Top 10 Rap Songs That Revolutionized Pop Culture

There are so many rap songs in pop culture that are praised for their beats. How many songs have hyped you up, had you waiting for the beat drop, and just livened the room? 

In the last decade, rap music has revolutionized its production, borrowing from many genres including trap, grime, drill, and more. 

Here are 10 rap songs (in no order) that we think embodied this all!

1. “March Madness”- Future

There is no denying that this song blew the charts back in the summer of 2015. The song quickly became a popular hit, played by famous athletes, parties, clubs, and even college basketball games as noted in a Billboard article by Patrick Lyons in the billboard.

 Even more, “March Madness” is also not just another empty pop song.

 If you listen to the lyrics, you will see the deeper meaning there is to the song, with lines referring to the unfortunate recent police shootings at the time. 

What’s so amazing about the success of this song is the fact that it was not even promoted, or even sold as it was part of a mixtape. This was the beginning of the streaming and digital era where artists just released their music and let social media do their marketing which actually made “March Madness” even bigger! It was a shift in pop culture that is truly timeless. 

 March madness- Future

Producer- Tarentino 

2. “212”- Azealia Banks

Azealia Banks’ song “212” was a refreshing addition to the rap game with her flawless rapping over an upbeat house beat instrumental. This song is so catchy and unique, it was constantly played on the radio at the time. 

Although she may be controversial, there is no denying her talent. Many people stand by the belief that the song remains instrumental to pop culture and was even added to Billboards “Top 100 influential rap songs of the last decade!”. 

What makes “212” is the unforgettable hook “this sh*t been mine, mine”, fused together with the futuristic beat made by producers Luncine and Jacques Greene.

 An article in the billboard emphasizes how the song was truly one of a kind with its seamless mix of the genre’s hip hop and electro house.

 Not to mention, the outrageously simple, yet creative black and white music video that went viral along with the song. Watch the music video below to understand what we’re talking about!

Producer- Lazy Jay

3. “Trap Queen”- Fetty Wap

How would a song like this not get big? Fetty Wap’s lovely melodic vocals, blasting trap beat, and lyrics confessing his love for his “trap queen”, what more can you ask for?! It is no surprise that this song was THE song of the summer. Fetty Wap made hit after hit in 2015-15, but when the world needed him most… vanished!

If you think about it, this song defied many of the rules rap artists follow to become popular. No wonder it was so big and resonated with so many listeners around the world.  It can be argued that the song romanticizes this difficult lifestyle but when you listen carefully it is clear it is pretty self-aware as discussed in vox.  Listen to the song in the link below for a major throwback!

Producer: Tony Fadd

4. “Alright”- Kendrick Lamar

On the complete opposite side of rap, comes the ANTHEM of a song called “Alright” by Kendrick Lamar. This song reflects  Black American trauma, resilience, as well as strength with the reassuring chant of the words “We gon’ be alright” over and over again. If you want to learn more in-depth about what this song means to Black Americans, check out this article by National Public Radio.

Personally, anytime I listen to this song I am put into a great mood with the optimistic lyrics and beat. The song is produced by Pharrell and if you listen closely, in the beginning, you can hear Pharrell's signature 4 beat start! In addition, Kendrick’s flow is just out of this world, spitting out verse after verse of meaningful lyrics and rhymes. 

This is definitely a song that will stand the test of time and become one of those essential classics that will be passed down generations!

Producer: Pharell, Sounwave

5. “Sicko Mode”- Drake and Travis Scott

Now, let us move a little bit closer to the present with Drake and Travis Scott’s recent 2018 hit, “Sicko Mode”. There is almost no way you haven’t heard of the song with the way it was replayed on the radio and viral on social media. There is no doubt that “Sicko Mode” was anything but the hit song of the summer.

What’s amazing about the song is how it actually has 4 beats that were made with a team of producers including Hit-Boy, Tay Keith, Cue Beats, and more (Flypaper). Looking at an article by Flypaper, I was truly shocked at how intricate the production that this amazing instrumental involved. From sampling a dubstep track, an ominous vibe made with minimal piano, a warped synth bass line, it was truly overwhelming to read! 

Rap production has revolutionized creativity behind rap beats, and sometimes outshines rapping/lyric performance! If you want to learn more about beat production, check out Jony Studios. 

