Food's been rapped about since some of hip-hop's earliest days. Like Fat Boys' "All You Can Eat" in 1985. Or Tribe's "Ham 'N' Eggs" in 1990. And Ice-T's "Fried Chicken" in 1991. And over the past few years, the trend has even outgrown the actual music: Questlove opened a fried chicken joint in New York City. Action Bronson slung lamb burgers at a block party in Bushwick. 2 Chainz released a cookbook. And Kelis rolled up to SXSW in a food truck and made her very own jerk ribs recipe — not to mention that she just released an album titled, simply, Food.
Good food and good hip-hop share common traits: They're both ballsy, unapologetic mixes of ingredients, flavor, and style. They're both aware of where they came from; they give a damn about their roots. And at their best, they create something new, something evocative. They do something to us — right in our guts.
And so we went back 25 years and picked the best food-related* song from each year. Feel free to raise a glass, or start a beef.
* Note: Yes, we are aware that most of these songs are not actually about food. But we're not ones to knock a well-crafted metaphor. And, of course, this list is far from comprehensive—we couldn't fit every song, and we couldn't bring ourselves to include the likes of "Laffy Taffy."
Nineteen uses of the word "egg." "Egg man." "Egg-gun." "Egg mustache." But our favorite, rapped with both urgency and swag: "Humpty Dumpty was a big fat egg."
Perhaps the most fun lesson on cholesterol in history.
The best hungover-and-waiting-in-line-for-food anthem: "Forget about the order I made/I'll go get a slice of pizza instead."
Honorable Mention: "Milky Cereal," LL Cool J
Throwback Common—which also reminds us of that chocolate-peanut-butter-powdered-sugar-covered-Chex-Mix-crack snack "Puppy Chow" that our friend's mom used to make in middle school. Damn...
One of the most underused food-slangs for money. See also: Swiss, cake, and clams.
Honorable Mention: "Gin N Juice," Snoop Doggy Dogg (in which, we've long held, Snoop is singing about CranApple. Definitely CranApple.)
"Lunches, brunches, interview by the pool..." Maybe the best hip-hop track of all time.
Honorable Mention: "Black Coffee," Heavy D
The world's least kid-friendly ice cream song.
Honorable Mention: "The Burger Song," Skee-Lo
We've chosen to ignore that this is clearly not about warm, chocolatey, ice cream sauce.
Honorable Mention: "Food Fight," Digital Underground
Best question he'd already answered three years before.
Best veggie-based slang for weed.
Best nickname for a man who just opened a box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
Because it provides a worthy alternative to a life of "no meat, no dairy, no sweets": "only ganja and fresh-squeezed juice from oranges."
Also a worthy alternative to a life of "no meat, no dairy, no sweets."
We never thought we'd say these next three words, but: Nelly deserves props—for turning this lyrical beverage into an actual energy drink.
The world's least kid-appropriate ice cream shop music video. And a missed opportunity, in light of Nelly's successful venture.
Honorable Mention: "Chinese Food," Biz Markie
So that's what makes Jadakiss laugh like that. Hot sauce.
Fun little-known fact: Kanye made his first TV appearance performing this song with Common on Chappelle's Show in 2004. These Chi-Town guys should break bread more often.
That southern, soulful, clap-stomp beat—as pure and good as bread and butter. Like, all of Game Theory, really.
Honorable Mentions: "Eat Street," People Under the Stairs ; the entirety of J Dilla's Donuts
Because we don't think anyone could ever cover Suzanne Vega better than DNA. And while Pac didn't either, we applaud his attempt.
Honorable Mention: "Lollipop," Lil Wayne
Because the first verse doubles as an actual recipe: "After you shower, you and your gold medal flour/Then you rub your hot oil for about a half an hour/ You in your hot tub, I'm looking at you salivatin'/Dry you off, I got your paper towel waitin'/Lay you down cause you're red hot Louisiana style." (We should note that that is not necessarily a recipe for food.)
Most underused fast-food menu item metaphor for aspirational wealth.
Best meal of the day.
In one short year, not only did Action release a cornucopia of food-related songs (see: "Tapas," "Roasted Bone Marrow," "Dabble in Truffles," "Aged Manchego," "Chili Chicken Hakka Style," "Amuse Pusche"), he also dropped them all on an album called Bon Appetit…..Bitch!!!!! We felt like his enthusiasm merited an honor.
Honorable Mention: "H.A.M.," Kanye West & Jay Z
We know we just mentioned a song called "Breakfast." We're fine with it.
Honorable Mentions: "Diced Pineapples," Rick Ross, featuing Wale & Drake; "Liquorice," Azealia Banks
Sometimes, something just tastes too damn good to deny.
Honorable Mention: "The Future of Food," Deltron 3030, featuring David Chang — yes, David fking Chang
Second-best veggie-based slang for weed. Had Kendrick figured out a way to translate it into Spanish (as he does in his verse with huevos), it would've had a better a chance at the top spot. But we're sticking with broccoli.
LISTEN TO THE WHOLE PLAYLIST ON SPOTIFY:
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