50 Best Hip-Hop Dance Songs

50

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Busta Rhymes: "Pass the Courvoisier" Remix

Busta Rhymes and P Diddy performing live — Steve Grayson / Getty Images

You might get some strange looks for bringing Courvoisier to a party these days. But when Busta Bus tells you to pass the Courvoisier, you pass the damn Courvoisier. And who can forget the classic video, with Busta and Diddy whooping ass in bathrobes?

49

of 50

David Banner: "Play"

David Banner is as nasty as he wanna be on this sexually charged jam from Certified. A slick Collipark beat backs up Banner's whispery raps, in which he tells his sexual interest to "play with it." How a song this freaky reached No. 7 on Billboard is anyone's guess.

48

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Big Boi: "Lookin' 4 Ya" (Ft. Andre 3000 & Sleepy Brown)

Big Boi performing — Jerritt Clark / Getty Images

"Lookin' 4 Ya" is an instant banger in which Big Boi works the beat with aplomb, Andre 3000 drops a comedic verse about doing it in IKEA's showroom, while Sleepy Brown sets the mood with a catchy hook.

47

of 50

T.I.: "Big Things Poppin'"

T.I. performing — Frank Micelotta / Getty Images

One of T.I.'s biggest hits, "Big Things Poppin'" is a synth-bounce track that is sure to bring any downer out of their shell.

46

of 50

GS Boyz: "Stanky Legg"

The year is 2-double-Oh-8. And the GS Boyz's runaway hit "Stanky Legg" is gripping the nation. Then comes the multi-faceted dance step that accompanies the song. The song gains further notoriety/publicity when U.S. soccer star Jozy Altidore adopts it as his goal celebration after scoring against El Salvador.

45

of 50

Eve: "Tambourine"

Eve performing — Kevin Mazur / Getty Images

Too many people have danced to "Tambourine" to not include this classic track.

44

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Yung Joc: "It's Goin' Down" (Ft. Nitti)

Yung Joc performing — Moses Robinson / THE BEAT 95.5 FM

Yung Joc's career ultimately went the same direction as the song's title, but for a moment it was impossible to go anywhere in the Dirty South without hearing this banger blasting from car stereos.

43

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Junior M.A.F.I.A.: "Get Money"

Biggie's posse, Junior M.A.F.I.A., crashed onto the spotlight with the infectious "Get Money." It became the crew's most popular hit, reaching No.17 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1996.

42

of 50

Azealia Banks: "212"

Azealia Banks performing — Christie Goodwin / Getty Images

Azealia Banks' first hit single, "212," is an exercise in vocal shifts that yields one helluva dancetastic rap song that is sure to get everyone moving and grooving at your party.

41

of 50

Terror Squad: "Lean Back"

Terror Squad at a performance — Marc Andrew Deley / Getty Images

Scott Storch lobbed the perfect alley-oop to Fat Joe and Remy Ma to slam down. "Lean Back" is basically an anti-dance rap song that's actually sorta danceable. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy nod for Best Performance by a Duo or Group.

40

of 50

Soulja Boy: "Crank Dat (Soulja Boy)"

Soulja Boy performing — Frank Mullen / Getty Images

A teenage phenom at the point, Soulja Boy introduced a new dance to hip-hop in 2007 with "Crank Dat (Soulja Boy)." He was even savvy enough to include a dance tutorial video.

39

of 50

Timbaland: "The Way I Are" (Ft. Keri Hilson & D.O.E.)

Tmbaland and Keri Hilson performing — Johnny Nunez / Getty Images

Rap-pop only works some of the time and, luckily, this was one of those times. Thanks to Timbaland's masterful use of drums and Keri Hilson's silky vocals, this track is well-deserving of its spot on the list of top 50 hip hop songs.

38

of 50

Chingy: "Right Thurr"

Chingy performing — Tim Mosenfelder / Getty Images

Like Nelly's "Hot in Herre," Chingy's "Right Thurr" is a summer hit that gripped hip-hop in 2003. No one could understand a word of what Chingy was saying and it didn't matter; we were too busy dancing anyway.

37

of 50

A$AP Rocky: "Wild for the Night" (Ft. Skrillex)

A$AP Rocky and Skrillex — Donato Sardella / Getty Images

Spacey and sneaky at first, "Wild for the Night" quickly soon turns frantic and frenzied. This is somewhat of a surprising pairing, but A$AP Rocky and Skrillex made it work.

36

of 50

Jay Z: "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It to Me)"

Jay Z performing — Frank Micelotta / ImageDirect

A club-ready jingle, which Jay Z says was based on real events. "I Just Wanna Love U" marked the beginning of an enduring partnership between Jay Z and Pharrell/The Neptunes. Fun Fact: Britney tapped The Neptunes to produce her self-titled album after hearing "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It to Me)."

35

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D4L: "Laffy Taffy"

If you've managed to get through life without hearing D4L's "Laffy Taffy," thank your lucky stars. That was not an option in 2005, when the song first turned up. It oozed out of every speaker and snapped its way to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The mother of all snap songs, "Laffy Taffy" relies on a simple synth line, hand snaps and a chant so repetitive you'll never forget it.

34

of 50

Trick Daddy: "Let's Go" (Ft. Lil Jon & Twista)

Trick Daddy performing — Johnny Nunez / WireImage

The Thugmeister himself Trick Daddy teams up with Twista and Lil Jon over a stadium-ready beat. Perfect for slamdancing.

33

of 50

Missy Elliott: "Work It"

Missy Elliott performing — Myrna Suarez / Getty Images

You could make an entire playlist comprised of Missy's dance hits. "Work It," in particular, is an infectious jam perfect for any party or for turning an ordinary moment into a party.

32

of 50

Hurricane Chris: "A Bay Bay"

Hurricane Chris performing — Frank Mullen / WireImage

What started out as a local chant for DJ turned into one of the biggest hip-hop singles. Like most dance songs, the lyrics are almost insufferable. Get past that and you'll find the hook and beat irresistible.

31

of 50

MC Hammer: "U Can't Touch This"

MC Hammer performing his signature dance — Jim Steinfeldt / Getty Images

Don't front like you've never found yourself randomly tearing up the floor to "Can't Touch This." So catchy you'll be singing along in your car, while doing the Hammer dance.

30

of 50

Ludacris: "Stand Up" (Ft. Shawnna)

Ludacris and Shawnna performing — Johnny Nunez / WireImage

With stellar production by a blooming Kanye West, "Stand Up" soared to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the summer of '03 and became Ludacris' first chart topper. Shawnna and Luda take turns instructing us: "When I move you move, just like that."

29

of 50

Black Eyed Peas: "I Gotta Feeling"

The Black Eyed Peas at a photoshoot — Michael Caulfield / Getty Images for DCP

Serial experimentalists The Black Eyed Peas caught the dance bug when they teamed up with David Guetta for this rocket. "I Gotta Feeling" debuted at No. 2 behind "Boom Boom Pow." It toppled "Boom Boom Pow" within a week and held at numero uno for 14 weeks. Play this at a party and even toddlers will start humming along.

28

of 50

The Cool Kids: "Black Mags"

The Cool Kids performing — Lola Peach / Getty Images

"Black Mags" is a beautiful collision of disparate styles and sounds, from hyphy to boom bap.

27

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Sage the Gemini: "Gas Pedal"

Sage the Gemini performing — Tim Mosenfelder / Getty Images

A ratchet anthem done right.

26

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Young Dro: "Shoulder Lean"

Young Dro at a concert — Frank Mullen / WireImage

At the peak of dance rap, "Shoulder Lean" emerged from the bowels of Atlanta's Bankhead with Young Dro leading the charge. Dro is joined by T.I. on the hook while another Grand Hustler Lil C handles the beat. And no elaborate dance lessons here: "Let me see you bounce right to left and let your shoulder lean."

25

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Cassidy: "My Drink N' My 2-Step"

Cassidy and Swizz Beatz — Johnny Nunez / WireImage

With a drink in one hand and an instructional dance manual in the other, Cassidy shows us how to multitask in the club, while Swizz Beatz plays hypeman.

24

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50 Cent: "In da Club"

50 Cent at a performance — Theo Wargo / WireImage

No one knows the drum and loop combo better than Dr. Dre. His drums really reach out and grab your soul. His loops are guaranteed to never ever escape your brain once you've come in contact with them. That wizardry combo of deadly drums and a lethal loop, coupled with 50 Cent's sing-song flow, is what makes "In Da Club" a party favorite.

23

of 50

DJ Snake: "Turn Down for What" (Ft. Lil Jon)

DJ Snake performing — Foc Kan / WireImage

You know why DJ Snake's "Turn Down for What" is here—because it always gets the club crunk to the max and will be around for years.

22

of 50

The Notorious B.I.G.: "Hypnotize"

The Notorious BIG performing — Chris Walter / WireImage

"Hypnotize" is classic Biggie Smalls. He starts with a boast ("Hah, sicka than your average") and proceeds to spit game, while a hypnotic D. Dot beat plays in the background. Puffy does his best to distract you ("Take that, take that), but trust me, you can still dance through it all.

21

of 50

Nelly: "Hot in Herre"

Nelly performing — M. Caulfield / WireImage

Nelly raised the temperature with this 2002 smash. "Hot in Herre" instantly became a summer hit and spawned a remix craze. It's a testament to the song's staying power that the phrase "It's getting hot in here!" is almost always followed by "So take off all your clothes!"

20

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Webstar x Young B: "Chicken Noodle Soup"

Webstar and Young B performing — Johnny Nunez / WireImage

Webster and Drizzle had the whole country going up in '06 with this rocket, which has its own dance instructions.

19

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Mystikal: "Shake Ya Ass"

Mystikal in concert — Frank Micelotta / Getty Images

In which Mystikal tells us to shake our tail, while yelling like a drill sergeant in need of a lozange. I dare you to resist this groove.

18

of 50

Huey: "Pop, Lock & Drop It"

At the height of crunk, in 2006, St. Louis rapper Huey emerged with this huge dance single which popped its way to No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

17

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N.E.R.D.: "Everyone Nose (All The Girls Standing In The Line For The Bathroom)"

N.E.R.D in concert — Lester Cohen / WireImage

A surefire floor filler and a standout from N.E.R.D.'s. The remix with Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco and Pusha T isn't too shabby, either.