6. “Bodack Yellow”- Cardi B

Cardi B’s song “Bodack Yellow” was a hit that constantly played on the radio and was the debut that made her career. “Bodack Yellow” was so popular, it literally made history as the longest a solo women had a rap song running in the charts since Lauryn Hill’s song “Doo Woop” 22 years ago (soundonsound)! 

What’s unique about the song is how minimal the production involved was.  

It was simple, a memorizing flow borrowed from Kodak black’s “No Flockin”, combined with Cardi’s B’s vocal charisma and strong beat produced by Fight club Studios. Personally, what makes the song for me is the amplifying bass of the beat which further emphasizes the power in her lyrics. 

Producer(s); J. White Did it, Laquan Green

7. “Mercy”- Kanye West ft. Big Sean, Pusha T, 2 Chainz

This song no doubt changed paradigms in not only hip hop but in pop culture in general. In “Mercy”,  4 strong rappers sort of competing with each other verse after verse, each able to hold it out on their own. 

Just recently a debate started among hip-hop artists on who they think had the best verse, 8 years after the song was released after 2chainz brought it back up. Obviously, every artist gave their all and each gave us all strong (and funny) lines like 2 Chainz line “coupe the colour of mayonnaise” (complex).  

Take a listen to the song and comment who you think had the best verse?

Producers: Mike Dean, Mike Will Made it, Kanye West, Hudson Mohawke 

8. “If you know you know”- Pusha T

It may be too soon to say, but “If you know you know” by Daytona might go down as a classic with the way it tastefully went back to the roots of hip hop. Not only is the song a bass-heavy banger, but the lyrics of the song paints a story that goes in-depth on the complex experiences that come with being in the drug-dealing world (Flypaper). 

The track borrows many of the factors that everyone loved from Kanye West’s classic “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy”. The lyrics of the song are strong, the bass amplifies perfectly in speakers combined with a beat that shows nothing but passion(flypaper). 

Producer: Kanye West 

9. “Day and Night”- Kid Cudi

Back when MTV music was THE most important platform for music, I remember first hearing this song on the top 10 list and falling in love with it. The song truly planted the seeds for a shift in popular hip hop artists at the time and is still influential to this day.

Not to mention the music video that perfectly fit with the vibe of the song with the neat animation transitions that helped bring Kid Kudi’s vision into reality. 

The beat of the song had a certain magic to it that is so recognizable and unique. 

 Kid Cudi poured his emotions on the song and it eventually became a voice for youth making their way through the world and going through the same thing.

Producer: Dot da genius 

10. “ Heartless”- Kanye West

It is clear Kanye West’s whole 808 album was extremely influential to hip hop artists to this day. It was a blueprint to many popular artists to this day such as Drake, Kid Cudi, Travis Scott, Future, and more. “Heartless” remains a nostalgic banger for many hip hop listeners and was an outlet for the emotional vulnerability which was new to rap at the time (Pitchfork). 

The song included an innovative auto-tune on his vocals which was really just an extension of the song’s beautiful 808s beat. ”Heartless” included many instruments that were unfamiliar in rap songs such as pianos, gospel, ad-libs with production that made it all sound unworldly. Read more about how this album substantially changed hip hop on PitchFork. 

Producer- Kanye West, No I.D

Conclusion

It is amazing to take the time and look back at the hip hop industry and see how many innovative and unique songs revolutionized pop culture around the world! The genre is truly more diverse than it is made out to be and is just going to keep on growing. 

What were your favourite songs listed, and is there any song mentioned that you don’t agree with? Comment below!

By Itman Hassan

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If you need further help creating your own music, we offer audio production services that will help you elevate your sound and bring your song to life!

We look forward to being a part of your success.

Contact us here to get started.

Should You Sign With A Record Label?

Amidst this new era of the music industry, more and more artists are refusing to conform to the confines of the traditional music industry. Especially considering the overload of information about music contracts and labelling deals, artists are now able to make more educated decisions. This includes undergoing a variety of novel paths such as testing new release strategies, marketing or even marketing through social media!

 1. Less creative freedom (silence)

Many artists are beginning to realize that their artistic freedom is being challenged more and more while under a music label. Unfortunately in the digital age of social media, artists are facing an increasingly heightened level of restrictions on their artistic freedom which is only more threatened under a label.

