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Recommended hip-hop/rap

From Pop to Hip-Hop: Nostalgic Rap Recommendations for People in Their 30s

We’ve put together a bunch of hip-hop tracks that people in their 30s will find nostalgic!

Hip-hop arrived in Japan in the 1980s, and by the 1990s Japanese hip-hop artists were really starting to make a name for themselves.

We’ve gathered songs that hip-hop fans from that 30-something generation are likely to have heard, so they should bring back some good memories.

We included both Japanese and international tracks, so give them a listen and relive how you felt back then.

We’re sure the memories will come flooding back.

Alright, let’s get started!

Playlist

From Pop to Hip-Hop: Nostalgic Rap Recommendations for People in Their 30s
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1easthuman power plantBUDDHA BRAND
human power plantBUDDHA BRANDplay_arrow
Legendary hip-hop group formed in 1989…
2eastWekapipoSOUL’d OUT
WekapipoSOUL'd OUTplay_arrow
If a mainstream-scene rapper has low skill...
3eastStill D.R.E. ft. Snoop DoggDr. Dre
Still D.R.E. ft. Snoop DoggDr. Dreplay_arrow
A classic distinguished by its catchy piano intro…
4eastGrateful Days feat.ACO,ZeebraDragon Ash
Grateful Days feat.ACO,ZeebraDragon Ashplay_arrow
The masterpiece that would later give birth to beef, 'Gra…'
5eastHit ‘Em Up (Dirty)2Pac
Hit 'Em Up (Dirty)2Pacplay_arrow
In hip-hop, there’s something called a diss track...
6eastNITRO MICROPHONE UNDERGROUNDNITRO MICROPHONE UNDERGROUND
NITRO MICROPHONE UNDERGROUNDNITRO MICROPHONE UNDERGROUNDplay_arrow
A hip-hop group formed in 1998…
7eastUnbalanceKICK THE CAN CREW
UnbalanceKICK THE CAN CREWplay_arrow
It’s becoming recognized even by people who don’t listen to hip-hop…
8eastProject Delusionmōsōzoku
Project Delusionmōsōzoku
The legendary hip-hop group that Hannya was part of...
9eastBees and ButterfliesSOUL SCREAM
Bees and ButterfliesSOUL SCREAMplay_arrow
Anyone who likes MC battles would surely know…
10eastcome againm-flo
come againm-floplay_arrow
Hip-hop mixed with soul, R&B, techno, and...
11eastStreet DreamsZeebra
Street DreamsZeebraplay_arrow
From the 1990s and continuing to the present day within the country...
12eastpublic executionkingu gidora
public executionkingu gidoraplay_arrow
A big bea… in the history of Japanese hip-hop
13eastParadise, babyRIP SLYME
Paradise, babyRIP SLYMEplay_arrow
If hip-hop spreads all the way into living rooms…
14eastI messed up.hannya
I messed up.hannyaplay_arrow
A Japanese veteran and former member of the delusional running tribe…
15eastI’ll tell you what you don’t know—listen up, SHOW.TOKONA-X
I’ll tell you what you don’t know—listen up, SHOW.TOKONA-Xplay_arrow
TOKON, a legendary rapper representing Japan...
16eastJuicyThe Notorious B.I.G.
JuicyThe Notorious B.I.G.play_arrow
Biggie's 'Juicy,' a heartwarming classic about dreams
17easteverything; the whole lot; lock, stock, and barrelKREVA
everything; the whole lot; lock, stock, and barrelKREVAplay_arrow
KRE…, a leading figure in Japan’s hip-hop scene…
18east*~Asterisk~*ORANGE RANGE
*~Asterisk~*ORANGE RANGEplay_arrow
Evokes a sense of nostalgia for those in their 30s...
19easttropical nightRIP SLYME
tropical nightRIP SLYMEplay_arrow
It’s a song that expresses the heat of summer and a passionate romance...
20eastoverwinteringIce Bahn
overwinteringIce Bahnplay_arrow
Hip-hop in Kanagawa for people in their 30s...
21eastFantasistaDragon Ash
FantasistaDragon Ashplay_arrow
This song by Dragon Ash is a party...
22eastSpring, Summer, Autumn, WinterSteady&Co.
Spring, Summer, Autumn, WinterSteady&Co.play_arrow
Kenshin Furuya and BOTS from Dragon Ash…
23eastthunderous applauseDABO
thunderous applauseDABOplay_arrow
NITRO MICROPHONE UND…
24eastPorcupineYamaarashi
PorcupineYamaarashiplay_arrow
The rock band Yama-Arashi, formed in 1996...
25eastThe future is in our hands.THA BLUE HERB
The future is in our hands.THA BLUE HERBplay_arrow
With a unique worldview that sets it apart from the rest, unlike other hip-hop...
26eastOnly Holy StorySteady&Co.
Only Holy StorySteady&Co.play_arrow
