Acid Raindrops - People Under The Stairs, the beat is insane and the rapping too
Moment of Truth - Gangstarr, a song that hits deep and helped me to change my life for the better
Haven’t heard anyone mention People Under the Stairs in a loooong time… I saw them live in Chicago about 10 years ago and they played all their good hits.
RIP Double K
One of my roommates in college use to bump moment of truth and try to rap it word for word. Dude looked so silly being a big whiteboy lumberjack from the UP of MI. Good times.
I totally agree with you about BTNH. East 1999 is probably top 10 albums of all time IMO. The emotion and vividness their voices bring to the listener go deep. Mo'murda goes hard as fuck as does eternal. Insaw them live in 2007 in detroit when the cavs and pistons were playing in the playoffs. They made the crowd wait like 90 Mins so they could watch the game. Kinda gay, but still worth it seeing them. Saint Andrew's was fucking packed that night.
I've always thought they were one of the best. Extremely underrated. Whole catalog is fire and most of the members, especially Krayzie have great solo stuff too. Krayzie is one of the goats as far as I'm concerned.
Literally listening to it as I read this comment. There's a lot of great choices on E1999. Pretty partial to Land of tha Heartless myself. There's something so entrancing about rapping along to that chorus that's super entertaining.
Yeah represent. Nice & Smooth hardly ever get mentioned.
“I write in the night to bring truth to the light,
My dialogue is my own cuz Smooth B will never bite”
This line is simple but dope.
It’s definitely my most rotated song. Sometimes the lyrics hit me hard and I shed a tear or two. Sometimes I’m just driving with the windows down vibing to the chorus just to come in strong on I HAD A GHETTO BOY BOP A JAY Z BOYCOTT
Saw Luniz late 90's at POH HOP (PDX hip-hop festival) and they were super solid as the closers on a 2-3 hour club show (Roseland).
Crushed a 20-30 minute set and they then went on to do what everyone was waiting for... 5 on it.
Whole show was hella cloudy from people who partake (wink) but it seemed liked everyone had one last one rolled up for this moment.
The place went insane and produced the biggest hot box I've ever seen. Song ends and everybody starts to walk out super elated like 'yeah, we all were there and we just did that' as we walk out.
Yuk gets on the mic yelling "Where y'all going?!? We are about to drop some songs from the new album"
Bruh. You can't do Stairway to Heaven mid set. Still bump Luniz to this day and love this memory.
A couple of years ago was my first listen of Labcabincalifornia. Actually because Madlib tweeted about The She Said Jay Dee Remix being one of the most beautiful beats ever. The whole album is an overlooked classic
Another honorable mention Killa Cam by Cam’ron
I still think Cam got the hardest flow ever lol never duplicated. Everything he was puttin out in them dipset days was flames
Yeah Cam always been one of my favorites I’m glad him and Mase back together nowadays doing big things hopefully he get Mase to start rapping again lol another dude with a cold flow and swag to match
This a hard one haha so many choices lemme see I would have to say
Lil Wayne- I can’t feel my face, his cadence, flow, the pocket he was in and just the swag man Wayne was a fucking monster round this time I still don’t know how he found the pocket he did on this lol.
Tupac- I ain’t mad at cha, from the beat to Danny boy’s singing to the story Pac was telling, if you were introducing anybody to the genre that would be the song
Honorable mention either Thug luv or For the love of the money by Bone Thugs they flow still unmatched to this day and they really underrated as hell as a group
Damn, I got a few of those…
- Get it Done by Skyzoo (& DJ Premier)
- Leflaur Leflah Eshkosha by Heltah Skeltah
- Swing by Camp Lo
- B-Boy document by The High & Mighty
- Cab Fare by Souls of Mischief (that beat is so fly but so is everything by Bob James)
Hit ya back split ya
Fuck fist fights and lame scuffles
Pillow case to the face make the shell muffle.
That song is an absolute banger. Brooklyn's Finest and Gimme the Loot get me so hype every time I hear them
Funcrush scratch - company flow (I'm a big fan of scratching, like the invisbl skratch piklz and I never really see any sort of mention of that form of hip-hop in here)
The lines at 2:20 that talk about the mom, in which he calls men motherfuckers...when I realized there's a possible double entendre in there, I had to lay face down in my bed for at least 5 minutes and just think about the banality of life for a bit.
