Rap music encapsulates black America, from Compton and its history of N.W.A to Ludacris’ exploration of Southern culture.
Hip-hop songs that truly move us are powerful tools, capable of drawing out energy, excitement, anger, questions and self-doubt as well as raw emotion from within us all. Their great songs can change lives in three minutes or less!
1. The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Juicy”
At the turn of the new millennium, hip hop moved away from its roots as a gangsta anthem towards a more eclectic sound. Producers like Andre 3000 and Jermaine Dupri were able to gain commercial success with styles spanning trip hop, soul and jungle music; this coincided with a return to traditional black music genres such as funk; it also allowed artists such as Biggie to transcend more pronounced depictions of gangstas and pimps that had long plagued hip hop as an artform.
Outkast’s first single off their debut album Ready to Die was “Juicy”, which seamlessly combined both trends. The track’s sound harkens back to an earlier era of funk while its lyrics spoke directly to urban struggle. At this point in 1994, both World Trade Center bombings and Rwandan genocide had recently made headlines; Biggie made his reference directly referencing these tragedies when he said something like: “blow up like World Trade”.
At the same time, his song’s depictions of newfound wealth were more childish and childishly exaggerated than previous depictions in his previous lifestyle. Voletta Wallace likely found herself puzzled at her son’s boasts about having video game consoles and an expensive couch to match his car size–although he may have mentioned “cashmere/shit.”
“Juicy” stands out from its peers with its distinct blend of beats that vary greatly between verses; Andre 3000’s duple verse utilizes this metric ambiguity by Andre 3000 to craft three-beat rhymes on certain instances: divin’/Ivan in measure 1, Gretchen/rushin’ in measure 2 gotta/follow in measure 17 and down/down in verse 17.
Biggie’s rapping on this track was distinguished by its depth and lyricism, evoking an array of emotions. The video features scenes from his childhood home as well as scenes of his mother’s apartment that reinforce his rags-to-riches narrative, while using helicopters and backward car chases add an additional dramatic dimension. His death in 1997 just before his second album release left behind an unparalleled talent who could transcend hardcore rap into chart-topping pop through an unparalleled combination of technique and artistic vision.
2. N.W.A.’s “California Love”
Straight Outta Compton was an influential hip-hop compilation released in 1987 that revolutionized Compton, California, with party vibes by De La Soul, Beasties and Jungle Brothers as well as unrelenting violence by Gangsta Rappers such as Gangsta MCs such as Biggie Smalls. Their style blended party vibes from De La Soul with unrelenting violence by Gangsta Rappers for street level narratives of turf battles, drug violence and abuse by Los Angeles police officers; documented turf wars, drug wars and abuse by LA cops with explicit language and sounds like gunfire cracking or clank of crowbar crowbar all present throughout. It remains amongst hip-hop’s greatest bands ever.
Andre 3000’s contribution to the album–a raw and gritty tale of a drug dealer–is one of its standout tracks. Utilizing classic Detroit producer tough beats (plus samples from James Brown, Roy Ayers Ubiquity and Wilson Pickett) along with vivid depictions of street life that includes turf wars, drug dealing and even sexual encounters with junkies with an unapologetic misogynist streak that continues today’s gangsta rappers.
Eazy-E defied expectations when he put together N.W.A. (Niggaz With Attitude) from mostly inexperienced rookies such as Ice Cube and Dr. Dre. But he knew he needed someone with some solo hits behind their names to balance out the lineup, so Arabian Prince was recruited – one whose melodies would become iconic cuts produced by N.W.A. The combination of their rhymes over an aggressive bassline that became a hip-hop standard helped establish N.W.A as one of the most formidable forces in hip-hop music history.
N.W.A’s legacy remains strong even though they achieved mainstream success, as evidenced by their recent Coachella reunion of all four surviving members (Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, MC Ren and DJ Yella). As evidenced by this reunion’s reunion of Grandmaster Flash’s “The Message” and Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power”) to its subsequent East-West Coast rivalries like Grandmaster Flash’s “The Message” and Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power”) to its pop chart dominance like 50 Cent’s “In Da Club” and Kanye West’s “Touch the Sky”, before diversifying into future offerings like Cardi B’s “Bodak Yellow” or Tyler The Creator’s “See You Again”. Check out our video celebrating N.W.A’s legacy!
3. Eminem’s “Stankonia”
Stankonia still stands as one of the boldest, ambitious and masterfully produced hip-hop albums ever created. The title itself is an ironic play on words; “stank” refers to both its Southern pronunciation (stank) as well as to their unique musical style which mixes hip hop with rock and funk to produce music that feels fresh, clean and funky – a true tribute to creativity!
Andre 3000 and Big Boi had so much fun recording this album that their joy in the studio was palpable. Stankonia features 17 cuts that showcase their signature Atlanta duo sound first found on 1998’s Aquemini; here, however, they seem determined to prove they’re one of “the coolest motherfunkers on the planet”.
“Gangsta Shit,” which opened the album, features swaggering raps that recall early Three 6 Mafia jams; its closing track “Ms. Jackson,” however, offers some of the most iconic backward snares ever heard in hip-hop history. But its deeper messages of family and love truly set this album apart as an adult record in a genre filled with thug-lite Ja Rule jams, conscious lecturing from underground acts and Eminem’s juvenile nihilism.
Outkast’s Stankonia stood as an inspirational reminder that Southern culture still had something important to contribute. The album redefined what could be done within hip-hop music, and continues to influence artists even today.
Preorder now to learn more about Outkast, Dungeon Family and other artists who redefined rap! In our new book Dirty South: The Story of Hip-Hop Era you can discover their legacy as well as others that contributed to shaping this genre! Don’t delay: place your preorder now!
4. Low Profile’s “Pay Ya Dues”
Low Profile from Philadelphia rap crew Low Profile released this 1990 track as part of their “Devour the Competition” album to call out those aspiring to be rappers but haven’t put in the effort or time necessary to earn respect from peers and audiences. It serves as a warning that success should not come easily or fame gained quickly; additionally it shows Low Profile discussing their own battles for recognition within hip-hop scene.
While this song may be more laid back than many of the others on this list, it still manages to pack an abundance of rhymes. Lead MC Black Thought’s diverse lyrical abilities place him among the great rappers of all time; and his unique style shines through here in this track. Listeners will hear an alternative and energetic style of rap that stands apart from mainstream popular culture today while the beat will certainly keep any audience moving!
Discover more of what has shaped hip hop history through The Come Up: Hip-Hop’s Explosion to Mainstream Culture, then pair it with Changes: The Oral History of Tupac Shakur for more insight into his global influence. His posthumous release provides an ideal opportunity to uncover more of 2Pac’s creative legacy.