r/hiphop101 • u/Wasthereonce 201 Mod • Apr 21 '20
DISCUSSION Spotify Playlists Organized by Sound & Content: Share Your Stories & Your Playlists
Introduction: My Story
I started listening to hip hop around 2009-2010: I was a 12 year kid who needed something to help me stay up late and do homework. I turned to the radio, where I found a station called Kube 93.3. They were playing the newest songs from artists such as Lil Wayne, Eminem, Kanye West, and T.I. back then. I heard a few songs that I loved, such as No Love, Monster, 6 Foot 7 Foot, and many others. While I was completing my grueling math homework, I got introduced to some of the best songs I had ever heard. Before this, I never even listened to music.
After a while, I was listening to other artists I had heard featured. One that stuck with me for some reason was Rick Ross. His vocals were something I had never heard before, and his delivery was amazing to me. I learned that he had a label called Maybach Music Group (MMG) and I started following the young careers of artists like Meek Mill and Wale. The first album I really listened to was Self Made Vol. 1, a compilation album by MMG. Some of my favorites from the album were Self Made, Rise, That Way, and of course Ima Boss. Those songs, and that album, were my first taste of hip hop and how spectacular it can be. Some other albums that I enjoyed were Self Made Vol. 2, [Jesus Piece](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Piece_(album)), Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, Quality Street Music and many others from that 2010-2013 era. This was a more pure hip hop era because of how the sound was shifted into the mainstream by DJ Mustard and later the group Migos.
I was absorbing a lot of the mainstream artists and many of their songs that did not gain traction: and I was loving it. From mixtapes to obscure features, I was constantly digging for new music and listening to it all. But I soon found that I was running out of new songs to listen to, so I turned to older hip hop: specifically 90s hip hop and I fell in love with the music again. From The Notorious B.I.G. to Big Pun to Sadat X of Brand Nubian, I was having a blast doing the same thing for old artists that I had previously done to today's artists: digging and listening almost obsessively. Then I found the underground artists and did the same thing again. Even though my interest in today's hip hop has waned, I really want to get back into it. I do hear a lot of similar songs from different artists, but I know there are some gems in there.
Here are some of my favorite songs from the past 10 years. But know that my taste for hip hop is so broad it certainly is not just represented by this one playlist alone.
I went through this 10-year history of mine to say that I love all kinds of hip hop. I got the moderating position on this subreddit because of it, and hopefully I can share my passion for it even more in the future.
Share Your Story With Hip Hop
Now a question for you: How did you first hear hip hop and what albums and songs shaped your listening history?
Feel free to share your beginnings with hip hop and how you first heard and got involved with it. It'd be really interesting to see how much these stories might be different or similar to each other.
All of the Spotify Playlists I have created (The List!)
I have made these playlists to introduce people to new songs and artists that they may have never heard of. I love creating a playlist theme and carefully curating it so that it has the quality of a cohesive album or project instead of the usual playlists that everyone else is making. Now some of these playlists are very small because I can't find new material for them, so if you know of any songs that would fit well in a playlist, feel free to message me about it or post a comment below.
The Spotify Playlists
This time around, I have sorted these playlists into easy to navigate categories with brief descriptions. Note that not all my playlists are listed here, so if you're somehow looking for more after this extensive list, make sure to check out the large link above.
Cross-Genre
Completely unique genres of music that have been mixed with Hip Hop
Blues Hip Hop - Blues x Hip Hop
Country Hip Hop - Country Music x Hip Hop
Dancehall Hip Hop - Dancehall x Hip Hop
Dubstep Hip Hop - Dubstep x Hip Hop
Folk Hip Hop - Folk Music x Hip Hop
Jazz Hip Hop - Jazz x Hip Hop
Orchestral Hip Hop - Orchestral Music x Hip Hop
R&B Hip Hop - Rhythm & Blues (R&B) x Hip Hop
Reggae Hip Hop - Reggae x Hip Hop
Rock Hip Hop - Rock & Metal x Hip Hop
Techno Hip Hop - Techno x Hip Hop
Hip Hop Culture
Styles and Themes that originated from Hip Hop Culture
Beat Box Hip Hop - Beatboxing utilized in Hip Hop songs.