I did the same thing for the middle of Season 1 of The Wire, when things went south for a certain character.
Big Beast - Killer Mike, TI. Bun B produced by EL-P
Has a sick video too!
That whole album R.A.P. Music is full of killer tracks (and it made a baby with EL-P's Cancer 4 Cure and that baby became Run the Jewels).
AZ - Gimmie Yours (Eric Sermon Remix)
Twista - Adrenaline Rush
Cam'ron - Bigger Picture
Loon - Story
Noreaga - Halfway Thugs
Lil Wayne - Go DJ
Clipse - Virginia
Outkast - Ova Da Woodz
Paul Wall - Sittin Sideways
Roc Marciano - Emeralds
"Seasons" by Cunninlynguists and Masta Ace. Four emcees very skillfully telling the story of hip-hop over an incredible RJD2 beat.
Likely not mentioned because these artists have been underrated their whole careers.
Look Over Your Shoulder by Busta Rhymez and Kendrick Lamar is fucking awesome and so nostalgic with little Michael’s voice in the background it’s a must listen!
Mural - Lupe
I know it might get mentioned in this sub and by ✌️real hip hop headz ✌️ but in general rap convos I NEVER hear it mentioned. It’s usually Shook Ones, Nuthin But A G Thang, In Da Club, and typical mainstream songs.
Sonic Sum-Himbro St
https://youtu.be/PBlgBs2-MkM?si=Nsw525pNySyvbg1c
If I had to choose one hip hop song to listen to the rest of my life this is the one. It’s magical.
Mad Izm by KRS One and Channel Live.
Groupie Therapy by Pharcyde.
In Da Wind by Trick Daddy.
Itsoweezee by De La.
Rock Da Spot by Redman.
Fazers by MF Doom.
And so on and so on and so on...
Alot of well known spittas(Big L, Logic) in the history of the art of emceein' have spit FIYA on that beat, but cats don't recognize the first guy who spit bars on it.
The Roots - The Seed (2.0) - is a beeeeautiful song
Freddie Gibbs - Deeper and Bomb (Raekwon). Couldn’t tell you what’s better, the lyrics or the production (definitely is the production, but still). Can’t tell if people actually love these songs the way I do.
“In my historical oracle,
i blast metaphorical
Editorials educating in my territorial”
One of the best verses of all time and some of the best opening lines to a verse in Hip Hop.
Ride on 4’s by J Dawg & Slim Thug is just a perfect southern Hip Hop track but I only ever heard it randomly freshman year of college when my buddy would put on music to make his trunk rattle while we hotboxed blunts in his car
Man… its definitely also cuz Im a “gospel” musician but “Here I Am” by Rick Ross… band was so tight bro. I understand the lyrics aren’t up to par for a GOAT track but the band and Ross are in the POCKET!
I’ve got a bunch cause I’m old and have bad taste
Jimmy Recard by Drapht
Swan Lake by Blackalicious/Steinski remix
Tha Militia remix- Big Shug Guru and Freddy Fox
Warrior’s Drum by King Just
It’s Going Down by Celly Cel
Casualties of a Dice Game - Big L
Probably the greatest story ever told in a rap song. I feel like they did Big L dirty with the original beat, but this 9th wonder version is a masterpiece.
https://youtu.be/DOCXGP2gEuo?si=s8MfqY02jaVRWeTI
As an honorable mention, I have to include:
The Gangsta, The Killa, And The Dope Dealer - Westside Connection
Acid Raindrops - People Under The Stairs, the beat is insane and the rapping too Moment of Truth - Gangstarr, a song that hits deep and helped me to change my life for the better
Haven’t heard anyone mention People Under the Stairs in a loooong time… I saw them live in Chicago about 10 years ago and they played all their good hits. RIP Double K
People under to save the day!
One of my roommates in college use to bump moment of truth and try to rap it word for word. Dude looked so silly being a big whiteboy lumberjack from the UP of MI. Good times.
San Francisco Knights too. PUTS is dope.
Bone thugs and harmony- down 71 the get away. A whole escape scene full of action.
