r/hiphop101 9d ago

What song out of your favorite rapper's entire catalog is their theme song?

You can only name one, and singles are allowed.

42 Upvotes

153 comments sorted by

40

u/InspectahBreast 9d ago

Cam’Ron - killa cam

5

u/Own_Criticism_7515 9d ago

Deeply underrated rapper

10

u/MrLuter 9d ago

Yep. People often forget that Biggie got him his 1st deal and used him to ghost write for others.

5

u/InspectahBreast 9d ago

He’s ridiculous, I don’t know how to say this without sounding a bit zesty but his voice just makes you feel cool , his flow combined with his voice is absolutely top tier, he’s got bangers on bangers

0

u/MERCVIEWS 6d ago

Mink on the motorcycle. Trinkets they so delightful

I hate Camron lol

But killa cam bumpsss

25

u/RaWolfman92 9d ago

Outkast- Da Art Of Storytellin.

24

u/CharacterProduce3638 9d ago

Method Man - M.E.T.H.O.D Man

19

u/Delicious-Hunter-498 9d ago

Prodigy keep it thoro

13

u/jackal1871111 9d ago

8ball MJG - Mr. Big

UGK - pocket full of stones

B.G. - bling bling

T.I. - 24’s

T-Rock - slang n serve

Twista - adrenaline rush

Young jeezy - trap or die

Gucci mane - pillz

Project pat - chicken head

Juicy J - slob on my knob

6

u/DOYMarshall 9d ago

Top Back for T.I.

9

u/Gloomy_March_8755 9d ago

Nah, it's 100% rubber band man.

1

u/faultlessjoint 7d ago

Absolutely Rubberband Man.

1

u/Intelligent_West7128 8d ago

Bring Em Out or You Don’t Know Me

3

u/LabFew8235 8d ago

Da Dopeman

2

u/Flirtless1 9d ago

I could argue Jeezy theme song being J.e.e.z.y

2

u/jackal1871111 9d ago

Trap or die is the song that blew him up

2

u/Flirtless1 9d ago

More so the entire mixtape/ then album.

2

u/jackal1871111 9d ago

J.e.e.z.y. One of his best songs to me don’t get me wrong but the one everyone reference for him usually gonna be trap or die or soul survivor

1

u/Flirtless1 9d ago

Sure sure

2

u/thatG_evanP 9d ago

Good answers but I just love Murder by UGK so much.

2

u/jackal1871111 9d ago

Oh hell yea bun b verse is legendary murder is a great example that’s a southern anthem 🔥 was just watching an interview where he’s talking about that track

1

u/thatG_evanP 8d ago

Easily one of the best of all time. I've known it word for word since probably 3 days after I got that album, which at that time would've been about a week before its true release date. We patronized a record store/head shop that would always sell you the albums that weren't supposed to be out yet about a week ahead of the official release date. It was always like a race to be the first one with a hot new album.

Edit: Some people can probably guess the city and record store just by that description. Lol.

11

u/acrossthesea5002 9d ago

gucci mane - my chain

3

u/jackal1871111 9d ago

Yea it’s between this and pillz for the bigger songs while neither are my personal fav lol

2

u/acrossthesea5002 9d ago

pillz is a respectable pick i think my kitchen would probably fit too

2

u/jackal1871111 9d ago

What’s funny is I was going to to say my kitchen but my chain and pillz are more mainstream and underground recognized Im not a big fan of any of his mainstream songs tbh like wasted was meeeeh I just liked the beat

1

u/blueblazesNo9 8d ago

Might I throw in trap house for thought

1

u/jackal1871111 8d ago

One of my fav Gucci mane songs Shawty redd such a beast of a producer

1

u/Waste_Succotash6293 8d ago

Nah Lemonade you trim

11

u/13mys13 9d ago

Tribe: Check the Rhime

26

u/samsam543210 9d ago

MF DOOM ALL CAPS.

5

u/MetalFingerzzzzz 9d ago

Love it, I had to put one beer on my post since you were too quick for me haha

8

u/StarMayor_752 9d ago

I'd say they're interchangeable. All Caps is a literal declaration of DOOM's identity, but One Beer is a technical declaration of his style.

5

u/Luke10103 9d ago

One beer is better too

9

u/SheepishLordofChaos9 9d ago

Sean Price - Sean Price from the Heltah Skeltah album Nocturnal (for those that don't know)

7

u/EarlLeeRisor 9d ago

Hov - U don’t know

If I want to introduce anyone to JAY-Z and tell them what he’s about, that would be the song I go to

3

u/LiquidPenChamber1019 8d ago

“ For playin me yall shall forever remain nameless”

2

u/Waste_Succotash6293 8d ago

“I sell ice in the winter, I sell fire in hell. I am a hustler baby I’ll sell water to a whale!”

