Top 5 amazing Christmas rap songs you didn’t know exist: ‘Christmas Rappin’ to ‘Ludacrismas’, here's full list
Christmas is around the corner, and it is that time of the year when everybody plugs into their favourite Christmas songs to spread the festive cheer. Some of the famous Christmas songs include Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’, 'Last Christmas’ by Wham!, ‘It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas’ by Michael Buble, ‘The Little Drummer Boy (Peace on Earth)’ by Bing Crosby & David Bowie and the list goes on. These songs are so popular that people rarely listen to other genres. However, let’s give it a break to the yearly ritual and switch to a genre where you would least expect to get hold of the festival spirit.
We have listed down top five ridiculously good Christmas rap songs you didn’t know exist.
Kurtis Blow, ‘Christmas Rappin’ (1979)
“Don't you give me all that jive about things you wrote before I's alive, ‘Cause this ain't 1823/ain't even 1970/Now I'm the guy named Kurtis Blow and Christmas is one thing I know/So every year just about this time, I celebrate it with a rhyme” raps Kurtis Blow in the 1979 hit single ‘Christmas Rappin.’ This is one of the best rap songs when it comes to celebrating Christmas. The song also made the rapper a star overnight. Kurtis raps real fast over a rough scratchy beat and adlibs in the background just add to the vibe. According to the website Song Facts, it became the first Gold-certified rap song for selling over 500,000 copies.
Run-DMC, ‘Christmas In Hollis’ (1987)
One of the iconic hip-hop groups Run-DMC is widely known for their songs like ‘It’s Tricky’, ‘Rock Box’, ‘Peter Piper’ and ‘My Adidas’ among others. However, not many are aware but the legendary group also has a Christmas song in their catalogue known as ‘Christmas In Hollis’. The song was released in 1987 from the album ‘A Very Special Christmas’ and surprisingly got a positive response from the fans. The trio can be seen rapping over a slow beat packed with trumpets. The track was produced by the group along with Rick Rubin and was originally released as a single in 1987. ‘Christmas In Hollis’ reached number 78 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in 2000, 13 years after it was first released.
Ludacris, ‘Ludacrismas’ (2007)
If you are looking forward to vibing on a gangster Christmas rap song, then nothing can beat Ludacris’ 2017 track ‘Ludacrismas.’ The American rapper bursts into rap, “Tell Santa Claus to bring a ten million dollar check/So I could spread a little cheer/Fly a couple leers/Eat a little chicken, drink a couple beers/Kick back and just chill like a player would do.” The song was also featured in the 2007 movie ‘Fred Claus’ and it samples the classic 1947 holiday record of the same name. This one should be played on a loop.
Lil Jon feat Kool-Aid Man, ‘All I Really Want for Christmas’ (2018)
The song was released in 2018 by the “King of Crunk” Lil Jon and also featured Kool-Aid Man, who is the official mascot for Kool-Aid, a brand of flavoured drink mix. The crossover track was loved by one and all and fits perfectly if you are throwing a Christmas party with your college buddies. The track title does sound similar to that of Mariah Carey’s biggest career hit ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ but is nowhere close to it. The music and the lyrics are completely meant for the hip-hop fans. The track was released as a part of the beverage campaign with an intention to reach younger consumers with a new “party anthem” around the holidays.
Tyler, the Creator, ‘Big Bag’ (2018)
2018 saw another Christmas themed song released by prolific rapper Tyler, the Creator. He in fact, dropped an entire EP inspired by Grinch called ‘Music Inspired by Illumination & Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch.’ The song ‘Big Bang’ was very much part of the six-track EP. With his giddy internal rhymes and heavy percussion, Tyler spits, “I was wrapping gifts age six with the paper bandanas, Mom was always honest/I ain't never had a Santa Claus/ She was my amigo like my buddies from Atlanta/ We was hopin' for a signal, too afraid to change the channel, yo.” The song and the EP is a lesser-known project from the rapper but can surely be played during Christmas.