[Hip-Hop Classics] Timeless HIPHOP / Golden Oldies
Hip-hop hadn’t been very popular in Japan for a long time, but it’s recently started getting attention, thanks in part to the spread of MC battles.
That said, even if people know recent tracks, many might not be familiar with the older ones.
So this time, we’ve picked out some classic hip-hop tracks recommended for those listeners.
We’ve mainly chosen songs from the 1980s to the 2000s, so you can also get a sense of hip-hop’s history.
Please take your time and enjoy.
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[Hip-Hop Classics] Standard HIPHOP / Timeless Masterpieces (71–80)
The Dreamer feat. Talib Kweli & Timan Family ChoirAnderson .Paak
Anderson .
Paak burst into the spotlight in 2015 and began his rise to stardom.
He’s someone who once experienced homelessness, but beyond rapping he also has a soulful singing voice, making him an artist with captivating expressive range.
His talent is such that even Dr.
Dre said, “This guy is the future of hip-hop!!” “The Dreamer” is a masterpiece where you can savor both his languid yet alluring rap and his mellow, delicate vocals.
JuicyThe Notorious B.I.G.
A genius born in Brooklyn.
A burly rapper who used to hustle on the streets was one day recognized by the hip-hop magazine The Source.
After being featured on Mary J.
Blige’s classic “Real Love” and getting a hook-up from his close ally P.
Diddy, he finally arrived at his release.
His rapping is excellent.
Also pay attention to the outstanding track-making by DJ Premier.
TemptationJoey Bada$$
It may be a bit early to call this a classic, but it will likely become a song that’s passed down for years to come.
This track addresses anti-Black racism.
Although it was released in 2017 and is relatively new, the retro vibe of the music video is captivating.
Be sure to check out the lyrics, too.
Paul RevereBeastie Boys
Their most hard-edged classic from the album “Licensed to Ill,” which is regarded as a controversial milestone in HIP HOP history.
It’s an unfading early masterpiece of theirs and has recently been praised as a notable sampling source.
The old-school back-and-forth delivered by the trio—Mike D, King Ad-Rock, and MCA—is fantastic!
A MilliLil Wayne
He is a rapper from New Orleans, Louisiana, who calls himself “the best rapper alive” and performs under that persona.
Fans have long affectionately called him Weezy.
This work is a track released in 2008, produced solely by Lil Wayne, and it became a major hit.
At the time, it was a hip-hop song that incorporated the then-uncommon style of bass music, earning widespread acclaim and generating significant buzz.
P.S.K. ‘What Does It Mean’?Schoolly D
A signature track from Philly OG Jesse Bonds Weaver Jr.
, aka Schoolly D, included on his debut album “Schoolly D” and released in ’86.
It’s often hailed as a miraculous, history-making song in hip-hop.
Released independently on his own Schoolly-D Records at the time, the track was recorded in a standard music studio; legend has it they randomly used a reverb unit they didn’t know how to operate, paired it with a TR-808, and knocked the whole thing out in one night.
The ferocious drums and heavy-handed reverb ended up sounding strikingly fresh, and once you know the backstory, the track hits in a completely different way—a true classic.
YonkersTyler, The Creator
Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, better known as OFWGKTA, is a West Coast hip-hop collective with a cult following.
Its de facto leader is Tyler, the Creator.
Their endlessly dope beats and Tyler’s deep-voiced rapping can be divisive, but once you’re hooked, their unique appeal is hard to escape.
Tyler is also known for eccentric behavior that sometimes draws criticism, and the music video for Yonkers stirred controversy as well.