These are songs that appear on every “greatest” list, but Vol. 2 offers fresh context.
100. “It Was a Good Day” – Ice Cube (1992)
The most beloved profanity-free rap song ever. Cube’s storytelling is cinematic.
95. “Elevators (Me & You)” – OutKast (1996)
“Me and you, your mama and your cousin, too.” Laid-back, philosophical, and eternally groovable.
89. “The Light” – Common (2000)
The first great hip-hop love song without irony. J Dilla’s Bobby Caldwell sample is butter.
84. “Alright” – Kendrick Lamar (2015)
Protest anthem, healing hymn, and proof that rap can be both popular and powerful.
78. “Get Low” – Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz
“To the window… to the wall.” Crunk’s national anthem. No Vol. 2 is complete without it.
72. “Big Poppa” – The Notorious B.I.G. (1994)
The Isley Brothers sample, Biggie’s velvet-voiced come-ons, and the greatest ad-libs in history (“Uh huh, yeah”).
68. “Humble.” – Kendrick Lamar (2017)
Mike WiLL Made-It’s piano-trap beat and Kendrick’s commanding delivery. A No. 1 hit that’s also an art statement.
61. “C.R.E.A.M.” – Wu-Tang Clan (1993)
The ultimate hustler’s anthem. Method Man’s opening verse remains untouchable. Ranked #14 overall in Vol. 2.
55. “Ms. Jackson” – OutKast (2000)
Apology as art. André 3000’s falsetto hook and the backwards drums. Timeless.
51. “In Da Club” – 50 Cent (2003)
Dr. Dre’s most iconic 2000s beat. Every line quotable. Every hip-hop party’s peak.
The most compelling aspect of a "Vol 2" list is the rehabilitation of legends who were overshadowed by their own contemporaries. Top 500 GREATEST Hip-Hop and Rap Songs VOL 2 -m...
Consider the Wu-Tang Clan. Volume 1 guarantees "C.R.E.A.M." and "Protect Ya Neck." But Volume 2 is the playground for Ghostface Killah’s "Daytona 500" or Raekwon’s "Incarcerated Scarfaces." It highlights the density of the group's catalog. It proves that the bench strength of the Golden Era was deeper than the starting lineup.
Similarly, this is where we often find the lyrical miracles—the songs that didn't have a radio hook but possessed bars so dense they required a decoder ring. Think of Ras Kass’s "Nature of the Threat" or Canibus’s "Second Round K.O." These are songs that prioritize technical proficiency over commercial viability.
Hip-hop’s first serious exploration of mental health. Scarface’s opening verse (“I sit alone in my four-cornered room”) is devastating. The Isley Brothers sample adds eerie calm. A song that rewired what rap could talk about.
This block covers 2005–2013: Kanye’s autotune, Drake’s singing-rap, and the rise of Odd Future.
198. “Touch the Sky” – Kanye West feat. Lupe Fiasco
The horns sample from Curtis Mayfield. Lupe’s verse outshining Ye. A feel-good peak.
185. “My Humps” – The Black Eyed Peas
Yes, we’re serious. Its absurdity and commercial dominance represent a certain type of “greatness” – love it or hate it.
172. “Versace” (Remix) – Migos feat. Drake
The triplet flow – “Versace, Versace, Versace, Versace” – codified the modern rap cadence.
163. “Trophies” – Young Money feat. Drake
The best non-album Drake banger. Produced by Hit-Boy, this is victory lap music.
154. “Chum” – Earl Sweatshirt (2012)
Abstract, depressed, brilliant. Opened the door for introspective “weird rap.”
145. “Work” (Remix) – A$AP Ferg feat. A$AP Rocky, French Montana, etc.
Harlem shake in audio form. The beat change alone is worth the price of entry.
132. “Bodak Yellow” – Cardi B (2017)
The Bronx resurrection. Flow borrowed from Kodak Black, energy entirely her own. Number one for three weeks – and a statement. These are songs that appear on every “greatest”
120. “Maad City” – Kendrick Lamar (2012)
The beat switch, the “YAWK YAWK YAWK,” the police siren. A modern storytelling masterpiece. Ranked #21 in Vol. 2.
108. “Runnin’” – The Pharcyde (1995)
J Dilla’s backwards-sample beat. One of the most inventive productions ever placed on a rap song.
101. “Hard in da Paint” – Waka Flocka Flame (2010)
Lex Luger’s 808s kicked off the trap production boom. Crowd-killers only.
While Volume 1 usually grabs the obvious hits ("Juicy", "Fight the Power"), Volume 2 is where the genre's foundation is truly cemented.
Essential Tracks:
The godfather of conscious rap. Without it, no “Changes,” no “Alright,” no “Glory.” It may sound dated, but its spirit is permanent.
Songs that transcend genre, era, and geography.
50. “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang” – Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg
The summer of 1992. A groove so smooth it feels like a memory even if you weren’t there.
47. “Alright” (re-entry? No, this is Kendrick’s second appearance; Vol. 2 allows one song per artist in top 50 except for extraordinary cases. Here, we place “Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst” at #47.)
Kendrick’s 12-minute opus from good kid, m.A.A.d city. The most ambitious song in modern rap.
44. “Fight the Power” – Public Enemy (1989)
Political rap’s supernova. The Bomb Squad’s layered noise and Chuck D’s roar.
40. “The Message” – Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five (1982)
The first serious rap song. “Don’t push me ‘cause I’m close to the edge.” Vol. 2 ranks it at #40 – not #1, because we weigh listenability today, but its DNA is everywhere. The most compelling aspect of a "Vol 2"
36. “Rapper’s Delight” – The Sugarhill Gang (1979)
The starting line. The 14-minute jam that put hip-hop on wax. Campy? Yes. Essential? Absolutely.
33. “Stan” – Eminem feat. Dido (2000)
The word “stan” entered the dictionary. A masterclass in narrative voice and psychological depth.
29. “Jesus Walks” – Kanye West (2004)
Gospel, drill snares, and a confession. Kanye proved rap could be spiritual without being preachy.
25. “Sucka Nigga” – A Tribe Called Quest (1992)
The bassline from “Nobody Beats the Biz.” A meditation on violence and survival. Underrated classic.
22. “B.O.B.” – OutKast (2000)
Drum ‘n’ bass, gospel choir, apocalyptic lyrics, and the greatest André 3000 verse ever (“What is the raison d’être?”). A miracle of a song.
19. “NY State of Mind” – Nas (1994)
Illmatic’s centerpiece. Nas paints a crime scene over DJ Premier’s haunting piano loop. Top 5 rap song ever.
15. “Juicy” – The Notorious B.I.G. (1994)
The ultimate rags-to-riches anthem. “Birthday was the worst day.” Yes, Vol. 2 has this at #15, ahead of “Hypnotize.”
12. “Dear Mama” – 2Pac
The most emotionally open hip-hop song of all time. Pac’s vulnerability made him immortal.
11. “Shook Ones Pt. II” – Mobb Deep
As promised. The coldest beat. The most paranoid lyrics. Two rappers at their absolute peak.
Before we unveil the countdown, transparency is key. The first volume leaned heavily on Golden Age (1986–1996) and commercial peak (1999–2005). Vol. 2 corrects that by: