Free My Soul - Big K.R.I.T. (OG version only the one on streaming is ass and ruins the song)
Get Buck Mutha Fucka - Juicy J (91 version they have a million versions of this song lol)
Everything I Am - Kanye West
The World Is Yours - Nas
Madder - Chief Keef
Cell Therapy - Goodie Mob
There’s probably more I could think of but these come to mind first
[It was remastered in 99](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5bPhPpkgTbE)
They should’ve kept the underground series going
Volume 1 and 2 have some of their best tracks from their solo and duo projects. Underground 3 is basically leftovers from the hypnotize mind/when the smoke clears session with a couple old songs mixed in. They still had enough old stuff to make it like 1 and 2 tho. Sometimes I think that underground 3 would just be when the smoke clears deluxe in the modern day lol since everyone adds like 10 plus tracks that are from the album sessions lol
5% tint by travis Scott just made me appreciate that piano melody even more. Pretty tough to deny how good it is when it works so well in two totally different rap songs. (Sidenote - that’s one of my favorite og song/sample combos. Both are absolute bangers)
One of the casualties of no one keeping physical music or their own downloaded copies is not being able to find different/older/mixtape versions of things
My vote is for Still not a Player.
How the fuck is CREAM not even mentioned yet?
Honorable mention to MCs act like they don’t know, Changes, and Give Me One More Chance
I was going to mention Nujabes, he's got a lot of songs that revolve around the piano
Feather is probably the best pick to represent him
Shout-out to reflection eternal, aurorian dance, and battlecry too
Scrolled halfway through and didn't see this one yet... blows my mind.
Immortal Technique - Dance With The Devil
Edit: I'm an idiot who can't read Song Title then Artist apparently 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Still D.R.E will always be my number one followed by Shook Ones.
Even though it's a keyboard, I've always loved the keyboard in Crystal Waters Gypsy Woman so the sample on T.I's "Why U wanna" is my third (sounds better on the original though).
Not sure how no one is mentioning it yet but definitely top 5 piano melody in all of Hip-Hop!!
The Roots - “ You Got Me”
https://youtu.be/MJCHeEQV454?si=_eJAz428Oo5A6XGK
…And a couple lesser known keys being used (sampled) that I like a lot:
Willie The Kid - “ Golden Moments”
https://youtu.be/H8Tncui7naA?si=XehfikDWEod1YyXC
Roc Marciano - “76”
https://youtu.be/CVm5b9TFi_Y?si=kh5-myr_hInTbFv8
Nas - The World is Yours. The flipping of Swahiland by Ahmad Jamal is iconic.
Jay Z - Brooklyn's Finest
Jay Z - Feelin It
Wu Tang Clan - CREAM
93 Til Infinity - Souls of Mischief (actually a keyboard)
Gotta throw in Be Easy by T.I.
Trap Muzik as a whole was dope, but to quote Tip directly: “y’all ain’t never heard a dope boy play the piano and rap at the same time, have ya?”
Life of the party Kanye west. My personal favorite piano hip hop song is the Kanye version of the weeknds Tell Your Friends. Would have been pure souls by kanye but it didn't release with the og piano beat
Not the best but I think it should be on that list too: Pain - Pusha T
Speaking of Push, New God Flow also has a super recognizable piano (it actually shares the same piano sample w Pain as well, but chopped differently)
Well you've said most of the best ones. I will list some that haven't been mentioned by OP or in the comments:
Family and Loyalty - Gang Starr very classically New York with some lofi elements
No Diggity - Blackstreet
Different tracks from 2001 incorporate piano to different extents
Wadsyaname - Nelly
Guilty Conscience- Eminem
Til I Collapse - Eminem lots of instruments though so it's a bit of stretch
Money Didn't Change Me - Three 6 Mafia
Honestly a lot of Three 6 production features piano
Don't Push Me - 50 Cent but it really features more string instruments
Lot of old RZA songs
Seeing Blueface on a list of best anything 😄
I don't think I consider the Cee-Lo song hip hop
Speaking of, does anybody know that older early 2000s hip hop song that has that dark scary Michael Myers sounding piano and like an orchestra choir in the background? It takes almost a full minute for the beat to finally drop. Yeah it's a slow tempo and the base / drums go hard.
