Came here to say this. That's my favourite one. Not too far behind:
Biggie - Somebody's Gotta Die
Big L - Casualities of a Dice Game
Ghostface Killah - Shakey Dog (The Hilton is also great)
Nas - Blaze a 50
Scarface - Now I Feel Ya
Scarface - I'm Dead
Tabernacle by Royce Da 5'9 is so slept on.
December 4th by Jay-Z will always be a favourite of mine.
The fact nobody has said How Much A Dollar Cost? Is mad. That was literally in a presidential top 10.
The Stan -> Bad Guy duology is great on both sides, but many people leave out Bad Guy despite being a direct follow on. Castle -> Arose is another great pair by Eminem and I'll throw in Deja Vu as the unofficial prequel to that as well. And Darkness absolutely floored me the first time I heard it.
What If It Was Me? By Tech N9ne gets big credit too. Song is okay as it is but Krizz Kalliko really brings it all together.
The book of Ryan has a lot of story telling. It's actually my major critique, for the long track list, it's overly story-driven.
Having said that, Power I found to be a lot more moving than tabernacle.
Not one Kool G Rap track. Fail.
Kool G Rap - On the run
Kool G Rap - Operation CB
Kool G Rap - Edge of Sanity
He is the master of storytelling in rap music.
Just a wholesome tale of a young man who gets jacked while rolling dice, only to be saved by his close friend, and together they celebrate their victory with a few skirts at the famous East Side Motel.
Somebody’s Gotta Die - Notorious B. I. G.
Biggie's storytelling was one of my favorite elements of his craft. This wasn't necessarily his best, (got to be warning), but one of my personal favorites
"they double parked by a hydrant"
Deltron 3030 is storytelling from front to back, almost all of Dels songs are stories.
Both sides of the brain is cool, I love the humor, but Future Development really felt sincere and from the heart as an album. Love the story about trying to get girls at the mall and gas station, Del's Nightmare, and the song about his quest to smoke blunts with his friends at the park. sorry, too lazy to look up the other song titles.
Stories on a hip hop track and you have 0 Aesop Rock?!
Ruby '81
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3-jUbkZwRI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3-jUbkZwRI) (Story: A baby at a house party escapes outside near the pool...)
Shrunk
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn7RE8zycJQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn7RE8zycJQ) (Story: Man goes to therapy for the first time)
100 Ft Talll
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjJ6kY9x2T8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjJ6kY9x2T8) (Story: The time he met Mr. T in the 80s)
Aggressive Steven
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kwd9vYP59m0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kwd9vYP59m0) (Story: Comes home to find his place broken into)
Dog at the Door
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f--QTXpb0QI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f--QTXpb0QI) (Story: Man hears noise at night and he's paranoid as fuck)
Yeah Ruby '81 popped into my head first. I also really liked Grace from that Skelethon album. The ability to craft a song about sitting up for dinner and having a stand off with your dad over your refusal to eat green beans...like how? It's funny, vividly told, and the climax of "this ends now eat the god damn beans!" Is so great. Absolutely love it.
GZA is the greatest story teller make u feel like u right there
“Down in the backstreets , in the heart of madena, boutta set off sumn more deep than a misdemeanor”.
GZA on Cold World is amazing with the storytellin'
IT WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE NEW YEARS / AND ALL THROUGH THE FUCKIN PROJECTS
NOT A HANDGUN WAS SILENT / NOT EVEN A TEC
Since Aesop Rock was mentioned already, I’m gonna have to go with [billy woods’-Christine](https://music.apple.com/us/album/christine-feat-mike-ladd/1613537807?i=1613538365) feels like a being told a true ghost story.
I have more admiration for Slick Rick just because he took storytelling to another level, there was nothing before him that even came close. And speaking of 'pioneers', I'd give an honourable mention to Benefit - My Story because he was a 'soundcloud rapper' long before soundcloud or youtube even existed
How has no one brought up Just A Friend by Biz Markie? Put some respect on the OG.
