šµ 1980s Hip Hop Wedding Songs
Celebrate love with 25 rap essential tracks to elevate your cocktail hour or ignite the dance floor.
When creating this list, I did my best to leave off songs that we too political or the lyrics were too over the top. We are talking weddings and love here.
That being said, my mind was flowing with how unbelievable an 80s Hip-Hop set would be for a cocktail hour. If the wedding couple loves 80s Hip-Hop, this would be a great throwback to the origins of Hip-Hop going mainstream. These hits can also be incorporated into an epic dance set.
I'll be honest. I am not an expert in this genre. However, if you have a favorite, please share in the comments. These are a few of my favorites.
25 hits! The Spotify playlist is at the bottom.
One condition to this list. Every song must have been released in the 1980s. Nothing from the 1970s and 1990s!
Check out the previously published 1980s Pop, 1980s Disco & Post-Disco, 1980s Country, 1980s R&B, 1980s Rock, and 1980s New Wave.
1980s Hip Hop Wedding Songs
Aināt No Half-Steppin' - Big Daddy Kane
1988 - The song is a prime example of battle rap bravado, where Kane asserts his lyrical superiority and calls out rappers who aren't bringing their A-game. It ranked #25 on VH1ās 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs.
Apache - The Sugarhill Gang
1981 - The original instrumental āApacheā was recorded by The Shadows in 1960, and then by Incredible Bongo Band in 1973. The song has appeared in everything from The Fresh Prince and Malcolm in the Middle to video games and commercials.
Bust a Move - Young MC
1989 - āBust a Moveā won the first-ever Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance. It helped legitimize rap as a serious genre in the eyes of the music industry. The song peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Cha Cha Cha - MC Lyte
1989 - āCha Cha Chaā reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart, making MC Lyte the first female solo rapper to achieve this milestone. The song has no hook or chorus, just straight rhyming from beginning to end.
Dance for Me - Queen Latifah
1989 - āDance for Meā blends hip-hop with dance/house music, showcasing Latifahās versatility and early experimentation with genre fusion. Latifahās debut album, All Hail the Queen, is widely celebrated for helping establish female empowerment in hip-hop.
Funky Cold Medina - Tone Loc
1989 - The song reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 00 chart. It is notable for its extensive use of samples from classic rock songs, including "Hot Blooded" by Foreigner, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by The Rolling Stones, "Christine Sixteen" by Kiss, "All Right Now" by Free, and "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive.
It Takes Two - Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock
1988 - The song features the "Yeah! Woo!" vocal sample from Lyn Collins' 1972 track "Think (About It)". Rolling Stone placed it at #116 on their "Top 500 Best Songs of All Time" list.
It's Funky Enough - The D.O.C.
1989 - The song spent 18 weeks on the U.S. Top Rap Songs chart, including four weeks at #1. It was produced by Dr. Dre. The track samples "Misdemeanor" by Foster Sylvers.
Itās Like That - Run-DMC
1983 - "It's Like That" was Run-D.M.C.'s debut single. The track is widely regarded as ushering in a new school of hip-hop artists with a street image and an abrasive, minimalist sound. DJ Jason Nevins remixed the song into a global dance hit and a chart topper in the UK.
Just a Friend - Biz Markie
1989 - The song reached #9 on the Billboard Hot 100. The chorus interpolates the 1968 track "(You) Got What I Need" by Freddie Scott with a funny twist. Rolling Stone placed it at #480 on their "Top 500 Best Songs of All Time" list.
Me Myself and I - De La Soul
1989 - "Me Myself and I" became De La Soul's most successful single. It topped the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and the Hot Dance Club Play chart. It features a prominent sample from Funkadelic's "(Not Just) Knee Deep".
Monster Jam - The Sequence featuring Spoonie Gee
1980 - "Monster Jam" was a groundbreaking collaboration between Spoonie Gee, a prominent male rapper, and The Sequence, one of the first all-female hip-hop groups. The track is characterized by live instrumentation and funk-infused beats.
