Top 10 Best Gangsta Rap Songs
Gangsta rap has always been about more than just beats and rhymes. It's raw, unfiltered storytelling that brings you straight into the streets, the struggles, and the victories of the artists who lived it. From hard-hitting diss tracks to stories of survival, these songs have shaped the genre and left an undeniable impact on hip-hop as a whole. Some tracks sparked controversy, others became anthems, but all of them helped define what gangsta rap is about.
I was a Jazz fan, a Whitney fan, a Michael fan, a fan of Prince. Hip hop was never something I cared for until this Pac joint dropped. I was in my teens, feeling rebellious, feeling like a badass, and this song became the soundtrack to my teens. It's by far the illest rap song made.
Without a doubt, the greatest rapper to have ever lived. This song is one of his best works. I love the end of the song when he is going off, his voice is so raw and powerful. I love it. RIP to the King of Rap Tupac.
Pac was an expert in organizing words to make a breathtaking impact, almost like being in a lyrical war zone. "Hit 'Em Up" proves this.
How can the anthem of Gangsta Rap not be on the list? And yeah, by the way, as much as I love the song Cop Killer, yeah, I got my name from it, it's not Gangsta Rap. People who vote for it never heard it. It's a rock song.
There once was a time where things were peaceful. People would wake up in the morning to the sound of birds chirping and make their way through their boring, but happy, life. But screw that noise.
This song represents all that is free and awesome. No more time of peace and boringness, only excitement and chaos.
This song is truly the pinnacle of gangster rap. EAZY personifies G rap, that's what makes him the godfather of gangster rap. His lyrics and flow are untouchable in this song, even Tupac and Biggie rarely peak at this level of flow, lyrics, and rhyme.
This is no doubt the greatest gangster rap song of all time. There is no way another gangster rap song could surpass this one. Eazy-E is a legend, no wonder they called him the godfather of gangster rap. R.I.P. Eric Wright, God bless you.
Dre got destroyed in this track, so brutal. I wonder if Eazy actually wrote this one. It would be even better if he did. By the way, how is Eminem's Rap God on here when Dr. Dre's Deep Cover isn't?
It simply defines East Coast rap and life in the hood in general. Over a dark, piano-infused beat, Prodigy delivers one of the best verses of all time. Both members of Mobb Deep call out all those who claim hood but have never even been to the ghetto.
Probably the most intimidating song ever, Shook Ones Part II. Not for the faint of heart, or halfway crooks.
Why is this not #1? Everyone should know that Mobb Deep are REAL gangsta rappers. They may not be the best rappers, but this song is too sick to be here. Just look at the lyrics!
You should know by now. A real Compton G and the godfather of G rap. Tupac is a legend and a poet but real G's were Ruthless all the way. RIP Eazy and Tupac. Two humble and real men and stars in G heaven now.
This is the best beat Dre ever produced. I love the scratches in between verses, the guitar riffs, and the drums. It's just perfection. The lyrics are great, too!
If you're talking gangsta rap, you're talking about this song. It's not my favorite song by them, but it's the one which stands the most chance for number one, so I'm going for it.
This is the lord of the rest of the songs. This started gangsta rap. This is the most hardcore ever.
This showed the rise of N.W.A. and how they were doubted by police and wrongfully treated.
Unique.
A lot of people dislike the fact of rap affecting white suburbia, but in my opinion, this song is perfect. It tells you that other than the song itself, there is nothing in that lifestyle for anyone.
A raw song. Sends a message across. Great lyrics, the song is an eye-opener, raw heavy rap. It's good.
This song invokes the feeling of being a badass by whoever listens. Its lyrics are great, but it's the beat that stands out from this song. Sampled from Stevie Wonder, they added a good amount of bass to make it a good cruising or just chilling song.
On a side note, this is the best song to count money to.
Should be number 1. Made gangsta rap popular. Didn't invent it though, because that would be NWA.
This is the greatest rap song of all time.
I think that Fort Minor has great songs, but Remember the Name is the best.
I still think this song expresses the struggle between the two, BIG and Pac, and I like this song better than Pac's. It's more original.
This song. I reckon they should put this song at least 5-3, or yeah. You don't mess with Notorious B.I.G. His big, haha, step back!
Man, that's way better than Hit 'Em Up. Tupac in that song sounds like a little kid.
The Newcomers
Would've chosen a different Gates song for this list (e.g., 2 Phones, Out the Mud, Servin H, etc.).
Any song from Three Six Mafia's Mystic Stylez album belongs here.
Incredibly introspective lyrics against a spine-tingling backdrop just blew my mind. The song that inspired countless others to describe hood life in a more critical manner.
I live in India, so far away from Houston, and yet I'm a fan of this group. Geto Boys for life.
I grew up listening to all of this music. This song is still the best.
Geto Boys are the most underrated artists in the rap game. They killed it.
Greatest rapper of all time. Period.
Tupac isn't even in the discussion.
Ice-T plays a cop on TV, that's pretty lame, but good song. It has good beats, and Ice makes cops look like a pimp.
Pretty punky, to be honest, but good beat and talks about the crooked cops and how they should get shot in the face.
What a great song. It's Tupac Shakur back in the game, ready to make "Changes" or ready to "Hit 'Em Up." This is arguably the greatest Tupac Shakur song ever.
There has never been a harder song than this. 2Pac was real, and the 90s were the hardest of hardcore.
Damn straight! Number one gangsta rap song of all time!
Wu-Tang Clan is a legendary rap group. C.R.E.A.M (Cash Rules Everything Around Me) is not just a great rap but is also a great title.
C.R.E.A.M was the best song of the year 1994.
Probably the second best rap song after Regulate by Warren G and Nate Dogg.
One of the greatest and most recognized backing tracks of all time. Love it.
Sick song. There are still gangstas all across the world listening to this. Gangstas all across the world... see what I did there.
Best gangster rap ever. In my opinion, this song contains the best beat ever heard in a gangster rap song. Furthermore, Ice Cube delivers plenty of nice punchlines. Just great!
This track is just dope. Ain't nothing to it.
This song is just awesome. The beat is full gangster and the flow of Snoop Doggy Dogg is just amazing. Although this song came out in 1994, even now (2014), when we hear it, it sounds hot.
This is the best gangsta rap song of gangsta rapper Snoop Dogg.
This song changed the rap industry. Second track off the most classic album of all time, and once it came out, the streets went crazy over it.
Come on, this is the song. Nas is the man.
Nas is the truest gangster ever.
