Genres: Rap

Listen to the most popular rap songs in America as determined by Billboard and influential major-market radio DJs.

Today's hottest hip hop club anthems.

Before he was Yeezus or the Louis Vuitton Don, he was Pink Polo Kanye. Fill your teddy bear backpack with these soul-sampling Kanye West singles, from his early production work to his College trilogy. This is that Yeezy we all love.

By ‘Graduation’ Kanye West was a pioneer, opening the Top 40 to sensitive rappers, working with visual artists, and perfecting the art of overshare. Celebrate his influence with lush, emotional hip hop fit to fill a stadium.

Looking for trouble? Throw on this playlist of aggressive, rafter-rattling rap, perfect for a rowdy house party that might just end in a brawl.

Nothing gets you through even the toughest mornings like these feel-good, contemporary hip hop and R&B jams. Face the day with soul and power!

Get hype to this collection of raunchy booty-shaking anthems. Go shawty, it's your birthday! NSFW.

From the Marcy projects to a Tribeca penthouse, Sean Carter's life is a classic rags-to-riches American Dream story, self-chronicled by one of the most verbally dexterous voices in history of music.

Twenty years into his career, Pharrell Williams is still churning out futuristic music. Climb on board Pharrell's studio yacht and cruise through the star producer's sexiest tracks. You'll hear why he's the go-to guy for musicians in search of new sounds.

Like tank tops, daisy dukes, and drinks with umbrellas, these laid-back rap and reggae favorites were made for summer weekends.

Two white guys performing karaoke of rap's most iconic songs should elicit an epic face-palm, but when those guys are Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon backed by The Roots, the results are grin-inducing. These are the songs they've covered on Late Night.

Everyone knows the big blockbuster rap songs of the year. These are the great-but-overlooked tracks that might have passed you by. Get up to speed with this primer on 2012's down-low essentials.

The best rap tracks from the past two decades as chosen by RapGenius community, editors, and moderators. http://rapgenius.com

Is your boss a habitual line-stepper? Is your confidence shot? Don't stress; just let these MCs speak for you.

From the golden age to the stars of today, these are the rafter-rattling songs that get the crowd moving in their seats during the game.

Put on your bro tank and shoot some 'ruit; this playlist of the hottest voices in college rap -- along with some of rap's superstars -- is the perfect soundtrack to your next house party.

Fiery, sexy, and hard as nails, female rappers of the 1990s and early '00s created their own sound rather than emulating their male counterparts. A decade later, there's still no better music to help you gear up for a night out with your girls.

Break out your Margiela and jump in the Panamera; this playlist features only today's most ballin-out-of-control anthems. For bosses only. *Kanye Shrug*

Go shawty, it's your birthday! No need to wait in line at Tao, Pure, Lavo, or Marquee -- pop some bottles and drop it like it's hot with the hottest club bangers of the '00s.

Starting in the early-mid '90, hip hop took on dramatic changes in sound as gangster rap and rich, soulful production became the dominant styles. These are the classic club anthems from that era.

Hip hop's founding producers invented the genre by sampling deep funk breakbeats, but in the early '90s a young Dr. Dre found new inspiration in the synth-based funk of Parliament/Funkadelic records. He dubbed the new sound "G-Funk".

Mellow and chilled-out rap cuts for chilling under the covers.

From graffiti walls to gold chains, these are Ecko's favorite underground classics and mainstream hits to vibe out to. http://www.shopecko.com/

Updated weekly, these are the most popular rap tracks on the internet. Decidedly NSFW. SMH...

Welcome to the Smoker's Club, where modern rappers cultivate major weed habits and forge bonds over their love of greenery. Roll up and hang out.

Listen to the most popular hip hop and R&B songs in America as determined by the Billboard charts.

These are Tyga's favorite new rap tracks to bump when he's having a house party. http://www.tygasworld.com

Hip, fashionable and cocky to the point of arrogant, swag rap defines the hottest new generation of rappers. Feel good and swag out.

Hip·ster Hop (noun): 1. What you get when you pair an MC with progressive, often synth-heavy production. 2. The solution for bridging the musical gap between the indie kids and the hip hop heads at your next party.

