Six Hip-Hop Tracks for New York City

New York is the birthplace of hip-hop, so do your homework and listen to this soundtrack of the Empire City.

“Juicy” from Ready to Die by The Notorious B.I.G. (1994)

This is the quintessential hip-hop track, depicting Christopher Wallace’s rags-to-riches tale. Nearly 20 years after it was released, the track is still a popular party-closer.

“The Message” from The Message by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5 (1982)

Some people like to complain old-school records were more lyrical. The truth is hip-hop started out as a form of dance music. It wasn’t until “The Message” when rappers started using the genre as a form of social commentary.

“No Sleep ‘Till Brooklyn” from Licensed to Ill by The Beastie Boys (1986)

Long before Eminem was Slim Shady, he was listening to Licensed to Ill by The Beastie Boys. The album was a mind-blowing combination of punk and rock, known for its frenetic use of sampling and irreverent rhymes.

“N.Y. State of Mind” from Illmatic by Nas (1994)

This one goes without saying. The iconic track comes from Illmatic, often called the greatest hip-hop album of all time. Nas recorded the verse in one take, rapping over a beat from DJ Premier.

“Shook Ones (Part II)” from The Infamous by Mobb Deep (1995)

The beat to this song was immortalized in 8 Mile, but the original track is considered to be a hip-hop classic. “Shook Ones” takes listeners to the darker side of growing up in New York, more specifically Mobb Deep’s home of Queensbridge.

“Empire State of Mind” from The Blueprint 3 by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys (2009)

Ranked as one of the best songs of 2009, Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ rap ballad became the unofficial anthem for the city; the current generation’s “New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra.