Most rap lovers know these names: Kendrick Lamar, J.

Cole, Kanye West, Tyler the Creator, and Earl Sweatshirt. Although these artists are among the most popular, they still have hidden gems in their discographies—some of which are even hidden in their most popular albums. I’m here to break down these artists’ tracks and show you some of their underloved masterpieces.

1. Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar is a 38-year-old rapper who has published many award-winning albums. Lamar, from Compton, California, grew up surrounded by many negative influences. Despite this, his music is centered around many complex and inspiring subjects.

He talks about overcoming the peer pressure he faced, religion, oppression, politics, love, family, and more. Through his lyrical, multi-layered songs and albums, Lamar passes on his wisdom and recollections of his experiences in order to inspire his listeners who share his struggles to pursue the light even when darkness is tempting. So, which of his songs do I consider a masterpiece that hasn’t reached the top charts?

"Kendrick Lamar The [censored]. Tour @ TD Garden (Boston, MA)"

Image Credit: Kenny Sun from Wikimedia

"Blow My High"

This song features one of my favorite beats that Kendrick has rapped on. It sounds jazz-inspired but still chill. You can hear the keyboard in the beat, and it beautifully ties the song together. Tommy Black, the producer of this song, has stated this was his favorite beat that he’s produced in an interview with David Drake & Charne Graham.

The beat is paired with a sample from Aailyah’s song, “4 Page Letter” as well as part of Pimp C’s verse on “Big Pimpin’.” The song serves partially as a memorandum for the singer Aailyah, who passed away in a plane crash when she was only 22. Aaliyah was famous for making R&B and Urban Pop. She made hit songs such as “Are You That Somebody,” which gave her the title of “The Princess of R&B.”

"American musician Aaliyah visiting Berlin, Germany on May 14, 2000."

Image Credit: Mika-photography from Wikimedia

The chorus of this song makes it addictive to replay, and it is paired with Kendrick’s lyrics about not wasting his time on fake people. This song was released earlier in his career, so he needed to be cautious about people who wanted to just catch a ride to the top with him. This song’s lyrics, combined with the beautiful production, land it on my list of underrated songs. “Blow My High” is only ranked at 112 in popularity in his discography, making it criminally underrated.

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2. J. Cole

J. Cole grew up in Fayetteville, North Carolina. His journey as a rapper wasn’t as clear as he’d hoped it would be.

In his song, “Last Call,” J. Cole describes his journey after high school that led to him being a rapper. In the outro, he states, “I used college as like the tool to get to New York.” New York has been a great place for young rappers to gain attention, so J. Cole came to the state with that goal in mind. But as he later admits in the outro, “I ain't even think I was gon' have to finish college, I just thought, you know, I'd be signed by like my freshman year…But it didn't happen like that.” Now, J. Cole is one of the most revered rappers and has cemented his legacy. But below his most popular songs, there’s one song that I love that doesn’t get the love it deserves.

"21 Savage & J.Cole Light Birthday Bash ATL 2023"

Image Credit: HOTSPOTATL from Wikimedia

"Too Deep for the Intro"

With the song ranked at #168 in popularity in his discography, the track flies under the radar for many rap listeners. The self-produced beat drew me in the first time I heard it. It samples Erykah Badu's 'Didn't Cha Know'. In the background, you can hear various elements of the beat that make it so smooth: the drum in the background that resembles a woodpecker, Badu’s looped vocals, and the clip of the wind instrument that preludes the drums.

On top of the melodic beat is J. Cole’s verses. J. Cole continues with his layered lyrics and smooth flow throughout the track. In the first verse, he compares his frugal upbringing to the more lavish lifestyles of the kids around him. The second verse outlines his success as a rapper and how he is now able to live the lavish lifestyle that he once lacked. In addition, the verse talks about his high school years, which he spent getting into fights and making mistakes—the typical behavior of teenagers.