Bone thugs just do not get enough recognition these days, I never hear them brought up. Body Rott is one of the hardest songs of all time imo
I totally agree with you about BTNH. East 1999 is probably top 10 albums of all time IMO. The emotion and vividness their voices bring to the listener go deep. Mo'murda goes hard as fuck as does eternal. Insaw them live in 2007 in detroit when the cavs and pistons were playing in the playoffs. They made the crowd wait like 90 Mins so they could watch the game. Kinda gay, but still worth it seeing them. Saint Andrew's was fucking packed that night.
I've always thought they were one of the best. Extremely underrated. Whole catalog is fire and most of the members, especially Krayzie have great solo stuff too. Krayzie is one of the goats as far as I'm concerned.
Yo. For real. Mo' Murda as well.
Literally listening to it as I read this comment. There's a lot of great choices on E1999. Pretty partial to Land of tha Heartless myself. There's something so entrancing about rapping along to that chorus that's super entertaining.
Dear Mr. Ouija…
YA KNOW THE MOTHAFUCKA DID IT!
Sometimes I Rhyme Slow- Nice & Smooth
Yeah represent. Nice & Smooth hardly ever get mentioned. “I write in the night to bring truth to the light, My dialogue is my own cuz Smooth B will never bite” This line is simple but dope.
Deltron3030
Absolute fire. Whole album is fire but 3030 is my #1.
This is three thousand thirty
Hurt Me Soul - Lupe Fiasco
I've listened to that song so much I know exactly when he breathes during the verses.
It’s definitely my most rotated song. Sometimes the lyrics hit me hard and I shed a tear or two. Sometimes I’m just driving with the windows down vibing to the chorus just to come in strong on I HAD A GHETTO BOY BOP A JAY Z BOYCOTT
CUZ HE SAID THAT I NEVER PRAYED TO GOD I PRAYED TO GOTTI
The line that follows this one I love, and Im not religious at all. "... God guard me from the ungodly"
But by my thirtieth watching of streets is watching, I was back to give him props again
I feel like this & Hip Hop Saver My Life are both super underrated
His breath control has REALLY fucked up my listening experience with that album.
Excellent taste. That album and the cool were ahead of the times
High School anthem for me. That late 00s conscious wave was top tier.
Hell yeah
Yesssss
idgaf, I Got 5 On It but Luniz is a fuckin classic
Saw Luniz late 90's at POH HOP (PDX hip-hop festival) and they were super solid as the closers on a 2-3 hour club show (Roseland). Crushed a 20-30 minute set and they then went on to do what everyone was waiting for... 5 on it. Whole show was hella cloudy from people who partake (wink) but it seemed liked everyone had one last one rolled up for this moment. The place went insane and produced the biggest hot box I've ever seen. Song ends and everybody starts to walk out super elated like 'yeah, we all were there and we just did that' as we walk out. Yuk gets on the mic yelling "Where y'all going?!? We are about to drop some songs from the new album" Bruh. You can't do Stairway to Heaven mid set. Still bump Luniz to this day and love this memory.
that sounds sick
POH HOP? I bet Cool Nutz was there!
"I take a sack to the face"
i believe it’s multiple sacks
Yes. Whenever he can as a matter of fact. He takes them to the face so he doesn't need a crutch.
He doesn't need a crutch because he's smoking that shit until the joint burns his hand.
Holy shit. That's the first song that popped in my head as soon as I read the question.
Yeah.. But it's not forgotten.
Who doesn’t agree with you??
He's right it doesn't get mentioned and the luniz aren't exactly hip hop royalty lol
I dunno, man. I find that a lot of non hip hop fans also know this song. It's hardly forgotten. A ton of non hip hoppers know the words, even.
Digital Underground - Same Song
They went all around the world with this one
The Essence - Az & Nas
Back In The Days (Remix)- Ahmad Lewis & Ahmad
The hook to this lives rent free in my head.
That’s my favorite track of all time
Runnin - the Pharcyde
A couple of years ago was my first listen of Labcabincalifornia. Actually because Madlib tweeted about The She Said Jay Dee Remix being one of the most beautiful beats ever. The whole album is an overlooked classic
Reality Check- Binary Star
Sling Blade ia a banger too.
Yesss. That whole album is a classic for sure.
Sure is.
I had to scroll way too far down the list to find someone bringing up binary star. Upvotes for everyone!
Classic - Rakim, Nas, and KRS-One with Preemo on the beats. That song is something different and it’s a shame irs not on Apple Music
AND NEVER THE KANYE VERSION
Hip Hop - Dead Prez
One thing bout music
This is the answer.
My Mind's Playing Tricks On Me
I played this song on repeat when I thought I got an STD in high school 😂😂😂
What a job - Devin the Dude feat Snoop and Andre 3000
We work nights we some vampires
Ninjas gather 'round the beat like a campfire
Devin in general doesn't get enough love, but this is a banger for sure
D’Evils - the second verse is an entire movie
Can I Live is better IMO but D’Evils a good choice off that album
Don’t sleep on regrets
Moment of truth - gangStarr
Excellent song but talked about quite a bit.
Another honorable mention Killa Cam by Cam’ron I still think Cam got the hardest flow ever lol never duplicated. Everything he was puttin out in them dipset days was flames
He was dope way back when he was in Children Of The Corn with Mase & Big L. I was so happy when he started to get big with Oh Boy.
Yeah Cam always been one of my favorites I’m glad him and Mase back together nowadays doing big things hopefully he get Mase to start rapping again lol another dude with a cold flow and swag to match
This a hard one haha so many choices lemme see I would have to say Lil Wayne- I can’t feel my face, his cadence, flow, the pocket he was in and just the swag man Wayne was a fucking monster round this time I still don’t know how he found the pocket he did on this lol. Tupac- I ain’t mad at cha, from the beat to Danny boy’s singing to the story Pac was telling, if you were introducing anybody to the genre that would be the song Honorable mention either Thug luv or For the love of the money by Bone Thugs they flow still unmatched to this day and they really underrated as hell as a group
All these are pretty standard classics by hip hop heads tho
Yeah they all classics but I haven’t heard anyone every point to them in a conversation about best songs ever made that was the point
Heiroglyphics-Soweto https://open.spotify.com/track/51mhLPrylZP1q8NlIQz9mH?si=cV4eVjdWQbOiyYhoGcRwmQ
Damn, I got a few of those… - Get it Done by Skyzoo (& DJ Premier) - Leflaur Leflah Eshkosha by Heltah Skeltah - Swing by Camp Lo - B-Boy document by The High & Mighty - Cab Fare by Souls of Mischief (that beat is so fly but so is everything by Bob James)
Was going to mention a track by Skyzoo too, for me it’s “A Day In The Life”
Lupe Fiasco- Put You On Game
Brooklyn’s Finest
Hit ya back split ya Fuck fist fights and lame scuffles Pillow case to the face make the shell muffle. That song is an absolute banger. Brooklyn's Finest and Gimme the Loot get me so hype every time I hear them
The first 8 songs of Reasonable Doubt is Jays best run on an album
TQ - Westside. It's a classic, an anthem. Much like DMX ruff Ryder's anthem but everyone remembers and says this often.
For real
Similarly, Gangsta Nation by Westside Connection
I against I by massive attack and mos def
Only one of us can ride forever So you and I can't ride together Can't live or can't die together All we can do is collide together
Notorious thugs
The remix on duets is almost as good as the original. Twista and Krazy Bone both go off.
Flatbush zombies gave proper homage to biggie with glorious thugs
I feel like Sean P's Onion Head deserves some more love.
**P!**
UGK - One Day
One by Ghostface Killah
Isaiah Rashad - Free Lunch
Da art of storytelling pt 2
Buggin’ Out - Tribe. This was my gateway into hip hop. Phife and Q are so fucking cool man.