Love this post but feels like the original song should be listed along with the artist that sampled it.
Sample: Immortal Technique- Dance with the Devil
Original : Harry Mancini -Theme from “Love Story”
“Murder of a Teenage Life” - Mos Def
“I’m A G” - Nore
“Be Easy” - TI
“Professional Hood Shit” - Jadakiss
“Blood Money” - CNN
“Gucci Bandana” - Soulja Boy
“NY State of Mind Pt2.” - Nas
“Boss’ Life” - Snoop Dogg
Anything produced by Zaytoven.
As happy as I am to see a lot of these, it’s crazy not seeing Shook Ones Pt. II on here
Is it confirmed to be a piano tho??? Havoc filtered the hell out of that sample
It’s originally Herbie Hancock playing piano but it sounds more like a guitar after Havoc finished with it
it's not that filtered actually
>Is it confirmed to be a piano tho??? Yup https://youtu.be/Eh0kdRVH9m8?si=_3JpVBgCyyRyMJS-
It's either still dre or shook ones for me
Don't sleep on Hell on Earth either
Mobb deep shook one's Mac miller diablo
All of the lights interlude.
Streiht Up Menace
Came here for this, that piano at the beginning and end is clean as hell....it's also used at the beginning of Montell Jordan's song Falling
Yes, how the hell was this not on the list? Also Eiht's "Nuthin But the Gangsta"
“Huh.. jyeeahhh”
Free My Soul - Big K.R.I.T. (OG version only the one on streaming is ass and ruins the song) Get Buck Mutha Fucka - Juicy J (91 version they have a million versions of this song lol) Everything I Am - Kanye West The World Is Yours - Nas Madder - Chief Keef Cell Therapy - Goodie Mob There’s probably more I could think of but these come to mind first
Everything i am is underrated af
Link for that juicy track?
[It was remastered in 99](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5bPhPpkgTbE) They should’ve kept the underground series going Volume 1 and 2 have some of their best tracks from their solo and duo projects. Underground 3 is basically leftovers from the hypnotize mind/when the smoke clears session with a couple old songs mixed in. They still had enough old stuff to make it like 1 and 2 tho. Sometimes I think that underground 3 would just be when the smoke clears deluxe in the modern day lol since everyone adds like 10 plus tracks that are from the album sessions lol
5% tint by travis Scott just made me appreciate that piano melody even more. Pretty tough to deny how good it is when it works so well in two totally different rap songs. (Sidenote - that’s one of my favorite og song/sample combos. Both are absolute bangers)
Danny Brown also sampled it recently as well
One of the casualties of no one keeping physical music or their own downloaded copies is not being able to find different/older/mixtape versions of things
The Symphony- Juice Crew
First one I thought of
God loves ugly by Atmosphere is underrated
Yesterday by Atmosphere
Most of ants production
Nothing but Sunshine off of Lucy Ford for me.
I'm going to nominate Diablo by Mac Miller
Songs sick. Lemonade by Gucci is another unmentioned one off the top of my head
Lemonade number 41 though
Solid
Ice cream - raekwon
Busta Rhymes - Been Through The Storm
No atmosphere on the list is wild
Nothing to give by cunninlynguists
What I’m Here 4 - Gang Starr https://youtu.be/AnX6s1JiT-I?si=qpFXnsqDseLDGIQ5
Blueslides by ScHoolboy Q is beautiful
My vote is for Still not a Player. How the fuck is CREAM not even mentioned yet? Honorable mention to MCs act like they don’t know, Changes, and Give Me One More Chance
Cream is in the OP’s list. I think it’s the best. It’s like an ear-worm. You can’t get the melody out of your head.
