throughout the decades this music genre
has become known for its use of rhythm
climbing sampling MC and DJing
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top 10
ultimate decade defining rap songs this
is part of a series of videos from the
birth of rap music – mm for this list
we’re basing our choices on what we feel
are the most iconic rap songs of the
past decades based on a mix of their
popularity commercial success production
and lyrical quality and cultural impact
number 10
Straight Outta Compton NWA
the world didn’t know what hit them
when nwa unleashed their debut record
these guys were angry loud and had
something to say as the lead single and
title track from their first album
Straight Outta Compton made it clear the
members of NWA weren’t messing around
well the police was equally raw and
significant like nothing was quite as
forceful or powerful as this gangsta rap
number number 9 hypnotized the notorious
b.i.g
biggie smalls had already passed by the
time hypnotize reached number one but
its impact has outlived the artist by a
mile produced by Puff Daddy the two
samples herb Alpert’s rise to achieve
its cool chilled out 70s vibe biggie is
at his best with lyrical references
ranging from couture designers to Star
Wars while Juicy Mo Money mo problems
and it’s all about the Benjamins are
also awesome tracks with Biggie’s top
concerns with the Merc from here exhale
it’s this platinum certified and
grammy-nominated track that is one of
the best examples of pure East Coast
hip-hop number eight in the club city
says the protege of Eminem and dr. grey
audiences were expecting a lot from
fitty with his commercial debut
luckily he more than delivered this
track was his first single and an
instant success selling over 2 million
copies and hitting the charts at number
one feature in a drum beat pounding in
the knife that works nicely with fitties
gruff vocals into clubs lyrics call for
a celebration just try to find one music
fan who hasn’t heard this song it’s
virtually impossible
number seven shook ones part two Mobb
Deep’s sequels are never as good as the
originals think again this sequel to
Mobb Deep’s promo single ship ones
doesn’t only equal the original but
betters it
one part you may have fewer curse words
but it’s undoubtedly a classic in East
Coast and hardcore hip-hop
earning loads of critical acclaim the
lead single from the group’s sophomore
effort is five and a half minutes of the
Queensbridge duo’s finest number six
cream with artists like nas common and
Biggie referencing it in their own work
this tune has to be one of the most
influential rap songs out there please
don’t what we enter the wu-tang single
is notable for memorable verses from
Raekwon and inspect a deck about running
the streets and prison life
but it’s the course from Method Man that
won’t quit as he breaks down the meaning
of cream while Method Man’s duet with
mary j blige i’ll be there for you
you’re all i need to get by is also
great it’s this whoo tang number that
continues to be one of the group’s
highest-rated singles to date
number five nothing but a cheap bang dr.
Dre featuring Snoop Dogg snoop doggy
dogg and dr. dre is that better
snoop doggy dogg later made his mark
with the solo hit gin and juice which so
much drama in the LBC goes out we picked
this 1992 collaboration with dr. grave
for this list why it’s like this like
that like this it’s like betting like
this West Coast hip-hop single has a
sound many have tried to replicate it
has all the elements are rap song shit
contains including a smooth beat a life
manifesto and a code of the streets what
a hell of five gangsta leave getting
funky on the mic like a oh that’s a
collard green it’s the capital S oh yes
some fresh the devil okay he goes up
with G by do double G you see thanks to
Dre’s production talents Snoop Dogg’s
guest vocals and so much more nothing
but a G thang was the chronics highest
charting entry and continues to live on
in popular culture today do see no one
can do a better like this
number four lose yourself mmm his palms
are sweaty knees weak arms and a head
beat his vomit on his sweater already
mom’s spaghetti this song is arguably
one of the best rap anthems of all time
but he keeps on forgetting what he broke
down Eminem is at his Ross and most
personal and while this follows along
the same vein as his earlier hit stance
anyways the whole Fitness man hit me
back to the tech so the doors the
biggest thing to sustain its lose
yourself that’s made it here it’s simply
one of the best lyrical descriptions of
the feeling of battling for something
and being ready to triumph over the
naysayers
the song also received five Grammy nods
and won an Oscar becoming the first rap
song to do so
number three paid in full Eric B and
Rakim pump up the volume pump up the
volume as exhibited in songs like
microphone beam the mic is a dream no
volcanoes erupted in this duo is
comprised of two of the best rappers and
lyricists in the game thinking of a
master plan this ain’t nothing but sweat
inside my hand so why stick it to my
pocket all my money’s spent so I should
default still coming up let’s go ever
it’s paid in full that’s the best
calling card for Eric B & Rakim dance I
