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Hip Hop is a genre that originated from artists bringing poetic value by merging catchy vocal performances with enticing lyricism, creating earworms that would stand the test of time.
From the old school Boom Bap days to modern mumble rap, hooks (or Chorus') have played a pivotal role in the success of a record. Although this is true for most other genres as well, rap focuses on performance, cadence, and delivery. Hence creating a track that is not just well produced but can have its listeners hooked, in a sense, helps in standing the test of time.
Good production but a sub-par hook tends to get fewer plays and could be eventually forgotten amongst the hundreds of thousands of records released every day. However, good production and catchy hook garners significantly higher attention and playback, as seen on Kendrick Lamar's recent No.1 diss track Not Like Us, with the track selling over a million units since its release in May.
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Ranking My Name Is, Ms. Jackson, and ten more of Hip Hop's greatest hooks
Going over tracks that have been released since the late 80s to some of Hip Hop's more recent classics, we've put together a list of the top 12 hooks of all time that producers are still remixing to date.
Disclaimer: Lyrics referenced here are rated EXPLICIT. Reader discretion is advised.
1) My Name Is - Eminem
Eminem, at the height of his Slim Shady era, dropped one of the biggest singles of his discography. It created a new wave of satire rap that hadn't been seen till the release of My Name Is, as part of his second studio album The Slim Shady LP back in 1999.
Em, alongside Dr. Dre, created one of the most infectious Hip Hop productions. It certified itself as an instant classic with a comedic production, satirical lyricism, and one of the most recognizable hooks of all time.
"Hi, my name is, what? My name is, who? / My name is, chka-chka, Slim Shady / Hi, my name is, huh? My name is, what? / My name is, chka-chka, Slim Shady" - Eminem's hook on 'My Name Is'.
2) Drop It Like It’s Hot - Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg's iconic hook and dance to Drop It Like It's Hot is well regarded as a monumental moment in Hip Hop, to the point where the song and Snoop's cripwalk 'drive the wheel' dance step has become a popular meme used across social media.
The Doggfather recruited Pharrell Williams on his seventh studio album R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece, with the duo delivering a double-platinum chart-topping Hip Hop single with Drop It Like It's Hot.
"When the pimp's in the crib, ma (Drop it like it's hot, drop it like it's hot, drop it like it's hot) / When the pigs try to get at you (Park it like it's hot, park it like it's hot, park it like it's hot) / And if a n---a get a attitude (Pop it like it's hot, pop it like it's hot, pop it like it's hot) / I got the Rollie on my arm and I'm pourin' Chandon, and I roll the best weed, 'cause I got it goin' on" - Snoop's hook on 'Drop It Like It's Hot'.
3) Ms. Jackson - Outkast
Outkast gave us one of their most highly regarded singles across their discography, titled Ms. Jackson, the fifth track off of Stankonia, their fourth studio album. Andre 3000's hook on this track dominated the early 2000s and led to the Hip Hop duo receiving the first No.1 hit of their career as well as a Grammy for "Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group," at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Jackson, ooh, I am for real / Never meant to make your daughter cry / I apologize a trillion times" - Andre 3000's hook on 'Ms. Jackson'.
During an interview with MTV, back in November 2000, Andre explained how although his verse was inspired by events that transpired between his and Erykah Badu's relationship, they still maintain contact with each other and "love" the record.
"Naw, it's not about none of them. I talk to them; they love it. But it's like my whole situation, me and Erykah, what we went through. That is the inspiration for the song because I had to go through it to know about it, to even think of something like that." - Andre 3000 stated in his interview with MTV.
4) Alright - Kendrick Lamar (Feat. Pharrell Williams)
Kendrick Lamar delivered an anthemic, powerful, socially impactful song titled Alright, which appeared on his third studio album To Pimp A Butterfly. The 2015 Hip Hop record was released at a time when the Black Lives Matter movement was garnering significant attention, with the track becoming a theme used to spread their message of the fight against inequality.
The Grammy-winning track finds Kendrick recruiting Pharrell Williams to spread a message to the African American community, especially those hurt by instances of police brutality. Pharrell carries the chorus highlighting how tough times shouldn't keep them down, acknowledging everything is going to be "alright".
"N---a, we gon' be alright / N---a, we gon' be alright / We gon' be alright / Do you hear me, do you feel me? We gon' be alright" - Pharrell Williams' hook on 'Alright'.
5) Runaway - Kanye West (Feat. Pusha T)
Kanye West's fifth studio album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is regarded as one of the greatest pieces of Hip Hop music ever delivered, with Ye revealing a vulnerable version of himself that fans were yet to see. The LP went on to win the Best Rap Album award at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards.
On this project, Ye included a track featuring Pusha T titled Runaway, which would end up becoming one of his greatest hits. The record is most memorable for self-depreciating lyricism matched with a grateful delivery.
"Let's have a toast for the douchebags / Let's have a toast for the a--holes / Let's have a toast for the scumbags / Every one of them that I know / Let's have a toast for the j--k offs / That'll never take work off / Baby, I got a plan / Run away fast as you can" - Kanye's chorus on 'Runaway'.
6) In Da Club - 50 Cent
The lead single titled In Da Club off of 50 Cent's debut studio album, Get Rich or Die Tryin', is a track whose catchy hook has had a profound impact on pop culture. The chorus to this record is still sung at birthday parties and celebrations across the world, with the introduction to the song being regarded as the most popular phrase in all of Hip Hop.