Grab your shades and roll down the windows; these smooth jazz and funk-sampling hip hop instrumentals are perfect for a Saturday morning cruise.

Hip hop was born in the Bronx, and even before it was played in the clubs, it was the soundtrack to a thousand block parties throughout the '80s and into the early '90s.

Get hip to the new wave of young Chicago rappers who drop rugged, wild and uncompromising raps over production that runs from drill-hop to straight-up street anthems.

Every song featuring Georgia-born rapper 2 Chainz, including tracks from his former southern rap duo Playaz Circle.

Songs and remixes written by, performed by, and featuring Drizzy.

Evoking memories of hot summer days, these mellow and soulful rap cuts from the '90s to today are perfect for lazy Sundays. Nod ya head.

You may not fill out a bikini like Mariah, or sport a six pack like LL, but none of that matters when you're partying to these classic hits on a hot summer day by the pool.

The hottest summer anthems from the artists who performed at Hot 97's Summer Jam festival at MetLife Stadium on June 3.

Kick it poolside in the City of Angels with this mix of party music -- from today's rap hits to classic G-funk -- hand-selected by L.A. native, and NBA star, Baron Davis.

Positive, uplifting hip hop from throughout the genre's history.

Born in Trinidad and raised in Queens, Nicki Minaj has stormed the charts with her double-take inducing talent. Here's every song that features Nicki Minaj, as well as the best from her own catalog.

NYC rap crew Pro Era shares some of their favorite records with Ecko Unltd. http://www.shopecko.com

Classic bangers from and inspired by the late '80s/early '90s golden age of gangsta rap. Both coasts represent.

Fitness experts agree that the perfect running cadence is 180 steps per minute. Run doubletime to this mix of hip hop songs -- all around 90 beats per minute -- and you'll keep a steady pace and reach your target heart rate without hitting the wall.

Marshall Bruce Mathers III, or Eminem to his fans, is one of the most verbally dexterous MCs to emerge since the genre's beginnings. Here are the highlights of his solo career, as well as other artists he inspired, through lyricism or production.

Hip-hop producers DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Q-Tip and Large Professor helped make Nas's Illmatic a '90s hip hop classic. Explore the best of the quartet's other work from the same era.

Just as scrappy and raunchy as their forbears, these freshman also possess a fondness for the art house. Expect DJ Screw-era pastiche, hard drugs and violent fantasies. Decidedly NSFW.

Set up the chess set and sip on a 40 oz. while listening to some classic east-coast boom bap from the genre's mid-'90s golden era.

A blend of hazy rap anthems from old heads and smoked-out upstarts. Roll one up.

Listen to the greatest hip hop songs of all time, as chosen by VH1 viewers.

This playlist features some of the more dramatic and sexy sounds that pervade many of the most popular urban genetleman's clubs.

Thanks to an emerging crop of young talent, the Seattle hip hop scene has started to earn national recognition. Here are the best tracks from the artists leading the movement.

Can't get enough Weezy? Listen to these songs performed by and featuring Lil Wayne.

Ethereal and mellifluous sounds from the cloud rap kids, interspersed with pioneering productions from the regional forefathers to the spacey sound. Your new soundtrack to zone out with.

Whether it's a diva calling for some rhymes to spark up a remix or a hip-hopper adding some old-school sweetness to a bangin' track, these are the most authentic cross-genre collaborations ever recorded.

Listen to the best chopped & screwed versions of songs from the legendary Houston, TX based record label, Rap-a-Lot Records. Notable artists include Geto Boys, Scarface, and Bun B.

Kick it by the Weber with these hip hop jams marinated in summertime flavor. Expect throwbacks, new joints, and a handful of guilty pleasures.

Rick Ross is one of today's hottest -- and most prolific -- MCs. Listen to every great track the Teflon Don has guested on, as well as some of his own hits. "Huh!"

Who loves the reefer? Throughout the history of hip-hop, rappers have extolled the virtues of weed. Dig.

Tailor-made for a summertime block party, this collection of rap classics is also perfect for relaxing by the pool or cruising top-down in a convertible. Play it loud.

When indie rock fans feel the urge to switch up their sound and listen to a blast of hip-hop music, these are the rappers and the anthems they inevitably turn to.