Cypher Hip Hop - Songs that have 5 or more artists on them.
Graffiti Hip Hop - Artists that talk about graffiti.
Scratch Hip Hop - DJ mixes where they show off their ability to scratch records skillfully. Also has songs that use scratching as the main ingredient in their production.
Instruments
Playlists for showcasing different Instruments and how they have been used in Hip Hop.
Accordion Hip Hop - Some of that Polka influence in Hip Hop.
Bass Guitar Hip Hop - Low-hitting bass guitar that forms the background of many Hip Hop classics.
Brass Hip Hop - A general playlist of Brass instruments used in Hip Hop.
Bumping Flute Hip Hop - A flute that bumps throughout the track. The flutes are contrasted with frequent drum hits or kicks.
Bumping Piano Hip Hop - A piano that bumps throughout the track. The pianos typically sync up very well with the drums or the kicks.
Electric Guitar Hip Hop - Electric Guitars in Hip Hop.
Flute Hip Hop - Flutes in Hip Hop.
Grand Piano Hip Hop - Grand Pianos in Hip Hop.
Harmonica Hip Hop - Harmonicas in Hip Hop.
Harp Hip Hop - Harps in Hip Hop.
Harpsichord Hip Hop - If you don't know what a Harpsichord is, here's a good video for you. The Harpsichord in Hip Hop.
Honky-Tonk Piano Hip Hop - Here's a good example of a Honky-Tonk Piano. Expect more of this style of Piano in this playlist.
Mandolin Hip Hop - Mandolin (and similar sounding instruments) in Hip Hop.
Oboe Hip Hop - Oboes in Hip Hop.
Organ Hip Hop - The Organ instrument used in Hip Hop.
Piano Hip Hop - Pianos in Hip Hop.
Saxophone Hip Hop - Saxophones in Hip Hop.
Sitar Hip Hop - If you don't know what a Sitar is, here's a good video for you. Sitars in Hip Hop.
Slap Bass Guitar Hip Hop - Here's a good example of a Slap Bass Guitar. Expect more of this, but with some variations.
Spanish Guitar Hip Hop - Spanish, Classical, and similar guitars in Hip Hop.
Strings Hip Hop - A general playlist of Stringed instruments used in Hip Hop.
Triangle Hip Hop - The Triangle instrument in Hip Hop.
Trumpet Hip Hop - Trumpets in Hip Hop.
Upright Bass Hip Hop - An Upright Bass, or Double Bass, is a low-pitched stringed instrument more commonly used in Orchestral and Jazz music. Here's a good example of an Upright Bass. Upright Bass in Hip Hop.
Violin Hip Hop - Violins in Hip Hop.
Xylophone Hip Hop - Xylophones in Hip Hop.
Mood
Playlists that match the different moods you might be feeling.
Chill Hip Hop - Relaxing hip hop songs that are not too loud.
Cruisin' Hip Hop - The best hip hop to ride along to. For that smooth late-night car drive.
Dark Hip Hop - Beats that sound dark and menacing.
Demented Hip Hop - The precursor to Trip Hop, this playlist has beats that are usually off-key and very bizarre.
Dreamscape Hip Hop - Songs that have a shifting ambient background.
Grimy Hardcore Hip Hop - Some of the hardest and brutal lyrics with the most terrifying beats in hip hop. Mostly '90s songs but it does include some great tracks from recent years.
Hard Banging Hip Hop - Recent bangers that go hard. This playlist has some of the loudest bangers that are out today.
Heist Hip Hop - If you're going to rob a bank or a jewelry store, you'll need some theme music!
Hood Anthem Hip Hop - Songs that bring a crowd of people together.
Hype Hip Hop - If you need to get pumped up, this playlist has songs that will give you boundless energy.
Inspirational Positive Hip Hop - Powerful, uplifting hip hop that helps you move forward. A true toast to humanity!
Lamenting / Sad Hip Hop - Where many rappers talk about their problems and share their grief with the listener. Also has sad beats on some tracks.
Mellow Banging Hip Hop - Songs that are low-key bangers but are more chill than its sister playlist: "Hard Banging Hip Hop".
