2008’s Top Hip Hop Songs

Can’t get enough hip hop? Check out our list of the top hip hop songs of 2008.

Introduction

The top hip hop songs of 2008 were widely varied in both style and subject matter, but all managed to make a significant impact on the rap music scene. From anthems about social injustice to club bangers about nothing in particular, these songs represent the best that hip hop had to offer in 2008.

“Ladies First” by Queen Latifah ft. Monie Love
One of the most popular female rappers of all time, Queen Latifah released this song as a single in early 2008. The track featured another popular female rapper, Monie Love, and the two spit verses back and forth over a funky bass line. “Ladies First” was widely praised for its positive message and catchy beat, and it quickly rose to the top of the charts.

“A Milli” by Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne’s sixth studio album, Tha Carter III, was released in June of 2008 and instantly became a commercial and critical success. The lead single from the album, “A Milli,” showcased Wayne’s unique spitting style and clever wordplay, and its catchy hook helped propel it to the top of the charts. “A Milli” would go on to be named one of the best songs of 2008 by several publications.

“Put On” by Young Jeezy ft. Kanye West
This track was released as the first single from Young Jeezy’s third studio album, The Recession. It features a guest verse from fellow rapper Kanye West, who also produced the song. “Put On” is an ode to hard work and determination in the face of adversity, two themes that would become prevalent on The Recession. The song was a commercial success, reaching the Top 10 of several Billboard charts.

“Heartless” by Kanye West
Kanye West’s 808s & Heartbreak was one of the most controversial albums of 2008, but that didn’t stop its lead single from becoming one of the year’s biggest hits. “Heartless” is a haunting track about love and loss that features auto-tuned vocals from West throughout. The song’s minimalist production and emotionally charged lyrics made it one of hip hop’s most talked about tracks in 2008.

“Lollipop” – Lil Wayne

“Lollipop” is a song by American rapper Lil Wayne, featuring Static Major. The song was released on March 13, 2008 as the lead single from Lil Wayne’s sixth studio album, Tha Carter III (2008). “Lollipop” peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in June 2008, becoming Lil Wayne’s second number-one single on the chart and Static Major’s first. It also reached number one in New Zealand and Canada and peaked within the top ten in many other countries. The music video was ranked at number one on BET’s Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2008 countdown. In October 2011, NME placed it at number 80 on its list “150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years”.

“Low” – Flo Rida

“Low” is a song by American rapper Flo Rida, featuring Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai. It was released as the lead single from Flo Rida’s debut album, Mail on Sunday, on December 11, 2007. The song peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and remained there for ten weeks, becoming the longest-running hip-hop single of all time; it also reached number one in over thirty countries.

“Sexy Can I” – Ray J

“Sexy Can I” is a song recorded by American singer Ray J. It was released on June 16, 2008, by his record label Knockout Entertainment, as the lead single from his fourth studio album All I Feel (2008). The song features rapper Yung Berg and is produced by Rob Knox. It samples “Body”, a 1986 hit single by R&B singer Rene & Angela.

The music video for “Sexy Can I” was directed by R. Malcolm Jones and premiered on BET’s 106 & Park on June 23, 2008. It features guest appearances from Keri Hilson, Lil’ Kim, Fabolous, and Shorty da Prince. On August 7, 2008, the video was nominated for “Best Male Video” at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards but lost to T.I.’s “Whatever You Like”.

“A Milli” – Lil Wayne

“A Milli” is a song by American rapper Lil Wayne. It was released on December 31, 2007, as the second single from his sixth studio album, Tha Carter III (2008). The song was produced by Bangladesh, who previously produced “Fireman” and “Lollipop”, both of which were also singles from the album. The song’s title is a reference to the Bushido Code and is also a homonym for “amillion”, meaning one million dollars.