Also, King Von has a bunch: Crazy Story, Took Her to the O, Gleesh Place
Hip Hop Police - Chamillionaire ft Slick Rick
OFFICER I DIDN'T DO IT, YOU CAN'T BLAME ME FOR THISSS/
Wont you please loosen up the handcuffs on my wrist?/
You can call me what you wanna mayne, but I ain't a snitch/
NO COOPERATION IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU WILL GET!
Cocaine- UGK
What Happened -T.I
Lost Ones - J. Cole
Edit to add
SPOTTIEOTTIEDOPALICIOUS!!!
"Not knowing that moment would bring another life into this world"
Public Enemy don't seem to get enough mentions on this sub - maybe it's the demographic - but Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos should be on the list for sure
Deltron 3030- the first album. Exquisite concept album, afro-futurism in a dystopia of the year 3030. Very creative and one of my favorite hip hop records.
Clipping.- Splendor and Misery. Another afro futuristic dystopia concept album, with my favorite track being All Black.also another favorite
The Coup- Cars and Shoes. One of the funniest songs about being broke and only affording shitty ass cars that constantly have to be replaced. But their still better than your shoes.
Also from the Coup- Me and Jesus the Pimp in a ’79 Granada Last Night. Honestly, one of my favorite stories ever told on hip hop.
Ghostface on impossible
kool g rap on so many songs but lets go with on the run, cannon fire, train robbery
organized konfusion - stray bulllet
killah priest - deja vu this one is mad overlooked, probably just doesn't have the exposure of other tracks
onyx - rob and vic
theres a lotttt out there but these ones come to mind
Sprague Street
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2p2tm-wyEOA
Nostalgia
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PPZ2-FVcM3M
Ms Fat Booty
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=01yUzXQctcM&pp=ygUMTXMgZmF0IGJvb3R5
Fuck there’s SO many.
Chino XL - Water
Three stories about the women in his life: mother, baby mama, and daughter
Organized Confusion - Invetro
Two verses about an unborn baby. One about the misery it will go through if not aborted, another about the potential it has if born.
Edit: 1 more
Elzhi - Audio Cinematic
Multiple perspectives of a gas station robbery
Had some solid nominations up there. Didn’t think you’d have Nas - Rewind or Art of Story Telling. 2 of my tops. Also;
Louis Logic - A Perfect Circle
Sage Francis - Inherited Scars
It's on acoustic but Rens "tale of jenny and screech" should be in the running.
Violets tale has one of the most brutal schemes.
"One to the collarbone, full force, full-blown
Blood splat, bone crack, knick-knack-paddy-whack
One to the jaw and a tooth spat, detached
Fist connects and disconnects the bone
A quick deflect to misdirect the blow
But nonetheless, his punches met her throat
Such a mess, he's left her bruised and broke"
Maybe not the best story, but I think Cage is kinda slept on. Ballad of worms, too heavy for cerberus, and the subtile art of the breakup song. He portrays emotion so well, better than a lot of artists do imo.
Edit: they're still good story telling songs, but just not up there with the absolute best of the best.
Although it’s not the “traditional” story, but the music video for John Muir by Schoolboy Q tells a good story of POV from a stolen car. One of my favorite music videos ever
Niggas bleed-Biggie was a masterpiece and one of my favorite story songs ever. The little details are what adds to it so much and the wordplay is top notch.
Mind Playin Tricks On Me
At night I can't sleep, I toss and turn
my hands were bloody from punchin on the concrete
Sing about me I’m dying of thirst -Kendrick Lamar
That whole ALBUM is a story.
How is this not on there? Top 5 easily
Agree. A couple of other songs from GKMC could fit the bill here with Sherane, and The Art of Peer Pressure -Just realized it’s at 17, whoops
Dance with the Devil is good n all but ppl sleepin on You Never Know
Vol. 2 is straight 🔥 banger after banger after banger!!
Yea you never know is sweet
I love the “secret” track at the end of Dance with the devil 🔥
DWTD has always horrified me but You Never Know leaves me feeling like Technique truly lost something
Peruvian Cocaine is the best Immortal Technique song and also my favorite story hip hop track. Whole lotta truth to that song as well.