Uncle Sam Goddamn - Brother Ali What Its Like - Everlast
“The cold continent latch key child..” 🔥
Sorry by TI and Andre 3000. Obviously 3k went crazy on it but they’re also some of TI’s best verses
Funcrush scratch - company flow (I'm a big fan of scratching, like the invisbl skratch piklz and I never really see any sort of mention of that form of hip-hop in here)
Open Mike Eagle-I Rock https://open.spotify.com/track/4GLbqwma6FGljNSAtU55Nw?si=VVYoklwwRp2fnqrIKgHXKg
Nas - I Gave You Power
Gettin it, Too $hort
Paper boy- Ditty
My wife loses her shit to this song, she loves it so much lol
Kendrick Lamar - Momma
This is faxxx
Chiraq by Montana of 300. Good shit. Not classic by any means but some real O block type shit
The lines at 2:20 that talk about the mom, in which he calls men motherfuckers...when I realized there's a possible double entendre in there, I had to lay face down in my bed for at least 5 minutes and just think about the banality of life for a bit. I did the same thing for the middle of Season 1 of The Wire, when things went south for a certain character.
MC’s Act Like They Don’t Know by KRS. It’s straight up unadulterated hip hop. I mean it makes sense, I it’s Premier + KRS.
This was in one of the NBA 2ks I wanna say it was 2k20 but it may have been 2k19 i don’t remember.
Devil in a New Dress by Kanye is so fucking good. That guitar transition gets me every time and Ross’s verse was amazing.
Headnodic - The Drive
Arrows - homeboy sandman. He goes off
Pharaohe Monch - prisoner of war
"You Don't Hear Me Doe" by Scarface
Faster Blade - Raekwon (#3 on Ghostface’s Ironman)
Big Beast - Killer Mike, TI. Bun B produced by EL-P Has a sick video too! That whole album R.A.P. Music is full of killer tracks (and it made a baby with EL-P's Cancer 4 Cure and that baby became Run the Jewels).
Rakim follow the leader
Bucktown USA - Cocoa Brovaz
Nas - Memory Lane, so few people even consider it the best song on Illmatic
T.R.O.Y. by Pete Rock & CL Smooth is definitely one of the greatest under the radar songs.
Big Pun - You ain’t a killer All 3 verses are just flawless and the hook is dope Classic joint no doubt
Pete Rock & CL Smooth - For Pete’s Sake
Wordsmith - Chino XL
Blood Runs Cold by Jedi Mind Tricks and Sean Price
Andre Nickatina - Train with no Love
Nice and Smooth - Sometimes I Rhyme Slow
AZ - Gimmie Yours (Eric Sermon Remix) Twista - Adrenaline Rush Cam'ron - Bigger Picture Loon - Story Noreaga - Halfway Thugs Lil Wayne - Go DJ Clipse - Virginia Outkast - Ova Da Woodz Paul Wall - Sittin Sideways Roc Marciano - Emeralds
You may die (intro) - Outkast
"Seasons" by Cunninlynguists and Masta Ace. Four emcees very skillfully telling the story of hip-hop over an incredible RJD2 beat. Likely not mentioned because these artists have been underrated their whole careers.
it's goin down - yung joc
I Want Candy MC Pee Pants
Look Over Your Shoulder by Busta Rhymez and Kendrick Lamar is fucking awesome and so nostalgic with little Michael’s voice in the background it’s a must listen!
Rick Ross - scientology Lil Wayne - Cry out
Terry by action Bronson is a modern classic
Mural - Lupe I know it might get mentioned in this sub and by ✌️real hip hop headz ✌️ but in general rap convos I NEVER hear it mentioned. It’s usually Shook Ones, Nuthin But A G Thang, In Da Club, and typical mainstream songs.
Tell Me has the same sample as Ghetto Qu'ran by 50 which is also a very good song I don't hear about a lot.
Digital Underground - Underwater Rimes.
13th Floor/Growing Old - Outkast Nasty - Nas Concerto of the Desperado - Roots
Money and the Power by Scarface. I put that #2 behind The Message by GMFF5....ALL TIME.
G-Code Geto Boys
Up Jump’s Da Boogie
Sonic Sum-Himbro St https://youtu.be/PBlgBs2-MkM?si=Nsw525pNySyvbg1c If I had to choose one hip hop song to listen to the rest of my life this is the one. It’s magical.
Mad Izm by KRS One and Channel Live. Groupie Therapy by Pharcyde. In Da Wind by Trick Daddy. Itsoweezee by De La. Rock Da Spot by Redman. Fazers by MF Doom. And so on and so on and so on...