need morning I used to be a stick-up kid
so I think all the baby I think that’s
it it’s complex the wordplay is on point
and its content is relatable on top of
all that it has a stance able beat a pen
and a paper up there we do it 8-ball me
and Eric being a nice big plate up which
is my favorite dish
then there’s the cold cut remix known as
seven minutes of madness which propels
the twosome to chart success in Germany
the Netherlands and the UK pump up the
volume pump up the volume
wait a minute you gotta talk to my
mother
number two California love Tupac
featuring dr. Dre and Roger Troutman
Hawk showed that being locked up didn’t
slow him down with this singles that was
his first release after his stint in
jail this ode to California has Tupac
spitting about the superiority of his
adopted home laid-back vibe and beat are
so infectious that listeners can’t help
but imagine the perfect California
where the song became a chart-topping
hit and was honored with a posthumous
Grammy nomination making it the biggest
hit of the rapper’s career before we
unveil our picked for ultimate decade
defining rap song of all time here are a
few honorable mentions
number one the message Grandmaster Flash
and the Furious groundbreaking song open
doors for the hip-hop genre by using
music as a way for the underrepresented
to get their stories out there it’s
strong social message showed the world
what it was really like living in the
ghetto a hard place with little
opportunity and inspired countless
musical acts thereafter in addition to
placing more importance on the rappers
as opposed to the DJ it’s like a jungle
sometimes it makes me wonder how I can
go and end up
the Grandmaster Flash and the Furious
Five tune is also considered one of
hip-hop’s finest tracks ever back in
water park all this crazy afterthought
keep my hand on my gun cuz they got me
on the run I feel like an outlaw broke
my last past JA he say you want some
more do you agree with our list what’s
your favorite rap song of all time more
can’t miss top 10s published every day
be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com
has become known for its use of rhythm
climbing sampling MC and DJing
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top 10
ultimate decade defining rap songs this
is part of a series of videos from the
birth of rap music – mm for this list
we’re basing our choices on what we feel
are the most iconic rap songs of the
past decades based on a mix of their
popularity commercial success production
and lyrical quality and cultural impact
number 10
Straight Outta Compton NWA
the world didn’t know what hit them
when nwa unleashed their debut record
these guys were angry loud and had
something to say as the lead single and
title track from their first album
Straight Outta Compton made it clear the
members of NWA weren’t messing around
well the police was equally raw and
significant like nothing was quite as
forceful or powerful as this gangsta rap
number number 9 hypnotized the notorious
b.i.g
biggie smalls had already passed by the
time hypnotize reached number one but
its impact has outlived the artist by a
mile produced by Puff Daddy the two
samples herb Alpert’s rise to achieve
its cool chilled out 70s vibe biggie is
at his best with lyrical references
ranging from couture designers to Star
Wars while Juicy Mo Money mo problems
and it’s all about the Benjamins are
also awesome tracks with Biggie’s top
concerns with the Merc from here exhale
it’s this platinum certified and
grammy-nominated track that is one of
the best examples of pure East Coast
hip-hop number eight in the club city
says the protege of Eminem and dr. grey
audiences were expecting a lot from
fitty with his commercial debut
luckily he more than delivered this
track was his first single and an
instant success selling over 2 million
copies and hitting the charts at number
one feature in a drum beat pounding in
the knife that works nicely with fitties
gruff vocals into clubs lyrics call for
a celebration just try to find one music
fan who hasn’t heard this song it’s
virtually impossible
number seven shook ones part two Mobb
Deep’s sequels are never as good as the
originals think again this sequel to
Mobb Deep’s promo single ship ones
doesn’t only equal the original but
betters it
one part you may have fewer curse words
but it’s undoubtedly a classic in East
Coast and hardcore hip-hop
earning loads of critical acclaim the
lead single from the group’s sophomore
effort is five and a half minutes of the
Queensbridge duo’s finest number six
cream with artists like nas common and
Biggie referencing it in their own work
this tune has to be one of the most
influential rap songs out there please
don’t what we enter the wu-tang single
is notable for memorable verses from
Raekwon and inspect a deck about running
the streets and prison life
but it’s the course from Method Man that
won’t quit as he breaks down the meaning
of cream while Method Man’s duet with
mary j blige i’ll be there for you
you’re all i need to get by is also
great it’s this whoo tang number that
continues to be one of the group’s
highest-rated singles to date
number five nothing but a cheap bang dr.
