROCK
    SIDEWAYZ- E-40
    KNOWLEDGE ME- ORIGNAL CONCEPT
    THE BRIDGE- MC SHAN
    MUCH MORE- DE LA SOUL
    LET’S TALK- BLACK MILK
    WORK THE ANGLES- DILATED PEOPLES
    ME- DUDLEY PERKINS
    PLAYA- SLUM VILLAGE
    INVINCIBLE- CNN
    BITCHES AIN’T- DR. DRE

  27. I’m going to resist the temptation to list 200 beats and settle on one, actually two. The first, basically a Hip Hop embodiment of the phrase, “less is more”: Audio Two’s Top Billin’. The second, a textbook example of layering loops. From the same album that gave us the often mentioned (ad nauseum, but for good reason) TROY: Pete Rock and CL Smooth’s For Pete’s Sake.

  28. heartbeat- furious three

    afrika bambatta- searching for the perfect beat

    curtis blow- these are the breaks

    sugar hill gang- rappers delight/apache

    grandmaster flash and the furious 5-the message

    these are the kinds of beats that get people in to hip hop in the first place.
    i could list beats all day but these are the essence of what hip hop is.
    theres so many more.

  29. OC- WHAT I REPRESENT
    D-NICE- CALL ME D -NICE
    STEZO-FREAK THE FUNK
    DE LA SOUL-PASS THE PEAS, OODLES OF O’S
    ERICK SERMON-TELL EM
    LONS-SOBB STORY
    MAIN SOURCE-LOOKIN AT THE FRONT DOOR
    KOOL KEITH-MASTER OF THE GAME, POPPA LARGE
    PRT-ROCK DIS FUNKY JOINT
    YZ-MASTER PLAN
    JAY Z- 4 DA FAM
    DMX-STOP BEING GREEDY
    JADAKISS- WE GON MAKE IT
    RASS KASS-GOLDEN CHILD
    BIZ MARKIE – I HEAR MUSIC
    MASTER ACE-THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN, POSTIN HIGH
    SADAT X-STAGES AND LIGHTS
    ICE CUBE-AMERIKKA’S MOST WANTED
    JERU DA DAMAJA-REVENGE OF THE PROPHET PART 2
    NWA-REAL NI–AZ
    EAZY E-2 HARD MUTHA’S
    THE DOC-FUNKY ENOUGH, THE FORMULA, THE DOC
    EPMD-KIM
    DAS EFX-REAL HIP HOP-PRIMO, AND PETE ROCK MIX, REPRESENT THE REAL HIP HOP
    CHANNEL LIVE-SPARK MAD IZM
    BLACK MOON-HOW MANY EMCEE’S

  30. I cant believe only 1 person STORMKO is on the money.
    RUN DMC’s “Sucker Mc’s”
    That is the measuring stick right there.

  31. Gangstarr – Above the Clouds
    Gang Starr – Betrayal
    Das EFX – Real Hip-Hop
    INI – Fakin Jax
    Kool G Rap & Dj Polo – I’ll Street Blues
    Madvillain – Fancy Clown
    Mobb Deep – Survival Of The Fittest
    Nas – Ny State Of Mind
    Nujabes – Feather
    Royce Da 5’9 – Boom
    Showbiz and AG – Next Level (Dj Premier remix)
    Slick Rick – hey young world
    MF Doom – Doomsday

  32. Pharohe Monch – Simon Says
    De La Soul – Eye Know, Much More, and High on Sunshine
    Beatnuts – Hot and Watch Out Now
    Cypress Hill – How I could just kill a man
    Westside Connection – Bow Down
    Funkdoobiest – Bow wow wow
    Talib Kweli – Get By
    MOP – Ante Up
    Tha Alkaholiks – Make Room
    Digital Underground – the Humpty Dance
    Mobb Deep – Shook Ones II and Survival of the Fittest

  33. Bushwackas – Caught Up In The Game

    Mobb Deep – trife life, qu hectic, Nightime vultures

    actual facts – lord finesse, sadat x etc.

    mic geronimo – queens life

    this is hard, too many ermmmmmm…

    and as a bonus oc – born 2 live

    peace

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