The 20 hip-hop songs from movie soundtracks

Will Smith began his career as a rapper but became one of the most popular blockbuster movie stars of the '90s, co-starring with Tommy Lee in the 1998 action movie. Men in Black, So it was only natural that he would pen the film's theme song. The track, which shares the same title as the film, was produced by Trackmasters and samples Patrice Lashenne's “Forget Me Nots.” Featuring vocals from Coco of the R&B group SWV, it finds Smith and Lee's characters battling extraterrestrials: “The men in black, the guardians of the galaxy, are coming.”

Terrence Howard played the role of D-Jay, a pimp and aspiring rapper, in the 2005 film. Hustle and flow. In one scene, he works with producers on the hit song “Hard Out Here for a Pimp,” which was performed by rap group Three 6 Mafia on the film's soundtrack. Not only did the song become the film's main theme, but “Hard Out Here for a Pimp” also won an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Starring the late Paul Walker fast and furious He had a thriving career with the franchise before his tragic death in 2013. Fast & Furious 7 Wiz Khalifa has teamed up with Charlie Puth for the song “See You Again,” in which Khalifa sings in detail from the perspective of someone who has lost a loved one and is in the stage of grief where they simply want to speak to and see their lost loved one again.

In 2018, Chadwick Boseman starred in the superhero film The Hunger Games alongside Lupita Nyong'o, Michael B. Jordan, and Angela Bassett. Black Panther. The film's director, Ryan Coogler, enlisted Kendrick Lamar to curate the soundtrack, and Lamar teamed up with TDE labelmate SZA on the lead single, “All The Stars,” which was an essential element of the film, including being played over the end credits, and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song.

Public Enemy's hit single “Fight the Power” was the main theme song for the Spike Lee film. Do the right thing, The song is constantly being played at high volume by a man named Radio Raheem. The song highlights how the black community is trying to revolutionize against systemic issues and injustices, so it's no wonder that the song remains a theme of the civil rights movement to this day.

Suge Knight and Dr. Dre were named executive producers. On the rim Soundtrack. Warren G teamed up with Nate Dogg for the album's first single, “Regulate.” The song also appears on the rapper's debut album. Produced by Warren, “Regulate” reached number two on the charts. Billboard Hot 100.

In 2002, Eminem co-starred with Mekhi Phifer in the semi-autobiographical drama film. 8 miles. It was only natural that the Detroit rapper would also contribute to the soundtrack. In the lead single, “Lose Yourself,” Eminem details the film's story, his own character flaws, and his attempts to gain respect as an MC. The song reached number one on several charts, including the Hot 100.

Outkast members Big Boi and Andre 3000 have always been the type of artists to show pride in their home state of Georgia, and they did just that with their 2006 single “Morris Brown,” the single from their musical film. Idolwild. Named after Morris Brown College in Atlanta, the song also features OutKast featuring the college's band, the Marching Wolverines.

The 1998 film starred Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan. Rush hour. The second single from the soundtrack was “Can I Get A…” by Jay-Z, which at the time marked the debut for Ja Rule and Amir. Produced by Irv Gotti and Lil Rob, “Can I Get A…” became a Top 20 hit on the US charts. Billboard Hot 100.

Michelle Pfeiffer, 1995 He played a former Marine turned teacher in the drama film. Dangerous mind. She also made a cameo appearance in the music video for the soundtrack's lead single, “Gangster's Paradise”, sung by Coolio. Replacing Stevie Wonder's “Pasttime Paradise”, Coolio The inside story of people who live in inner cities and spend their lives on the streets.

In 2001, Keanu Reeves starred alongside Diane Lane in the drama Hardball, The song tells the story of Reeves' character, who takes a job coaching kids' baseball to pay off his debts to a gambling thief. Jermaine Dupri plays a young musician recruiter alongside Bow Wow, Lil Wayne, Lil Zane and Sammy on the soundtrack's single “Hardball.” Naturally, the song has several baseball references, including Bow Wow's verse, “When I step up to bat, the outfield backs off / 'Cause they know I'm an up-the-wall type of dog / Too many hits in a row, they call me Sammy Sosa / All bubble gum posters and cards.”

In 1992, Tupac starred in the crime drama film The Man Who Was My Father, alongside Omar Epps, Khalil Kane and Jermaine Hopkins. juice, The film focuses on the everyday lives of inner-city youth and features one of the most famous hip-hop tracks of all time, “Juice (Know the Ledge)” by Eric B. & Rakim, on its soundtrack.

Shortly after Rage Lady appeared on early albums by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, she released her first single, “Afro Puffs.” On the rim soundtrack. In this song, Lady of Rage details just how intimidating her lyric writing abilities are, which is evident as she says in the second verse, “So I bet on the cash cow / My lyrics are so cool, my brothers call them head spinners / My tongue is second to none / From where the sun rises to where it sets.”

In the '90s, Will Smith continued to build a career as a megahit star while contributing to the hip-hop world. Wild Wild West, He teamed up with Dru Hill and Kool Moe Dee for the lead single from the soundtrack of the same name, and Smith uses the song to elaborate on the characters in the film.

In 2005, 50 Cent appeared on the silver screen alongside Terrence Howard and Joy Bryant in an autobiographical film about his life. “Get rich or die.” Since the movie tells the story of a man who leaves street life behind to become a rapper, it was only natural that 50 Cent would be featured on the soundtrack, as he highlighted his philosophy of moving on with life and hustling to live a better life with his single “Hustler's Ambition.”

Since Kendrick Lamar took over as curator, Black Panther For the soundtrack, he also included features from his TDE labelmates: for the second single, “King's Dead,” he teams up with Jay Rock, Future and James Black; Lamar's verse tells the story of the film's character, Erik Killmonger, as he attempts to defeat King T'Challa.

In 2003, DMX starred alongside Jet Li in the action movie The Man from Nowhere. Cradle 2 the Grave. Rappers contributed several songs to the soundtrack, including the lead single, “X Gon' Give It to Ya,” in which DMX declares that people shouldn't mess with him or they'll soon regret it.

2016 Movies Suicide Squad The film had a star-studded cast, including Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Jared Leto, and Viola Davis. Naturally, the soundtrack also featured many artists from various genres. The album's second single, “Sucker for Pain,” is a collaboration between Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, Imagine Dragons, Logic, Ty Dolla $ign, and X Ambassadors. In the song, the artists sing about their battles with their peers, sometimes painful, but supporting each other through all the destruction.

The Neptunes are one of the few production teams to have worked on a film soundtrack. Bad Boys II. They teamed up with Jay-Z for the catchy second single, “La-La-La,” in which Jay raps about a variety of things, including his songwriting abilities, smoking, drinking, and of course, his wealth.

After leaving the group NWA, Dr. Dre released his first solo album, Deep Cover, which was used as a soundtrack single for the movie of the same name. The story of the movie revolves around undercover cops trying to take down gangsters, and Dre and Snoop used the song to criticize corrupt cops.