Posse cuts – or any track that involves successive verses by at least four rappers – is the ultimate display of rhyme skills in hip-hop as rappers are encouraged to display their best in the spirit of friendly competition. Below are the top ten posse cuts of all time, ranked.
10.) Odd Future – Oldie (2012)
Best Verse: Frank Ocean
During the peak of Odd Future’s meteoric rise to the top, the enigmatic collective dropped “Oldie,” a 10-minute throwback track which highlighted each member’s individual lyrical style, even featuring a witty rap verse from Frank Ocean. Even more interesting was Earl Sweatshirt’s return to music with “Oldie” being his first performance in over a year after being sent to boarding school in Samoa until his eighteenth birthday.
9.) Missy Elliott featuring Lil Mo, Nas, Eve, and Q-Tip – Hot Boyz (Remix) (1999)
Best Verse: Eve
With Lil Mo on the hook and Missy, Nas, Eve, and Q-Tip each delivering solid verses over the enthralling beat, “Hot Boyz” is probably the smoothest track on the list. Although competing against Nas in his prime, Eve steals the show with her impeccable flow and straight bars.
8.) Master P featuring Fiend, Silkk the Shocker, Mia X, and Mystikal – Make ‘Em Say Uhh ! (1998)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5ZvzIOO6aU
Best Verse: Mystikal
Following its basketball-themed video, this classic late ’90s track features the Starting Five of No Limit Records – Fiend, Silkk the Shocker, Mia X, Mystikal, and of course, legendary rapper and mogul Master P. Comprised of a hard-hitting beat and an infectious hook, Make ‘Em Say Uhh! is a notable posse cut guaranteed to get you on your feet.
7.) A$AP Rocky featuring Kendrick Lamar, Joey Badass, Yelawolf, Danny Brown, Action Bronson, and Big K.R.I.T – 1 Train (2013)
Best verse: Big K.R.I.T.
This Hit-Boy produced track, which was intended to be “a posse cut that felt like an original ’90s underground track,” certainly achieves its goal. The nostalgia-commanding song from Long. Live. A$AP. effortlessly bridges the gap between East Coast (A$AP, Joey Bada$$, and Action Bronson), West Coast (Kendrick Lamar), Midwest (Danny Brown), and Southern (Yelawolf and Big K.R.I.T) rappers.
6.) Shawty Lo featuring Ludacris, Young Jeezy, Plies, and Lil Wayne – Dey Know (Remix)(2008)
Best Verse: Lil Wayne
Billed as the “Dirty South” version, the “Dey Know” remix is a conglomeration of the hottest Southern hip-hop artists of the time – Ludacris, Plies, Lil Wayne, and the late great Shawty Lo. Rapping in his quintessential whisper style, Lo asserts his position in the rap game while reminding haters that he “got them same kinda guns like T.I.” Of course, Lil Wayne – who was popping up on remixes of nearly every rap song during this era – is the true star of this show.
5.) Kanye West featuring Jay-Z, Pusha T, CyHi the Prynce, Swizz Beatz, and RZA – So Appalled (2010)
Best Verse: Jay-Z
Although “Monster” may be slightly better (mainly due to Nicki Minaj’s fiery verse), “So Appalled” edges it out with its simplistic yet lush production and all-star cast. Probably the most underrated track on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, “So Appalled” is a star-studded cipher that addresses the rapper’s critics and naysayers as each employ an assortment of pop culture references (including a prophetic “Balding Donald Trump taking dollars from y’all” line from Kanye himself).
4.) Busta Rhymes featuring Mary J. Blige, Rah Digga, Missy Elliott, Lloyd Banks, Papoose, and DMX – Touch It (Remix) (2005)
Best Verse: DMX
Built off of a hypnotic Daft Punk sample, Busta Rhymes enlists a variety of artists – including Mary J. Blige, Lloyd Banks, and DMX among others – on this lively remix. The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul boasts about her record-breaking first week sales, Rah Digga and Missy bring a flirtatious flavor, Papoose uses his finger tattoo of the five boroughs to metaphorically hold down NYC, and DMX literally murders his verse.
3.) Craig Mack featuring the Notorious B.I.G., LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, and Rampage – Flava in Ya Ear (Remix) (1994)
Best Verse: The Notorious B.I.G.
“Here comes that brand new flava in ya ear,” Craig Mack spits to announce that he’s bringing something fresh to the rap game. As the lead single from his debut album Project Funk da World, this remix featuring fellow Bad Boy label mate The Notorious B.I.G., LL Cool J, and then newcomers Busta Rhymes and Rampage is comprised of a sleek and irresistible sample of O’Donel Levy’s “We’ve Only Just Begun.”
2.) UGK featuring Outkast – Int’l Player’s Anthem (2007)
Best Verse: Andre 3000
A classic in every sense of the word. Released as the second single from their album Underground Kingz, UGK enlisted the dynamic duo Outkast for this groovy track which samples Willie Hutch’s “I Choose You.” Andre 3000’s highly quotable opening verse – a sweet tale cherishing the beauty of monogamy – gracefully sets the tone for the rest of the track. Although Big Boi’s verse is the complete opposite of Three Stacks’ thematically, the rapper shines with his verse as well as he cautions against being trapped (“Dump-dump in the gut, raw from the giddy up/Better choose the right one or pick-pick the kiddies up”).
1.) A Tribe Called Quest featuring Leaders of the New School – Scenario (1992)
Best Verse: Phife Dawg and Busta Rhymes (tie)
From the energy, the flow, and the wordplay, “Scenario” is the quintessential posse cut. A Tribe Called Quest teams up with Charlie Brown, Dinco D, and then nineteen year old Busta Rhymes from Leaders of the New School for this boom-bap excellence. Producing classic lines, such as Phife Dawg’s”Bust a nut inside your eye to show you where I come from” and Busta Rhymes’ “Rah-rah, Like a dungeon dragon,” the track is playfully fun while still filled with impeccable rhymes.