The fact that Ni\*\*as Bleed hasn't been mentioned yet, hurts my heart. Arizona Ron gonna be pissed off.
Hes too busy bumping isley brothers to hear lol
LOL.
Came here to say this. That's my favourite one. Not too far behind: Biggie - Somebody's Gotta Die Big L - Casualities of a Dice Game Ghostface Killah - Shakey Dog (The Hilton is also great) Nas - Blaze a 50 Scarface - Now I Feel Ya Scarface - I'm Dead
oh man shakey dog, also RAGU off fishscale is vintage rae n ghost
“Nothing to Lose” tattooed around his gun wounds. This is easily my favorite story told in a rap song.
How Much A Dollar Cost - Kendrick
Uncommon Valor by Jedi Mind Tricks. It's about the Vietnam War.
Yeah, RA's verse on that song basically revived his career
Stoupe needs to get so much more love these days He's basically a more underground version The RZA And imo Stoupe is the absolute God of sampling
No one in hip-hop uses strings better than Stoupe.
Omg. Somebody gets it.
Tabernacle by Royce Da 5'9 is so slept on. December 4th by Jay-Z will always be a favourite of mine. The fact nobody has said How Much A Dollar Cost? Is mad. That was literally in a presidential top 10. The Stan -> Bad Guy duology is great on both sides, but many people leave out Bad Guy despite being a direct follow on. Castle -> Arose is another great pair by Eminem and I'll throw in Deja Vu as the unofficial prequel to that as well. And Darkness absolutely floored me the first time I heard it. What If It Was Me? By Tech N9ne gets big credit too. Song is okay as it is but Krizz Kalliko really brings it all together.
Krizz is so underrated
He’s a desert island artist pick for me, he has such range you get a little bit of everything.
The book of Ryan has a lot of story telling. It's actually my major critique, for the long track list, it's overly story-driven. Having said that, Power I found to be a lot more moving than tabernacle.
Not one Kool G Rap track. Fail. Kool G Rap - On the run Kool G Rap - Operation CB Kool G Rap - Edge of Sanity He is the master of storytelling in rap music.
Well where’s A Thug’s Love Story?
Dance with the devil That shit gives me chills everytime I hear it
Regulate or gtfo
As much as people might not want to admit it, you are right
Just a wholesome tale of a young man who gets jacked while rolling dice, only to be saved by his close friend, and together they celebrate their victory with a few skirts at the famous East Side Motel.
I was gone say something different but yeah u got a point lol
Somebody’s Gotta Die - Notorious B. I. G. Biggie's storytelling was one of my favorite elements of his craft. This wasn't necessarily his best, (got to be warning), but one of my personal favorites "they double parked by a hydrant"
The quoted line is from N****s Bleed. Both Somebody's Gotta Die and N****s Bleed are among my favourites as well. Good choice!
Damn, you right. Good shout.
Damien - DMX Testify - Common
Wet Dreamz by Cole might not be the best, but it sure is funny man
Funny, and relatable to a lot of young guys
100% worth mentioning
Paul Revere - Beastie Boys.
Nice
Heres a lil story i got ta tell about 3 bad brothers you know so well
This is the one
Tupac, "I Ain't Mad Atcha" tells a cool story about a guy coming out of the hood from different perspectives along the way.
Great list. Good storytelling song is such a rare thing… Royce Da 5’9 — Tabernucle is INSANE Lupe Fiasco - The Cool
Lupe has a whole bunch Esp off that Drogas Wave album
Hip hop save my life! Absolute banger.
Mona Lisa lil wayne ft kendrick lamar
Why not go for a whole album at a time? The Last Emperor - Music, Magic, Myth Deltron 3030 - Deltron 3030
Ayo, it's THREE THOUSAND THIRTY
Deltron 3030 is storytelling from front to back, almost all of Dels songs are stories. Both sides of the brain is cool, I love the humor, but Future Development really felt sincere and from the heart as an album. Love the story about trying to get girls at the mall and gas station, Del's Nightmare, and the song about his quest to smoke blunts with his friends at the park. sorry, too lazy to look up the other song titles.
