Rappers often rap to beats that range from smooth to gritty, creating characters that range from chic and sophisticated to tough gangland tough, while telling stories that can be either humorous, tragic, or inspiring.
Cam’ron and Just Blaze deliver this classic track featuring the Roc-a-Fella rhymer at his best, providing a masterclass in lyricism.
Lil Jon
Lil Jon, an award-winning rapper, producer and DJ. His music features party themes as well as overcoming obstacles; while his infectious beats have become hallmarks of success. Additionally, he has produced hits for artists like Krayzie Bone and Chamillionaire, Usher Ciara Petey Pablo Young Buck among many others.
Crunk music pioneer and pioneer deejay Eddie Ezra made history when he pioneered crunk, an infectious mix of hip hop, dancehall, R&B and reggae music. Beginning as a deejay at an Atlanta nightclub and hosting a reggae show on local radio station V103 before joining The East Side Boyz (signed with TVT Records early 2000s with singles ‘Who U Wit?’ and ‘Shawty Freak A Lil Something’), helping introduce hip hop music to new audiences.
J Dilla’s production makes this song hard to forget, creating an irresistibly catchy instrumental track with smooth basslines and soft samples, giving a soulful vibe; Baatin adds his verses for added vibrancy – no surprise this classic appeared on the 2004 movie soundtrack for The Pursuit of Happiness as proof hip hop goes beyond partying and drugs!
Hit-Boy
Hit-Boy has long been one of the cornerstones of hip hop production, helping shape its sound in many ways. His work with Jay-Z, Kanye West and 2 Chainz have cemented him as an influential producer. His beats tend to be less extravagant than others’ but still catchy and impressive – his work on Eminem’s “Stan” song stands out with its orchestral music from The Godfather further heightening its intensity.
Hit-Boy has played an instrumental role in the rise of several new MCs. He produced Bobby Shmurda’s breakout single for Brooklyn rapper Lloyd Banks’ instrumental, along with infectious dance moves, into an instant classic hit single. Furthermore, his work with Fabolous and Jadakiss has been nothing short of phenomenal with them singing songs about street life and strong relationships over sparser beats than many modern hip hop productions.
Hit-Boy excels at pairing himself with superstar rappers to craft songs that are both memorable and catchy; his work with Jay-Z in “Ni**as in Paris” stands out, while Young Jeezy and Hit-Boy came together beautifully on “Seen It All”, featuring an incredible chorus from Switch’s 1979 track “I Call Your Name”. Both examples demonstrate his ability to compose tracks that combine catchiness with depth of meaning.
J Dilla
James Dilla was one of hip hop’s most groundbreaking producers. An exceptional singer and drummer with an ear for beat, J Dilla was born in Detroit before passing away due to an autoimmune disease called Lupus in February 2006. His legacy will live on in future hip hop musicians.
In his short lifetime, Dilla produced albums for De La Soul and Janet Jackson; co-formed Jaylib with Madlib; released several solo instrumental works; was an influential force on neo soul and hip hop production; is widely credited with pushing instrumental production to new levels; created his own unique style of drum programming called Dilla time; this differed significantly from swing or straight timing styles of programming drums.
In February 2007 to commemorate J Dilla’s life and legacy, friends and collaborators released a tribute album featuring musicians of different genres (including a 60-piece orchestra). It is dedicated to Dilla’s mother who inspired much of its musical composition. A must listen for fans of hip hop or instrumental music!
Nelly
Nelly has had an impactful presence in hip hop music for more than two decades, from 2008 and beyond. Selling millions of records, Nelly remains one of the most well-known figures in rap. His music is powerful yet upbeat; its lyrics reach across generations to resonate with fans everywhere.
Nelly first came onto the scene in 2000 with Country Grammar, an album which redefined midwestern rap and introduced people worldwide to an artist determined to change culture. While remaining true to himself while expanding his sound, Nelly created hits which showcased all his musical interests.
St Louis rapper Derrty Versions and Bad Boys II soundtrack helped him maintain his place at the top of charts until 2004 when Sweatsuit, featuring its singles “Flap Your Wings” and “This Iz U,” came out. Brass Knuckles (2008) followed soon afterwards.
Nelly made his comeback following a three-year absence with the release of 5.0 (2010), an album featuring guest artists. Critics quickly recognized Nelly’s more mature approach to his work – featuring songs like ‘Work It’ that proved his vocal ability, while tender and emotive ones such as ‘One & Only’ showed different sides of Nelly.
Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne hails from New Orleans’ impoverished 17th Ward, and made his mark by freestyling into Cash Money Records cofounder Bryan Williams’ voicemail as an early nine-year-old. From there, Wayne quickly rose through the ranks forming Hot Boys with Juvenile and Young Turk as Hot Boys before founding Young Money Entertainment with them and eventually his own imprint Young Money Entertainment. One of rap’s unique voices, Lil Wayne balances clever wordplay with gravelly cackles against steamy bounce-infused beats that elevate him above even second-rate Eazy E’s.
With an irresistibly soothing beat pulsing throughout, this track showcases Wayne’s incredible storytelling abilities as he effortlessly drops bars about life’s daily tribulations with ease. His flow is unmatched; his words touch you deeply – plus Curren$y provides extra flavour! An absolute classic from one of hip-hop’s all-time greats.
An anthem for anyone who has struggled to make it in life, this song stands as a tribute to human resilience and perseverance. The production is heavy and aggressive – perfect for matching its powerful message about overcoming adversity and rising above your circumstances to succeed regardless of circumstances. A true powerhouse track that has quickly become fan favorite over time.
Q-Tip
Q-Tip is one of the most influential figures in Hip Hop history. He is best known for combining elements from rap, jazz and other musical forms with socially conscious lyrics for an unparalleled musical style that blends multiple genres together. Furthermore, his extensive sampling has produced some of the most inventive beats seen anywhere.
Q-Tip’s The Renaissance marks his first official album release since 1999’s misguided pop mission Amplified and finds him sounding refreshed, resilient, and wise. While other rappers in their late 30s such as Ghostface or Jay-Z may resort to transparent flights of absurdity for relevance purposes or portly autobiographies respectively – Tip’s approach remains relatively quiet and calm.
Not coincidentally, Q-Tip released this record shortly before the 2008 presidential election and its inspiring message of perseverance through hardship has continued to resonate with listeners worldwide. Utilizing several producers for the album – The Alchemist adds head-nodding psych guitar samples on “Life Is Better”; Evidence showcases his admirably consistent slow flow over plush drums on “Dancing Machine,” while Andre 3000’s method may be less precise and energetic; still its effect remains potency and energy!
Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj stands out among female rappers due to her exceptional lyrical ability and confidence, making her one of the go-to female artists in hip-hop today. Minaj made an early impactful statement through this track where she puts an entertaining spin on a popular nursery rhyme (“Itty Bitty Piggy”) while showing her sense of humor as well as attitude toward men. By the time it dropped she was already an established star with fans already appreciating every word that came out her mouth! Her confidence can be found throughout every song she ever wrote or spoke.
Nicki Minaj was a masterful rapper. Her rap verse is filled with meaningful similes, vivid metaphors, and an entertaining flow that showcases her unique language and slang that she would continue to refine over time. Minaj was an innovator for hip hop; her legacy still affects it today.
One of the first hits to feature her as a solo artist, this song shows why she’s such an accomplished musician. The aggressive production with its pounding drums and deep bass perfectly compliments the powerful lyrics about overcoming hardship to succeed; while Kanye West adds his verse for added flair.