Most Influential Hip-hop Songs of All Time

Hip-hop’s roots can be traced back to block parties held in New York back in the day. People back then did not anticipate how this genre would blow up in the future. Lately, hip-hop has been given credit for being the most popular genre in the United States based on listening habits. This movement is already recognized worldwide and has already dominated music charts and streaming platforms. This is a rundown of the most powerful hip-hop tracks that have greatly shifted the cultural landscape.

Can I Kick It by A Tribe Called Quest

A Tribe Called Quest is given credit for being an authority on cool and eclectic. Their track Can I Kick It bears guitar samples from the legendary Lou Reed along with some catchy drum beats. The song is a quintessential rap track that will make you feel relaxed and entertained. A Tribe Called Quest proved you don’t have to ring a lot of bells in order to be heard. Their songs add a lot of magic yet never strays away from its laid-back nature.

Walk This Way by Run-DMC

Putting hip-hop and hard rock together doesn’t seem to add up too well when you think about it but Aerosmith and RUN-DMC proved music fans wrong. Prolific producer Rick Rubin can take credit for coming up with the incredibly catchy mashup. The song sampled some of the iconic guitar riffs and hooks from an original Aerosmith track. The group had come up with the memorable masterpiece Walk This Way.

Forgot About Dre by Dr. Dre

Dr. Dre collaborated with rap artist Eminem to create the awesome track called Forgot About Dre back in 2001. Dr. Dre can take credit for being a huge influence in the hip-hop scene and this particular track serves as a reminder for many fans. Eminem’s marvelous verses add an extra kick to the track.

Push It by Salt-N-Pepa

Push It by hip-hop group Salt-N-Pepa broke boundaries with the track’s catchy synths and rhythms that left listeners in a trance. The verses are full of electricity and groove. This group allowed other female artists to pursue careers in music too when they became the first women to receive a Grammy nomination for their work in rap music. Push It became a certified platinum record.

See You Again by Tyler the Creator featuring Kali Uchis

Tyler the Creator surprised fans with another track that is worth swooning over. The rapper and producer collaborated with Columbian RnB artist Kali Uchis to make the love song See You Again. The song is pretty much like a dream. It includes warm and soulful synths with luxurious trumpet melodies and lush drum beats full of electricity. Tyler really translated his romantic whims into a vibrant masterpiece.

Lost Ones by Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Hill was able to sell more than eight million copies of her hit album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. The album won her the prestigious Grammy award for Album of the Year. Thanks to this hit record, a lot of modern hip-hop fans can still bop along to the timeless classics Lauryn Hill released. The track Lost Ones is given credit for being the song where Hill’s best rap verses and poignant verses can be heard.

C.R.E.A.M. (Cash Rules Everything Around Me)” by Wu-Tang Clan

Method Man can take credit for coming up with the famous verse “Cash rules everything around me” which has become a huge influence in the way we view hip-hop today. Music collective Wu-Tang clan was quick to hop on to the fanbase by incorporating it in their track. The song gained quite the following along with beats made by RZA which were already deemed pretty vintage in the 90s. This track is so well-received, it has been sampled and freestyled numerous times already.

Juicy by The Notorious B.I.G

Biggie charmed listeners with his inspiring rags to riches story through his catchy verses featured in Juicy. The track dives into the kind of intimacy that listeners will really resonate with. The Notorious B.I.G produced electricity with his baritone voice, too. To this day, Biggie’s influence is still rampant in the music scene.

Alright by Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar’s Alright is an anthem for the Black Lives Matter Movement. The track gives a sense of ease since it has a soulful and encouraging message while acknowledging the things that have been happening around the world. We can credit Kendrick’s heart and artistry since it has helped the movement reach global appeal.

A Milli by Lil Wayne

Lil Wayne barely skipped a beat when he performed the enigmatic track A Milli. The catchy accompaniment really complements the progressive beat. It had memorable lines and riffs, too. The track earned a double-platinum certification and is considered to be one of the most well-respected and celebrated hip-hop tracks ever. We can credit Lil Wayne for this track that didn’t just make us jig but also empowered us and made us think and persevere.