5 Best Hip Hop Instrumentals

What are the 5 best hip hop instrumentals? That's really a difficult question to answer. Hip hop, since its origins with the Sugar Hill Gang's "Rapper's Delight", has taken astronomical effect upon the mainstream. Everyone from the lyrically acclaimed Notorious B.I.G. to the quick-witted Slim Shady has had their word in on rapping. "Rap," as hip hop instrumentals are often know by, is a definitive genre of music that focuses on drumming, being an MC ("rapping"), beatboxing, and working as a DJ. Scratching, sampling and remixing are very common among hip hop instrumentals, and the totality of the genre.

1. "Unstoppable" - Santigold featuring Drake. Although the production doesn't actually feature "Drizzy" singing us his sweet words, it does feature Santigold's memorizing vocals in the background. Smooth, classy, and confident, this beat defines what intelligent hip hop instrumentals should be modeled after: a basic beat with relaxing melodies.
2. "Hate It or Love It" - The Game featuring 50 Cent. Gangster yet strangely homely, this melody brings us back to the old school. Disregarding the fact that this is one of the later hip hop instrumentals (produced in 2005), "Hate it or Love it" showcases lots of rap tradition in its contents. Lacking frivolous noise and brilliantly showcasing melody, this track has definitely earned a spot in our top 5 best Hip Hop instrumentals.
3. "I Used to Love H.E.R." - Common Sense. Whatever happened to refined 'East Coast'? Common will tell you (or as he was known back then, Common Sense). "I Used to Love H.E.R." talks about how it was like "Hearing Every Rhyme," when gangster subculture was reserved for the fools. The drums and sampling is simple, but very effective.
4. "How Do You Want It" - Tupac. Everyone remembers Makaveli, right? Well, Mr. Shakur died that fateful night in 1996, but his music still lives on.  "How Do You Want It" is chill, refined, and collected. Perhaps some of the best hip hop instrumentals could still learn from Shakur and the better side of West Coast hip hop.
5. "Big Pimpin'" - Jay-Z. Jigga knows how it's done. This piece is one of the best examples of sampling we could find. Taking an addictive, sexy moan, Sean Carter was able to turn this excellent instrumental into excellent dough.