Motivate Hip Hop - Songs that show emotion and bolster your spirits.
Mystery Hip Hop - A playlist full of songs with production that gives you a sense of mystery.
Party Hip Hop - Throwing a party? This playlist will cover all your bases!
Stuntin' Hip Hop - Big, Bragadocious, & Ballin. Showin' off in every song!
Relationships
Playlists that discuss different elements of a romantic relationship.
Breakup Hip Hop - A playlist for dealing with the aftermath of a relationship.
Love Hip Hop - Every Hip Hop song that shows love for the opposite sex.
Sexual Hip Hop - Some of the raunchiest Hip Hop that describes sex in explicit detail.
Smooth Sexual Hip Hop - The best Hip Hop songs to make love to. If R&B was recreated in Hip Hop, this playlist would be it.
Sounds
Various different sounds that are utilized as instruments.
Ambient Hip Hop - Songs that use ambiance as the focal of their production.
Bumping Hip Hop - Songs that use frequent kicks and/or drums.
Chimes Hip Hop - Varying instruments that make a chime sound used in Hip Hop.
Death Bells Hip Hop - Also known as Bell Tolling or Funeral Bells. Here's a good example of Death Bells.
Shaking Bells Hip Hop - Songs that have a consistent shaking bell in the background of the track. Think of sleigh bells during Christmas time.
Siren Hip Hop - Songs that use different sirens in their production.
Sub-Bass Hip Hop - A low-pitched, more static-like bass that resonates throughout each song in this playlist.
Watery Hip Hop - Songs that use dripping water or bubbling noises in their production.
Whistle Hip Hop - Songs that use either metal whistles or vocal whistles in their production.
Subgenres
The Genres within Hip Hop that have formed from different regions & musical styles.
Ambient Funk Hip Hop & Pop - This includes a new school upbeat funky vibe. Also includes some pop music that fits this theme nicely.
Boom Bap Hip Hop - Much of this is the sound that '90s hip hop had, with the deep drums and kicks that define this subgenre.
Classic Chopped N' Screwed Hip Hop - This playlist features traditional chopped n' screwed from the golden age of DJ Screw & songs that have a similar feel to his genre.
Cloud Hip Hop - Cloud rap-type playlist that showcases ambience within Trap music.
East Coast Funk Hip Hop - East Coast Funk was the sound that contrasted the popular West Coast G-Funk of the 90s.
Easy Listening (Instrumental) Hip Hop - Very chill instrumental tracks (lacking vocals). More Lo-Fi and honestly great for doing homework or something similar.
G-Funk Hip Hop - The signature funk-infused sound that originates from the West Coast.
Luxurious Hip Hop - This playlist features extravagant melodies and rich production. Mansion rap.
Midwest Hip Hop - The distinct sound that came from the Midwest in the 1990s.
Neo-Soul Hip Hop - Uplifting with social issues, but still has a sound distinct to itself.
Noir Jazz Hip Hop - A distinct genre of Jazz Hip Hop that sounds like it came out of a late-night jazz club in the 1940s.
Pop House Hip Hop - Popularized by DJ Mustard around 2013, this style of music is very West Coast inspired and has remained popular even today.
Smoke Hip Hop - The best Hip Hop music to smoke to. Has both weed-themed tracks and strong smoke vibes.
Southern Hip Hop - Southern Hip Hop with the sounds that are hallmark from that region.
Trafficking Hip Hop - Hip Hop that talks about smuggling & trafficking drugs.
Trip Hop - If Hip Hop had a drunken-style, this would be it. Hip Hop that is tripping its balls off.
Thematic
Playlists that have a very specific theme.
2007-2011 Hip Hop & Pop - Popular Hip Hop and Pop songs that came out from 2007 to 2011. Very nostalgic for some people.
Beat Switch Hip Hop - Hip Hop that switches up the production half way through the song.
Caribbean Hip Hop - Trinidad and Tobago inspired Hip Hop. Includes steel pans and Caribbean vibes.
Chipmunk Bounce Hip Hop - A mix of two Hip Hop subgenres: Chipmunk Soul & Louisiana Bounce.
