[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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- [Western music] Classic upbeat hip-hop tracks
[Hip-Hop Classics] Standard HIPHOP · Timeless Masterpieces (31–40)
Mama Said Knock You OutLL Cool J
Speaking of a Kangol hat and bling-bling, that’s LL Cool J.
A man who continues to influence the hip-hop world to this day.
In 2017, he became the first hip-hop musician to receive the Kennedy Center Honors.
He’s a multi-talented performer who also works as an actor.
Paid in FullEric B. & Rakim
This is the eponymous track from Paid in Full, the debut by Eric B.
& Rakim.
They are one of the quintessential East Coast rap groups and have left behind a wealth of true classics.
What’s most striking about this song, though, is the sound quality and the way the beats are put together—it’s hard to believe it was released in 1987.
Even back then, they were already showcasing their prowess as producers.
California Love2Pac
The East–West feud of gangsta rap.
If The Notorious B.I.G.
was the hope of the East Coast, then 2Pac was the hope of the West.
A California native discovered by Dr.
Dre, this genius quickly rose to prominence in the world of hip-hop.
As exemplified by “California Love,” his funky beats and sexy sound were also extremely popular.
However, in 1996 he too was gunned down by rival East Coast forces.
The back-to-back assassinations of two geniuses—2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G.—shocked the entire nation, and it’s said that this tragedy became a turning point toward reconciliation between East and West.
What would hip-hop look like if both of them were still alive? Now it’s a sad legend.
Without MeEminem
Even if you’re not very interested in hip-hop, you’ve almost certainly come across the name Eminem at least once.
Since releasing his debut album, The Slim Shady LP, in 1999, he has broken records and transcended genres, continuing to reign at the top of the scene well into the 2020s.
Among his works, Without Me—featured on his third album, The Eminem Show, released in 2002—is invariably cited as one of his signature tracks.
It’s packed with the irony and humor characteristic of his younger days, qualities less common in Eminem’s work from the 2010s onward, and its music video is incredibly entertaining.
At the same time, it’s far more than just a joke: take the opportunity to appreciate the genius of his songwriting, which deftly weaves together fiction and truth.
Insane In The BrainCypress Hill
Cypress Hill, a hip-hop group from California, released a string of hits in the late 1990s to early 2000s.
Their signature track, “Insane in the Brain,” is notable for its heavy, irresistible groove and nimble rhymes.
They were also popular in terms of fashion, becoming style icons admired by B-boys.
[Hip-Hop Classic] Standard HIPHOP: Timeless Masterpieces (41–50)
They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)Pete Rock & CL Smooth
Pete Rock & CL Smooth, who disbanded after leaving behind just two albums, are a legendary duo New York is proud of.
Every piece they created is remembered as a classic in hip-hop history, continuing to radiate an unfading allure.
Both their first and second albums are of such high quality that it’s hard to rank one over the other, but this time I’d like to introduce “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.),” included on their 1992 debut album.
Crafted by Pete Rock—who would later reign as a top producer—the track is airtight, steeped in jazz fragrance and colored by its striking saxophone tones, while CL Smooth delivers a supple flow backed by undeniable skill.
It’s truly worthy of the label hip-hop classic, and it’s no wonder it continues to be loved across generations.
HypnotizeThe Notorious B.I.G.
Gangsta rap, which was popular in the 1990s, gained traction for its provocative style of rapping about crime and sex.
But in this world, it also sparked a major problem: an East Coast vs.
West Coast rivalry that drew in real gang members.
The emblematic figure of the East Coast was The Notorious B.I.G.
Noticed by a label for his unparalleled strength in rap battles, he made his debut and quickly became a leading artist of the East.
However, his prominence in the gangsta rap scene made him a target for West Coast gangs, and in 1997 he was shot and assassinated.
It remains a tragedy retold to this day as a symbol of the darker side of the gangsta rap boom.