Iconic Piano Riffs in Hip Hop (Word Is Bond Rap Radio)

Posted on by Irfan Akhtar

Charles Cornell has an amazing YouTube channel where he breaks down the musical elements of different songs. He often plays along on the piano as he listens to a song and tries to figure out what makes it work. His videos touch on all sorts of eras, genres, and mediums.

One of his most recent ones breaks down some iconic piano riffs in Hip Hop. He explores some great songs and even teaches us how they were created sonically.

On his YouTube channel he only includes snippets of the songs, I played each song in its entirety this episode while still managing to get all his insights and commentary in there.

I kick off and close out the show with a mixset of more songs that have great piano riffs in them. And there are so many more that I didn’t get to. Perhaps a sequel is needed.

Until then, let’s tickle those ivories!

Chase March & Wizekrak – Word is Bond Theme
The Grouch & Eligh – Piano Guy
Jay-Z – Dead Presidents
Masta Ace & Marco Polo – Breukelen “Brooklyn”
Babylon Warchild ft Punchliemn & Wordsworth – Piano Keys
Miilkbone – Keep It Real
O.C. – Word…Life
Godd Boddies – Get Down On Your Knees
Dan-e-o – Dear Hip Hop
Moore & Exit Only – The Chant
Frankenstein – Rain is Gone
G-Unit – Poppin’ Them Thangs
Nas – NY State of Mind
Nas – The World Is Yours
Eminem – Mockingbird
Kendrick Lamar – Humble
Lupe Fiasco – I Gotcha
Tyler the Creator – See You Again
Wu-Tang Clan – C.R.E.A.M.
2Pac ft Dre Dre – California Love
Dr Dre – Still D.R.E.
Raw Fusion – Rockin’ To The P.M.
Young MC – My Name is Young/
Rakim – When I Be On Tha Mic
Kanye West ft Adam Levine – Heard Em Say
Talib Kweli – Get By
The Notorious B.I.G. – 1970 Something
Jay-Z – Lost Ones
E. Bros – Funky Piano
Swamp Thing & Uncle Fester – Cashews
2Pac – Changes

Original Air Date – Thursday October 20th, 2022

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