Kenshi Furuya of Dragon Ash and BO...
27eastHeart Throbsnobobyknows̟+
Heart Throbsnobobyknows̟+play_arrow
A hip-hop group formed in 1999...
28eastWhere Is The Love?The Black Eyed Peas
Where Is The Love?The Black Eyed Peasplay_arrow
A hip-hop artist who has won the Grammy Awards six times...
29eastCome here.Ketsumeishi
Come here.Ketsumeishiplay_arrow
No explanation needed, a pop rap group, …
30eastAREA AREAOZROSAURUS
AREA AREAOZROSAURUSplay_arrow
The hip-hop group from Yokohama, OZRO…
31eastResurrectionCommon
ResurrectionCommonplay_arrow
A masterful take on Ahmad Jamal’s jazz tune…
32south_eastLose YourselfEminem
Lose YourselfEminemplay_arrow
The best-selling hip-hop art…
33eastChristmas Eve RapKICK THE CAN CREW
Christmas Eve RapKICK THE CAN CREWplay_arrow
Boldly sampling Tatsuro Yamashita’s classic…
34eastMr.DYNAMITEZeebra
Mr.DYNAMITEZeebraplay_arrow
Dragging in 'Greatful Days'…
35eastIZZOJay Z
IZZOJay Zplay_arrow
The rapper who reigns supreme at the very top worldwide…
36eastLifetime RespectMiki Dōsan
Lifetime RespectMiki Dōsanplay_arrow
A reggae musician released in 2001...
37eastOwari HillsILLMARIACHI
Owari HillsILLMARIACHIplay_arrow
He passed away at the young age of 26, and in his hometown, …
38eastPhysical Relationship Part 2 (Reverse Featuring Crazy Ken Band)RHYMESTER
Physical Relationship Part 2 (Reverse Featuring Crazy Ken Band)RHYMESTERplay_arrow
Active since their indie days, and in 2001…
39eastJOINTRIP SLYME
JOINTRIP SLYMEplay_arrow
A fun song themed around meeting people
40eastJesus Walks (Version 2)Kanye West
Jesus Walks (Version 2)Kanye Westplay_arrow
…continues to gain popularity with unstoppable momentum (so strong it could even bring down a flying bird)…
41eastMikoshi RockersKICK THE CAN CREW
Mikoshi RockersKICK THE CAN CREWplay_arrow
A hip-hop track that amps up the summer festival vibes
42eastYou Know My SteezGang Starr
You Know My SteezGang Starrplay_arrow
A hardcore, no-nonsense hip-hop artist…
43eastBrainJungle Brothers
BrainJungle Brothersplay_arrow
A sampling sensibility specialized in chillout, and...
44eastDo The Gariya ThingRappa Gariya
Do The Gariya ThingRappa Gariyaplay_arrow
Stylish flows and rhyming in Japanese are la...
45eastThe LightCommon
The LightCommonplay_arrow
For the Chicago-born MC, Common…
46eastDoo-Wop (That Thing)Lauryn Hill
Doo-Wop (That Thing)Lauryn Hillplay_arrow
American hip hop group, The …
47eastMoney Maker ft. PharrellLudacris
Money Maker ft. PharrellLudacrisplay_arrow
『Money Maker ft. Pha…
48eastIt Ain’t Hard To TellNas
It Ain't Hard To TellNasplay_arrow
A highly skilled, youthful flow that’s high-quality…
49eastIf I Ruled The World (Imagine That) feat. Lauryn HillNas
If I Ruled The World (Imagine That) feat. Lauryn HillNasplay_arrow
A heartwarming classic that sings of freedom and hope
50eastBonita ApplebumA Tribe Called Quest
Bonita ApplebumA Tribe Called Questplay_arrow
Vocal refrains with a downer, chill-out vibe…
51eastI Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)Jay Z
I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)Jay Zplay_arrow
As the highest-earning artist in the world...
52eastShanghai HoneyORANGE RANGE
Shanghai HoneyORANGE RANGEplay_arrow
A rock band from Okinawa, ORANGE …
53eastDreamlandBENNIE K
DreamlandBENNIE Kplay_arrow
The female duo, BENNIE K. Currently, a…
54eastChanges ft. Talent2Pac
Changes ft. Talent2Pacplay_arrow
Tupac’s signature track that sharply portrays social issues
55eastDa yo neEAST END × YURI
Da yo neEAST END × YURIplay_arrow
A party that focuses on the playful nature inherent in the Japanese language…
56eastEast NY TheoryGroup Home
East NY TheoryGroup Homeplay_arrow
A downer, chill-out, smoky vibe...
57eastHit Me With ThatThe Beatnuts
Hit Me With ThatThe Beatnutsplay_arrow
The dope track’s texture mainly drives the sampling…
58eastNumbLinkin Park
NumbLinkin Parkplay_arrow
The legendary band loved around the world, Linkin…
59eastLove, Peace And NappinessLost Boyz
Love, Peace And NappinessLost Boyzplay_arrow
While hardcore in style, the track’s...
60eastWhat Ya Want feat. NokioEVE
What Ya Want feat. NokioEVEplay_arrow