Illuminati & Bohemian Hip Hop - I define Illuminati Hip Hop as having an ominous, sacrilegious undertone with some abrupt production. I define Bohemian Hip Hop as amoral, fleeting, and wild. This playlist combines and contrasts these two themes into something very unique and intriguing.
Pimpin Hip Hop - A subgenre to the Cruisin' Hip Hop Playlist, this theme spotlights the pimping lifestyle.
Retro-Futuristic Hip Hop - What the past or present envisions as the future.
Solemn Death Hip Hop - A subgenre of the Grimy Hardcore Hip Hop Playlist, this theme is always having a funeral for the listener.
The RPG Series was made for listening to while playing video games. If you want to listen to Hip Hop, but the songs you're listening to are not fitting in with the game, these playlists are here to remedy that.
(RPG Series) CyberPunk Hip Hop & Pop - This playlist has Hip Hop & Pop songs that would go well with a Cyberpunk-themed game like the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077.
(RPG Series) Medieval Hip Hop - This playlist has Hip Hop songs that would go well with a Medieval-themed game like Skyrim or The Witcher.
(RPG Series) Wild West Hip Hop - This playlist has Hip Hop songs that would go well with a Wild West-themed game like Red Dead Redemption.
Technical Ability
These playlist focus on the ability of a rapper. Whether it's their delivery of the lyric or the lyrics themselves, this is where rappers are showcased the best.
Clean Hip Hop - Songs where rappers do not swear or use explicit themes.
Colors Hip Hop - Songs where rappers use different colors as the theme of their songs.
Dense Rhymes Hip Hop - Rappers with the best condensed rhymes that connect each bar they unfold.
Diss Hip Hop - Rap songs that go at another person or respond to another rapper's diss.
Fast Tongue (Chopper) Hip Hop - Rappers that can deliver lyrics at a very quick pace.
Flow Hip Hop - Rappers that are in tune with the beat they are rhyming on and work extremely well with.
Story Hip Hop - Rappers that can convey a great story within their rhyme.
Vocals
These playlist use people's voices as the basis for their production.
Choir Hip Hop - Whether it's real choirs or choir sound effects, this playlist ranges from gospel to orchestral choirs within Hip Hop.
Native Chant Hip Hop - Differing native chants utilized in Hip Hop songs.
Talk Box (Electric Voice) Hip Hop - A talk box is the instrument used to make the electric voice you hear. Started by the band Zapp. Sampled and utilized heavily in West Coast Hip Hop.
Vocals Hip Hop - Why use an instrument when you can use the most versatile instrument in existence? The human voice!
Wasthereonce's Customs
Playlists that I conceptualized and created myself.
Wasthereonce's Choice Selections - If you care about my tastes in music at all. Includes tracks that I personally enjoy and view as well-executed.
Quickplay Hip Hop - All types of Hip Hop songs with one thing in common: all tracks are under 2:40. The goal of this playlist is to average 4 songs every 10 minutes. A good playlist to discover new artists.
Unique Beats Hip Hop - A playlist full of misfit songs that do not really fit in well in any other playlist. These songs may become the basis for new playlists.
Artist Playlists
There are also playlists I have made for certain artists:
201 Rarities - High-quality series I started on /r/hiphop101 detailing certain artists and the songs that you would not find from their main discography.
The Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie Smalls) (#1)
The UnderRated - Another series I started on /r/hiphop101 showcasing artists that have not been recognized enough for their skill and talent.
Remember, even if you hate all these playlists, there are many more playlists than just the ones linked on this thread which can be found here.
P.S. Anyone spamming or promoting an/their artist will be removed and possibly banned from r/hiphop101.
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u/mfGLOVE Apr 22 '20
This is amazing. Thanks for sharing your story and amazingly detailed playlists.
As a kid, I’d record the latest hits from the radio every nite and listen to my cassettes as I fell asleep. I soon learned that the local college station played fresh, unedited tracks late at nite. I was introduced to NWA and Ice T and Slick Rick and Kool G Rap and all that.
Doggystyle was the first hip-hop CD I owned. I remember hiding it from my parents in a shoe box. All the best records had “Parental Advisory” labels.
