[Hip-Hop Classics] Timeless HIPHOP / Golden Oldies

Ch-Check It OutBeastie Boys

Beastie Boys – “Ch-Check It Out”

Hip-hop originated as Black music, and even today Black rappers remain the mainstream.

Among the few white rap groups to achieve commercial success are the Beastie Boys.

Their style—three MCs trading brisk verses over tracks strongly influenced by rock—is relentlessly upbeat, the kind of music that makes you want to start dancing just by listening.

The Beastie Boys also started out as a hardcore band, and on some tracks they play guitar, bass, and drums themselves, which is one reason they’re also highly popular with rock listeners.

ThotianaBlueface

Thotiana

This is a popular song by Blueface, released in 2018.

Blueface suddenly appeared with his 2017 debut, and his unique rap style and vocal tone quickly hooked listeners, propelling him to become a breakout rapper.

This track in particular has become a club hit.

He was 22 at the time of release—a young, talented rapper with a promising future ahead!

Flava in Ya Ear Remix (feat. Notorious B.I.G., L.L. Cool J, Busta Rhymes, Rampage)Craig Mack

Flava in Ya Ear Remix (feat. The Notorious B.I.G., LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, Rampage)

Among the earliest Bad Boy releases, this is one of the most popular tracks—a timeless classic in his career.

During Bad Boy’s heyday, Craig Mack, the first to make his album debut on the label, had his classic “Flava in Ya Ear” remixed and released in 1994.

This remix version is also highly popular among old-school hip-hop fans.

Me Myself and IDe La Soul

De La Soul – Me Myself And I (Official Music Video) [w/Intro]

The New York–born 3-MC group De La Soul is often said to have had a major impact on modern hip-hop.

In a scene where it was once standard to use funk and disco tracks, they actively incorporated jazz and electronica, and instead of sampling only existing recordings, they built music by sampling live performances—pioneering many practices that are now commonplace.

On “Me Myself and I,” they sample a track by the legendary psychedelic funk group Funkadelic.

Nights Like This (feat. Ty Dolla $ign)Kehlani

Kehlani – Nights Like This (feat. Ty Dolla $ign) [Official Music Video]

Released in January 2019, this track has been rapidly gaining popularity.

It’s from Kehlani’s mixtape “While We Wait.” It features Ty Dolla $ign, a buzzworthy rapper whose talent was also recognized by Wiz Khalifa.

In contrast to the cyber-tinged vibe of the music video, the song itself is modern R&B.

Hey Ya!OutKast

Outkast – Hey Ya! (Official HD Video)

Outkast is a group praised for flexibly absorbing a wide range of musical elements—rooted in funk but drawing from pop, rock, and electronic—to build a distinctive sound.

They are also one of the most commercially successful hip-hop groups, and “Hey Ya!” is among the standout hits of the 2000s, blending a breezy beat, tumbling, off-kilter rhymes, and an irresistibly singable melody.

Rubber Band ManT.I.

T.I. – Rubber Band Man (Official Video)

This is the third single from his second album, Trap Muzik.

Back in 2003, when he wasn’t yet widely known, T.

I.

gradually made waves with his second album, Trap Muzik, and started to establish his presence in the scene.

He gained significant attention for appearing on a Kanye West project.

However, what was actually more popular locally were stoic tracks like this one.

According to T.

I.

himself, the song’s title refers to his habit of wearing a rubber band around his wrist, a memory from his days as a dealer.