[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.
- A roundup of 90s Western hip-hop: classics from the golden era
- [US] Great Hip-Hop Classic
- [Western Music] A landmark masterpiece in hip-hop history! A fundamental album you should know
- [Japanese Hip-Hop] Classic Tracks of Japanese Rap
- A Guide to Western Rap: Introducing Legendary Classics
- [2026] A Compilation of Classic and Popular Tracks for Hip-Hop Beginners
- Stylish hip-hop! A roundup of classic albums in Western jazzy hip-hop
- [Latest] Western Hip-Hop Trends [2026]
- Hip-hop classics that changed history
- Japanese Hip-Hop Popularity Rankings [2026]
- From Pop to Hip-Hop: Nostalgic Rap Recommendations for People in Their 30s
- Western Hip-Hop Popularity Rankings [2026]
- [Western music] Classic upbeat hip-hop tracks
[Hip-Hop Classics] Standard HIPHOP / Timeless Masterpieces (51–60)
It Was A Good DayIce Cube
A classic track that became a hot topic for its intense lyrics singing about a brief respite in gangster life—“I’m just glad nobody died today.” Often regarded as his best work, it contrasts mellow production that heavily samples the Isley Brothers’ “Footsteps in the Dark” with stark subject matter.
Released as a single from the 1992 third album, The Predator.
Big Pimpin’ (feat. UGK)Jay Z
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.
I’m Not RacistJoyner Lucas
This MV, uploaded at the end of November 2017, sparked major debate.
The perspective is completely split between the first and second halves: in the first half, a white man starts with a disclaimer like, “I’m not racist, but…” and goes on to complain.
In the second half, the Black perspective responds to each of those points one by one.
The track has no flashy elements at all—only the raw, impassioned shouts resonate deeply.
Peter PiperRun-D.M.C.
A hip-hop classic representing RUN-DMC, the supergroup that brought hip-hop to the masses.
It’s famous for its skillful sampling of Bob James’s masterpiece “Take Me to the Mardi Gras.” And this track itself is such a classic that it has been sampled by others too! If you haven’t heard it yet, this is a must-listen.
[Hip-Hop Classics] Standard HIPHOP / Timeless Masterpieces (61–70)
Drop It Like It’s Hot (feat. Pharrell Williams)Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg’s underrated gem “Drop It Like It’s Hot.” It has a surreal vibe, doesn’t it? Its distinctive rhythm, built with drums and keyboards, really stands out.
The monochrome music video featuring Snoop Dogg and Pharrell Williams in perfect sync is cool, too.
It’s a classic hip-hop track from Snoop Dogg teaming up with Pharrell Williams, released in 2004, and it became a hit, reaching the Top 10 on charts around the world.
Wild For The Night ft. Skrillex, Birdy Nam NamASAP ROCKY
A collaboration between American hip-hop artist A$AP Rocky and Skrillex, who is known for producing EDM, especially dubstep.
Released as a digital download in 2013, it won an mtvU Woodie Award.
It samples French DJ duo Birdy Nam Nam’s 2012 track “Goin’ In (Skrillex ‘Goin’ Down’ Mix).”
BeCommon
Common is known for jazzy, mellow hip-hop.
He has a close relationship with Kanye West, and this album “Be” is a collaboration with Kanye.
It starts with a warm upright bass, over which a lo-fi digital synth and strings gradually layer.
It’s a quintessential track of stylish hip-hop.