The song peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number one on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, making it Lil Wayne’s fourth consecutive single to reach the top of that particular chart. The single has sold over three million digital copies in the United States since its release and has been certified triple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

“No Air” – Jordin Sparks

“No Air” is a song by American recording artist Jordin Sparks and American R&B singer-songwriterChris Brown. The song was written by James Fauntleroy II, Eric Griggs, Oscar Holter, Lindy Robbins andHarvey Mason Jr., with production helmed by Rob Knox and Mason Jr.. It was released on February 11, 2008according to Jive Records. “No Air” received mixed reviews from critics. The song charted within the top ten inmultiple countries worldwide and became Sparks’ first number one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.”

“Bleeding Love” – Leona Lewis

Leona Lewis’s “Bleeding Love” was one of the biggest songs of 2008. The song spent 7 weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it the longest-running number-one single of the year. “Bleeding Love” was also a huge success internationally, reaching the top spot in over 30 countries.

“Forever” – Chris Brown

“Forever” was released in May 2008 as the fourth single from Chris Brown’s album Exclusive. The song became a top ten hit in multiple countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and New Zealand. “Forever” was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Male Artist.

“Heartless” – Kanye West

“Heartless” is a song by American hip hop artist Kanye West, released on November 4, 2008 digitally as the second single from his fourth studio album, 808s & Heartbreak.
The song’s conceptual inspiration came from the personal turmoil and heartbreak that West had encountered during the early stages of production for 808s & Heartbreak. “Heartless” features massive synth lines and a heavy drumbeat which samples American rock band Toto’s 1982 hit single “Africa”. The production explores dark synthpop soundscapes similar to West’s previous work on 808s & Heartbreak while retaining his signature auto-tuned delivery. Lyrically, “Heartless” is an expression ofWest’s lack of empathy which he examines through the perspectives of two lovers: one who has recently been dumped and one who has recently suffered the loss of his child.

The song received positive reviews from music critics and was nominated for three Grammy Awards, winning two for Best Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Song. “Heartless” peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming West’s first top-ten single as a lead artist in nearly four years and his highest-charting single since 2005’s “Gold Digger”. In February 2009, “Heartless” became the first single by a male solo artist to top Billboard’s Rhythmic Songs chart in nearly five years; it held that position for three consecutive weeks before being replaced by Beyoncé Knowles’ “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)”.

The music video was directed by Hype Williams. The video was filmed in various locations throughout Los Angeles in California; it features numerous picturesque shots presented in slow-motion while West delivers poetry about rational decisions being clouded by emotions. It won Video of the Year at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards and went on to win nine other awards at various award ceremonies including two BET Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards Japan. Despite its commercial success worldwide, controversy regarding its alleged anti-American sentiments prevented it from being released in several countries such as Japan.

“I Kissed a Girl” – Katy Perry

“I Kissed a Girl” is a song recorded by American singer Katy Perry for her second studio album, One of the Boys (2008). It was released on April 28, 2008, by Capitol Records as the lead single from the record. The song was written by Perry, but co-produced by Dr. Luke and Max Martin, who also both provided additional instrumentation. “I Kissed a Girl” is a pop rock song with elements of new wave about bisexuality and was inspired by singer Prince’s 1984 single “I Would Die 4 U”.

The title reflects Perry’s belief that “there’s no one type of kissed” and relates to her experimentation with bisexuality. The track stirred controversy among music critics regarding its homosexual themes. Many radio stations intentionally removed the song from their playlist due to its suggestive lyrics. Following its success as a free digital download and on radio airplay charts in Australia and New Zealand, the track peaked at numbers one and three in both countries, respectively. In May 2008, it completed its seven-week run at number one in Canada, while spending three weeks atop the US Billboard Hot 100—becoming Perry’s first single to do so—and also peaked at number one in Germany, Poland and Slovakia.

The single has since been certified multi-platinum in more than 20 countries, including seven times platinum in Canada and the United States. It remains Perry’s biggest hit single worldwide and topped year-end charts published by Billboard magazine in 2008 as well as 2013. The accompanying music video for “I Kissed a Girl”, directed by Melissa Carter is a chronicle of Perry feeling attracted to another woman but ultimately content with her heterosexuality; it caused mixed reactions among gay rights groups for its depiction of lesbianism. The song is one of the best-selling singles worldwide of all time with sales estimated by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) at over five million copies sold in the United States alone.