When an artist's message stirs off more political concepts especially from women and minority artists, that’s when the lines of artistic freedom become further challenged. Read a very informative article by CIVICUS to learn more about “the state of artistic expression”. 

For example: in MIA’s song, “Borders” has really defied many boundaries by expressing the harsh reality of the refugee crisis in the European Union. With MIA being a refugee herself, she used her voice in a powerful way by speaking up for the rights of humanity.

 Unfortunately, none of that matters when she was taken for a four-year court battle to take down her video with the NFT. This is all because of her wearing a parody of the “Fly Emirates” shirt by replacing it with “Fly pirates” as a strong statement. Check out an article where VICE interviews MIA about this topic for more information. 

Have a listen of MIA’s song “Borders” below and tell us what you think! 

2. The power of self-promotion through youtube, Soundcloud

The music industry no longer has a monopoly on music promotion nowadays. What is great about social media is how anyone has the opportunity to take advantage of the countless abilities to connect with an audience base to build their own brand. Embarking in a music career does not have to be as linear as signing a music label and waiting to get promoted. There are so many chances, marketing techniques and ways to engage your target audience with the power of the internet alone. 

For example, Youtube is now the largest search engine on the internet and now actually one of the most popular platforms to stream music. For example consider Joji, a viral Youtube Star who made his way to become a respected HIT R&B star. I honestly just found out he was a youtube star just recently, and am once again surprised at the power of the internet! 

Check out this interesting article by Time Magazine that goes over Joji's music career from a Youtuber to a famous R&B artist!

3. Lack of personal attention

Although, of course, there are some pros for signing with a record deal, however, the matter of the fact is, many artists are left fighting for attention from their label. This is mostly because of the fact that how large and influential music industries are (which is definitely a plus). However, this means that many agents come and go because of high staff turnover. In other words, the person you may have connected with your music, may not be working with you the next day.  

Despite how huge and influential music industries are, this also means you are likely to be fighting for attention. This is even more amplified if your music doesn’t sell charts right away. In this case, it may be difficult to get a label representative to return phone calls or not getting enough promotion. As a result, your music may not be as prioritized any longer, even if your music does have potential.

4. No guaranteed that labels equal success (not like before in the 90s)

Back in the 90s, signing to a label meant that you were destined for great success. Now, the music industry is changing rapidly as the labels find new ways to generate revenue. Due to the fact that music is now sold through streaming services instead. As a result, this changed the music industry's role to artists drastically which basically means that music labels can no longer guarantee success.

 On the other hand, many artists are starting to go solo to take advantage of the increased freedom that music streaming provides. Take Chance the Rapper as a perfect example of someone who achieved great success through using mixtape sites, touring and constant creation all without ever selling a record!

Read this Rolling Stones article for more information Indie artists going Independent! 

5. Artists needing to owe record labels an advance

So now I bet you are wondering what happens if you are signed to the music industry and your work isn’t doing too well. Well if you signed a music label, it is likely you have gotten paid an advance which is basically an investment to support the production of your music. If you are new to the industry, it is way too easy to think that getting an advance is your lottery ticket. 

Unfortunately, it is not that simple as the truth is that a record advance is really more of like a credit which you must pay off with your art. Therefore, if you DO sign for a record label it is important not to ask for too much which may limit their ability to market you and your ability to pay them off. This is why it is crucial to NEGOTIATE in order to find out what works best for you and not end up forever in debt.  

Check out the “Music Industry” for more advice if you do want to sign to a record label. 

6. Complicated contracts (not being able to keep rights, being able to keep royalties) 

Many of these music label contracts contain so much legal jargon that only highly specialized lawyers can truly understand. Too many artists fall into this trap and end up losing their royalties and the rights to their music. Imagine going on so many tours, concerts and promo only for the record labels to be making millions while you’re left with spare cash. Unfortunately, this is the reality for so many artists throughout history including a variety of different famous artists. 

Sadly, history has shown that a lot of the time, Black artists are left facing the short end of the stick. It is without a doubt Black Americans influenced countless music genres ranging from rock and roll, blues, and jazz. Yet, many of these artists such as Little Richard were victims of poor contracts that left them forced to waive the rights to a variety of his classic songs at the start of his career. Fortunately, in his case, he regained his rights in the 1980s after a lawsuit settlement which further stresses the importance of fighting for your rights.