A signature anthem of Eve’s powerful rap and self-assertion
61eastWoo Hah!! Got You All in CheckBusta Rhymes
Woo Hah!! Got You All in CheckBusta Rhymesplay_arrow
A landmark of hip-hop: Busta Rhymes’ classic track
62eastUptown HitKurious
Uptown HitKuriousplay_arrow
A weighted flow and shining sense of rhyme...
63eastTOKIO LVsukebōkingu
TOKIO LVsukebōkinguplay_arrow
The mixture rock band, Skebo King…
64eastCrush on YouLil’ Kim
Crush on YouLil' Kimplay_arrow
A masterpiece 90s hip-hop album arrives
65eastGo DJLil Wayne
Go DJLil Wayneplay_arrow
Lil Wayne keeps collapsing on lean…
66eastWhy I’m MeRIZE
Why I'm MeRIZEplay_arrow
The mixture rock band RIZE’s three...
67eastTandemHALCALI
TandemHALCALIplay_arrow
Debuting in 2002, in the early 2000s...
68eastAmber-Hued City, Morning of Shanghai Crabskururi
Amber-Hued City, Morning of Shanghai Crabskururiplay_arrow
A rock ballad woven from the bustle of the city and a sense of nostalgia...
69eastCheck Yo Self feat. Das EFXIce Cube
Check Yo Self feat. Das EFXIce Cubeplay_arrow
A cautionary message that questions the truths of street life
70eastLet Me RideDr. Dre
Let Me RideDr. Dreplay_arrow
An upbeat West Coast-style hip hop…
71eastBorn 2 LiveO.C.
Born 2 LiveO.C.play_arrow
A middle schooler influenced by the Golden Era…
72eastParty Up (Up In Here)DMX
Party Up (Up In Here)DMXplay_arrow
DMX's signature tracks, with aggressive and powerful rap
73eastKeep Their Heads Ringin’Dr. Dre
Keep Their Heads Ringin'Dr. Dreplay_arrow
Dr. Dre’s film score becomes a massive hit
74eastMo Money Mo Problems feat. Puff Daddy & MaseThe Notorious B.I.G.
Mo Money Mo Problems feat. Puff Daddy & MaseThe Notorious B.I.G.play_arrow
Iconic ’90s hip‑hop classics that color Diana Ross
75eastIntergalacticBeastie Boys
IntergalacticBeastie Boysplay_arrow
They pulled off a great fusion of hip-hop and punk...
76eastWhat’s My Name?DMX
What's My Name?DMXplay_arrow
Here’s “What’s My Name?…
77eastTechnologicDaft Punk
TechnologicDaft Punkplay_arrow
France’s popular electro duo, Daft…
78eastMe Or The PapesJeru The Damaja
Me Or The PapesJeru The Damajaplay_arrow
A heavy-textured track approach and high se…
79eastAmendment beginsMICROPHONE PAGER
Amendment beginsMICROPHONE PAGERplay_arrow
As an artist with exceptional skills…
80eastStir yourself and sleep.Zone The Darkness
Stir yourself and sleep.Zone The Darknessplay_arrow
Sensationally portraying the figure of a young person pursuing their dreams…
81eastOnahamaoni
Onahamaoniplay_arrow
An artist who embodies a jazzy sense, and...
82eastWho Am I? (What’s My Name?)Snoop Dogg
Who Am I? (What's My Name?)Snoop Doggplay_arrow
Snoop Dogg’s classic— a monument of G-funk
83eastBig PoppaThe Notorious B.I.G.
Big PoppaThe Notorious B.I.G.play_arrow
When talking about East Coast hip-hop, you can’t avoid…
84eastClossoverEPMD
ClossoverEPMDplay_arrow
The heavy-toned track’s texture and the exceptional flow are…
85eastSo Tell MeHeartsdales
So Tell MeHeartsdalesplay_arrow
Produced by VERBAL of m-flo...
86eastBlack BoxJuswanna
Black BoxJuswannaplay_arrow
Shuttling between the mainstream and the underground...
87eastRide Wit Me ft. St. LunaticsNelly
Ride Wit Me ft. St. LunaticsNellyplay_arrow
N…, popular as an MC who raps as if singing
88eastDream SkyRau Def
Dream SkyRau Defplay_arrow
Make a distinctive, quirky flow your originality...
89eastSoul ClapShowbiz & A.G.
Soul ClapShowbiz & A.G.play_arrow
Dancer-like drum textures and sampli…
90eastShe SaidThe Pharcyde
She SaidThe Pharcydeplay_arrow
Gently leaning into a deep-textured track approach…
91eastIn Da Club (Int’l Version)50 Cent
In Da Club (Int'l Version)50 Centplay_arrow
Actors, professional boxing promoters, and the like, …
92eastA Little Of ThisGrand Puba
A Little Of ThisGrand Pubaplay_arrow
With a dope track approach and heavy flo...
93eastThe Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)Missy Elliott
The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)Missy Elliottplay_arrow
Missy Elliott's innovative music and visuals
94eastBoom Boom PowThe Black Eyed Peas
Boom Boom PowThe Black Eyed Peasplay_arrow
The Black Eyed Peas's...