50 of the Greatest Hip-Hop Beats
A good beat will stand the test of time; a great beat will transcend it and catapult the listener to the exact moment and place where they first heard it. From hip-hop's humble Bronx beginnings to the global phenomenon it is today, the genre and the way rap music is made has continuously evolved.
Back in the day, it took the ingenious inventions of pioneers like Grandmaster Flash, Grand Wizzard Theodore and DJ Kool Herc to craft a beat for an MC to ride. As a kid, Flash would spend hours dissecting TVs, radios, cassette decks and stereo receivers he'd unearthed from a local junkyard. It's this curiosity that eventually led him to coining the "quick-mix theory," now one of the most commonly used DJing techniques in turntablism. But with the advent of the internet, making a beat is as simple as pulling up a program and pressing a few buttons. However, to create a beat that will cut through the inevitable noise takes a special touch.
With 50 years of hip-hop being celebrated over the last 10 months, it's only right to highlight 50 of the greatest hip-hop beats crafted across five decades of the genre. Among them is the unmistakeable opening bass line from A Tribe Called Quest’s "Scenario," the late, great J Dilla’s subtle use of Quincy Jones’ "Summer in the City" for The Pharcyde’s "Passin’ Me By," the infectious thump of Kendrick Lamar’s "Humble." and raucous roar of Travis Scott's "Sicko Mode." While hip-hop may always transform, one thing's for certain: the beat goes on. Check out 50 of the greatest hip-hop beats, in no particular order, below.
"The Message"
Grandmaster Flash and The Furious FiveProduced by Duke Bootee and Sylvia Robinson.
"Top Billin'"
Audio TwoProduced by Daddy-O and Audio Two.
"Deep Cover"
Dr. DreProduced by Dr. Dre.
“93 Til Infinity”
Souls of MischiefProduced by Domino, Del the Funky Homosapien A Plus, Casual and Jay Biz.
"Shook Ones Part 2"
Mobb DeepProduced by Havoc.
“Still Tippin’”
Mike Jones featuring Slim Thug and Paul WallProduced by Salih Williams.
“Dirt Off Your Shoulder”
Jay-ZProduced by Timbaland.
“Through the Wire”
Kanye WestProduced by Kanye West.
"I Really Mean It"
DiplomatsProduced by Just Blaze.
“C.R.E.A.M.”
Wu-Tang ClanProduced by RZA.
“Pound Cake”
DrakeProduced by Murda Beatz.
“Dollaz + Sense”
DJ QuikProduced by DJ Quik, G-One and Robert Bacon.
“Luchini”
Camp LoProduced by Ski.
“Elevator (Me & You)”
OutKastProduced by OutKast.
"Stay Fly"
Three 6 Mafia featuring 8Ball & MJG and Young BuckProduced by DJ Paul and Juicy J.
"Day ‘N’ Nite"
Kid CudiProduced by Dot Da Genius and Kid Cudi.
"March Madness"
FutureProduced by Tarentino.
“It Was a Good Day"
Ice CubeProduced by Ice Cube.
“All About the Benjamins”
Puff Daddy featuring The Lox and Lil' KimProduced by D-Dot.
"Dreams and Nightmares"
Meek MillProduced by Tone the Beat Bully.
“Swagga Like Us”
T.I. and Jay-Z featuring Kanye West and Lil WayneProduced by Kanye West.
“Faneto”
Chief KeefProduced by Chief Keef.
“Got Five On It”
LunizProduced by Tone Capone.
"Grindin'"
ClipseProduced by The Neptunes.
"Bad and Boujee"
Migos featuring Lil Uzi VertProduced by Metro Boomin.
“Ruff Ryders Anthem”
DMXProduced by Swizz Beatz.
"Get Low"
Lil JonProduced by Lil Jon.
“Drop It Like It’s Hot”
Snoop DoggProduced by The Neptunes.
"They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)"
Pete Rock and CL SmoothProduced by Pete Rock.
“Ready or Not”
FugeesProduced by Fugees and Jerry Wonda.
“N***as In Paris”
Kanye West and Jay-ZProduced by Kanye West, Mike Dean, Hit-Boy and Anthony Kilhoffer.
“Work It”
Missy ElliottProduced by Timbaland.
"Humble."
Kendrick LamarProduced by Mike WiLL Made-It and Pluss.
"Magnolia”
Playboi CartiProduced by Pi’erre Bourne.
“Move Bitch”
LudacrisProduced by KLC.
"Passin Me By"
The PharcydeProduced by J Dilla.
“Look at Me”
XXXTentacionProduced by Rojas and Jimmy Duval.
"In Da Club"
Produced by Dr. Dre with co-production by Mike Elizondo.
“Sicko Mode”
Travis Scott featuring DrakeProduced by Rogét Chahayed, Hit-Boy, Oz, Cubeatz, Tay Keith and Mike Dean.
“Lean Back”
Terror Squad featuring Fat Joe and Remy MaProduced by Scott Storch.
“A Milli”
Lil WayneProduced by Bangladesh.
"Flava in Ya Ear"
Craig MackProduced by Easy Mo Bee.
"Made You Look"
NasProduced by Salaam Remi.
"The Box"
Roddy RicchProduced by 30 Roc.
"Hard in Da Paint"
Waka Flocka FlameProduced by Lex Luger.
“Still D.R.E.”
Dr. DreProduced by Dr. Dre.
"Mass Appeal"
Gang StarrProduced by DJ Premier.
"Who Shot Ya"
The Notorious B.I.G.Produced by Puff Daddy with co-production by Nashiem Myrick.
"Victory"
Puff Daddy featuring The Notorious B.I.G. and Busta RhymesProduced by Puff Daddy, Stevie J and the Hitmen.
"Scenario"
A Tribe Called QuestProduced by A Tribe Called Quest.
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