7. Streaming dominating the industry and creating complications

I am sure you heard of countless stories where an artist speaks out about streaming royalties. The case is always due to artists being signed to a label which makes it difficult for artists to gain their fair share of money in return for their views. 

This is made even more complicated when artists are signed under 5 album deals under a music industry that was still at a low point and is forced to continue making music with little return. 

To make it more clear, famous artists like Lil Uzi Vert, who made 8 million from one song, will only make around 2 million simply because of label complication.

Conclusion

In conclusion, music labels are becoming more and more complicated. As the internet evolves, there are more and more options for music artists to gain exposure through social media. Either way, it is crucial that artists make informed decisions before signing a label and begin research before signing off to a record label. 

Do you think record labels are still a viable option for artists in this day and age? Let us know in the comments!

By Itman Hassan

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If you need further help creating your own music, we offer audio production services that will help you elevate your sound and bring your song to life!

We look forward to being a part of your success.

Contact us here to get started.

Max Martin: How to Become The World's Top Music Producer

If you listened to pop music in the late 90s and 2000s then you’ve heard and loved a song by Max Martin.

It’s just an undeniable fact that Martin has influenced or directly been a part of a huge number of chart-topping hits from the Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, Pink, and more. All that tallies up to over 50 top 10 hits since 1999 or 135 million single sales. 

But Max Martin isn’t the big-name celebrity you’d expect.

His personal band tracks only 1000 views on youtube (not that he's spending much time there these days) and he isn’t the sort of person that craves the spotlight.

Does any of this sound familiar? That’s because Max Martin is the second in a line of hugely successful producers that mentor each-other and welcome new talent instead of stymieing it. Denniz Pop (another unknown but amazing producer) mentored Max Martin just like Max Martin mentored Benny Blanco. 

If there’s one thing in common with all of these incredible producers, it’s that they are extraordinarily humble, especially in an industry known for its braggadocious bestsellers.

Making sure people like you is a surefire way to increase your chances of getting in the studio with talent, then it’s just a question of showing them what you can do. 

Background

To learn about Max Martin you have to go back in time to 1998. At 27 years old, Martin was already a part of the music industry, but tragically, that year his friend and aforementioned mentor Denniz Pop died. That same year however Martin made a breakthrough with his first top 100 charting single “...Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears.

Then largely unknown, Britney Spears would continue to work with Martin and find even more success but it was actually with the Backstreet Boys, that Martin developed a special artistic relationship.

Since Martin started off as a singer, the vocal-heavy music from the Backstreet boys was right up his alley, and together they went far. Something consistent across many musical partnerships with Martin is that the more he knows the individual personally, the better their vocals will be.

Whether that is from a better idea of what works for the singer, a better working environment or a bit of both is unclear but one thing is for certain, when you make a song with Max Martin, you can be sure the vocals are the most important element. 

That’s not to say that a good singer needs to show off on the recording. Martin himself has stated that the greatest thing is when an amazing singer sings something very simple.

The producer's job is to convince them that doing something simple is enough and that they feel secure enough to just concentrate on telling the story. Through Martin’s music, this effect can be heard, but also seen, literally.

An analysis of some of his most popular songs revealed that there was an average of 4th-grade reading level in the lyrics. Easy to read, and easy to understand makes it all that more accessible to a wide audience, no surprise his songs are loved the world over. 

Keep it Simple

This simple philosophy traces back to the influences of Martin’s upbringing.

As a child he would listen to some of his parents’ favourite records, CCR, Elton John and The Beatles but not being able to speak English, instead, the melody became the most important aspect. 

This emphasis on simplicity has been with Martin ever since his first charting single in 1998 to today and it has been integral to his success as a musician. In pop music, this idea is even more important. Instead of a full song, sometimes you only have 30 seconds to get your point across. Therefore, those first few seconds are most important, think of it as a song ID.

If people don’t know what they're in for after those first few seconds, they are likely to tune out instead of stay on the dance floor and enjoy it. Again, these clear and short intros are ever-present through Martin’s chart-topping hits. In addition, to a quick intro, the chorus of the song (arguably the most catchy and memorable part) is also introduced extremely fast, with an average of only 31 seconds. 

Starting your song

But how does a song start? And this time I’m not referring to the introduction. I’m talking about that spark of inspiration that grows to be a masterpiece. According to Max Martin at the beginning of his career, it started out as an individual pursuit. 