"Go, go / Go, go, go, go / Go, shawty, it's your birthday / We gon' party like it's your birthday / We gon' sip Bacardí like it's your birthday / And you know we don't give a f--k it's not your birthday" - 50 Cent's hook on 'In Da Club'.
7) Just A Friend - Biz Markie
Biz Markie led Hip Hop into the 90s with a now platinum-certified single titled Just A Friend, inspired by Freddie Scott's 1968 record (You) Got What I Need. The song has been sampled over 36 times, with the most recent chop used on Ghostface Killah and Kanye West's song No Face.
The bouncy production, mixed with Markie's slow-paced OG Hip Hop flow, helped catapult the track into Billboard's "Hot 100" Top 10 list.
"You, you got what I need / But you say he's just a friend / And you say he's just a friend, oh baby / You got what I need / But you say he's just a friend / But you say he's just a friend, oh baby" - Biz Markie's hook on 'Just A Friend'.
8) Started from the Bottom - Drake
Drake is arguably one of the most prominent figures in Hip Hop history, with the rapper garnering significant attention during his run in the 2010s, dropping albums and singles that have since been deemed classics by critics and fans alike.
As the lead single for Drizzy's third studio album, Nothing Was the Same, the rapper released Started from the Bottom back in 2013. The virality of this Hip Hop record was unmatched, given its core thematic elements of "struggles" and "hardships". The track received massive acclaim, commercially and critically, becoming one of the OVO CEO's most favored releases to date.
"Started from the bottom, now we're here / Started from the bottom, now my whole team f--kin' here / Started from the bottom, now we're here / Started from the bottom, now the whole team here, n---a" - Drake's hook on 'Started from the Bottom'.
9) Mask Off - Future
Future's 2017 single, Mask Off, marks one of his greatest releases ever with a Hip Hop record that documents a "rag to riches" story mixed with a revolutionary flute-based production that samples Tommy Butler's 1976 track Prison Song.
Future's chorus on this record is extremely catchy and even led to the creation of the viral "Mask Off" challenge that was prominent in 2017. This blew up the song's streaming numbers, which ultimately led to the rapper receiving a platinum certification for Mask Off.
"Percocets, molly, Percocets / Percocets, molly, Percocets / Rep the set, gotta rep the set / Chase a check, never chase a b---h / Mask on, f--k it, mask off / Mask on, f--k it, mask off / Percocets, molly, Percocets / Chase a check, never chase a b---h" - Future's hook on 'Mask Off'
10) Bad and Boujee - Migos (Feat. Lil Uzi Vert)
With the Migos sitting at the helm of Hip Hop's changing sonic environment, ushering in a new wave of "mumble rap" into the industry, the rap community was left captivated by their 2016 release titled Bad and Boujee. The record acted as the lead single for their 2017 sophomore album Culture, which debuted at No.1 on Billboard's 200 Album charts.
Marking their highest charting single to date, Bad and Boujee, gained attention for its infectious production credited to Metro Boomin and Offset's performance on the song's hook.
"My b---h is bad and bougie (Bad) / Cookin' up dope with a Uzi (Blaow) / My n----s is savage, ruthless (Savage) / We got 30s and hundred-rounds too" - Offset's hook on 'Bad and Boujee'.
11) Congratulations - Post Malone (Feat. Quavo)
The Hip Hop world was officially introduced to Post Malone on his debut studio album titled Stoney which dropped on December 9, 2016, with the album selling close to 8 million copies since its release.
Although Stoney was a massive success and certified Post Malone as one of Hip Hop's finest, it was his lead single for the album titled Congratulations (Feat. Quavo) that skyrocketed the hype surrounding his album. The hook on Post's certified Hip Hop diamond record is timeless and relatable, which Malone neatly wraps into an emotional hard-hitting vocal performance.
"My mama called, seen you on TV, son / Said s--t done changed ever since we was on / I dreamed it all ever since I was young / They said I wouldn't be nothing / Now they always say, Congratulations / Worked so hard, forgot how to vacation / They ain't never had the dedication / People hatin', say we changed and look, we made it / Yeah, we made it" - Post Malone's hook on 'Congratulations'.
12) Panda - Desiigner
Desiigner released the greatest Hip Hop hits of his career on SoundCloud, back in 2015. He explained, during his exclusive interview with Billboard in April 2016, how the idea for Panda came to him while he was playing GTA V and was inspired by his admiration for the Black/White BMW X6.
"The way my mind works is crazy, man, I don’t say crazy like in a crazy psycho way, I mean crazy in like a great artist way. I have my own way of seeing things and I look at things totally different. So when I was just looking at the X6 I was just saying that’s a panda…" - Desiigner stated during his interview with Billboard.
The song was extremely popular for Desiigner's extreme and catchy vocal performances on the hook and adlibs, matched with a bouncy Hip Hop production credited to Menace, who sold the beat to the rapper for $200.
"I got broads in Atlanta / Twistin' dope, lean, and the Fanta / Credit cards and the scammers / Hittin' off licks in the bando / Black X6, Phantom / White X6 look like a panda" - Desiigner's hook on 'Panda'.
These 12 hooks have been revolutionary for the growth of the genre by ushering in new waves of rappers inspired by these records, ultimately growing Hip Hop to the successful genre it has come to be regarded as today.
Notable Hip Hop hooks left out on this list include tracks like Pharrell Williams' Happy, Wiz Khalifa's Black and Yellow, Kanye West's Heartless, Chief Keef's Love Sosa, and Wu-Tang Clan's C.R.E.A.M..
