Trying to get in the groove

September 10, 2008 7:56 AM

Suggestions for hip hop\rap songs for the gym?

I'm getting back into the swing of hitting the gym regularly but my collection of workout songs that get and keep me in the mood is pretty outdated. I don't listen to pop radio and only listen to hip hop/rap at the gym so I know little about what's good.

Here's some examples from my current mix:
Terror Squad - Lean Back
Danger Mouse - Ghetto Pop Life
Bubba Sparxxx - Jimmy Mathis
Eminem - Lose Yourself
Kanye West - Gold Digger
Jay-Z - 99 Problems (Double Black version)

I realize none of these are unearthed gems but it took me a long time to put my current mix together because I'm simply not familiar with the artists. I don't want to invest weeks of my life and hundreds of dollars getting new stuff but having plenty of great workout music is a pretty big deal. I'd prefer specific songs I can preview and then grab on iTunes.

Thanks!

posted by bda1972 to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (29 answers total)

Some of my favorites:

Touch the Sky - Kanye West
Stronger - Kanye West
Here I Am - Rick Ross
Magic - Robin Thicke
Lights, Camera, Action - Mr. Cheeks (also the remix done by Missy)
posted by SoulOnIce at 8:01 AM on September 10, 2008

My current favorite running mix is:

1. If I Ruled the World (Imagine That) - Nas feat. Lauryn Hill
2. Battle Me - C Rayz Walz
3. What More Can I Say - Jay Z and DJ Dangermouse (from the Grey Album)
4. Do It Man - Master Ace feat. Big Noyd
5. Hellohihey - Lifesavas
6. F-Word - Cannibal Ox
7. So Rebellious - Prince Po
8. Hot Game - Ras Kass
9. Take it Back - Skillz
10. Daydream - Lupe Fiasco
11. Twice Inna Lifetime -Black Star (Talib Kweli, Jane Doe, Mos Def, Wordsworth, Punchline)

All the tracks are fast and upbeat and with just the right amounts of energy and swagger one needs for a kickass workout.
posted by sneakin at 8:11 AM on September 10, 2008 [1 favorite]

Wu-Tang Clan - Bring Da Ruckus, and Protect Ya Neck
Jay-Z - Takeover
Kanye West feat. Jay-Z, Lil' Wayne, T.I. - Swagger Like Us
posted by likeapen at 8:11 AM on September 10, 2008

lil wayne da drought 3
posted by alkupe at 8:17 AM on September 10, 2008

Pretty much any Missy Elliot single.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:20 AM on September 10, 2008 [2 favorites]

"Get Yourself Up" by KRS-ONE is suggested.
posted by chrchr at 8:24 AM on September 10, 2008

DMX- Party Up
Cypress Hill- Insane in the Brain
Wyclef Jean- We Tryin' To Stay Alive
Kanye West- Stronger
Justin Timberlake- Rock Your Body
Native Tongues- Buddy
Busta Rhymes- Woo Ha
Coolio- Fantastic Voyage
Snow- Informer
Young MC- Bust A Move
Tone Loc- Wild Thing, Funky Cold Medina
Biggie- Hypnotize
Jay-Z- Money, Cash, Hoes, Can I Get A...
Ja Rule- Holla Holla
Jayo Felony- Whatcha Gonna Do

I know, I'm old school.
posted by reenum at 8:27 AM on September 10, 2008 [1 favorite]

The Coup - My Favorite Mutiny
De La Soul - My Writes
The Roots - The Seed
Goldchains - Nada
Clipse - Cot Damn
Erykah Badu - Danger
Outkast - Rosa Parks
posted by blapst at 8:36 AM on September 10, 2008

For exercise you want the big beat and some of the older stuff like Run DMC really fits the bill.
posted by caddis at 8:37 AM on September 10, 2008

Eminem - Til I Collapse
posted by heavenstobetsy at 8:38 AM on September 10, 2008

Outkast - B.O.B, Intro, Gasoline Dreams, Elevators
Kanye - Can't Tell Me Nothing, The New Workout Plan (FREE NINETY NINE!)
Beastie Boys - Body Movin', Check it Out, High Plains Drifter, Gratitude
Missy Elliot - any single
posted by limited slip at 9:05 AM on September 10, 2008

Scarface - No Tears
posted by Metroid Baby at 9:21 AM on September 10, 2008

It's old school, but dammit if it ain't bouncin':

Kool Moe Dee - I Go To Work
posted by droplet at 9:31 AM on September 10, 2008

DISCLAIMER: Weird Al's "White and Nerdy" definitely applies to me, and so I am fuzzy as to whether this is actually considered hip-hop. But: "Everybody Dance Now" from C&C Music Factory is on my mix (come on, Freedom Williams even exhorts you to "move your butt" at one point).

I also like Dee-Lite's "Groove Is In The Heart," but I'm even less sure that that's hip-hop, so grain of salt...
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:35 AM on September 10, 2008

Go grab Girl Talk's mashup album Feed the Animals. Name your price. It is fantasic.
posted by shinynewnick at 9:44 AM on September 10, 2008 [1 favorite]

ThePinkSuperhero beat me to it - any Missy Elliot single - especially Pass That Dutch + Lose Control

I like the driving beats - here are some must-haves for when I'm on the bike:
Also, in no order
Trick Daddy - Take it to the house (always gets me fired up)
Outkast - B.O.B. ('Nuff said)
M.I.A. - 10$
M.I.A. - URAQT and Lady Killer (Both Diplo Mixes off Piracy Funds Terrorism)
2 Live Crew - What I like (best 808 beats EVAR)
LL Cool J - Rock the Bells, Headstrong, control myself
T La Rock - Breakin' Bells, Its Yours, Bass Machine
Jay Z vs Danger Mouse - 99 problems, encore, and dirt off your shoulder
Jay Z-Kingdom Come

Many more, I'll post a few later.
posted by neilkod at 10:02 AM on September 10, 2008

You Can Hate me now----Nas Feat Pdiddy
Victory--------------------P.Diddy/Busta Rhymes
Come with me---------P.Diddy Godzilla Soundtrack
Cadillac Grills---------------Ludacris
Is that your B*tch------Jay z feat Missy and Twista


It is a little bit older but they WILL ALL PUMP YOU.
posted by The1andonly at 10:12 AM on September 10, 2008

The songs you mention don't really have a lot in common, so I'm at a bit of a loss. But here's a sure thing:

Big Daddy Kane - Wrath of Kane (live)

If you can find the version that appears on Boogie Blind's Live at PJ's mix, get that one. Boogie Blind was DMC champion a couple years ago. He rocks doubles, and turns song that's already a house on fire into a raging conflagration.
posted by box at 10:18 AM on September 10, 2008

Abdominal has a great tune called "Pedal Pusher"
posted by toddje at 11:35 AM on September 10, 2008

Bombs over Bagdad, Outkast. Damn fast paced song.
posted by anitanita at 12:17 PM on September 10, 2008

MOP's Ante Up is a gym staple for me.
posted by AV at 12:42 PM on September 10, 2008

The Guidelines - Aceyalone
Cook It Up - Aesop Rock
Holy Smokes - Aesop Rock
F*@K You Lucy - Atmosphere
High Plains Drifter - The Beastie Boys
8 Steps To Perfection - Company Flow
The Fire In Which You Burn - Company Flow
The Grande Finale - The D.O.C.
Poisonous - Dilated Peoples
Tuned Mass Damper -El-P
White America- Eminem
Mosh- Eminem
Handlebars- Flobots
Remember the Name -Fort Minor
Once Upon a Time In the Projects- Ice Cube
Dead Homiez- Ice Cube
Fuck the World -Insane Clown Posse
The Game -Jurassic 5
George Bush Doesn't Care About Black People -The Legendary K.O.
The Breakthrough -LL Cool J
I Can't Live Without My Radio -LL Cool J
Straight Outta Compton - N.W.A.
Fuck the Police-N.W.A.
Crazy People -Rehab
Scarecrow -Rehab
Reinventing The Wheel -Typical Cats
It Won't Stop -Typical Cats
Verbs of Power - X-Clan
posted by vito90 at 1:29 PM on September 10, 2008

i bet this previous question will help: http://ask.metafilter.com/91153/Drumline-music
posted by kidsleepy at 2:00 PM on September 10, 2008

What also might help you is to seed a Pandora station with one of these songs that you like, and then see what else they come up with to play on the station. It's a cheap and easy way to get a bunch of limitless recommendations.
posted by tyrantkitty at 2:41 PM on September 10, 2008

Oh, and what the heck. Here are some suggestions:

T-Pain - Church (if you don't take any other recommendation, take this one)
Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock - Joy & Pain, It Takes Two
MC Hammer - Pray, Too Legit to Quit, Can't Touch This
Salt N Pepa - Push It
Ice Cube - You Can Do It
LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out, Goin Back to Cali
Digital Underground - Humpty Dance
Run DMC - You Be Illin, You Talk Too Much
Nelly - Country Grammar, #1
Mystikal - Shake It Fast/Shake Yo Ass
Missy Elliot - She's A Bitch, Work It, Gossip Folks
Ludacris - Get Back, Move Bitch, Number One Spot, Saturday
Flo Rida - Low
Eminem - Hailie's Song, The Way I Am
Dr. Dre- Forgot About Dre
Chingy - Right Thurr
Tupac - I Get Around
posted by tyrantkitty at 2:57 PM on September 10, 2008 [1 favorite]

Here's more:

Alkaholiks- Hip Hop Drunkies
A Tribe Called Quest- Oh My God!, Hot Sex
Biggie- Unbelievable, Kick In the Door
Big Pun- Still Not A Player
Coolio- 1,2,3,4, Exercise Yo Game
Digital Underground- Same Song, No Nose Job
DJ Quik- Sweet Black P***y, Medley for a V
Dogg Pound- Let's Play House
Dru Down- Baby Bubba
E-40- Rapper's Ball
EPMD- Never Seen Before
Eminem- Guilty Conscience
Gang Starr- Militia, Militia 2
Hieroglyphics- Who?
Ice Cube- Bop Gun, Givin' Up The Nappy Dugout
Jermaine Dupri- Money Ain't a Thing, Welcome to Atlanta
Latyrx- Burnt Pride
Lil Kim- Crush On You (Remix)
Luniz- Funkin Over Nothin', 20 Blunts A Day
Mack 10- Chicken Hawk II, Nothin' But the Cavi Hit
Outkast- BOB
Ozomatli- Cut Chemist Suite
Pete Rock- Tru Master
Positive K- I Got A Man
Snoop- What's My Name?, Ain't No Fun, Still A Thang
Timbaland- Lobster & Scrimp
2Pac- California Love
WC- Just Clownin', West Up
Westside Connection- Bow Down
Wyclef- Gone Til November (Remix)
Xzibit- Shroomz
posted by reenum at 4:52 PM on September 10, 2008 [2 favorites]

Kanye West - The New Workout Plan
posted by troika at 5:10 PM on September 10, 2008

oops that one is the remix - the nonremix is better.
posted by troika at 5:11 PM on September 10, 2008

Anything touched by Timbaland in production value tends to lend itself to the big beats needed for gym stuff. Timbaland's "The Way I Are" fits the bill perfectly. Missy Elliott also.

I don't think anyone has mentioned specifically Run DMC's "It's Like That" (remixed version with Jason Nevins), although most Run DMC works too.
posted by chronic sublime at 5:43 AM on September 11, 2008