Six Hip-Hop Tracks for Los Angeles

With Kendrick Lamar and the release of Straight Outta Compton, L.A. hip-hop is bigger than ever. Here are six tracks for your soundtrack to the city of angels.

“How I Could Just Kill a Man” from Cypress Hill by Cypress Hill (1991)

B-Real’s nasally voice and DJ Muggs’ funky production make this one of the most upbeat murder ballads in music.

“California Love” by 2Pac (1995)

Released as his comeback single, Tupac Shakur recorded the song after he was bailed out of jail in exchange for signing with Suge Knight and Dr. Dre at Death Row Records.

“Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang” from The Chronic by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg (1992)

The inventor of G-Funk is still debatable, but no one can deny Dr. Dre perfected its sound. “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang” introduced the world to Snoop Dogg, in addition to being the first single from the album that defines West Coast hip-hop.

“Passin’ Me By” from Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde by The Pharcyde (1992)

Los Angeles is famous for gangsta rap, but one of the greatest alternative hip-hop albums of all time hails right from South Central. “Passin’ Me By” is an iconic track about each group member’s experience with unrequited love.

“Straight Outta Compton” from Straight Outta Compton by N.W.A. (1988)

Ice Cube’s iconic opening verse unapologetically draws a line between L.A. and Hollywood. Never released as a single, the song recently got into the Top 40 with the release of the N.W.A. movie, 27 years after its original release.

“m.A.A.d city” from good kid, m.A.A.d city by Kendrick Lamar (2012)

This list wouldn’t be complete without the current King of L.A. “m.A.A.d city” is K-Dot’s version of “N.Y. State of Mind,” and even has a feature from veteran gangsta rapper, MC Eiht.