Paid in Full - Eric B. & Rakim
1987 - "Paid in Full" is notable for its creative use of samples. The drum track loops a segment from "Ashley's Roachclip" by The Soul Searchers, the bassline is sampled from Dennis Edwards and Siedah Garrett's "Don't Look Any Further" and Eric B. incorporated the phrase "This stuff is really fresh!" from Fab 5 Freddy's "Change the Beat". Rolling Stone ranked it #132 on their "Top 500 Best Songs of All Time" list.
Parents Just Donāt Understand - DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
1988 - The song won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance, and is the first rap song to receive a Grammy. VH1 ranked it at #96 on their list of the "100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop".
Planet Rock - Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force
1982 - āPlanet Rockā was one of the first hip-hop songs to incorporate electronic instruments and helped define the electro-funk genre. It was one of the first hip-hop songs to gain international popularity, helping to spread hip-hop culture beyond the United States.
Push It - Salt-N-Pepa
1987 - The song peaked at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100. It earned Salt-N-Pepa their first Grammy nomination. The track incorporates elements from "You Really Got Me" by The Kinks and "Pick Up on This" by James Brown.
Smooth Operator - Big Daddy Kane
1989 - āSmooth Operatorā topped the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart and also peaked at #11 on the R&B chart and #17 on the dance chart. The track features samples from several classic songs, including āAll Night Longā by Mary Jane Girls, āDo Your Thingā by Isaac Hayes, āSexual Healingā by Marvin Gaye, āLet's Get It Onā by Marvin Gaye, āThe Champā by The Mohawks, and āImpeach the Presidentā by The Honey Drippers.
Straight Outta Compton - NWA
1989 - The song peaked at #9 on the Billboard R&B chart. The song incorporates samples from several classic tracks, including "You'll Like It Too" by Funkadelic, "West Coast Poplock" by Ronnie Hudson, "Get Me Back on Time, Engine No. 9" by Wilson Pickett, and "Amen, Brother" by the Winstons.
Supersonic - J.J. Fad
1988 - "Supersonic" earned J.J. Fad a nomination for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the Grammy Awards. It has been sampled and referenced by various artists over the years, including Fergie in "Fergalicious," MF Doom in "Hoe Cakes," and Eminem in "Rap God".
Talkin'All That Jazz - Stetsasonic
1988 - āTalkinā All That Jazzā was Stetsasonicās direct response to critics who claimed that sampling in hip-hop was lazy and uncreative. The song argues that sampling is a legitimate and innovative form of musical expression, challenging the notion that it lacks originality. It pioneered the jazz rap subgenre.
The Breaks - Kurtis Blow
1980 - "The Breaks" became the first rap single to be certified gold by the RIAA, selling over 500,000 copies in the U.S. Blow was the first rapper to sign with a major record label, Mercury Records. It reached #87 on the Billboard Hot 100 and climbed to #4 on the R&B chart.
The Message - Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five
1982 - The song is regarded as the genreās first major socially conscious rap track. It focused on poverty, crime, and inner-city struggles. Rolling Stone ranked the song at #59 on its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Walk This Way - RunāD.M.C. featuring Aerosmith
1986 - The song was first released by Aerosmith in 1975. It reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it one of the first rap-rock collaborations to achieve such massive mainstream success.
Wild Thing - Tone Loc
1988 - āWild Thingā was Tone LÅc's debut single. āWild Thingā sold over 2 million copies, making it the second rap single ever to be certified platinum (the first was "Parents Just Donāt Understand"). The track samples Van Halenās āJamieās Cryināā.
You Gotta Fight for Your Right (To Party!) - Beastie Boys
1986 - The song became the Beastie Boys' breakout hit, reaching #7 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the fourth release from the album Licensed to Ill, which was the first rap album ever to hit #1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
While 1980s Hip-Hop might not be the most traditional genre for a wedding playlist, it can set the tone for a unique and unforgettable celebration, especially during cocktail hour or on the dance floor. These tracks represent the birth of a cultural movement, full of energy, storytelling, and iconic beats that still hit decades later.
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