3 Classic Acoustic Rap Songs That We Still Have on Repeat

Most of the time, when people think of rap music, it’s the big, bombastic, bodacious beat that comes to mind. Heavy percussion, big drum hits and staccato snares that bring out the lyrical delivery from the emcees. But sometimes artists decide to zig instead of zag and venture into new ground, bringing in instruments like the acoustic guitar (and even the harmonica) to accentuate their sounds.

Here below, we wanted to explore three such songs. A trio of rap tracks that take advantage of an instrument most often thought to belong in folk or Americana music. Indeed, these are three classic acoustic-based rap songs that have stood the test of time.

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[RELATED: The Top 10 Fugees Songs]

“Vocab” by Fugees from Blunted on Reality (1994)

Along with being a rapper, Fugees co-founder Wyclef Jean was known for playing acoustic guitar on his tracks and the most prominent was “Vocab” from the band’s 1994 LP Blunted on Reality. And for fans who like this song, check out the “Vocab (Remix),” too. On the song, Lauryn Hill is especially skillful, moving between flows and delivery styles. She raps,

Now kids are whyling so I ask the bad black

Boogie bandit, what’s the damage, gimme the estimate

then Pray tell me when’s the revolution will begin?

I turn on my TV I check out Farrakhan on CNN see

I’m like the phantom that’s flying like the bird do

And things you never heard plus I come from the suburbs

Word to God, I heard you’re acting kind of hard

And you got your skin scarred when they was shooting on the boulevard

“Rosa Parks” by Outkast from Aquemini (1998)

A classic song from the Atlanta-born hip-hop duo Outkast, this track features a prominent, sharp acoustic sound as the MCs with their southern drawl take the art form to a new level. While the track only hit No. 55 on the Billboard Hot 100, the song remains a mainstay on throwback rap stations today and a favorite amongst Outkast fans. With a solid drum beat, the acoustic makes the song especially sticky. And on it Outkast’s Andre 3000 raps,

I met a gypsy and she hipped me to some life game

To stimulate then activate the left and right brain

Said, “Baby boy, you only funky as your last cut

You focus on the past, your a–‘ll be a ‘has-what’”

That’s one to live or either that’s one to die to

I try to just throw it at you, determine your own adventure

“Ride wit Me” by Nelly from Country Grammar (2000)

Speaking of southern rappers, the St. Louis lyricist Nelly took advantage of the acoustic guitar for this hit on his supremely popular 2000 LP Country Grammar. Like “Rosa Parks” above, this song used the acoustic to bring the beat to a super catchy level. Without it the song would still pop but with it, it became something many want to sing along to, perhaps without even knowing it. On the track, Nelly raps over the six-string,

If you want to go and take a ride with me

We 3-wheeling in the fo’ with the gold D’s

Oh, why do I live this way? (Hey, must be the money)

If you wanna go and get high with me

Smoke a L in the back of the Benz-E

Oh, why must I feel this way? (Hey, must be the money)

In the club on the late night, feeling right

Looking, trying to spot something real nice

Looking for a little shorty

I noticed so that I can take home (I can take home)

She can be 18 (18) with an attitude

Or 19, kinda snotty, acting real rude

But as long as you a thicky-thicky-thick girl

You know that it’s on (you know that it’s on)

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