The Hip Hop Posse Cut song has existed in the culture since its inception. From the 1970s – the Sugar Hill Gang’s Rapper’s Delight being rap’s first mainstream introduction to any Lil Jon & the Eastside Boyz club anthem in the early 2000s – the Posse Cut can be a show of mic skills or a braggadocios celebration. So, to give this craftsmanship its respect, here are 15 Best Hip Hop Posse Cuts that can be appreciated and argued over.
(15) DJ Khaled – All I Do Is Win – 2010 – FT. Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, Rick Ross, T-Pain
Posse Cuts are a majority of DJ Khaled’s musical catalog that is hit or miss; however, there is nothing miss about All I Do Is Win. When RappaTerntSanga T-Pain comes in with that HBCU marching band beat, one is forced to put their hands up high off the first command; keep an eye out for spilled drinks.
(14) Main Source – Live at the BBQ – 1991 – FT. Akinyele, Joe Fatal, Nas
A teenage Nas debuted, Kidnap the President’s wife without a plan, making us forget anyone else on the song, and later becoming a God MC.
(13) Drake – Forever – 2009 – FT. Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Eminem
A rookie Drake stepped out of his Young Money comfort zone to rhyme with other elite peers who easily could’ve left him DOA on his song, but instead, it became Aubrey’s beginning of a decade of dominance.
(12) 2 Pac – Got My Mind Made Up – 1996 – FT. Method Man, Daz Dillinger, Kurupt, Redman
The diversity of west/east coast MCs during a tense era in the culture was a superb example of wordplay, charisma, and force. The upside is that 2Pac’s verse is one for the he-wasn’t-a-good-rapper/MC critics, while the downside was not hearing what Inspectah Deck said after “I am I-N-S the Rebel!!!”
(11) T.I. – Swagga Like Us – 2008 – FT. Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z
The disappointing thing about this elite Posse Cut is that it never had a music video.
(10) Crime Mob – Knuck If You Buck – 2004 – FT. the whole crew
Name another Posse Cut by a pack of 18-year old’s that gets everyone of all ages excited, whether in a car or cubicle. NONE!!!! Listen, Knuck If You Buck is a spiritual hood church hymn that can bring joy to any Xmas Grinch.
(9) LL Cool J – I Shot Ya-Remix – 1995 – FT. Foxy Brown, Keith Murray, Prodigy, Fat Joe
Despite already being a veteran in 1997, LL Cool J still rapped with a massive chip on his shoulder, dissing Ice-T, Kool Moe Dee, and MC Hammer in the same rhyme. A special RIP goes to Prodigy; Foxy Brown had a Lebron James-like rookie start, and Fat Joe’s yelling, “NOW WHO THE F*** YOU THINK YOU TALKING TO?!!” grabbed all the attention.
(8) NORE – Banned from TV – 1998 – FT. Big Pun, Nature, CamRon, Jadakiss, and Styles P
Before hosting the alcoholic debauchery podcast known as Drink Champs, there was a time when NORE as N.O.R.E. debuted one of the deadliest Posse cuts of its era. Produced by a young Swizz Beatz, Banned from TV is every rapper for themselves song, with Big Pun’s endless lyrical wind stamina launching him into legendary status.
(7) Kanye West – Monster – 2010 – FT. Jay Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj understood the assignment by leaving it all on the microphone, combining voice changes with lyrical wordplay and aggressive dominance. Legend has it that Jay Z was mad at Kanye because he (Jay Z) recorded his verse unaware that anyone else was supposed to rhyme on the song, and yea, after hearing Nicki, we understand why.
(6) Lil Kim – Not Tonight-REMIX – 1996 – FT. DaBrat, Left Eye, Angie Martinez, Missy
Ladies Night isn’t just an excellent Posse Cut song, it is a musical holiday for women representing a movement.
(5) A Tribe Called Quest – Scenario – 1992 – FT. Leaders of the New School (Charlie Brown, Dinco D, Busta Rhymes)
The opening bass drum sounds off like a schoolhouse alarm where all the kids meet at the playground, not to play tag but to exchange mic skills. Two crews of the then-era’s new school(literally) showcased the culture’s elevation and the star power of a young Busta Rhymes.
(4) Craig Mack – Flava in Ya Ear-REMIX – 1994 – FT. Notorious B.I.G., Rampage, LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes
The remix of remixes. BIG retired rappers before they started, increasing UPS employment, Busta created lyrical noise, and LL still found a way to steal your girlfriend through the speakers.
(3) Marley Marl – The Symphony – 1988 – FT. Craig G, Masta Ace, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap
Early Queens, NY-based pioneers known as The Juice Crew established flyness in Hip Hop, kicking off the culture’s golden era.
(2) Wu-Tang Clan – Protect Ya Neck – 1993 – FT. 8 out of 9 members
Unless it’s a gospel record, there’s never a time when we would ever care about what eight people have to say on one song. Wu-Tang arguably has the fiercest historical debut of any musical group because Protect Ya Neck didn’t just kick in doors, it smashed walls.
(1) UGK – Int’l Players Anthem (I Choose You) – 2007 – FT. Outkast
The GOAT of all Posse Cuts because of the following:
(1) It features two legendary duos in their prime
(2) It’s Hip Hop’s first wedding song
(3) It’s the first time we cared about what someone said after a 3-Stacks verse, RIP to Pimp C.
Click HERE for the playlist.
