[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 (131–140)
You Stressin’Bishop Nehru
A rising star born in 1996 who signed with the label of legendary New York rapper Nas.
Their tracks—heavily influenced not only by ’90s hip-hop but also by soul and R&B—are addictive.
This, too, is destined to become a classic passed down to future generations.
Losin ControlRuss
A song by American hip-hop artist Russ about his first girlfriend, whom he dated when he was 17–18 years old.
It was released as a single in 2016, and the music video was directed by Essgar Estevez.
Can’t Tell Me NothingKanye West
Kanye West is one of the defining figures of the hip-hop scene since the 2000s, achieving extraordinary success both as a rapper and as a producer.
The song “Can’t Tell Me Nothing,” included on his third album, Graduation, released in 2007 to massive success, features lyrics that clearly convey what was going through Kanye’s mind at the time—a figure whose bold actions and statements often sparked controversy and attracted intense scrutiny.
They can be read as characteristically confident, yet they also carry a certain melancholy.
You can even glimpse an intellectual side in his quoting of a Bible verse.
All in all, it’s fair to call it a masterpiece that encapsulates Kanye’s multifaceted appeal.
Straight Out the JungleJungle Brothers
Jungle Brothers are a hip-hop group formed in New York in 1987 and part of the Native Tongues collective.
Alongside A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul, they popularized a jazz-influenced sound.
This is a track from their debut album, Straight Out the Jungle.
The music video is filled with African-inspired imagery throughout.
It Takes TwoRob Base & DJ E-Z Rock
One of their popular early tracks, released in their 1988 debut.
Highly regarded by DJs for absolutely rocking the nightclub floor, it remains a beloved classic.
It’s built on soulful, funky samples and incorporates elements of the then-dominant electro-funk and house music.
Well known as the lead track for the album’s title number, “It Takes Two.”
Best I Ever HadDrake
This track was released as a single in 2009 by Drake, the charismatic Toronto-based rapper who has also gained attention as an actor.
It samples Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds’ 1975 track “Fallin’ in Love.” The music video was, remarkably, overseen by none other than Kanye West.
Among Drake’s many songs, this one remains a fan favorite and continues to enjoy strong popularity.
Hustlin’Rick Ross
His stage name was taken from a real, famous dealer, and his debut track addresses that.
The rapper Rick Ross drew attention when most of the albums he announced for release debuted at No.
1 on the charts.
As is often the case with unruly rappers, he was arrested in 2015 on kidnapping and assault charges.
It’s something we can now look back on as a thing of the past, but because his skill and taste were so strong, his fans were very worried about him at the time.
In conclusion
Hip-hop began gaining popularity in the 1980s and now reigns as one of the scene’s top genres.
Although its history is relatively short compared to other genres, it has changed dramatically—today’s hip-hop looks very different in style from what it was 20 to 30 years ago.
Let this article be your gateway to diving deep into the world of hip-hop!