This feature was originally published on July 1, 2015.
What do Roger Troutman, Jerry Heller, and LAPD Chief Daryl Gates have in common? Absolutely nothing, except for the fact that without them there would be no such thing as L.A. rap.
Los Angeles may be the metropolis where international cultures are imported, assimilated, then sold back to the world on the silver screen, but its rap scene is the product of a highly specific set of regional factors, including, but not limited to: The Raiders, Randy’s Donuts, the Roadium swap meet, the World On Wheels roller rink, KDAY every day, freeway transit, auto culture, Latin culture, gang culture, riot culture, bass culture, and burger culture.
From Long Beach to Glendale, Venice to Pomona, the L.A. rap landscape is as interconnected as its highway system, as diverse as its scenery, and as reliable as its climate. Herein is a selection from the rap ecosystem’s first 30 years with equal consideration given to the pre- and post-Jheri-curl eras. It's presented in one place for your convenient perusal, in emulation of the swap meets where Dr. Dre first circulated his cassette mixes. So sit back, relax and strap on your seat belt as we turn to page FREAK, because this is Complex’s 100 Best L.A. Rap Songs. In the words of William Mulholland, the man who brought water to Los Angeles: “There it is. Take it.”
102.
101. Snoop Dogg "I Wanna Rock" (2009)
100. Tone Loc "Wild Thing" (1988)
99. L.A. Dream Team "The Dream Team Is In The House" (1985)
98. World Class Wreckin Cru “Surgery” (1984)
97. WC & the Maad Circle “West Up” (1995)
96. Uncle Jamm's Army "Dial A Freak" (1984)
95. The D.O.C. f/ N.W.A "The Grand Finale" (1989)
94. Suga Free "Dip Da" (1997)
93. Ice Cube "Wicked" (1992)
92. Boo-Ya T.R.I.B.E. “Psyko Funk” (1990)
91. Shade Sheist f/ Nate Dogg & Kurupt "Where I Wanna Be" (2000)
90. Ty Dolla $ign f/ Joe Moses "Paranoid" (2013)
89. Sam Sneed f/ Dr. Dre "U Betta Recognize" (1994)
88. Rodney O & Joe Cooley “Everlasting Bass” (1998)
87. Yo Yo f/ Ice Cube "You Cant Play With My Yo-Yo" (1991)
86. 2Pac f/ K-Ci and JoJo "How Do U Want It" (1996)
85. Ras Kass "Remain Anonymous" (1994)
84. Pharcyde "Drop" (1995)
83. Nate Dogg "I Got Love" (2001)
82. Mellow Man Ace "Mentirosa" (1990)
81. The Nonce "Mix Tapes" (1994)
80. Mausberg "Mushrooms" (2000)
79. Mack 10 f/ Ice Cube "Foe Life" (1995)
78. Above the Law "Black Superman" (1994)
77. King Tee "Act a Fool" (1988)
76. Vince Staples "Blue Suede" (2014)
75. Cypress Hill "Insane In the Brain" (1993)
74. Lighter Shade of Brown "On a Sunday Afternoon" (1990)
73. Coolio "Fantastic Voyage" (1994)
72. Funkdoobiest "Bow Wow Wow" (1992)
71. Low Profile "Pay Ya Dues" (1989)
70. Kokane "Bakin' Soda Free" (1994)
69. Ahmad "Back In The Day" (1994)
68. Kendrick Lamar "Alright" (2015)
67. Tha Alkaholiks "Only When I'm Drunk" (1993)
66. Dogg Pound "What Would You Do?" (1995)
65. Earl Sweatshirt "Chum" (2012)
64. Breeze "L.A. Posse" (1989)
63. Hi-C "Leave My Curl Alone" (1992)
62. Snoop Dogg f/ Xzibit "Bitch Please" (1999)
61. Compton's Most Wanted "Growin' Up In The Hood" (1991)
60. OFWGKTA "Sandwitches" (2010)
59. Kam "In Traffic" (1995)
58. House of Pain "Jump Around" (1992)
57. DJ Quik "Pitch In on a Party" (2000)
56. Snoop Dogg f/ Nate Dogg, Kurupt, & Warren G "Ain't No Fun (If the Homies Can't Have None)" (1993)
55. J.J. Fad "Supersonic" (1988)
54. ScHoolboy Q "There He Go" (2011)
53. Ice Cube "The N***a Ya Love To Hate" (1990)
52. Xzibit "Paparazzi" (1996)
51. YG "Bicken Back Being Bool" (2014)
50. Kendrick Lamar "HiiiPower" (2011)
49. Ice-T "Colors" (1988)
Album: Colors
Label: Sire, Warner Bros.
Producer: Afrika Islam
The most indelible anthem from the hoodsploitation movie trend of the '90s, "Colors" is also apex of the type of first-person gangsta rap Ice-T had spent years perfecting. "Death is my set / Guess my religion" he intones amidst a cacophony of bird calls, gun shots, and nasty scratching. The song is indivisible from the film of the same title.