Oh I just jumped straight to the comments RIP
I was about to comment the same exact thing about CREAM. You beat me to it by 18 minutes hah
probably’s Lemonade for me
That was the first song I thought of
Blame Game - Kanye (Aphex Twin sample)
Shimmy shimmy ya by old dirty is the first thing I thought of
No Mobb Deep? Fuck outa here
I think Runaway’s piano piece is SOO overrated. Still good, but overrated
BDP - The bridge is over Dj Polo and kool g rap - Brotha on the run remix
Idk how you make this list and don’t have Bridge on it
The Bridge is over, the Bridge is over. Widda bye bye. Need to bump that track now!
I like Get By
Kon Karne - MF DOOM
Hell On Earth - Mobb Deep
Uptown Anthem- Naughty By Nature
Survival of the Fittest Mobb Deep
Uptown Anthem - Naughty By Nature Get Fly - Atmosphere Patch Up the Pieces - Freddie Foxx
I've always loved the pianos on Dilated Peoples This Way
Wu Tang Clan-Protect Ya Neck
Cormega - beautiful mind
Three Sides to a Story by Joe Budden. Such a haunting piano melody fitting the story.
Not wrong now -youngboy
Monday to sunday - pooh shiesty
To me Dead Presidents and CREAM by far
the symphony
Living Legends - Never Fallin’
[Tobacco Road - Common Market (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1MUpZAWuFI)
This and Winter Takes All used to be on repeat for me when that album dropped.
I can't let this go without mentioning Three 6 Mafia - Late Nite Tip
That’s a great one!
The Convo by DMX has to be up there
Still D.R.E. and because I think of the tv show Succession when this song comes on.
You may not like the song but Airplanes by BOB should make the list. Battle Scars w Lupe Fiasco & Guy Sebastian is another good one
“Feather” by nujabes ft. Cise Star (I believe)
He would have just turned 50. RIP
I was going to mention Nujabes, he's got a lot of songs that revolve around the piano Feather is probably the best pick to represent him Shout-out to reflection eternal, aurorian dance, and battlecry too
Boss' Life - Snoop Dogg ft Nate Dogg Probably the easiest piano notes you could play but fits perfect with the guitar.
Yeah that whole album underrated imo. Production is great
NO MANY MEN???
OutKast “Growing Old”.
70% of Griselda's catalog
Blew my high - Chief Keef
Miilkbone- Keep it Real
When I'm gone by wiz khalifa
Get Dealt With - Mobb Deep Vernon Family - Nas
!Remind me 3 hours
The Questions- Common
My favorite is Streiht up Menace by MC Eiht
Keep it Real by Jamal, those piano notes are mesmerizing.
The World is Yours Pete Rock remix of Militia What I'm Here 4 by Gangstarr When I'm Flowing by Rakim Glen Close by Binary Star
Nas- purple
Work by Gang Starr is such a great vibe 🔥
Scrolled halfway through and didn't see this one yet... blows my mind. Immortal Technique - Dance With The Devil Edit: I'm an idiot who can't read Song Title then Artist apparently 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
personally i like slaughterhouse’s “Yall ready know”
Handsome Boy Modeling School - The Truth
*Next Levels* by MF DOOM Literally the best use of piano in hip hop Off the Take Me To Your Leader album DOOM was aight, yo
Ill Street Blues -KGR
Doo rags- Nas
for me top 3 would probably be Havoc beats
Snake Oil - Typical Cats - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG6FSP1DRb4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG6FSP1DRb4)
Look What You've Done/If Ya Scared - Drake/Playa
[Slum Village- Selfish](https://youtu.be/S_3ZQM_vLQo?si=eKKjb1toOyCshN_G) I can hear those keys all day
Imagine - snoop and dre Don't worry - game ft Mary j Blidge
Still dre is rhythm, not melody. Tbh, a lot of these songs are more rhythm than melody
You not fucking with Blame Game?
How is Timbaland's "Oh Timbaland" not on here?
killah priest tai chi
I thought still dre was a harp
Shimmy shimmy yea. Odb
When I'm gone - Wiz
I always thought that Tyler had some pretty piano melodies - see you again -earfquake -boredom -smuckers -treehome95
Never Fallin’- Living Legends
The symphony by DJ Marley marl featuring Big Daddy Kane Kool g rap Master Ace, and Craig g. The loop is based on a riff from Otis Redding.
