Top 50 Hip-Hop Hooks of the Decade (30-21)

Posted on 20. Jan, 2010 by admin in Entertainment, Music

“The hook in terms of hip-hop production and songwriting is absolutely an essential element to the foundation of building a powerful musical masterpiece. If you can’t get your audience “hooked” into your song, why should they listen to the rest of it? If they aren’t enjoying the music and it doesn’t sound pleasing to the ear, why should listeners pay attention to your message?” - Michael Cantell (Hip Hop Production 101: The Hook)

It’s a harsh reality that hooks almost always define the popularity of a track. Pbleepd continues to count down their top 50 Hip-Hop Hooks of the last decade…30-21

30. Hi-Tek Feat J Dilla, Nas, Marsha Ambrosius, Common & Busta Rhymes - Music Is For Life

Hip-Hop defined through the smooth production and underlying message in the chorus. Marsha as always delivers, putting passion into something so powerful and true….Music is for life

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29. Murs - Dark-Skinned White Girls

A 9th Wonder beat and Murs lyric together = Magic. Murs pays homage to the female generation scrutinized for the colour of their skin and upbringing with an uplifting hook.

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28. Scarface - My Block

Scarface takes you into his world as he illustrates the negatives and positives of living in the ghetto. Simple piano and drum instrumental to aid the rapper’s thoughts.

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27. Nas Feat AZ - The Flyest

The queens pair go hard over a dope east coast influenced instrumental. Hard-hitting chorus with great harmonic instances, gotta love a woman singing gangster.

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26. Ludacris - Slap

West Coast style instrumental with Ludacris spitting the most relatable truth. We’ve all had one of these days

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25. Memphis Bleek Feat Jay-Z, Missy & Twista - Is That Your Chick

Timbaland spazzes out on this beat, bassline is crazy and the tempo gets you out your seat. Fire is spat all over this joint, topped with a hook by Missy that’s as good as it was 10 years ago.

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24. Nas - Made You Look

Very creative hook on a beat built around several samples lifted from the Incredible Bongo Band’s cover of Apache. This hook coupled with Nas’ intricate lyricism made this his second highest charted single to date

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23. Jay-Z - Dirt Off Your Shoulder

This is one of those rare Jay-Z tracks where the hook sells the song; Jigga had everybody brushing their shoulders to this infectious Timbaland beat.

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22. Outkast - So Fresh, So Clean

“Aint nobody dope as me, Im just so fresh, so clean (so fresh and so clean clean)” Before swagger became annoying.

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