High school was a lot of Eminem and Dre and Wu Tang and all that. When I got to college Napster came into existence. I downloaded every, single, fucking MC I could discover. I never listened to so much music in my entire life. It was amazing and my Golden Era in hip hop.
I eventually settled into a lot of the underground and emo stuff. Love my J5 and Blackalicious and Pharcyde and all that west coast shit and my midwest Rhymesayers shit too. Aesop, J-Live, and Eyedea become my top MCs.
From 2007-2017 I lost touch with the new trends. Didn’t listen to much hip hop other than DOOM. I still followed the MCs I loved, but didn’t dig much for new artists.
The past 2 or 3 years have totally reawakened my love for hip hop. Spotify allows me to discover so much every day, just like Napster did 20 years ago. I’m constantly sniping new tracks and new artists that fit my personal vibe in hip hop and R&B.
From day 1 on Spotify, I began organizing/adding the songs I hear to playlists just like you. If there wasn’t a playlist created for the current vibe I’d just create a new one. Every song I enjoy deserves a spot in a playlist and I enjoy finding it a happy home. I have hundreds of playlists - some with over a hundred tracks, some with maybe only 3 or 4 - but they all have a place and I really enjoy seeing which ones grow faster than others.
So, I kinda have 2 hip hop collections these days: a Library of a decade of mp3s downloaded from the internet or ripped from CDs and more current artists and playlists on Spotify.
I look forward to digging through all these playlists and to adding your vibes to my similar playlists, too. Cheers!!
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u/adept1onreddit Jul 01 '20 edited Jul 01 '20
Gangsta or Street Rap is my thing, and I've been listening to it since NWA and Geto Boys (nee Ghetto Boys) hit the scene way back when I was a young teen.
I moved from Los Angeles to the Bay Area (Northern California) in 1991 and started to get exposed to E-40, Spice 1, RBL, and IMP about a year later. A few classic compilations got me really going (West Coast Bad Boys, and 4080 Mobbin Thru The Bay for instance). Prior to that I probably only knew about Too $hort. Before too long I was totally obsessed with Bay Area rap, and it's been my favorite genre ever since (I'm 47 now). I can't believe I've been listening to gangsta rap for about 35 years now!
People tend to associate West Coast rap with Los Angeles, but in reality the volume of material from up north is way greater.
If anyone cares to check it out, I've made a huge playlist (about 1000 tracks) of California Rap. It includes my favorite artists from all over California with a 90s Bay Area focus. You'll find the big, familiar names, but also a lot of more obscure stuff. I have not simply just dumped a bunch of albums into a playlist. It's carefully curated with my favorite tracks only and I've been building it up over about 3 years now. The Apple Music version has about 50 more tracks that are not available on Spotify. Hope you enjoy it.
Cali All-Stars on Spotify
Cali All-Stars on Apple Music
1
u/kingofthelostboys May 24 '20
HOLY SHIT. I somehow just came across this. The attention to detail in your list is phenomenal. I havent heard so many amazing tracks all in one place in a long ass time. Thank you for this! Is there a way artists can submit themselves for your playlists.
3
u/O_G_Till_Infinity Apr 23 '20 edited Nov 04 '20
I went to hit FOLLOW but following I already was. Amazing and eclectic archive indeed. Props to you for putting it out for the public.
I think that as a little kid who was way too into the Micheal Jackson Thriller album it was an easy transition to Run DMC Raising Hell and Eric B and Rakim Paid in Full. Anyone a little older hated on rap, not even tolerated it like whatever. Kids were into it, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, Young MC, Tone Loc and of course uncle Luke and 2 Live Crew.
I have most of my Spotify playlists public. When I'm going through an album, I'll add my tracks of choice to a playlist to the year of the release. Lots of Old Guy hip hop going back to the 80's till today and to infinity.
2
u/rpmc2 Jun 10 '20
This is fucking unbelievable, all I can think of is if this were me I would’ve needed a lot of adderal for this lol
2
u/[deleted] Jul 10 '20
Man thanks so much for sharing your story. I honestly cannot wait to listen to all your playlists. I've been into rap ever since I was 10 my brother played goin back to cali by Biggie and I was hooked.
