Top 10 Rap Anthems
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#10: “Let Me Clear My Throat” (1996) DJ Kool
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This is one of those songs that is guaranteed to have everyone in the club hopping. Simple enough, it’s got Kool relying on the call and response technique that hype men use to get the crowd going. “Let Me Clear My Throat” was recorded live at Philly’s Bahama Bay Club, and the audience’s response was integral to making this song as catchy as it is. A Billboard Hot 100 top thirty single, the hip-hop, go-go and house track is sure to stand the test of time thanks to its funky beat and signature line.
#9: “Get Low” (2003) Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz feat. Ying Yang Twins
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It’s hard to believe this song is more than ten years old because it’s still a party standard. “Get Low” is the epitome of mainstream crunk and helped bring the style to hip-hop’s forefront during the early noughties. Various versions of the song circulate with a censored chorus – but regardless of format, listeners shout along with unrivaled enthusiasm to Lil Jon and crew’s lyrics. “Get Low” regularly pops up in pop culture too, being referenced in other songs as well as in movies.
#8: “Big Pimpin’” (2000) Jay-Z feat. UGK
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Jay’s always been a boss and “Big Pimpin’”serves as a testament to that. He spits rhymes about living a carefree, playboy lifestyle filled with beautiful women and expensive cars. Paired with the gritty vocals of UGK, the fifth single from Jay-Z’s fourth record had massive play on the airwaves. Though Jay expressed regret over some of its misogynist lyrics in later years, it’s still undeniably one of the biggest songs in hip-hop.
#7: “Without Me” (2002) Eminem
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Perhaps one of the cockiest rap songs out there, this track converted millions of Eminem haters into fans – or at least, listeners. It’s pretty much a sequel to “The Real Slim Shady,” with Em proclaiming that the world of music is empty without his contributions. The song calls out all his haters from Dick Cheney’s wife to Moby, and those who attacked him for cultural appropriation. “Without Me” also got Slim Shady his first Grammy nod for Record of the Year, which was his first in a major category.
#6: “In da Club” (2003) 50 Cent
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A critical and commercial hit, “In da Club” was inescapable when it came out. But unlike other earworms, this Get Rich or Die Tryin’ single isn’t only fun to sing along to but also perfectly captures that carefree feel of letting loose and partying it up: with Fiddy barking out his decree for listeners on how to have a good time, the hip hop track is an order listeners can’t ignore. The Grammy-nominated number was also a Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper and sold over 2 million copies.
#5: “Jump Around” (1992) House of Pain
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If you’ve ever been to sporting event, it’s safe to assume that you’ve jumped around to this song. This House of Pain track has such mass appeal because it’s a call to action to get up and move. From the intro’s horn fanfare to the repeated saxophone squeal, and the scratch of the needle on the beat, it’s infectious, and good-natured fun. “Jump Around” dares you to move and you can’t help but accept the challenge!
#4: “Party Up (Up in Here)” (2000) DMX
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This east coast hip hop track is just one of those songs that you’ll always wanna turn up when it’s spinning. It’s loud, aggressive, and confrontational, with DMX proclaiming that he’s about to lose his mind while partying up in here. The simple chorus isn’t only easy to follow along with but it’s memorable and easily quotable. “Party Up” was one of the biggest hits of DMX’s troubled career and cemented his status as a top dog in the rap game.
#3: “O.P.P.” (1991) Naughty By Nature
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This song is the anthem for creepin’ but when it sounds this good, who cares? Depending on whom you ask, “O.P.P.” can stand for different things but it’s most widely known to mean “other people’s property.” The Naughty by Nature track was not only a hit in the hip-hop world but it was also one of the first to find crossover success in the mainstream pop world. “O.P.P.” peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and this was due in part to its video getting heavy rotation on MTV.
#2: “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party!)” (1987) Beastie Boys
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Like probably no other genre, hip-hop has produced many songs about having a good time. This track exemplifies that ethos of doing what you want, regardless of what the naysayers tell you. “Fight for Your Right” is also the perfect mash-up of rock music and hip-hop, demonstrating that the two genres aren’t so different. Hitting the top 10 of the Hot 100, it’s a Beastie Boys classic and its legacy lives on in more current songs. Before we unveil our number one pick, here are a few honorable mentions: - “Be Faithful” (1999) Fatman Scoop feat. The Crooklyn Clan - “Push It” (1987) Salt-n-Pepa - “We Fly High” (2006) Jim Jones - “The Next Episode” (2000) Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg, Kurupt & Nate Dogg - “Ante Up (Robbing-Hoodz Theory)” (2000) M.O.P. - “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” (2007) Kanye West
#1: “Juicy” (1994) The Notorious B.I.G.
This hip-hop tune is in everyone’s collective consciousness; for it’s the kind of song people remember hearing for the first time ‘cause it’s just that good. As his solo debut single, “Juicy” introduced the world to Biggie’s come up in a familiar rags-to-riches story. And while he continues this theme in “Mo Money Mo Problems,” this Ready to Die track contains the positive message of working hard and believing in your dreams but it’s also never overly sentimental or cheesy. A Hot 100 top thirty, it’s as cool and inspirational as he was. Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite rap anthem? For more can’t miss Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
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