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Best Hip-Hop Songs of All Time

Golden-age classics to modern landmarks — twelve essential rap songs, each from an album in the catalogue.

  1. 1
    NA

    N.Y. State of Mind

    Nas · from Illmatic (1994)

    Peerless street writing.

  2. 2
    NB

    Juicy

    The Notorious B.I.G. · from Ready to Die (1994)

    The definitive come-up story.

  3. 3
    DD

    Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang

    Dr. Dre · from The Chronic (1992)

    The G-funk blueprint.

  4. 4
    OU

    B.O.B.

    OutKast · from Stankonia (2000)

    Frantic, futuristic and thrilling.

  5. 5
    KL

    Alright

    Kendrick Lamar · from To Pimp a Butterfly (2015)

    A jazz-funk protest anthem.

  6. 6
    KW

    Stronger

    Kanye West · from Graduation (2007)

    A Daft Punk sample turned stadium hit.

  7. 7
    WC

    C.R.E.A.M.

    Wu-Tang Clan · from Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993)

    A soul loop and two classic verses.

  8. 8
    PE

    Bring the Noise

    Public Enemy · from It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988)

    A wall of sound and fury.

  9. 9
    JA

    99 Problems

    Jay-Z · from The Black Album (2003)

    A Rick Rubin beat and a fearless verse.

  10. 10
    EM

    The Real Slim Shady

    Eminem · from The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)

    Provocative, funny and razor-sharp.

  11. 11
    LH

    Doo Wop (That Thing)

    Lauryn Hill · from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)

    Soulful and effortlessly cool.

  12. 12
    TC

    Can I Kick It?

    A Tribe Called Quest · from People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm (1990)

    Jazzy, playful and warm.

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