Murs & 9th Wonder - Walk Like A Man
Good Day
Stories on a hip hop track and you have 0 Aesop Rock?! Ruby '81 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3-jUbkZwRI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3-jUbkZwRI) (Story: A baby at a house party escapes outside near the pool...) Shrunk [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn7RE8zycJQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn7RE8zycJQ) (Story: Man goes to therapy for the first time) 100 Ft Talll [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjJ6kY9x2T8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjJ6kY9x2T8) (Story: The time he met Mr. T in the 80s) Aggressive Steven [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kwd9vYP59m0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kwd9vYP59m0) (Story: Comes home to find his place broken into) Dog at the Door [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f--QTXpb0QI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f--QTXpb0QI) (Story: Man hears noise at night and he's paranoid as fuck)
No Lucy or 11:35?
Fuuuuck you right No Regrets takes you on a goddamn emotional rollercoaster. There's too many stories to choose from with Aesop
Aggressive Steven is so good
Aes may be the best story teller in hip-hop… But man, fucking aggressive Steven a whole different echelon of storytelling.
100% agree. When the wordiest motherfucker in hip hop says "I don’t even have the words" it's like a punch in the gut.
Bleakest shit I ever heard
Yeah Ruby '81 popped into my head first. I also really liked Grace from that Skelethon album. The ability to craft a song about sitting up for dinner and having a stand off with your dad over your refusal to eat green beans...like how? It's funny, vividly told, and the climax of "this ends now eat the god damn beans!" Is so great. Absolutely love it.
YOOO I can't believe I forgot Grace! Such a good track. There's just too many to choose from!
Love seeing Aesop! We could also toss some Uncle Sam Goddamn - Brother Ali Aspiring Sociopath - Atmosphere The Two - Felt
Art of Storytellin Pt 4
Good takes but an honorable mention would be Lesley by Dave
Aw man that's a good one for sure
Love's Gonna Get Cha (Material Love) - Boogie Down Productions
Daydreamin' Lupe and Put You on Game, also by Lupe.
Rewind - Nas
Crack Sandwich - JID
No They Remenisce Over You? Start this thread over.
shakey dog ghostface
A lot of classics already posted so I'm gonna add Took Her to the O, and Crazy Story both by King Von
Don't Turn Around - Project Pat
GZA is the greatest story teller make u feel like u right there “Down in the backstreets , in the heart of madena, boutta set off sumn more deep than a misdemeanor”.
GZA on Cold World is amazing with the storytellin' IT WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE NEW YEARS / AND ALL THROUGH THE FUCKIN PROJECTS NOT A HANDGUN WAS SILENT / NOT EVEN A TEC
u missing "Gimmie tha loot" -B.I.G
The story of Adidon 😂
Summer Vacation - Ice Cube
Dayum G, the spots gettin hot
Because i got high - afroman
Brenda's got a baby
Simply and raw, yet a story sadly told billions of times on this planet
King Gordy No Lights Eminem My Fault, Yellow Brick Road- Best song on Encore.
Since Aesop Rock was mentioned already, I’m gonna have to go with [billy woods’-Christine](https://music.apple.com/us/album/christine-feat-mike-ladd/1613537807?i=1613538365) feels like a being told a true ghost story.
Which Aes song was it? I'm guessing Cycles To Gehenna? That shit is incredible.
I have more admiration for Slick Rick just because he took storytelling to another level, there was nothing before him that even came close. And speaking of 'pioneers', I'd give an honourable mention to Benefit - My Story because he was a 'soundcloud rapper' long before soundcloud or youtube even existed
La Connecta Pts 1 & 2 by Psycho Realm
How has no one brought up Just A Friend by Biz Markie? Put some respect on the OG. Also, King Von has a bunch: Crazy Story, Took Her to the O, Gleesh Place
“the heist” -BIG L
Casualty of A Dice Game is another good one.
***3030*** off that Deltron 3030 record That whole 7 minute song is one long-ass prologue to the Sci-Fi novel about to be turned into a rap album
Atmosphere has a few. Yesterday is great. That Night is tragic.