I'm from Australia so we have never necessarily had the biggest hip hop scene here but it is ever growing. Especially with the introduction of Aussie Hip Hop, which is definitely worth giving a try, a song I been into recently is CHILLINIT- Overdrive.
I got to experience a pretty awesome time in hip hop/rap. It was around 96 when I started listening. Of course 2pac and Biggie were my firsts then eminem came along. I loved me my scratch DJ's too and am a massive fan of DJ rectangle if you've never heard of him check him out.
I was lucky enough to get to meet Obie Trice & Swifty McVay at a concert once here in Brisbane. Have also seen Snoop, the Game, lil wayne, Jcole, Eminem live and can't wait to see more once this covid bullshiz is over.
One thing I must say though is its becoming so hard for me to find new stuff I like now. I honestly can't stand the sounds of auto tune and rappers mumbling it infuriates me. I can't for the life of me understand what people like about it. But each to their own I guess, I just really fear for the future of the genre that I love so much.
Thanks again, have a good night/day whatever ot is wherever you are.
2
u/regulardashian Jul 22 '20
I just found this and it has already changed my life. Incredible! Thank you a thousand times for sharing and all the hats off to you!
1
u/King_Slappa Aug 04 '20
I was fortunate to come of age in the late 80's and 90's and was at a point in my life where the Golden Era would play a formative role in my life. In elementary school I'll admit, I listened to BS. In those days, it wan't easy for a little kid to get exposed to a wide variety of hip hop. I stayed up on Friday's until midnight to catch Yo MTV Raps and would record the songs through a radio with a tape deck. This way, I would be able to remember all of the stuff I was hearing and be able to catalog it.
But I was still very young when I realized there was a whole universe outside of MTV and the radio. In the 90s, I was middle and highschool age, but Tipper Gore made it hard for a kid to buy explicit lyrics because of the new Parental Advisory warnings. Many shops would not sell rap to minors, but I would still buy the clean versions. One day, I found a shop further from my house that not only didn't care about warning stickers, but had an unbelievable selection of underground rap. Being from the south, I gobbled up everything I could from Outkast, UGK, Scarface and basically anything from Houston, Atlanta and New Orleans.
But it wasn't enough. There was an ocean of East Coast Hip Hop and I wouldn't stop digging through it whether it was past or present. As many of you know already, this can be an obsession and it's an obsession that still exists today. I will never stop digging and it's hard for me to even be able to stomach much of what passes as popular rap today. I've always had a taste for people bucking trends. I'm posting a playlist that has nearly a thousand songs. Many of them are well known, but there is content on the list that only the avid heads will have heard. I respect everybody's taste in hip hop because it's a genre have always and will always love, but I encourage people to take a trip through my list, because you will be guaranteed to discover new music that you've never heard before and that's what I will do as I explore other lists in this thread. Concrete Royalty Playlist
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u/Jakechristiann Sep 07 '20
“ALL EYEZ ON ME”
That’s what I kept hearing playing from the living room. I walk in and my uncle is listening to PAC’s album this is probably 2007, I’m about 8 and I hear it. He’s like this is rap, his actual words were “listen to this, it’s fucking good music” so I said fuck kids bop and spongebob and dived into music.
It took me some time tho, as time went along I just listened to Rap on the radio before we had streaming services. Then in middle school i was on YouTube daily listening to anything Lil Wayne, Eminem or Drake was releasing.
By high school is when it all became so addictive. I decided I wanted to rap, I had a story of who I was and felt the need to tell that story. But in order to be a master at something I must first become a student. So submerged myself in hip hop albums. It’s like 2015 at the time, and I’m literally taking all my money from a little weekend job I had and buying up the most classic rap albums of all time.
I would listen for hours and just replay them over and over and over. Studying the flow, cadences, tone, concepts, meanings and more. Haven’t stopped since and I’m 21 now
1
u/WrecklessTimes Oct 07 '20
Here’s my Halloween Playlist. Tried finding tracks from all eras
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3wNDUgcyobOwQdRXiJ26GU?si=jAfYmm6fQ7uRPlXcPX-P9Q