It's impossible to capture the full creative breadth and cultural importance of this music, but this list of some of the best hip-hop songs of all time will get you off to a strong start. Whether you're looking for fuel for a workout playlist, old school throwbacks to dance to, or songs that help deepen your understanding of the world around you, hip-hop has all the bases covered. The following 50 songs span the evolution of the art form, from its early roots (Grandmaster Flash's 'The Message,' Public Enemy's 'Fight the Power') to its iconic East Coast-West Coast era (The Notorious B.I.G.'s 'Juicy,' 2Pac's 'California Love,') to its pop chart domination (50 Cent's 'In Da Club,' Kanye West's 'Touch the Sky') and into its diverse future (Cardi B's 'Bodak Yellow,' Tyler, the Creator's 'See You Again'). About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators. from Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) by Wu-Tang Clan 'As Long as Ive Got You' might have remained forever obscure if the Wu-Tangs producing wizard The RZA hadnt decided to sample. to the distinct southern culture explored by artists like Ludacris and Lil Wayne, to Kendrick Lamar's 'Alright' becoming a rallying cry at Black Lives Matter events, the history of hip-hop is the history of modern America, told by those who are often the most marginalized. From the gritty streets of Compton that birthed N.W.A. In 2017, it became America's most popular genre in total consumption, according to Nielsen, and it has grown globally, too, dominating the streaming era and molding the rest of pop music in its image.Īt the core of rap is the Black American experience, something that these musicians have been painstakingly documenting for years. Hip-hop's origin as the soundtrack of New York City block parties is well known, but no one could have predicted where the genre would go in just 40 years.

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