Starting with the melody, the most important thing is catchiness. If you find it getting stuck in your own head, or humming along as you fall asleep then you know you have something that will resonate with others. Some melodies come while doing completely different activities like lying in bed or working out. Max Martin’s advice is that you need to record it while you can even if it means disturbing a great sleep. “You think that you’re gonna wake up the next day and remember it but you never do”, he reminisces.

Once you have that bit of gold, it’s important to not overthink it. A song can be overwritten, and only so much information you can fit in it without it getting confusing(more than 3-4 different parts). Use the one riff as much as you can, slight changes but always keeping it consistent. 

This philosophy is an example of what those in the industry call “Prince Theory”. Prince is one of Max Martin’s, self-reported, biggest influences and his ability to churn out catchy songs (a good chunk haven’t even been released! ) is almost unparalleled in the industry and it has clearly inspired Martin greatly. 

A good example of “Prince Theory” is the song Let’s go crazy, tracking at just under 4 minutes, it’s actually on the long end of a pop song, but it hides a genius secret that makes it just as catchy as a shorter one. If you listen closely you’ll notice that the verse melody is the same as the chorus melody, with only a variation in the pre-chorus, even the hook is the same as the verse! Find a good melody and make it sing as long as you can! This songwriting technique is seen again on another Max Martin track by Robyn, “Do You Know (What It Takes)”. 

There’s no one solution

Finding that melody, however, can still be a challenge. And although there are strategies and formulas that can help writer’s block or the process of arranging a song, Max Martin reminds us through his amazing interview for the Polar Music Prize that there is never going to be one best process. 

To get to the bottom of what makes pop songs work however you can always treat like a mechanic does a car engine. To find out how it works you have to open it up and take things apart to its basic element. Although it's not all math, and not all a formula, “what we have is a toolbox of problem-solving formulas,” says Martin. It has to come from inspiration in the beginning and sometimes writing isn’t a clear path, if you get stuck, then maybe it’s time to call on those theories for direction but at the end of the day, they are guidelines, not solutions.

Max Martin himself has struggled with this through his career. After an incredible debut and a couple of years defining the pop music genre all on his own, in 2001-2002 he closed his studio and stopped making so many hits, in part because he had a daughter, but also because he seemed to have lost the key.

His songs weren’t charting the way they used to and for a brief while, Martin was convinced that everyone else’s taste was wrong and he was right. In retrospect, this seems out of touch, no one person can define what is a good song and what’s not, and he learned over those years that he could be wrong as well. The world had moved on and music had changed.

New players on the pop music scene had started making their mark so Max Martin went back to the basics. He started listening to some new music, examining its basic components and moved to New York. It’s clear that this time was spent well when he came back to the charts in 2004 with “Since you’ve been gone” Kelly Clarkson and a  whole new Indie rock influence.

Try something new

This adjustment proved that sometimes, in order to change you need to impose new limitations on your self. During this time, Max Martin moved to New York and tried to learn guitar while stuck in a hotel room. Having just a drumming background, Martin is not the multiinstrumentalist virtuoso you might expect, so without having a strong background he didn’t know what each chord was and had to go entirely by ear. Similar to how vocal melodies were especially important due to not understanding the language (at first) this forced Martin to write guitar melodies that were simple yet still beautiful, nothing could be hidden. 

From then on the guitar was very present in his music and it worked to revitalize his career in a huge way. Giving yourself fewer options to write, whether that be an unfamiliar instrument or random word generator can force you to write better melodies instead of making this too complicated. In the words of Max Martin himself, “Less is More”, write something simple that is still interesting and unique. 

These days Max Martin is still going strong, still taking risks, making things that sound totally different and new. He has stated that a big source of motivation is to keep innovating and working with new talent. Surrounding yourself with people who motivate and challenge you, force you to evolve, because after all, stagnation is the worst thing an artist can do. 

Conclusion

“I think every creative person has an ego but you really have no choice but to let other people’s talent touch you and inspire you, because if you don’t then what’s the point.” -Max Martin

Collaboration, innovation and working with simplicity is the name of the game for Max Martin’s biggest hits. Once you’ve identified these pillars of success you’ll find them everywhere in his songs, and most modern pop music. 

So much more can be said about Martin but to really get inspired you just have to get familiar with his music. Even someone who does not typically listen to pop has so much to learn from this incredibly talented musician and producer. 

- By Erik Steiner

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