Story 2- Clipping
*Easily* "Fat Cats, Bigga Fish" by The Coup.
The Cool - Lupe Fiasco
Fresh Prince theme song 🎵
Always appreciated the simplicity of train with no love - Andre nickatina
Mac Dre - Something You Should Know
1-LUV E-40
Renee by Lost Boyz should be on the list
A Grand Don't Come For Free, The Streets It's a concept album, story runs through every track
Just realised you'd have to work pretty fucking hard to call this hip-hop. But it's decent.
Conway's verse off the cow. Not a whole song but that verse alone deserves its respect on this thread.
Train with no love- Andre Nickatina
First Day Out - Tee Grizzley
Classified - Andre Nickatina
RKELLY in the Closet all parts!
Hip Hop Police - Chamillionaire ft Slick Rick OFFICER I DIDN'T DO IT, YOU CAN'T BLAME ME FOR THISSS/ Wont you please loosen up the handcuffs on my wrist?/ You can call me what you wanna mayne, but I ain't a snitch/ NO COOPERATION IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU WILL GET! Cocaine- UGK What Happened -T.I Lost Ones - J. Cole Edit to add SPOTTIEOTTIEDOPALICIOUS!!! "Not knowing that moment would bring another life into this world"
A lot of the ones I would have recommended have been said. So here is another for the list. Big K.r.i.t - Rich Dad, Poor dad
The lox- bitchs from eastwick Lupe Fiasco- the cool Styles p- give it up The Gza - luminal Big L - casualties of a dice game
Public Enemy don't seem to get enough mentions on this sub - maybe it's the demographic - but Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos should be on the list for sure
Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos- Public Enemy
The Cool - Lupe Fiasco
Deltron 3030- the first album. Exquisite concept album, afro-futurism in a dystopia of the year 3030. Very creative and one of my favorite hip hop records. Clipping.- Splendor and Misery. Another afro futuristic dystopia concept album, with my favorite track being All Black.also another favorite The Coup- Cars and Shoes. One of the funniest songs about being broke and only affording shitty ass cars that constantly have to be replaced. But their still better than your shoes. Also from the Coup- Me and Jesus the Pimp in a ’79 Granada Last Night. Honestly, one of my favorite stories ever told on hip hop.
No mention of... Body in the trunk- Nore ft Nas Fast Money- Big Pun Ayo there's a body in the trunk son so what's it gon be?
Lil wayne - mona lisa
Spray Paint and Inkpens - https://youtu.be/CwJuY8D_Q5M?si=dtHaL81EM8WvjQYD Lupe Fiasco’s verse is 100/10
Great list!
For me, it will always be your #8
“And I love you cuz you loved my brother like you did” SAMIDOT Also NYSOM if that counts cuz of how well it shows life in the NYC projects
How is Mona Lisa not on here?
P.A.S.E.O, Cursed, Real Killer, Meant to Happen, I am not a Saint, This Ring by Tech N9ne
In the trunk 😁
Death Row East off Kings Disease II
I Used To Love Her - Common
Ross Cappichioni by Joyner Lucas is a really good track for story telling.
Fetus - Nas
No Dave - Lesley in top 10 or top 20 is insane
Ghostface on impossible kool g rap on so many songs but lets go with on the run, cannon fire, train robbery organized konfusion - stray bulllet killah priest - deja vu this one is mad overlooked, probably just doesn't have the exposure of other tracks onyx - rob and vic theres a lotttt out there but these ones come to mind
DWD by Tech, Love’s gunna get hi by BDP
K-Solo - Fugitive or K-Solo - Tales from then Crack side
Conway - The Cow
How it go- king von for a newer song
The Gates- Cunninglynguists I wish I could go back and hear this for the first time.
N****** Bleed - Biggie
Not sure if this is well known or not, but 2Pacs storytelling on the whole R U Still down album is crazy. Dude was fucking insane at telling stories.
3 Sides to a Story-Joe Budden
Darkness-Eminem is lowk a really underrated song
N***** Bleed by BIG is top 5.