In an interview with Huff Post, J. Cole said that the “'Too Deep for the Intro,' first or second verse" was one of his favorite verses that he’s written. This song doesn’t see the light as much as his more popular tracks, but it still deserves way more love than it gets.

With his self-made beat, soulful sample, and lyrics that are “Too Deep for the Intro,” J. Cole exemplifies his ability to do more than just rap, but to be an artist.

3. Kanye West

Saying his name feels a little like saying “Voldemort,” but there comes a time when you must separate the artist from the art. Despite his recent controversy regarding antisemitism and radical political views, he remains one of the most influential rappers of all time. I personally did not enjoy his more recent albums (mostly after The Life Of Pablo) and have not even spared a listen to his newest project, Bully, nor Donda 2.

But below his controversial public statements and appearances are his older projects that hold some of the best rap songs in history. The underrated song I am choosing from his discography comes from his first studio album, The College Dropout.

" Kanye West performs at The Museum of Modern Art's annual Party in the Garden benefit, New York City, May 10, 2011"

Image Credit: Jason Persse from Wikimedia

"Two Words"

The majority of the song is sung in two-syllable lines. That in itself makes the lyricism impressive. All three rappers on the song (Kanye West, Mos Def, and Freeway) keep the two-syllable rhythm going while not sacrificing the quality of their lyrics.

The song features vocals from The Harlem Boys Choir. In an interview with Complex, Kanye stated he went, “all the way [out to] the Hamptons [where they were performing] and pay the Harlem Boys Choir $10,000 to get them on the track.” The hassle was definitely worth it since it contributed to one of the best Kanye beats. To tie the song together, a violin is heard at the end, which beautifully keeps that fast-paced flow of the song.

"Mos Def"

Image Credit: Muvikui from Wikimedia

As for the lyrics, they hold messages about America. Mos Def raps, “Too harsh, too hungry, too many, that's why” in the first verse. The lyric describes the dilemma of living in certain parts of America—violence, poverty, and overcrowding, which lead to struggle.

In the second verse, Kanye West raps, “One wall, twenty plaques, dues paid, gimme that / I am limelight.” Kanye’s lyric describes his success and the beginning of his rise to fame. Before the release of his first album, Kanye West had been heard stating he was prepared to win awards for it. Freeway finishes up the third and final verse. He raps, “Break necks, break backs, Steven Seagal.” Freeway explains that he is so impressive that he will bring attention to himself and shake the rap game like Steven Seagal, a popular actor known for his violent roles.

"Freeway, an American rapper performing in Wilmington, Delaware."

Image Credit: Saquan Stimpson from Wikimedia

“Two Words” is ranked #162 in popularity in his discography. The song’s genius, paired with Kanye’s, Mos Def’s, and Freeway’s impressive verses, makes this song multilayered. It pains me that it is ranked so low in his discography.

It truly doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. The song makes powerful statements about their beliefs while keeping that catchy, two-syllable style. Mos Def and Freeway definitely deserved their verses on this song.

4. Tyler, The Creator

Tyler, the Creator is a versatile rapper known for making R&B, pop, and jazz-inspired tracks. His albums include stories about different characters that he made up, such as Igor, Ace, Dr. TC, and more.

The entire lore of his discography won’t fit into one paragraph, but it’s worth a listen. From his first studio album, Goblin, which was more experimental, to his album, Flower Boy, which was indie-inspired, all the way to his most recent album, Chromakopia, which is alternative rap, Tyler has proved his versatility in the rap genre. Although he is one of the most popular rappers currently, some of his songs still don’t get enough recognition.

"Tyler, the Creator in concert in 2022."

Image Credit: Raph_PH from Wikimedia

"Lone"

The song is one of his jazz-inspired songs that isn’t upbeat enough to become mainstream radio music. This is partially why it doesn’t get enough streams. The beat is actually not a produced beat at all—Tyler raps directly over the song “Jornada” by Wilson Das Neves.

