Western Hip-Hop Popularity Rankings [2025]

Cross Road BluesRobert Johnson92rank/position

Cross Road Blues

Speaking of Robert Johnson, he is such a renowned blues singer that he can be spoken of as a legend, and he has etched his name as an important artist in the history of rock as well.

Johnson, who passed away at the young age of 27, left behind a life full of legends, including the so-called “Crossroads legend,” the tale that he sold his soul to the devil to gain his guitar skills.

His 1937 release Cross Road Blues is a song with a truly demonic allure, featuring fierce slide guitar and vocals that seem imbued with the magic of the blues.

Eric Clapton’s famous reinterpretation on electric guitar from his time with Cream is also well worth checking out alongside the original!

The MessageGrandmaster Flash & The Furious Five93rank/position

The Message

A classic that sings about the crises and anxieties of contemporary urban life, epitomized by poverty and violence in the ghetto.

Released in 1982 by the American hip-hop group Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.

Their most famous track, it became a hit in the United States and across Europe.

Big Pimpin’ (feat. UGK)Jay Z94rank/position

Big Pimpin’ (feat. UGK)

This work became a mega-hit in 2000.

Handling the sound production was TIMBALAND, the hip-hop and R&B producer and rapper from Norfolk, Virginia.

Featuring UGK from the then-overlooked South and Southwest, specifically Texas, it’s a classic that offered a glimpse of Jay-Z’s foresight.

DBZ ft. Method Man & Denzel Curry (prod by Madlib)Your Old Droog95rank/position

Your Old Droog – DBZ ft. Method Man & Denzel Curry (prod by Madlib)

A track released in April 2024 by Ukrainian-born rapper Your Old Droog is making waves.

Featuring Wu-Tang Clan’s Method Man and Denzel Curry, the three deliver powerful verses over a jazz-rap style beat produced by Madlib.

With a combative theme inspired by Japanese anime, Droog expresses his identity and hunger for success, while Curry adopts a defiant stance through the lens of Japanese bushido.

Their lyrical exchanges over an authentic, ’90s hip-hop-flavored sound are breathtaking.

This is a must-hear standout track for hip-hop fans.

CRESCENT MOONNLE Choppa96rank/position

NLE Choppa – CRESCENT MOON (Official Audio)

Sincere in its introspection and apologies to a partner, this work offers a glimpse into a new side of NLE Choppa, an artist from Tennessee, USA.

Released in February 2025 as part of a series commemorating Black History Month, it seamlessly blends a catchy, moody beat with his emotional rap delivery.

Catapulted to stardom with 2019’s “Shotta Flow,” he now candidly acknowledges the mistakes of youth, expressing both apology and gratitude to his former partner.

The story, propelled by a rapid-fire flow, delves deeply into themes of growth and atonement, and is sure to resonate with anyone struggling with relationships.

It Takes TwoRob Base & DJ E-Z Rock97rank/position

It Takes Two

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.”

tv offKendrick Lamar98rank/position

Kendrick Lamar – tv off (Official Audio)

This track fuses energetic beats with razor-sharp lyrics.

Kendrick Lamar’s musical talent is on full display, carrying a deep message that prompts social critique and self-reflection.

While rooted in the West Coast hip-hop style, it’s distinguished by a dramatic beat switch at around the two-minute mark.

Included on the album “GNX,” released in November 2024, it was issued as a single on November 26 of the same year.

It’s highly recommended for those who want to fully savor the appeal of hip-hop or deepen their thinking about society and themselves through music.