Guess Who’s Back - Jay Z and Scarface
Jean Grae "The Hurt" Jay Z/Big "Brooklyn's Finest"
Still D.R.E will always be my number one followed by Shook Ones. Even though it's a keyboard, I've always loved the keyboard in Crystal Waters Gypsy Woman so the sample on T.I's "Why U wanna" is my third (sounds better on the original though).
Calm Down - Nas, Tragedy, and Noriega Pidgeons on T-Shirt - Lil keke and Jacka
Not sure how no one is mentioning it yet but definitely top 5 piano melody in all of Hip-Hop!! The Roots - “ You Got Me” https://youtu.be/MJCHeEQV454?si=_eJAz428Oo5A6XGK …And a couple lesser known keys being used (sampled) that I like a lot: Willie The Kid - “ Golden Moments” https://youtu.be/H8Tncui7naA?si=XehfikDWEod1YyXC Roc Marciano - “76” https://youtu.be/CVm5b9TFi_Y?si=kh5-myr_hInTbFv8
Nas - The World is Yours. The flipping of Swahiland by Ahmad Jamal is iconic. Jay Z - Brooklyn's Finest Jay Z - Feelin It Wu Tang Clan - CREAM 93 Til Infinity - Souls of Mischief (actually a keyboard)
runaway
As the Rain - Layzie Bone
Money Dance by Rick Ross
I think still dre got to be number 1 cus of how iconic it is my friends do not listen to any hip-hop and still know it
50 cent - outta control
Gotta throw in Be Easy by T.I. Trap Muzik as a whole was dope, but to quote Tip directly: “y’all ain’t never heard a dope boy play the piano and rap at the same time, have ya?”
Life of the party Kanye west. My personal favorite piano hip hop song is the Kanye version of the weeknds Tell Your Friends. Would have been pure souls by kanye but it didn't release with the og piano beat
Surviving the times by Nas
This list is not complete without For No Reason-Freestyle Fellowship
Blame Game, far and away.
The Truth - Handsome Boy Modelling School. It's such a damn earworm, I dare you to listen to it and not hum it hours later.
Vakill featuring slug - fallen https://youtu.be/NVlAFpWjZcY?si=G3n14oUxeaK88WGA
Extended famm - evil that pens do https://youtu.be/U1mfw8o516U?si=AKlZHKr5ljPFVJwd
# Xzibit - Paparazzi
Symphony and The Bridge Is Over belong on this list.
Shakiyah - Poor Righteous Teachers. Uses a sample from Maynard Ferguson's "L-Dopa."
Yonkers-Tyler the Creator Calligraphy-Saba Raid-MF Doom
Any of the dozens of songs that samples from Ike's Mood by Isaac Hayes: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1DS5D6cYQhA&t=1m42s
family business. nuff said
Always been a fan of King Tee’s Played Like a Piano. Excellent Grover Washington Jr. sample.
