Beats come first for a reason 🥁 Production is THE cornerstone of hip-hop—the foundation that dictates a song’s tempo, tone and ultimately, how an MC attacks it. But across more than 50 years of rap, comparing the boom-bap of ’90s New York to G-funk, crunk, trap, drill and everything in between is nearly impossible. After plenty of debate, we weighed impact, innovation, popularity and, most importantly, how well each beat complements the rapper. From “The Message” and “C.R.E.A.M.” to “Grindin’,” “Still D.R.E.,” “Mask Off” and “Not Like Us,” these beats helped push hip-hop forward for the next generation and beyond. And what better day to do so than on hip-hop’s 53rd birthday. Here’s our 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Beats of All Time. LINK IN complexmusic BIO to read and #ReRank the full list 🔗