Classic Western hip-hop songs recommended for summer

Hip-hop and summer.

Hip-hop often seems to feature summer as a theme, but surprisingly, there aren’t actually that many hit songs that revolve around it.

So, this time I’ve put together a selection of Western hip-hop tracks perfect for summer!

I’ve picked songs that not only explicitly focus on summer, but also tracks that are beloved overseas as classic summer anthems—choices that fit the season from a variety of angles.

There are old-school classics in the mix too, so if you’re into 90s or 2000s hip-hop, this is a must-check!

Playlist

Classic Western hip-hop songs recommended for summer
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	SummertimeThe Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince		A refreshing, summer-ready hip-hop track featuring female choruses and emotive rap.
2	Mo Money Mo ProblemsThe Notorious B.I.G.		Notorious B.I.G.’s Signature Works and Musical Influence
3	I Get Around2Pac		Introduce Tupac’s signature songs
4	You Got Me ft. Erykah BaduThe Roots		A classic by The Roots, a must-listen summer track
5	Gin And JuiceSnoop Dogg		Snoop Dogg’s West Coast hip-hop
6	JuicyThe Notorious B.I.G.		Notorious B.I.G.'s signature single
7	SabotageBeastie Boys		Signature songs of the Beastie Boys
8	Just A FriendBiz Markie		Biz Markie's romantic humor song
9	Nuthin’ But a G Thang Ft. Snoop DoggDr. Dre		Dr. Dre’s classic summer hip-hop track
10	U Can’t Touch ThisMC Hammer		Signature song by MC Hammer blending dance and rap
11	ShoopSalt N’ Pepa		Salt-N-Pepa’s female-perspective hip-hop
12	Mr. Big8Ball & MJG		Eightball & MJG's summer classic 'Mr. Big'
13	Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)Digable Planets		A fusion track of jazz and hip-hop receives high praise
14	Nuthin’ But a G Thang DirtyDr. Dre, Snoop Doggy Dogg		Snoop Dogg’s 1992 hit song
15	Déjà Vu (Uptown Baby)Lord Tariq, Peter Gunz		A hip-hop classic that expresses love for New York
16	People EverydayArrested Development		An iconic summer song from 1992 with a social message
17	The Choice Is YoursBlack Sheep		A liberating, euphoric classic by Black Sheep
18	Elevators (Me & You)OutKast		Introduction to OutKast's classic song 'Elevators'
19	Now That We Found Love ft. Aaron HallHeavy D & The Boyz		An exhilarating dance track brimming with love and joy
20	I Got A ManPositive K		Positive K's romantic comedy song
21	WAIT FOR U ft. Drake, TemsFUTURE		A summer hip-hop track by Future
22	I Said What I SaidDrumma Boy, Ludacris, Snow Tha Product		The appeal of great songs born from star-studded hip-hop collaborations
23	Pump It UpJoe Budden		The vocal style of lagaflow resonates with my heart.
24	Drop It Like It’s HotSnoop Dogg		Snoop Dogg’s signature song, composed by Pharrell
25	Good LifeKanye West		Kanye West’s 2007 song
26	The LightCommon		Common “THE LIGHT” is a gem of a masterpiece
27	Temperature’s RisingMobb Deep		Mobb Deep’s hip-hop for connoisseurs
28	SOON feat. Arabian42 Dugg		Introduction to the Detroit-born rapper, 42 Dugg
29	HypnotizeThe Notorious B.I.G.		Notorious B.I.G.'s classic hip-hop track
30	Shake it FastMystikal		A summer-ready classic by the New Orleans rapper Mystikal
31	Who Am ISnoop Dogg		A summer-ready, upbeat track by Snoop Dogg
32	SomebodyLatto		A summer love song by Ratto sampling 90s R&B
33	Hey Ya!OutKast		OutKast summer hip-hop classic
34	Can I Kick It?A Tribe Called Quest		A Tribe Called Quest’s hip-hop classic
35	Life Of The PartyKanye West		Recommend Kanye's Life Of The Party
36	(Rock) SuperstarCypress Hill		The tough hip-hop of Cypress Hill. A classic, high-energy track perfect for summer.
37	Last One LeftFredo Bang		Fredo Bang’s summer-friendly rap song
38	This Is How We Do ItMontell Jordan		A must-listen summer track that epitomizes 90s R&B
39	I WishSkee-Lo		An upbeat hip-hop classic from Skiro
40	Passin’ Me ByThe Pharcyde		Refreshing hip-hop of the Far Side
