The Best 80s Hip Hop Songs

A look at the best hip hop songs of the 1980s.

“Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugarhill Gang

#Rapper’s Delight” is a song written and recorded by American hip hop group Sugarhill Gang. It was released on September 16, 1979, as the lead single from their debut album Sugarhill Gang. The song features contributions from rappers Big Bank Hank, Master Gee, and Wonder Mike. The track was produced by Sylvia Robinson.

“Rapper’s Delight” is widely credited as the song that introduced hip hop music to a mainstream audience. It peaked at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in January 1980 and is considered one of the earliest hip hop songs to achieve widespread mainstream popularity. In October 2011, the song was ranked number251 on Rolling Stone’s “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time” list.

“The Breaks” by Kurtis Blow

Kurtis Blow’s “The Breaks” is widely considered one of the best hip hop songs of the 1980s. The track was a huge commercial success, reaching number 87 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and becoming one of the first hip hop songs to be certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. “The Breaks” is also notable for its use of samples, including a drum break from James Brown’s “Funky Drummer” and a horn riff from Status Quo’s “Pictures of Matchstick Men.”

“Fresh” by Doug E. Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew

“Fresh” by Doug E. Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew is one of the best hip hop songs of the 1980s. It was released in 1985 and quickly became a hit, due in part to its catchy beat and Fresh’s innovative use of beatboxing. The song is also notable for its positive lyrics, which contrast with the often violent and gang-related lyrics of other hip hop songs of the time.

“La Di Da Di” by Slick Rick

“La Di Da Di” is a song by English rapper Slick Rick. It was originally released in 1984 as the B-side to the single “The Show”. The song gained popularity after being sampled by several hip hop and R&B artists in the late 1980s and early 1990s, including Doug E. Fresh, MC Hammer, Snoop Dogg, Wreckx-n-Effect, Boyz II Men, TLC, andSWV.

“Parents Just Don’t Understand” by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince

“Parents Just Don’t Understand” is a song written and performed by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. It was released on May 29, 1988 as the second single from their album He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance at the 1989 ceremony.

The song is about Will Smith’s experience as a teenager in Philadelphia trying to convince his parents to let him go out and party with his friends. The music video features cameo appearances by Erika Badu, Questlove, Dooley O, Tatyana Ali and Jazzy Jeff’s then-wife Amber Ruffin.

“I Know You Got Soul” by Eric B. & Rakim

“I Know You Got Soul” is a song by American hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim. It was released on January 21, 1987, as the second single from their debut studio album Paid in Full (1987). The song samples “You’re the Best” by Lee Fields and the Expressions.

“Microphone Fiend” by Eric B. & Rakim

“Microphone Fiend” is a song by American hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim. It was released on November 21, 1988 as the fourth single from their debut album Paid in Full. The song was produced by group member Eric B., and features a sample of “I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near)” by Michael McDonald.

The song peaked at number 57 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and has been included on several compilation albums, including Paid in Full (2002) and The Ultimate Collection (2003). In 2012, Complex ranked the song at number 27 on their list of the 50 best songs of the 1980s.

“The Show” by Doug E. Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew

“The Show” by Doug E. Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew is one of the best 80s hip hop songs. The song was released in 1985 and peaked at number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. “The Show” is known for its use of the “Human Beatbox” technique, which was popularized by Doug E. Fresh.

“It Takes Two” by Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock

“It Takes Two” is a song co-written and performed by hip hop duo Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock that became a top 40 hit single in 1988. The song samples the bassline of Lyn Collins’ 1972 song “Think (About It)” and features numerous references to popular culture of the time including breaker dancing, Moonwalking, and television shows Miami Vice and Sesame Street.

“Rock the Bells” by LL Cool J

“Rock the Bells” is a song by LL Cool J from his debut album Radio. The song is one of the most well-known and iconic hip hop songs of all time, and is often credited as being the first rap song to ever achieve mainstream success. The song’s popularity helped to launch LL Cool J’s career, and he would go on to become one of the biggest stars in the genre.