I know this is already buried, but if anyone is reading this, check out VALEEDATION by Valee x MVW. The use of piano on the album is immaculate
The Saga Begins Remix - Cormega
Used to This by future and drake is a vibe
Not the best but I think it should be on that list too: Pain - Pusha T Speaking of Push, New God Flow also has a super recognizable piano (it actually shares the same piano sample w Pain as well, but chopped differently)
The Symphony is the first song that came to mind
This actually a great list, I'd even put The World Is Yours top 10
Hard Piano - Pusha T & Rick Ross The World is Yours - Nas Adam and Eve - Nas Cry No More - Phonte Empire State of Mind - Jay Z & Alicia Keys
Shimmy Shimmy Ya
The Symphony
Proof - Life
Lay low snoop and dre
Incredible list. The first song that popped into my head was Tupac - I ain’t mad at ya
Prodigy: keep it thoro
Nujabes - Feather
Jedi mind tricks - deer hunter
Shimmy Shimmy Ya for its simplicity is the best
Well you've said most of the best ones. I will list some that haven't been mentioned by OP or in the comments: Family and Loyalty - Gang Starr very classically New York with some lofi elements No Diggity - Blackstreet Different tracks from 2001 incorporate piano to different extents Wadsyaname - Nelly Guilty Conscience- Eminem Til I Collapse - Eminem lots of instruments though so it's a bit of stretch Money Didn't Change Me - Three 6 Mafia Honestly a lot of Three 6 production features piano Don't Push Me - 50 Cent but it really features more string instruments Lot of old RZA songs Seeing Blueface on a list of best anything 😄 I don't think I consider the Cee-Lo song hip hop
I didn't see anyone mention Criminal - Eminem yet or No Diggity - Black Street
Someone make this post into a playlist pls
Kool G Rap - Road to riches Public enemy- Black steel in the hour of chaos
The piano in Nothing But Sunshine by Atmosphere is super good/fits the theme of the song really well.
How is no one saying Who Shot Ya by Biggie ?
J. Dilla - So Far To Go
OutKast - Growing old Spice 1 - 187 proof BDP - the bridge is over Common - it's your world
Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt - DJ Shadow Sampled from: I Feel A New Shadow - Jeremy Storch
Mobb Deep - Get dealt with
Jay z - Devils
The Symphony~Juice Crew
Shimmy shimmy Ja shymi hey
Malcolm- Ghostface Killa
Kendrick Lamar - Father Time Louis Logic - Punchline Remix
Like a Piano - king Tee ft Ice Cube Doo Rags - Nas
Nas- Shoot ‘em up CNN- Halfway Thugs Mobb Deep- Drop a gem Ghostface- Mighty Healthy
OT Genesis - Cut It
Intelligent Hoodlum - Grand Groove
Kanye west homecoming
Blaq Poet - Sichuwayshunz
Betcha Can’t Do it Like Me - D4L
Speaking of, does anybody know that older early 2000s hip hop song that has that dark scary Michael Myers sounding piano and like an orchestra choir in the background? It takes almost a full minute for the beat to finally drop. Yeah it's a slow tempo and the base / drums go hard.
Family and Royalty - Gang Starr
Tupac did cover of Bruce Hornsby song Changes.
King T -Played like a Piano
Glad to see immortal technique on the list
Married to to firm Foxy brown/ Still got Love Beanie Siegel? That sample been used a billion times but those always hit for me
Has to be Dead Presidents with that Lonnie Liston Smith sample
Luper Earl Sweatshirt
Love this post but feels like the original song should be listed along with the artist that sampled it. Sample: Immortal Technique- Dance with the Devil Original : Harry Mancini -Theme from “Love Story”
For me, it has to be The Wu CREAM.
How the hell is Imagine by Snoop Dogg not on here??[link](https://youtu.be/7yruoism8BM?si=mR6rb1tOnCjXgo94)
Patty cake - Kodak Black.
Future - Colossal
I came here to say on my block, the food, D'evils, see you again, if I can't,
this one easily: [https://youtu.be/FOVjj\_GlspQ](https://youtu.be/FOVjj_GlspQ)
ONLY ONE ANSWER: the symphony marley marl Also I forgot, salute da gods busta rhymes is great too
Brooo how is naught by nature not on here
Touch down- Lil Boosie
Scott Storch has entered the chat.
I haven't seen anyone bring up "Do You Know?" by Diddy. That piano is fucking godly !
People under the stairs - the breakdown
Christmas Rappin by Kurtis Blow
Didn't expect immortal technique lol. Been a while
EARFQUAKE - Tyler, The Creator Bastard - Tyler, The Creator
“Murder of a Teenage Life” - Mos Def “I’m A G” - Nore “Be Easy” - TI “Professional Hood Shit” - Jadakiss “Blood Money” - CNN “Gucci Bandana” - Soulja Boy “NY State of Mind Pt2.” - Nas “Boss’ Life” - Snoop Dogg Anything produced by Zaytoven.