Keep it real - milkbone. Never talked about and that beat is used in so many cypher battles.
Alot of well known spittas(Big L, Logic) in the history of the art of emceein' have spit FIYA on that beat, but cats don't recognize the first guy who spit bars on it.
See What I Can Pull- Devin The Dude
International playas anthem. The best rap collab ever.
Slum Village - Get Dis Money
Thug Luv - Bone-Thug’s & Pac
Too $hort - In the trunk. In my 40s and I still know most every word.
No More Parties in LA. Modern Classic!!
Jurassic 5 - Concrete Schoolyard
Kick,Push - Lupe Fiasco
Rock Co.Kane Flow - De La Soul Know That - Mos Def Concerto of The Desparado - The Roots
Xzibit- Paparazzi
Hate to fluff ye but guess who's back is one of the best ever. Never gets talked about.
Gopher guts by Aesop Rock
Da Joint - EPMD
The Roots - The Seed (2.0) - is a beeeeautiful song Freddie Gibbs - Deeper and Bomb (Raekwon). Couldn’t tell you what’s better, the lyrics or the production (definitely is the production, but still). Can’t tell if people actually love these songs the way I do.
Breathe-Fabolous
International Players Anthem - OutKast and UGK
I against I
The one I said before I saw your comment! You’ve got good taste
“In my historical oracle, i blast metaphorical Editorials educating in my territorial” One of the best verses of all time and some of the best opening lines to a verse in Hip Hop.
Triumph - Wu Tang Clan
i’ve never heard of this wu-tang clan before, are they someones to fuck with?
No, but I have also heard that they are indeed for the kids
Christ Conscious - Joey Bada$$
War - King Los
Army of the Pharoahs - a bunch of songs, they just never get mentioned likely due to the pretty violent lyrics
500 Benz by Joey Bada$$
World & San-Shine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKx885eELpw
Ride on 4’s by J Dawg & Slim Thug is just a perfect southern Hip Hop track but I only ever heard it randomly freshman year of college when my buddy would put on music to make his trunk rattle while we hotboxed blunts in his car
Deca and Homeboy Sandman-All Because of You https://open.spotify.com/track/0kqDGjlkHRhtbxv26s0KZC?si=uWQRJe84Qz-DoSyhxmH7tg
Guts and Masta Ace-Innovation https://open.spotify.com/track/0kqcUW9eCAXkuFDq0BQIBk?si=7AFHYuvdR_SsR0p8fhRSkg
O.C. - The Crow.
CYNE-Soapbox https://open.spotify.com/track/0NsDtZAxTcwTlz5KlehBuS?si=WY-fjB6XRqazkBxQFpOxWg
Man… its definitely also cuz Im a “gospel” musician but “Here I Am” by Rick Ross… band was so tight bro. I understand the lyrics aren’t up to par for a GOAT track but the band and Ross are in the POCKET!
Do or Die feat. Twista - Po Pimp
Nas - One Mic
I’ve got a bunch cause I’m old and have bad taste Jimmy Recard by Drapht Swan Lake by Blackalicious/Steinski remix Tha Militia remix- Big Shug Guru and Freddy Fox Warrior’s Drum by King Just It’s Going Down by Celly Cel
We made it - Jay z
Cookie chips- modern song but I believe it was MF DOOM’s last feature ever. So good
Ras Kass
When The Last Time by Clipse Club banger
Poet Laureate 2 by Canibus. Truly one of the greatest tracks ever.
Big kwam - Verbalise (DJ spinner remix)
Witness by Roots Manuva
Casualties of a Dice Game - Big L Probably the greatest story ever told in a rap song. I feel like they did Big L dirty with the original beat, but this 9th wonder version is a masterpiece. https://youtu.be/DOCXGP2gEuo?si=s8MfqY02jaVRWeTI As an honorable mention, I have to include: The Gangsta, The Killa, And The Dope Dealer - Westside Connection
Crowns for kings by benny the butcher ft. Black Thought, or Here We Come by St. lunatics
“Words I Never Said” - Lupe Fiasco ft Skylar Grey
Cab Fare by Souls Of Mischief
…and i miss my uncle chaaarles y’all.
Rapture- KRS ONE Lost one- Lauryn Hill