So I'm sure you guys that follow the blog sometimes wonder what are my personal favorite tracks to listen to. To tell you the honest truth, making this list was very difficult for me. Included are my favorite hip-hop songs that have been dropped after the turn of the century. Keep in mind that none of the songs are on any albums put out by Kanye West. A majority of the songs on this list would have been songs by Kanye if I were to include them. This is a hip-hop list, an R&B is one under construction. Make sure to let me know what you think of my list and I hope you enjoy.
(Talib Kweli)
1.
"Get By Remix"- Talib Kweli ft. Mos Def, Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Busta Rhymes-This track has some of the best emcees in the game on top of their game. Jay-Z and Kanye West straight kill it in their verses. I heard this song when I was in middle school, and every time I have heard it after it's like hearing it for the very first time. Kanye West does a beautiful job producing this track. One of the best hip-hop and I have heard to date.
2.
"One Mic"- Nas-This is my favorite Nas track of all-time. It's off of his album
Stillmatic and samples Phil Collin's "In The Air Tonight". He drops one of the deepest lyrics I have ever heard in my life, "All I need is one life, one try, one breath, I'm one man. What I stand for speaks for itself, they don't understand". Lyrically, this is one of the best tracks of all-time. Nas produces this track himself as well. I really like the change of pace he uses in his flow which really gets has the listener feel like they are part of the song. He starts slow, speeds it up and gradually goes back to original pace. This song is a straight up work of art.
3.
"I Want You"- Common ft. Will.I.Am.-Common goes straight from the heart in this song. Although it was written and produced by Will.I.Am, Common performs it to the fullest. The line that has stayed with me even today is, "I spent many years tryna be the heartthrob, I guess it's only right that I got my heart robbed". This was on his 2007 album
Finding Forever. Common snaps in the second verse, which happens to be one of my all-time favorite verses. This music video is too raw featuring Alicia Keyes and Kanye West. Check it out.
4.
"Daydreamin"- Lupe Fiasco ft. Jill Scott-This track is off of Lupe Fiasco's first album,
Food & Liquor. It features Jill Scott who can straight up hit some notes. I love the feel of the song and it actually feels like I am daydreamin. The music samples a bunch of artists, but it's beautifully done. Lupe is a great lyricist and has the listener visualizing all sorts of stuff in this song. Check it out for sure, one of the songs I heavily listened to during high school.
5.
"Ms. Jackson"- Outkast-It's hard to believe this song was dropped in 2000. I could have sworn I was jammin to this way before that, but apparently not. This is a sweet taste of the uniqueness of southern hip-hop. Outkast has a style that's incomparable. Andre 300 and Big Boi snap in this song, which has won many awards and even a Grammy. This song was real personal for Andre 3000 especially as he writes this for the mother of his ex. All I gotta say is this song is a straight classic and touches on a lot of strong subjects.
(Lupe Fiasco)
6.
"Hip-Hop Saved My Life"- Lupe Fiasco ft. Nikki Jean-All I gotta say is that Lupe Fiasco is one of the best story tellers I have ever heard. After hearing this track I am sure many of you will agree. He goes through the song and tells the story of a rapper's rise to the top. He wrote this song about Houston rapper Slim Thug who is also seen in the music video. It features vocals from Nikki Jean, who can straight up sing. I still remember watching Lupe perform this live on stage in 2008 alongside Nikki Jean. It was a beautiful thing.
7.
"Home"- Bone Thugs-N-Harmony ft. Phil Collins-Although not a lot of people would agree with me on this one, I straight up love this song. It reminds me of my childhood and where I grew up for some reason. It samples Phil Collin's "Take Me Home". Collins is also featured on the hook of this song. I believe this is Bone Thugs at their finest and all of the members drop some dope verses. Check it out.
8.
"This Way"- Dilated Peoples ft. Kanye West-Dilated Peoples is the biggest name in hip-hop that you probably never heard of. They're real big in the underground hip-hop game. This track was one that got some radio play and features Kanye West. Kanye produced a gem and throws down a straight killer verse. "I'm a Chicagoan, til Chicago end, til we blow like Chicago winds". Throughout sophomore year of high school, this was one of my most played tracks.
9.
"Song Cry"- Jay-Z-Although I really can't relate to the lyrics in this song, I can't fail to notice this is Jay-Z on another level. The best song off of
The Blueprint hands down. The song goes through the story of Jay cheating on his girl and his girl cheating back. He's showing emotion the only way he can, and that's made clear in the hook, "I can't see em coming down my eyes, so I gotta make the song cry". This track is a work of art if you ask me.
10.
"Number One"- Pharrell ft. Kanye West-There were a lot of songs that I was going through to choose which one should get this number ten spot. I had to give it to the one and only Skateboard P who throws down a straight classic featuring the Louis Vuitton Don. This song shows how talented of a producer Pharrell is as well as he outdoes himself on this one. This song is off of his 2006 album
In My Mind. I would include a line off of Kanye's verse, but the thing is I just can't choose one. he straight kills it. I love the feel of this song and I can jam to this track non-stop. Check it out and enjoy.
(Birdman and Lil Wayne)
(B.O.B.)