16

of 50

Missy Elliott: "Get Ur Freak On"

Missy Elliott performing in 2001 — Jeff Kravitz / Getty Images

Missy Elliott and Timbaland is always a winning combination. On "Get Ur Freak On," the two amigos somehow managed to blend ingredients that had no business being in the same pot together: Indian strings, tribal drums and even some gibberish. The result is a timeless anthem.

15

of 50

T-Pain: "Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')"

T Pain and Young Joc performing — Rick Diamond / WireImage

Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin') is T-Pain's most definitive song. It combines auto-tuned vocals with an infectious snap beat. It also has the extra bonus of reprising many of the best dance rap songs of its time, including "Walk It Out" and "It's Goin' Down."

14

of 50

Lil Jon and The Eastside Boyz: "Get Low"

Lil Jon and The Eastside Boys — Tim Mosenfelder / Getty Images

How do you resist that sinful bass? You don't. You simply take it straight to the windooowww, to the wallll.

13

of 50

Unk: "Walk It Out"

Unk performing — Jemal Countess / WireImage for BET Network

DJ Unk sparked a dance craze in 2006 with his smash hit, "Walk It Out." MTV used the song as a walk-out score on America's Best Dance Crew to usher off losing contestants.

12

of 50

Dem Franchise Boyz: "Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It"

Dem Franchize Boyz performing — Shawn Ehlers / WireImage

It seems like distant memory now, but D4L and Dem Franchize Boyz were once embroiled in a heated feud over which group truly invented snap. The sound fizzled out, but party hits like D4L's "Laffy Taffy" and DFB's "Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It" live on.

11

of 50

Jim Jones: "We Fly High"

Something strange happened as I sat down to type the entry for this song. There was a middle-aged man across from me saying "Balllinnn!" every few minutes while carrying on a seemingly normal conversation with a friend. He's still feeling Jimmy's jam a decade later, apparently.

10

of 50

Cali Swag District: "Teach Me How to Dougie"

Following in the steps of Soulja Boy (and others), Cali Swag District built an instructional dance song around the concept of instructional dance songs. It was a huge success. Kate Upton scored a Sports Illustrated cover after doing the Dougie at a Clippers game. So keep Dougie'ing because you never know where that road might lead.

09

of 50

C+C Music Factory: "Gonna Make U Sweat (Everybody Dance)"

A simple hook, the perfect beat, and so kinetic you could almost feel the sweat forming around your forehead.

08

of 50

OutKast: "The Way You Move"

OutKast performing — M. Caulfield / WireImage for VH-1 Channel

OutKast's creativity really shines through when they're trying to elicit a reaction from us, be it anger, passion or plain ol gyration. "The Way You Move" is a perfect sampling of this side of the 'Kast.

07

of 50

Missy Elliott: "Lose Control"

Missy Elliott and Ciara performing — M. Caulfield / WireImage for BET Entertainment

"Lose Control" is the magic pill for any hip-hop party. If the energy at your party starts to wane, pop this in and watch everyone go monkey bananas. "Lose Control" incorporates a slice of Cybotron, a dash of electro, Fat Man Scoop's hype man steez, Ciara's sweet vocals and Missy's instructive rhymes to create the perfect dance song.

06

of 50

Flo Rida: "Low"

T-Pain and Flo-Rida performing — Johnny Nunez / WireImage

No one will remember Flo Rida's debut album (it's Mail on Sunday, by the way), but everyone who has ever been near a radio is familiar with his T-Pain-flavored debut single, "Low," a true hip-hop dance staple.

05

of 50

French Montana: "Pop That" (Ft. Drake)

Rick Ross, French Montana and Drake — Johnny Nunez / WireImage

When this drops in the club, you have no choice but to "Pop That" even if you have nothing to pop.

04

of 50

OutKast: "Hey Ya!"

Andre 3000 from OutKast performing — Chris Polk / Getty Images

Here's a challenge: Play "Hey Ya!" Sit still.

03

of 50

Snoop Dogg: "Drop It Like It's Hot"

Snoop Dogg and Pharrell performing — Chris Polk / Getty Images

Snoop Dogg dropped this one in the sweltering summer season of 2004 and watched it soar to the top of the charts. A decade later, it remains one of the hottest hip-hop dance songs ever.

02

of 50

Uncle Luke: "I Wanna Rock (Doo Doo Brown)"

Luke's "I Wanna Rock" album art — Deep Groove

"I Wanna Rock" is one of the most important twerk anthems of all time. A strip club favorite, this Miami bass hit relies on an effective call and response chant from the 2 Live Crew legend.

01

of 50

Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock: "It Takes Two"

Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock album art — Profile Records

It took two Harlemites--Rob Base and the late DJ E-Z Rock--a James Brown reference point, sturdy raps and an infectious hip-house beat to craft one of the greatest hip-hop songs of all time that also happens to be a dance mega-hit.

The 50 Best Hip-Hop Dance Songs