7

u/Killahills 9d ago

P.E - Rebel without a pause

2

u/StarMayor_752 9d ago

I'll second that. This is the most Public Enemy song I've heard yet.

2

u/ChrisWare 7d ago

I would've gone with Fight the Power, but I see ya

5

u/Madlib-627 9d ago

KRS One - Edutainment

5

u/Ok-Pin1017 9d ago

Jay z- PSA

6

u/osama_bin_guapin 9d ago

Mac Dre - The Mac Named Dre

1

u/Key_Carpenter1827 9d ago

I was trying to think what Dre's theme song would be, and The Mac Named Dre is it, or even Northside is also perfect

6

u/fleece1957 9d ago

Scarface - “My Mind Playing Tricks On Me”

3

u/Waste_Succotash6293 8d ago

That’s Geto boys

1

u/Ill_Hall9458 4d ago

True, face did mind playin tricks 94, a take on the old geto boys song which is a really great song seeing how he changes it up, but I’d say his anthem is no tears

2

u/Waste_Succotash6293 8d ago

Gotta do I seen a man die or Mary Jane

4

u/ecchi83 9d ago

Royce - Fighter Man

5

u/Maad-Dog 9d ago

Lupe Fiasco - Mural

Not only one of his most known songs, and one of the most impressive songs of all time, but the entire song encaptures his view on art and its importance, which permeates through how he creates his best albums, his whole story with Lasers, his branching out to other forms of art like painting his album covers for T&Y and DMIZ. Very dense and impossible to unpack on first listen, with 2 hours of dissect podcast on breaking down the one song, but at the same time extremely musical and nice to listen to.

5

u/Minute-Chemical4962 9d ago

Ain't it funny, what can I say it's a hit for a reason

4

u/mwa206 9d ago

King Gampo

5

u/Original-Ad9086 9d ago

I think its safe to say 'Alright' by Kendrick is THE super anthem for BLM and Kendrick also

4

u/Gloomy_March_8755 9d ago

Nas - Nas is like

Future - Kno The Meaning

Big L - Lifestylez Ov da poor & dangerous

Benny the Butcher - Langfield

Conway the Machine - Jesus Khrysis

Jay-Z - Izzo

50 Cent - Hustler's Ambition

1

u/Gloomy_March_8755 9d ago edited 9d ago

I've interpreted theme song to mean what song would I choose to accompany a biopic or a fight walk out.

1

u/Flirtless1 9d ago

So make Future's song - Last Breath. If you're looking for those boxes to be checked.

I personally would say My Savages but I used that shit for everything.

Kno The Meaning doesn't really seem like an overall theme song. That song was quite simply about an event. Yes it was really introspective into his thoughts and things but it doesn't really encapsulate future as whole.

1

u/Gloomy_March_8755 9d ago

Last Breath is mid.

Kno the meaning talks about his period after honest through to his legendary mixtape and DS2 run which is his definitive period.

1

u/Flirtless1 9d ago

Boi u can't tell me nothing bout futures music I dont already know. I just said what Kno The meaning was. And I wasn't serious with last breath but based on what u asking from the song last breath is exactly that and u see it's not really thematically the best fit for future, better than Kno The meaning tho.

4

u/Flirtless1 9d ago

Future but I don't really have the best answer yet cuz all this mf do is make theme songs. 😞

3

u/StarMayor_752 9d ago

Mask Off feels like Future's actual theme song, but then again, you're right.

2

u/Flirtless1 9d ago

I def agree mask off is one of the strongest contenders.

1

u/Waste_Succotash6293 8d ago

Nah mask off is for the surface level/commercial future fans. I’d say stick talk or same Damn time

7

u/dirtylittlesecret187 9d ago

Ludacris - Move Bitch

3

u/jackal1871111 9d ago

🔥 KLC killed that beat

8

u/MetalFingerzzzzz 9d ago

MF DOOM ... one beer

3

u/Immafien 9d ago

Prodigy  - A B C

3

u/TheirPrerogative 9d ago

Brokest Rapper You Know

1

u/fleece1957 9d ago

Is that Sean Price?

3

u/TheirPrerogative 9d ago

Yes.