Is every square-inch of useful storage space in your car devoted to amps and subwoofers? If so, then this playlist is for you.

Perfect for a backyard barbecue or an afternoon alone with your headphones, vibe-out to this steady stream of brassy, soul-sampling hip hop tracks.

Celebrating those glorious moments when a group of rappers team-up to spit on the same track, here are rap's ultimate posse cuts, from the Golden Age to today.

Let these laid back, southern-fried hip-hop grooves soundtrack your next good-time BBQ gathering. Slow your roll.

From crunk classics to modern baller anthems, this is the boisterous sound of southern rap songs that are guaranteed to tear the club up. Get low!

Heavy on the 808 drum machine beats and big synth riffs, these Southern rap anthems are guaranteed to get you motivated, not just for your next workout, but the one after that.

Early rap hits from the days when all a rapper needed was two turntables and a microphone.

Nate Dogg was one of the best hook singers in the history of hip hop. This playlist highlights the best collaborations from his legendary career.

The baddest women in rap music, past and present.

Along with fellow heavy hitters DJ Premiere and RZA, Pete Rock helped to define the soulful, sample-based sound of '90s East Coast rap. Here is Pete Rock's oeuvre; from his work with CL Smooth to the hits he produced for Biggie, Common, and others.

A bunch of songs produced by Yeezy from the last decade.

Cited by countless rappers, journalists, and fellow producers as one of the greatest hip-hop producers of all time, DJ Premier has left an an indelible mark on the genre. Here are Primo's greatest beats.

Turn the bass way up for this collection of funky tracks by legendary hip-hop producer J Dilla.

The Neptunes produced some of the biggest hit songs of the late 1990s and early 2000s. These are the essential tracks that defined this production duo's raw, percussive sound.

N.W.A., 2pac, Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, G-Unit, Eminem: Dr. Dre's production resume speaks for itself. Listen to the greatest beats from hip hop's most influential producer.

Iowa-born hip hop producer Bangladesh has been making waves (and getting serious airplay) with his speaker-blowing productions for Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj. This playlist collects all of Bangladesh's productions from the last decade.

Listen to songs produced by and featuring one of hip hop's most successful music moguls: Sean "Diddy" Combs.

Really nasty rap (or r&b) songs. They just needed to be in one place.

True to the multifaceted symbolism of Aztlán, the mythical homeland of the Aztecs, this rap playlist draws from a broad swath of Mexican descendants living on both sides of the Río Bravo.

One of the greatest hip hop groups of all time, the Wu-Tang Clan has proved timeless and astonishingly prolific. This mix takes you straight to the slums of Shaolin, covering the work of Wu-Tang's core members, outsiders, and everything in between.

Since its birth in the Bronx, hip hop has been interpreted in various ways by different cultures around the globe. See what happens when hip hop crosses the pond with this mix of the best French hip hop.

Explore this producer-focused style of hip hop, a combination of rap and electronica.

Rep the ATL, Chi Town, El Lay, D-Block and the Empire State, among others, on this collection of hometown hip hop anthems.

All right B-boys and B-girls, time to windmill over to the Planet Rock where these essential '80s electro hop breakdance jams can help keep your "airswipes" and "l-kicks" looking fresh.

Delicious Vinyl is the original west coast label from the golden age of hip-hop. From Young MC to J Dilla to The Brand New Heavies, Delicious Vinyl was on the forefront of rap and R&B and continues releasing great tracks from artist like Illa J, Chop Black and Frank Nitt.

This collection of heart-thumping hip hop beats will help you reach the next level in your cardio workouts.

James Brown is the most sampled artist in all of hip hop. Here are some of the best rap songs to build their funky beat on the back of the Godfather of Soul.

Commonly referred to as jazz hop or jazz rap, this subgenre combines jazz samples with hip hop beats.

Revisit the history of hip hop's most legendary record label, from the early mid-'80s classics through the dirty underground scenes of the '90s to their modern day superstars. No matter what the era, Def Jam supplies the hits.

Rappers love to eat! Whether bragging about dining out on lobster and shrimp, extolling the virtues of a healthy diet, or bigging up their favorite hole-in-the-wall chicken spot, these mighty healthy rap songs invoke food as inspiration.

