[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: Essential HIPHOP and Timeless Hits (21–30)
Rapper’s DelightThe Sugarhill Gang
Often described as the first hit song in hip-hop, this track captures the genre’s early heartbeat.
Hip-hop is said to have been born as Black communities gathered in parks to party, and this song evokes that origin.
The style in which MCs trade verses over a microphone while rapping on top of a simple, funk-based track—the foundation of hip-hop—developed from this song.
The MessageGrandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
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.
Shook Ones, Pt. IIMobb Deep
It’s a hip-hop classic that needs no introduction for the heads, but if you’re currently studying up on hip-hop, definitely check it out! Over an incredibly tight, dope track, HAVOC and PRODIGY trade intertwined flows that kick off with “TO ALL THE KILLERS AND A HUNDRED DOLLARS BILLAS,” making this a gritty Queens classic.
The crawling bassline, razor-sharp sample chops, and hard, punchy snare sound are irresistible—an exquisitely matured gem from 1995.
Mind Playing Tricks on MeGeto Boys
A classic early masterpiece released in 1991 by the GETO BOYS, led by Houston heavyweight SCARFACE, a.k.a.
H-Town’s own.
Built around a neo-soul-flavored guitar sound—something that surged in popularity in the 2010s—the track carries a distinctive, melancholic vibe that becomes more addictive the more you listen.
It’s a song I can recommend even to those who aren’t usually into classic hip-hop!
ScenarioA Tribe Called Quest
Among their many classic songs, this one is especially popular.
This track features Leaders Of The New School—a group well-known among hip-hop fans, partly because Busta Rhymes was a member.
It’s become an anthem at old-school hip-hop parties, and whenever it plays, the dance floor goes wild!