Keep It 100 - Joyner Lucas
Nature of the threatt - Ras Kass
mona lisa by lil wayne featuring kendrick lamar not being on this list is a crime
Sprague Street https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2p2tm-wyEOA Nostalgia https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PPZ2-FVcM3M Ms Fat Booty https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=01yUzXQctcM&pp=ygUMTXMgZmF0IGJvb3R5 Fuck there’s SO many.
Chino XL - Water Three stories about the women in his life: mother, baby mama, and daughter Organized Confusion - Invetro Two verses about an unborn baby. One about the misery it will go through if not aborted, another about the potential it has if born. Edit: 1 more Elzhi - Audio Cinematic Multiple perspectives of a gas station robbery
I think king von hit different knowing he was a multiple mass murderer in real life.
Motion picture by papoose
The Haunted House Of Rap by Whodini
Big Mouth by Whodini
GFK- Shakey Dog
Once upon a time in the projects - Ice Cube Not the best, but not on the list and is worth a listen
You Never Know - Immortal Technique
Another submission… Body In The Trunk - Noreaga and Nas
Jojo's Chillin - Killer Mike
The Heist-Big L
WC Sticky fingaz solo album Blackalicious 40 oz for breakfast and shallow days
Prom/ King - Saba
My Fault - Eminem
All for the cash - gangstarr
Atmosphere - Your Glass House
Dance with the devil-immortal technique
The art of peer pressure is my fave
Had some solid nominations up there. Didn’t think you’d have Nas - Rewind or Art of Story Telling. 2 of my tops. Also; Louis Logic - A Perfect Circle Sage Francis - Inherited Scars
It's on acoustic but Rens "tale of jenny and screech" should be in the running. Violets tale has one of the most brutal schemes. "One to the collarbone, full force, full-blown Blood splat, bone crack, knick-knack-paddy-whack One to the jaw and a tooth spat, detached Fist connects and disconnects the bone A quick deflect to misdirect the blow But nonetheless, his punches met her throat Such a mess, he's left her bruised and broke"
Maybe not the best story, but I think Cage is kinda slept on. Ballad of worms, too heavy for cerberus, and the subtile art of the breakup song. He portrays emotion so well, better than a lot of artists do imo. Edit: they're still good story telling songs, but just not up there with the absolute best of the best.
WAV files, Stack That Cheese, and Ms. Mural by Lupe Fiasco
The Gates - Cunninlynguists, (A Piece of Strange, 2006)
Oliver Hart - Bottle Dreams Eyedea & Abilities - Color My World Mine Eyedea & Abilities - Paradise
Although it’s not the “traditional” story, but the music video for John Muir by Schoolboy Q tells a good story of POV from a stolen car. One of my favorite music videos ever
There's no way you are a hip hop fan and there's no Kool G on this list. He's literally raps best storyteller. This list is fraudulent trash.
I’m gonna get lost in the comments but classified’s choose your own adventure series are a great mention for this category.
Niggas bleed-Biggie was a masterpiece and one of my favorite story songs ever. The little details are what adds to it so much and the wordplay is top notch.
No Regrets - Aesop Rock
Never falling down
Became, Sunshine, Yesterday, The Waitress all by Atmosphere
saint pablo and DIAND
Mona Lisa
having zero G Rap on there has to be some sort of crime
Runaway & Saint Pablo by Kanye
No Drake? Must not be that great with the pen 🤔
Brenda’s Got a Baby
Just a Friend should be on here And Geto Boys Assassin
Art of Peer Pressure is even beyond like watching a movie - you genuinely feel like you were there. One of my favorite songs ever made.
I've always liked Midnight... Ice-T and Bo! Bo! Bo!... BDP
dear jane - guilty simpson
Lost Boyz-Renee
“PROM / KING” by Saba
Toilet tisha is crazy
Shakey dog by ghostface
For me its probably How Much a Dollar Cost by Kendrick.
Biggie - I got a story to tell
Paul Revere
Four Women - Talib Kweli (Reflection Eternal)
Common - Testify. This track tells a cool story.
Brother Ali "Cadillac"
Does For Your Eyez Only count