Update: Dive into the best new hip hop with our list of 's top rap songs. Hardcore hip hop is a subgenre of rap music that developed at the beginning of the s. The genre's lyrics tackled the harsh conditions of the urban experience and have resonated with many rap fans. The tenacious beats of hard rap songs add to the intensity.

The subject matter can vary from boasting, storytelling, reflecting on life and street, or expressing a multitude of strong feelings or beliefs. In the s Hardcore Rap typically had Boom Bap beats that featured scratching and no progression but by the s, Hardcore Rap expanded to different types of production. Hardcore Rap is characterized by its content and can combine with many subgenres that are characterized by their production such as Boom Bap, G-Funk, Electro-hop, and others. Some songs certainly have a darkness or eeriness to them but this can come from many different production techniques and styles. The rap performance is usually the main focus and sung hooks are less common.

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