Hip-Hop's Greatest Stories Ever Told

Apr 27

Since its inception 50 years ago, hip-hop has been rooted in storytelling. And though the landscape of the genre has changed significantly over that span, the art of storytelling has remained one of the timeless skills that we can use to evaluate an emcee’s skill. Here are what Mixtape Magazine’s Digital Team believes to be the top 10 storytelling tracks of all time.

10. “Roses” by Kanye West

Just sneaking into our list is Ye’s Late Registration classic, “Roses,” where he bitterly reflects on the passing of his grandmother and not knowing how to act toward her because he can’t save her. Through his desperation and contrasting comedic bars like his diss toward Magic Johnson, the track hits a turning point and resolution as Kanye describes the hospital room with his mom, grandpa, cousins, and his “auntie team,” all improbably gathered together. Here, he realizes that being present in this time of need is the best he can do. The storytelling of “Roses” is incredible, as Kanye uses simple but thoughtful symbolism layered into the modified sample of Bill Withers’ “Rosie.” Along with his dynamic lyricism, “Roses” is an amazing and relatable story for anyone who has felt lost love. -Alex

9. “Ms. Fat Booty” by Mos Def

Ms. Fat Booty by Mos Def is a model example for storytelling songs in the genre of rap. With comedic descriptions and witty metaphors, Mos tells the tale of him crossing paths with a woman and eventually dating her – until she suddenly ghosts him and ends up at the club with a new man. The quick rate in which he performs this classic allows for the song to be replayed constantly whilst picking up new things. A line like “She spot me like paparazzi, shot me a glance” is just a taste of the quick whipped pace of the song.The bouncy flow and adlibs add for great commentary of the situation allowing the listener to get into Mos’s mind. All in all it’s happy, head bopping nature is why it has stood the test of time and made it on our list. -Kai

8. “Kick, Push” by Lupe Fiasco

“Kick push, Kick push… Coast.” These are words that are constantly repeated by skaters as they are cruising with their friends. Lupe has never lacked storytelling skills whatsoever in any track he has graced. That being said, listening to “Kick, Push” puts you in the position of a rebel with no place to go. Lupe perfectly describes the hardships and adversity of being a skater, from bumps and bruises to your first kickflip. Lupe frames skating positively as a form of freedom for those who may have nowhere to go. In the end, the skater meets his lover and his crew. This song is an ode to all the skaters (hustlers) who are on their grind, legally or illegally. -Jamison

7. “The Warning” by The Notorious B.I.G.

Storytelling ability is a huge reason that the Notorious BIG is constantly up for a spot on the Mount Rushmore of hip-hop. He showcases this skill on “Warning,” a standout cut from his 1994 debut Ready to Die. The song begins at 5:46 in the morning when an associate pages Biggie about a murder plot. After learning about the upcoming attempt on his life, Biggie proceeds to rap about tearing enemies apart by the ligament, as he smokes on a blunt that increases his dangerous aura with each puff. By the end of the second verse, Biggie’s concentration breaks as he hears an intruder, and, in the closing skit, the sinister hypotheticals that he verbally paints become reality. -Jake

6. “PROM/KING” by Saba

It’s about time we gave Saba his flowers. The Chicago-born rapper pulls off a lyrical masterpiece in this track, recounting his relationship with his cousin John Walt before he was murdered. Saba takes his time piecing together a simple story without ever needing a complex production to hook us in. It’s his delivery and diction that fully immerses us in the narrative. He utilizes a variety of different flows and can switch between them without ever missing a beat. When Saba is vulnerable and honest, he doesn’t need much to produce a quality track, and “PROM / KING” shows that. This eulogy might not have cemented Saba as one of the greats, but it definitely cemented itself as one of the greatest storytelling songs ever. -Mateo

5. “It Was A Good Day” by Ice Cube

“It Was A Good Day” stands out as a storytelling track that offers a unique level of positivity. Ice Cube paints a vivid picture of what a “good day” would look like from his perspective, something that seems unexpected considering the bleak environment that he grew up in. Throughout the song he raps about his journey through the day, describing everything from the smell of his moms breakfast, to the triple-double he put up in a basketball game last week. Paired with the song's catchy beat and uplifting lyrics, Cube captivated listeners with the feeling that the song brought to any situation. “It Was A Good Day” is an automatic mood booster, something that can’t be said for the majority of songs on this list. -Ben

4. “Dance With The Devil” by Immortal Technique

If you need to convince a non-believer of hip-hop’s validity, I highly recommend playing “Dance With The Devil” to witness how they absorb this song’s haunting genius. Immortal Technique pens the cautionary tale of William Jacobs, whose descent into gang violence and depravity is equally disturbing and gripping. Over a sinister sample of Henry Mancini’s “Theme from “Love Story,”” Technique uses goosebump-raising lyricism to aggressively grab listeners’ attention. The song's powerful piano-led beat, combined with Technique's intense delivery, create a sense of desperation that’s nearly impossible to ignore. Ending in a shocking twist, “Dance With The Devil” warns those tempted to go down the same troubled path as Billy Jacobs “because a dance with the devil might last you forever.” -Noah

3. “Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst” by Kendrick Lamar

“Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst” has earned legendary status among Kendrick's discography. Through this 12-minute track, Lamar delves into the horrors of growing up in the projects by telling the story of seeing one of his dear friends die before his own eyes. The line in the chorus “Promise that you will sing about me” conveys the emotion that Lamar has when looking back on the memory of his friend, while “Dying of thirst” is an analogy Lamar used for having an overwhelming urge to avenge his passed friend. Lamar begins to convey this sentiment with the line “Hell is hot, fire is proven, to burn for eternity, return of the student.” Due to this writing, the multi-part track has been solidified as one of the all-time storytelling classics in the genre. -Adam

2. “Stan” by Eminem

What’s the point in writing about “Stan” at this point? It’s one of the most popular and acclaimed rap songs, telling a haunting story of a crazed Eminem fan committing a murder-suicide. I was obsessed with the music video in fourth grade, engrossed by the song’s quality and vulgarity. Stan’s violent, ranting verses contrasting with Dido’s soothing, ethereal choruses make the track feel gruesome but beautiful. “Stan” was instantly loved upon release, but its legacy has only grown. The term “stan” has become incredibly popular online amongst the masses, most of whom aren’t even Eminem fans, and in the modern world, it just means “an overzealous fan.” Em has made some of rap’s all-time greatest songs, but none paint a picture quite like “Stan.” -Harry

1. “Da Art Of Storytellin’ (Pt. 1)” by Outkast

It would be hard to make a storytelling list without “Da Art of Storytellin’ (Pt. 1).” The OutKast masterpiece deals with two different stories, the first by Big Boi, and the second by André 3000. Big Boi starts by telling the narrative of a promiscuous girl named Suzy Screw who “screwed a lot” and how he has built up guilt from seeing her. Then 3 stacks raps about Sasha Thumper, who he dated for a summer. He reflects on how Sasha said her dream was to be “alive” when she grows up, and when the two eventually disconnected because of his fame. But in a turn, André ends by lamenting over his former flame, who was found dead from a supposed overdose while pregnant. -James

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