Seven Ghostwritten Songs Every Rap Fan Should Know by Genius Lyrics
With the arrival of Dr Dre's first album in 15 years and the on-going feud between Drake and Meek Mill, we thought it was time to shed some light on a few of the greatest ever ghostwritten songs in rap. We hand picked seven of the most famous ghost written songs, with the likes of Jay Z, Nas, and Ice Cube all penning songs for other MC's.Song: "Boyz N Da Hood"
Artist: Eazy E
Ghostwriter: Ice Cube (Credited)
Best line: "Cruisin' down the street in my '64"
Originally intended for fellow Ruthless Records signee H.B.O, the Ice Cube penned "Boyz N Da Hood" was one of many joints Cube wrote for Eazy E. As his breakout solo debut and one of his standout individual performances, the song is an important piece in the late rappers' legacy, influencing the likes of The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Jim Jones, UGK, and Yelawolf.Song: "Still D.R.E"
Artist: Dr. Dre
Ghostwriter: Jay Z (Credited)
Best line: "Treat rap like Cali weed, I smoke 'til I sleep"
Dr. Dre's nearly flawless second studio album 2001 needed to be the proof that Dre was back on his feet after a long wait from 1992 - he got that with "Still D.R.E." The album brought back the classic G-Funk era, if not for one last stand in the mainstream. Neither Snoop or Dre have writer credits on this song; the entirety of the credit is given to Jay Z, a familiar New Yorker whose debut album premiered just 3 years prior. Running the show on both coasts was quite a feat.Song: "Gettin' Jiggy With It"
Artist: Will Smith
Ghostwriter: Nas (Uncredited)
Best line: "Now honey honey come ride, DKNY, All up in my eye"
While Will Smith has taken his talents to the world of visual entertainment with phenomena like Men In Black and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, his rap career is often forgotten. "Gettin' Jiggy With It" was the third decisive single from Smith's Big Willie Style in 1997, and as it turns out it may have included a bit of Nas' style as well. Nas finally elaborated on the rumor in 2014 in a Reddit AMA:Alright, let's clear this up once and for all. I hung out with Will in the studio. And watched him write it. It was a fun studio session, and I said a line or two or three to him. It wasn't that serious. Will Smith wrote that song.
But seriously, I watched him have fun making that record on his own, and Will is a true MCSong: "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang"
Artist: Dr.Dre
Ghostwriter: The D.O.C (Credited)
Best line: “Like my nigga D.O.C. / No one can do it better”
Even losing his voice from a near fatal car accident in 1989 couldn't keep The D.O.C out of the rap game. While living with Snoop and Warren G the very next year, the MC from Dallas penned arguably his most famous track for Dr Dre titled "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang." He even shouted himself out - how meta is that?Song: "Rapper's Delight"
Artist: Sugarhill Gang
Ghostwriter: Grandmaster Caz (Uncredited)
Best line: "Everybody go: Hotel, motel, whatcha gonna do today (say what?) Cause I'ma get a fly girl, gonna get some spank and drive off in a def OJ"
Ghostwriting may date back to 1979 and a New Jersey pizza shop. According to Grandmaster Caz, his then manager Big Bank Hank stole the lyrics for The Sugarhill Gang's breakout hit "Rapper's Delight." He makes a pretty solid case, considering Hank referred to himself as Caz's alter-ego Casanova Fly: "I’m the C-A-S-N the O-V-A and the rest is F-L-Y."Song: "The Message"
Artist: Dr Dre
Ghostwriter: Royce Da 5'9 (Credited)
Best line: "It's just not me, but you know I'mma always ride wit you, I miss you, sometimes I wish I just died wit you"
Originally written about Royce's friend who was shot in the neck on a corner block, Dre reportedly heard the track in the studio and immediately thought about his recently departed half-brother Tyree. Royce didn't even know about his Dre's brother until after he'd written the song. The rest they say, is history.Song: "I'll Be Missing You"
Artist: Diddy
Ghostwriter: Sauce Money (Credited)
Best line: "Give anythin' to hear half your breath, half your breath / I know you still livin' your life, after death"
The second tribute song to make the list, "I'll Be Missing You" is Puff Daddy's tribute to the late Notorious B.I.G. Written by one-time member of Jay Z's crew Sauce Money, the song actually won a Grammy and is currently ranked in the top 100 biggest songs of all time according to Billboard.What are your favorite ghostwritten tracks? Let us know in the comments below!
Artist: Eazy E
Ghostwriter: Ice Cube (Credited)
Best line: "Cruisin' down the street in my '64"
Originally intended for fellow Ruthless Records signee H.B.O, the Ice Cube penned "Boyz N Da Hood" was one of many joints Cube wrote for Eazy E. As his breakout solo debut and one of his standout individual performances, the song is an important piece in the late rappers' legacy, influencing the likes of The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Jim Jones, UGK, and Yelawolf.Song: "Still D.R.E"
Artist: Dr. Dre
Ghostwriter: Jay Z (Credited)
Best line: "Treat rap like Cali weed, I smoke 'til I sleep"
Dr. Dre's nearly flawless second studio album 2001 needed to be the proof that Dre was back on his feet after a long wait from 1992 - he got that with "Still D.R.E." The album brought back the classic G-Funk era, if not for one last stand in the mainstream. Neither Snoop or Dre have writer credits on this song; the entirety of the credit is given to Jay Z, a familiar New Yorker whose debut album premiered just 3 years prior. Running the show on both coasts was quite a feat.Song: "Gettin' