I'm a huge fan of classic hip hop and have been meaning to make a list of my favorites from that era. Obviously, this is list all my opinion. The criteria I used was songs released, either as singles or on albums, with the cutoff at 2000. Post your favorites in the comments!
11. Boyz In The Hood - N.W.A.
This song is about the ghetto life in Compton, California, where N.W.A is from. It's describing a day in the life of a gangsta as rapped by Eazy-E.
10. Deep Cover (ft. Snoop Dogg) - Dr Dre
This song was Dr. Dre's debut solo single, and his first track released after the break up of N.W.A. It also features Snoop Dogg making his first appearance on record.
9. Shook Ones (Part II) - Mobb Deep
Shook Ones (Part II) is the duo's signature song and is told from the perspective of inner-city youths engaged in territorial warfare and struggling for financial gains. It was also featured prominently in 8 Mile during the final rap battle.
8. Runnin' From tha Police (ft. Notorious B.I.G.) - 2Pac
Yes, you read that right. One of the songs Tupac and Biggie made together before their fallout and the infamous West vs East Coast Rivalry.
7. Real Muthaphuckkin G's - Eazy-E
It is one of the most important diss tracks in hip-hop history. The video includes former NWA members MC Ren and DJ Yella adding legitimacy to Compton’s turn on Dre.
6. Fuck With Dre Day (ft. Snoop Dogg) - Dr Dre
The song was a diss track towards rappers Eazy-E, Dre's former accomplice from the group N.W.A. Eazy-E later retaliated with Real Muthaphuckkin G's. (number 7 on this list)
5. Damn It Feels Good To Be A Gangsta - Geto Boys
This was featured in the 1999 movie Office Space, where it was used in a scene where Peter willfully and flagrantly breaches office etiquette.
4. Stan - Eminem
3. Who Shot Ya? - Notorious B.I.G.
"Who Shot Ya?" has become one of the most well known yet hotly debated songs in hip hop. Widely believed to be a diss track mocking Tupac's robbery/shooting in Manhattan, New York due to the timing of its release.
2. Cop Killa - Body Count
Ice-T got the idea for this song after he came into the studio singing "Psycho Killer" by The Talking Heads, and someone in the studio thought there should be a "Cop Killer," to express concerns of people harassed by police.
1. Juvenile - Back That Azz Up
“Back That Azz Up” is really an anthem for the bounce, a form of party music that first emerged in New Orleans in the early 1990s. Fun fact; Lil Wayne was only 17 when performed on this track.