Dre featuring Snoop Dogg snoop doggy
dogg and dr. dre is that better
snoop doggy dogg later made his mark
with the solo hit gin and juice which so
much drama in the LBC goes out we picked
this 1992 collaboration with dr. grave
for this list why it’s like this like
that like this it’s like betting like
this West Coast hip-hop single has a
sound many have tried to replicate it
has all the elements are rap song shit
contains including a smooth beat a life
manifesto and a code of the streets what
a hell of five gangsta leave getting
funky on the mic like a oh that’s a
collard green it’s the capital S oh yes
some fresh the devil okay he goes up
with G by do double G you see thanks to
Dre’s production talents Snoop Dogg’s
guest vocals and so much more nothing
but a G thang was the chronics highest
charting entry and continues to live on
in popular culture today do see no one
can do a better like this
number four lose yourself mmm his palms
are sweaty knees weak arms and a head
beat his vomit on his sweater already
mom’s spaghetti this song is arguably
one of the best rap anthems of all time
but he keeps on forgetting what he broke
down Eminem is at his Ross and most
personal and while this follows along
the same vein as his earlier hit stance
anyways the whole Fitness man hit me
back to the tech so the doors the
biggest thing to sustain its lose
yourself that’s made it here it’s simply
one of the best lyrical descriptions of
the feeling of battling for something
and being ready to triumph over the
naysayers
the song also received five Grammy nods
and won an Oscar becoming the first rap
song to do so
number three paid in full Eric B and
Rakim pump up the volume pump up the
volume as exhibited in songs like
microphone beam the mic is a dream no
volcanoes erupted in this duo is
comprised of two of the best rappers and
lyricists in the game thinking of a
master plan this ain’t nothing but sweat
inside my hand so why stick it to my
pocket all my money’s spent so I should
default still coming up let’s go ever
it’s paid in full that’s the best
calling card for Eric B & Rakim dance I
need morning I used to be a stick-up kid
so I think all the baby I think that’s
it it’s complex the wordplay is on point
and its content is relatable on top of
all that it has a stance able beat a pen
and a paper up there we do it 8-ball me
and Eric being a nice big plate up which
is my favorite dish
then there’s the cold cut remix known as
seven minutes of madness which propels
the twosome to chart success in Germany
the Netherlands and the UK pump up the
volume pump up the volume
wait a minute you gotta talk to my
mother
number two California love Tupac
featuring dr. Dre and Roger Troutman
Hawk showed that being locked up didn’t
slow him down with this singles that was
his first release after his stint in
jail this ode to California has Tupac
spitting about the superiority of his
adopted home laid-back vibe and beat are
so infectious that listeners can’t help
but imagine the perfect California
where the song became a chart-topping
hit and was honored with a posthumous
Grammy nomination making it the biggest
hit of the rapper’s career before we
unveil our picked for ultimate decade
defining rap song of all time here are a
few honorable mentions
number one the message Grandmaster Flash
and the Furious groundbreaking song open
doors for the hip-hop genre by using
music as a way for the underrepresented
to get their stories out there it’s
strong social message showed the world
what it was really like living in the
ghetto a hard place with little
opportunity and inspired countless
musical acts thereafter in addition to
placing more importance on the rappers
as opposed to the DJ it’s like a jungle
sometimes it makes me wonder how I can
go and end up
the Grandmaster Flash and the Furious
Five tune is also considered one of
hip-hop’s finest tracks ever back in
water park all this crazy afterthought
keep my hand on my gun cuz they got me
on the run I feel like an outlaw broke
my last past JA he say you want some
more do you agree with our list what’s
your favorite rap song of all time more
can’t miss top 10s published every day
be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com
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