The song was released in 1969 on the album Som Quente é o das Neves. The jazz beat allows for a more somber mood when compared to some of his more upbeat or dark tracks.

Lone follows the story of Tyler hearing about his grandmother’s declining condition. It begins with an intro by the character Dr. TC.

Dr. TC is Tyler’s therapist who appears in the [censored], Goblin, and Wolf. TC stands for “Tyler, the Creator.” Most of Tyler’s characters are a type of alter ego that represents different parts of his personality and characteristics. Dr. TC represents Tyler’s conscience and tries to guide Tyler through various parts of his life.

In the intro, Dr. TC asks, “So, what's going on, Wolf? / Talk to me, man.” Wolf, who is the main character in the album, goes on to tell Dr. TC what he’s been dealing with: the death of his grandma.

Tyler raps about what was happening when he first heard the news of her declining health. Then, he describes the surroundings in a melancholy way: “Getting there, family sitting center chair / Awkward in the lobby, it was floating in the thinning air.” Anyone who has experienced a death that was expected knows how those final moments feel, and Tyler did such a good job of outlining those feelings. The jazz instrumental paired with the emotional lyrics makes this track one of my favorite Tyler songs.

5. Earl Sweatshirt

Earl Sweatshirt is a 31-year-old rapper who was part of the experimental music group Odd Future. In 2010, when he was 16 years old, he was sent to a Samoan boarding school by his mother in an attempt to prevent him from pursuing his negative behaviors. He attended it for one and a half years, which took a toll on his mental health.

As a result, a lot of his music is centered around somber themes that depict his struggles with things such as depression, anorexia, and grief. My favorite song from him is an unreleased song that doesn’t get as many streams as the rest of his music since it hasn’t been officially released.

"A picture of Earl Sweatshirt at a festival"

Image Credit: Knockah from Wikimedia

"Solace"

The song, which has 2.3 million streams on Spotify under an artist who posted Earl’s song as well as 2.1 million on YouTube, has probably altogether about 6 million streams. This puts it at about 70/103 in popularity. Although this song is in the bottom 30% based off of streams, it has an emotional hit like no other.

The song goes beyond just deep lyrics; it’s an eerie track with a unique composition. The song was released under an unofficial YouTube channel and captioned, “music from when i hit the bottom and found something.” That caption truly does the track justice.

The 10-minute song is about his struggles with depression, addiction, and grief. The first part of the song is about Earl struggling to heal and move forward. Earl had travelled to Eastern Europe when he was on tour.

He doesn’t eat pork and stated, “That’s all they had” in an interview with NPR Music. To mitigate his rapid weight loss and anorexia, Earl turned to drugs. He raps, “Twist a spliff if I don't finish my plate.“ The last line from the first verse, which is one of my favorite Earl verses of all time, reads, “One foot stuck in a tar pit of my ways.” It shows his inability to prevent the painful cycle.

"Earl Sweatshirt at the SPIN party SXSW 2015 Austin, Texas in the same year 'solace' was released."

Image Credit: Anna Hanks from Wikimedia

Between the first and second part of the song, there is an eerie instrumental. It sounds like it could belong in a tense psychological horror film, and it does a great job of personifying his thoughts and depression. After the instrumental, we hear the last first.

The verse is about his grandmother. He raps, “I got my grandmama hands, I start to cry when I see 'em / 'Cause they remind me of seein' her.” He grieves his grandmother's death and wishes he could feel her comfort while going through this difficult time. “Solace” is one of the saddest rap songs of all time and deserves a lot more recognition than it gets.

Not all songs have to be popular, and after digging a little deeper into some of your favorite artists' catalogues, finding a few hidden gems won't be hard. Of course, everyone loves to bump their top 10 songs, but it wouldn't hurt to give some lesser-known tracks a try. You never know what you might find when you look hard enough. Let me know if you have any underrated songs that you love!