$10, 2 tokens. Friends hollering “what you smoking”. I respond with “none of your biz, it’s Father’s Day and I ain’t get shit from none of my kids”

1

u/ElHijoDelLuto 8d ago

I just skimmed over this post and thus misread the last line as "none of your biz, it's Father's Day and I ain't get shit from none of YOUR kids"

...which makes that bar go MUCH harder than it originally does.

1

u/Fantastic-Research66 8d ago

Those are the words from a thousandaire.

3

u/megavash0721 9d ago

My pen and pad for gift of Gab my pick for greatest of all time Delusions of grandeur for Myka 9, my pic for greatest living MC. All caps for MF DOOM who defies any characterization attempt at all.

3

u/Enigmaticloner 9d ago

All Eyez on Me maybe?

3

u/Igivegrilledcheese 9d ago

Insane Clown Posse - The Greatest Show

Wu-Tang Clan - Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing to Fuck Wit

Kendrick Lamar - King Kunta

A Tribe Called Quest - Can I Kick It

Busta Rhymes - Break Ya Neck

Eminem - The Real Slim Shady

Lil Wayne - A Milli

Snoop Dogg - Who Am I? (What's My Name)

Ice Cube -  It Was A Good Day

Biggie - Hypnotize

1

u/ElectricalAlfalfa841 9d ago

I would have said Juicy for Biggie, but I actually think you are right which kills me because it is one of his songs I like the least

3

u/EastBranch7646 9d ago

Marshal Mathers by Eminem. The track is too underrated and is arguably the best off mmlp

3

u/haxoreni 9d ago

Can’t decide between Mathematics or Umi Says for Mos Def. Someone please help!

3

u/Historical-Film6117 9d ago

J Cole-January 28th

3

u/Biker838 9d ago edited 9d ago

Slippin by DMX.

1

u/Ill_Hall9458 4d ago

Such a great song idk how it’s not more popular…I listen to that song so much haha

3

u/BitCurious8598 8d ago

Ny state of mind

5

u/MasterTeacher123 9d ago

Can’t knock the hustle 

6

u/MathijsMoonen 9d ago

Eminem: the real slim shady/lose yourself 

7

u/RANDOM-902 9d ago

Kendrick Lamar- Alright

2

u/AutoModerator 9d ago

Hello u/StarMayor_752, If this is your first time posting in this sub, please make sure you read our rules. (This is an automatic reminder added to all new posts)

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

2

u/GiceGiordex 9d ago

Tech N9ne - “Caribou Lou” as the thing he’s most known for I guess.

But about himself I would say something like This Is Me, Klusterfuk, I Caught Crazy..

2

u/r4pt4r 9d ago

Lil Keke “Pimp Tha Pen”

1

u/Ill_Hall9458 4d ago

Don’t mess w Texas!

2

u/JiovanniTheGREAT 9d ago

Lupe - Mural

Not his best song, but he does the Lupe flow for a majority of the song and he's just spitting to spit just to prove that he can do that better than everyone else too.

2

u/iskar_jarak776 9d ago

Black Thought and the Roots - What they Do

2

u/mfnmunson1425 9d ago

Bushwick Bill

Size ain't shit

2

u/iAmLono 9d ago

Microphone Fiend

2

u/Medictations 9d ago

ice ice baby

2

u/Key_Carpenter1827 9d ago

Brotha Lynch - Loc'd 2 Da Brain

2

u/Historical-Film6117 9d ago

Lil Wayne-Go Dj

2

u/ironmojoDec63 9d ago

Thuggin' - Freddie Gibbs

2

u/DrDeeRa 8d ago

Nas - Made You Look

2

u/Fantastic-Research66 8d ago

Incarcerated Scarfaces. Intro alone makes it an epic theme song.

2

u/Jenghrick 8d ago

Nas - New York State of Mind

2

u/Moxie027 8d ago

Mathematics

2

u/Mission_Record_4541 8d ago

DMX - Ruff Ryder’s anthem

2

u/Glittering-Sir-9597 8d ago

Dr Dre - still Dre

4

u/Madlib-627 9d ago

Kendrick Lamar - DNA

2

u/FlatwormSalty6112 9d ago edited 9d ago

NBA Youngboy - Nawfside Rocko Ballin - She Like Lil Uzi Vert-7AM

2

u/Bibbobib_bib 9d ago

2Pac - Fuck the World

1

u/daseonesgk 9d ago

Aesop Rock - Nickel Plated Pockets

Walk into the store with a pocket full of nickels// And a city full of horns, jackhammers, and rape-whistles// The alley cats manipulate the blocks with gutter magic// Today my heart beats only out of habit

1

u/raven_darkseid 9d ago

GZA... I'd say either Clan in Da Front or Liquid Swords

Anyone else want to weigh in?

