Badass Western music. Tough/edgy music. World classics and recommended popular songs.
This might be sudden, but when you hear “hard-hitting Western music,” what kind of tracks come to mind?
Many people probably think of hip-hop or death metal.
This time, I’ve put together a selection of that kind of “hard-hitting Western music,” with a focus on hip-hop.
From classic West Coast rap of the ’90s to hardcore styles of the 2000s and modern trap, I’ve picked out “badass bangers” from a range of genres.
Even if you’re not into hip-hop, you’ll recognize some of these tracks—so be sure to check them out.
Badass Western music. Tough, hard-hitting tracks. World classics and recommended popular songs (1–10).
Lose YourselfEminem
Eminem is a leading American rapper with world-class skills.
“Lose Yourself” is one of his signature tracks and was used as the theme song for the film 8 Mile, which depicts half of his life.
The lyrics were inspired by the folktale The Pied Piper of Hamelin, and they feature a lot of tough, hard-edged language.
Beyond the track’s high production quality, the flow is refined, so listening to it really fires you up.
In short, it’s a badass, motivational song.
Fuck Tha PoliceN.W.A
When it comes to “bad”-sounding Western music, you can’t leave out N.
W.
A, the hip-hop group formed in Compton, California in 1986, right? Among their songs, “Fuck Tha Police”—brimming with hate, essentially saying “screw the police”—was so provocative that the FBI even sent them a warning.
Through hip-hop, they threw issues like police brutality and Black struggles—still problematic today—into the public eye.
That kind of unfiltered anger comes across as toughness and menace.
In Da Club50 Cent
Rapper 50 Cent is known for his hardcore style.
He grew up in a very thug-like environment and led a rough life, even making a living as a broker for “you-know-what” from the age of 12.
That past seeps into his music, and in his classic track In Da Club, you’ll find some seriously bad-boy lyrics.
It’s a work that packs in the three major elements of rap—money, women, and [you-know-what]—so be sure to check it out.
RepresentNas
Represent, a classic 90s hip-hop track created by Nas from Queens, New York.
First off, that slightly muffled sound quality—so emblematic of the era—is irresistible.
The mix is tight and gritty, the track wears a stark, hard-edged one-loop vibe, and the emotional hook stays uncompromisingly tough—you can almost feel the spit flying from the speakers.
It’s a gem of a song that sensationally declares to the world where he’s from and where he stands.
Shut UpDababy
DaBaby, a rapper from North Carolina, suddenly rose to global superstardom starting in 2019.
He’s now one of the central figures in the current hip-hop scene, and every album he releases becomes a worldwide hit.
Among his works, a standout “bad-boy” classic I’d recommend is Shut Up.
Released in February 2020, the track gained popularity for its hard-hitting lyrics and quintessential trap sound.
Sum 2 ProveLil Baby
Lil Baby, a rapper representing Atlanta who has gained worldwide popularity since the late 2010s.
Although he had excellent grades, he was very badly behaved, dropped out of high school in ninth grade, and was arrested multiple times thereafter.
After his release, he devoted himself to hip-hop, turning his past experiences into songs and scoring hit after hit.
One of his classic tracks is “Sum 2 Prove.” If you like classic bad-boy hip-hop themed around money and women, this is a must-check!
California Love2Pac
The legendary rapper, Tupac.
He hardly needs an introduction.
His track “California Love” is one of his most famous works and was released in 1995.
As the title suggests, the song expresses respect for West Coast hip-hop—aka the Wesside.
The content of the song itself isn’t all that rough, but since it was what all the bad boys were listening to at the time, I chose this track for today.