Hip hop's most infamous disses, from the early days on the streets of The Bronx to today. From the ferocious to the hilarious, this is the sound of lyrical warfare.

Whether bigging up the five boroughs or paying tribute to the blocks they grew up on, pioneering rappers, neighborhood heroes and modern-day superstars love to pen odes to NYC. Here's a non-stop blast of Big Apple hip-hop pride.

The worlds of rap and sports have always collided. Here's a round-up of the best rap songs about sports, the tracks with the best references to sports stars, and even a few cases of athletes (Shaq!) stepping up to the mic themselves.

When rappers decide to get political, they don't pull punches. Hitting back against police harassment, calling for political payback, and speaking unflinchingly about society and media as a whole, these rappers take aim with an almighty righteous attack.

From Dr. Dre and Timbaland to Pharrell Williams and Kanye West, these are the greatest modern hip-hop super-producers who create rap superstars and pump out hip-hop anthems.

The best rap songs of 2011, as selected by the rap music blog Cocaine Blunts.

Hip hop started with the DJ. From the original turntable stylists of the late '70s and early '80s until now, we big up the art of DJing while tracing the evolution of turntablism.

New Jack Swing defined the urban music scene as the '80s became the '90s and R&B met hip-hop. Rediscover this era of sweet harmonies with a hint of swagger and unlimited style.

Warning: NSFW. These songs are the scariest, most disturbing, and outright hilarious horror rap and horrorcore songs.

Atmospheric and ambient, this is the sound of hip hop producers left to their own devices. Without any vocal assists from rappers, the results are innovative, expressive, and sometimes more than a little trippy.

The biggest chart-topping hip-hop hits from the last few years in their edited, curse-free format! Ideal when listening around kids or in a conservative workplace.

Hip-hop has always celebrated consumer culture. Making millions and then splashing the cash on cars, clothes and high-end liquor, these rappers celebrate materialism at its blingiest.

Emerging as an antidote to the glitzy-jiggy rap scene of the late '90s, underground artists started putting out uncompromising hip-hop on small independent labels. Look back on a sometimes underappreciated scene.

Cuddle up with your boo to the sounds of these hip-hop-meets-R&B love jams.

An intimate experience with some of rap's most compelling introspective and philosophical songs.

As a freshman, Derek Smith left college to focus on music production full-time. Today, as Pretty Lights, Smith runs his own record label and is headlining festivals around the country. Listen to the best tracks from Pretty Lights, his contemporaries and label mates.

A collection of music created by and/or featuring members of the Atlanta, Georgia based hip hop/R&B/soul musical collective, the Dungeon Family. Most notable members include Outkast, Goodie Mob, and Organized Noize Productions.

Go deeper into the dark and funky world of trip hop with this playlist that leans heavy on deep cuts and instrumentals from the some of the genre's masters.

The sequel to Songza's original French Hip Hop playlist (http://bit.ly/JB2GvZ), this playlist features more essential cuts from the world's second most important hip hop scene.

Listen to the best songs from the legendary Houston, TX based record label, Rap-a-Lot Records. Notable artists include Geto Boys, Scarface, and Bun B.

Relevant and real rap music with a positive and spiritual spin can be hard to come by. Feel the power of the word mixed with the power of the beat.

This smoothed-out, laid back hip-hop goes deep on the jazz-sampling tip and showcases MCs dropping deep and introspective lyrics. One to bliss out to.

Cuba is close enough to the United States to pick up radio and TV signals from Florida, so Miami-style booty bass and easy-rolling swag has created a distinctly Cuban form of Spanish-language hip-hop. Find the up-and-comers of Cuban hip hop here.

Just sit back, get a fat sack, a pint of Hennessy and lay back; just chill. http://www.examiner.com/user-sysko

Hilarious, entertaining, insightful, creative and, at times, very offensive. NSFW, obviously.

Immerse yourself in New Orleans' burgeoning gay and transgender hip-hop scene. The locals call it "sissybounce." We call it proud, defiant and party-ready.

Kick off your evening with these stylish, retro and funky breakbeats from the '70s and tracks from the hip hop artists inspired by that sound. Curated by DJ Jasmine Solano. Visit JasmineSolano.com for more info.

Hip hop and R&B cuts from the most iconic films of '90s black cinema.