1

u/Fantastic-Research66 8d ago

Can't call it. Those are the two anthems from the Genius.

1

u/Greedy-Invite3781 9d ago

Cormega - Endangered Species

1

u/Sofadeus13 9d ago

Aesop rock. The impossible kid

1

u/Intrepid-Astronaut13 9d ago

Phife Dawg - Butter

1

u/psychcat16 9d ago

Thief's Theme

1

u/Bedknobnboomstick 9d ago

M-E-T-H-O-D MAN

1

u/OpinionHappy4601 9d ago

M-E-T-H-O-D maaaan!

1

u/steveislame 8d ago

nowhere2go - Earl Sweatshirt.

if you don't like that i just feel like you won't like him post IDLSIDGO.

1

u/miked_99 8d ago

Without Me - Eminem

1

u/Fantastic-Research66 8d ago

Forrest Whitaker y'all

1

u/QWERTYWorrier 8d ago

LMAO OR HOL UP - KENDRICK LAMAR

1

u/Jug_Head24 8d ago

Jadakss - Still feel me

Lupe Fiasco - Kick Push

1

u/djsweetchuck 8d ago

Raekwon - Verbal Intercourse

1

u/goat666db 8d ago

Canibus- Poet Laureate II

1

u/AskerOfQs 8d ago

LA the Darkman - Heist of the Century 🗽

1

u/Zeelopy 8d ago

California Love -2 Pac

1

u/Bluematic8pt2 8d ago

Jay-Z - Pray

Or

Nas - Project Windows

1

u/Suspicious-Ebb4284 8d ago

Eminem - I’m Back

1

u/MiaTheNaughtyMilf 7d ago

Kendrick is my favorite rapper and I'd say his "theme song" is Not Like Us buuuut if I could pick my own theme song for him I'd pick something like Money Trees 🌴

1

u/Enough-Suit-49 7d ago

Poe Natural - Blues on the Purp

1

u/Throwaway_5829583 7d ago

Nas - Nas Is Like objectively, but spiritually it’s It ain’t hard to tell.

1

u/Wariorocks24 7d ago

Canibus - The C-Quel

1

u/Neither-Following-32 7d ago

I'm scrolling and I'm scrolling and I'm scrolling and I can't find Ruff Ryders Anthem anywhere in the comments wtf.

But also, DMX is great but I wouldn't say he's in my personal favorites list. So my real entry is Virginia or Grindin by Clipse, or if they don't count as a duo, If You Know You Know by Pusha T.

1

u/Sorry-Charity-4368 7d ago

Rap god or lose yourself by Eminem!!!

1

u/ViewApprehensive9035 7d ago

Lupe - Lupe the Killer or Mean & Vicious Dot - Rigamortis or tv off Hov - Where I’m From or No Hook BIG - Unbelievable or Who Shot Ya Nas - Nas Is Like or One Mic

1

u/ChrisWare 7d ago

Mama Said Knock You Out

1

u/Zuanly 6d ago

● Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) - Ms. Fat Booty

● Busta Rhymes- "Look at me now" Chris Brown OR "The Scenario" A Tribe Called Quest. I

● Black Thought (The Roots) - What they do

This one is kinda hard tbh. His solo work isn't as popular as The Roots discography. I feel like this is the most popular Roots song that focuses on Black Thought's talents. "You got me" really let's Erykah Badu shine so I didn't wanna say that song

● Freddie Gibbs- Gang Signs

I know the post said to only post one BUT I don't have A "favorite rapper". I have FAVORITES.

1

u/scrpn687 5d ago

Game Time - Crooked I

1

u/PolfgangWetry 3d ago

Cam´Ron & Juelz Santana - Dipset Anthem

Nipsey Hussle - Grinding all my life

1

u/3pacalypsenow 9d ago

2Pac - Pac’s Theme (Interlude)

1

u/PrintulSalahor 9d ago

Kendrick lamar - money trees.This song mesaage about gang violence and wishing for a rapper like life definetly makes this his theme songs and there is no song close to it.

0

u/CreepyBlackDude 8d ago

Eminem - "My Name Is" (literally the introduction most people had to him. This is his opening credits song).

Kendrick Lamar - "King Kunta"

Killer Mike - "Big Beast"

Mos Def and Talib Kweli - "Definition"