41	Dirt Off Your ShoulderJay Z		Jay-Z’s dope classic hip-hop track
42	ForeverDrake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Eminem		A 2009 classic by four hip-hop masters
43	You Know How We Do ItIce Cube		Ice Cube’s classic summer hip-hop track
44	XXzibit		Xzibit's upbeat hip-hop
45	Hit ‘Em Up2Pac		Tupac’s provocative 1996 release—an extreme track from the East Coast–West Coast feud
46	Thief In The NightCoi Leray X G Herbo		Coi Leray and G Herbo’s classic collab
47	Humpty DanceDigital Underground		A summer hip-hop classic from Digital Underground
48	Princess DianaIce Spice & Nicki Minaj		New song by Ice Spice and Nicki Minaj
49	AnacondaNicki Minaj		Nicki Minaj's explicit song
50	Sugar HillAZ		AG's hip-hop classic
51	In A MinuteLil Baby		Lil Baby’s recommended summer tracks
52	Big PoppaThe Notorious B.I.G.		Introducing Notorious B.I.G.’s classic track “Big Poppa.”
53	Rollout (My Business)Ludacris		Ludacris’s summer hip-hop classic
54	Big EnergyLatto		RAT, a refreshing summer song celebrating women’s confidence
55	About Damn TimeLizzo		A self-affirming song by Lizzo that expresses the joy of growth
56	A Bar Song (Tipsy)Shaboozey		Shabuji’s passionate track becomes a hit
57	I Get Money50 Cent		50 Cent, hip-hop that depicts a rise from the bottom
58	Mr. WendalArrested Development		A refreshing classic of country-style hip-hop
59	ActiveAsake & Travis Scott		An Afrobeats fusion track by Asake and Travis Scott
60	Summer Drop (feat. Anderson .Paak)Cordae		A collaboration song by Cordae and Anderson
61	Still D.R.E. ft. Snoop DoggDr. Dre		Dr. Dre's comeback hit song
62	Nice For WhatDrake		Drake’s sophisticated hip-hop masterpiece
63	Be FaithfulFatman Scoop		A summer hip-hop track by Fatman Scoop
64	Did It FirstIce Spice, Central Cee		Ice Spice's revenge-themed song
65	Big Pimpin’ ft. UGKJay Z		A rap song featuring Jay-Z and UGK
66	First ClassJack Harlow		Recommendation: Jack Harlow’s summer-appropriate track “First Class.”
67	Me And My Crazy WorldLost Boyz		Summer-like music of the Lost Boys
68	Growing PainsLudacris		Introduce Ludacris's summer-ready tracks
69	Kick PushLupe Fiasco		Lupe Fiasco’s classic ode to skate love
70	Slut Me Out 2 (Country Me Out)NLE Choppa		A hybrid song blending country and hip-hop
71	Hip Hop HoorayNaughty By Nature		Naughty by Nature signature summer hip-hop
72	Sittin’ Sidewayz ft. Big PokeyPaul Wall		Paul Wall's classic trap music
73	Party Ain’t A PartyQueen Pen		Introducing Queen Pen’s signature 90s hip-hop tracks
74	Ice Cream ft. Ghostface Killah, Method Man, CappadonnaRaekwon		Wu-Tang Clan’s classic song ICE CREAM
75	Bad Boyz feat. Barrington LevyShyne		Shine debuts with reggae-infused hip hop
76	Good TimesStyles p		Styles P's hip-hop classic
77	Lean Back ft. Fat Joe, Remy MaTerror Squad		A classic by Terror Squad that gets me motivated for the summer
78	One More ChanceThe Notorious B.I.G.		A summer R&B song by The Notorious B.I.G.
79	Freaky DeakyTyga, Doja Cat		Tyga and Doja Cat collaboration track
80	LUMBERJACKTyler, The Creator		Tyler’s summer track “Rumbajack”
81	Lighters UpLil’ Kim		Lil' Kim's Latin-tinged summer classic
82	California Love feat. Dr. Dre2Pac		2Pac West Coast track performed at the Super Bowl
83	In Da Club50 Cent		50 Cent summer hip-hop
84	Touch ItBusta Rhymes		Busta Rhymes’ summer-friendly track
85	I’m A HustlaCassidy		Cassidy's energetic hip-hop
86	Grindin’Cripse		The Clips' hardcore hip-hop
87	Ruff Ryders’ AnthemDMX		DMX’s classic hip-hop tracks, party-friendly
88	A MilliLil Wayne		Introduction to Lil Wayne's hit song A Milli
89	Country Grammar (Hot…)Nelly		Nelly, who switched from aspiring baseball player to rapper
90	Throw Some D’sRich Boy		A classic masterpiece that is one of Rich Boy's signature songs.
91	Bubble BathAJ Tracey		AJ Tracey's summer song
92	What’s Luv?Fat Joe feat. Ashanti		Hip hop by Fat Joe and Ashanti