Hip-hop music can be used to convey a range of emotions. Before ‘The Message’ by Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five, rap was primarily still an extension of funk and was centred around partying and having a good time. Birthed at a block party, the music and culture we now know as hip-hop was free of political messages, negativity and materialism. It was fun, and a lot of it still is.
The term “party record” within hip-hop is used loosely and can mean many things. However, there are specific criteria that a track has to meet to be considered a party record. Concerning rap music, a party track is usually uptempo with a bpm upwards of 100 beats per minute. Faster tracks typically feel more energetic, which is one of many assets a “party record” has. Furthermore, if there is heavy use of synthesizers and electronic instruments, in that case, the track will likely be classed as a “party record.”
Kanye West’s 2007 project, Graduation, is a perfect example, as almost every track on the album is a party record. With some of the uptempo electronic beats even using ‘four-on-the-floor’ drum patterns, they are superb examples of how to structure club anthems.
One final yet integral element of a “party record” is the lyrical content. Club records are uplifting, positive and encouraging. ‘Stronger’, ‘Good Life’, and ‘Say Yeah’. The aforementioned tracks are simple and contain positive terminology. There are many extraordinary “party records”. However, we have compiled a list of the 25 best hip-hop club anthems. You can take a look at our picks below.
The 25 best hip-hop party records ever:
- Salt-N-Pepa – ‘Push It’
- Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock – ‘It Takes Two’
- House Of Pain – ‘Jump Around’
- Run-DMC – ‘It’s Tricky’
- Melle Mel – ‘White Lines (Don’t Do It)’
- Eminem – ‘Just Lose It’
- Flo Rida – ‘Low’ ft T-Pain
- Usher – ‘Yeah’ ft Lil Jon & Ludacris
- The Black Eyed Peas – ‘Boom Boom Pow’
- Kanye West – ‘Stronger’
- Azealia Banks – ‘1991’
- Timbaland – ‘Morning After Dark’ ft SoShy & Nelly Furtado
- Fat Man Scoop – ‘Be Faithful’ ft Faith Evans
- 50 Cent – ‘Ayo Technology’ ft Justin Timberlake
- Kanye West – ‘Good Life’ ft T-Pain
- The Black Eyed Peas – ‘Pump It’
- Far East Movement – ‘Like A G6’ ft DEV & The Cataracs
- Snoop Dogg – ‘Sensual Seduction’
- Timbaland – ‘Carry Out’ ft Justin Timberlake
- Timbaland ‘The Way I Are’ ft Keri Hilson, D.O.E., & Sebastian
- Wiz Khalifa – ‘Say Yeah’
- Nicki Minaj – ‘Super Bass’
- Azealia Banks – ‘212’
- Tinie Tempah – ‘Girls Like’ ft Zara Larsson
- Akon – ‘I’m So Paid’ ft Lil Wayne & Young Jeezy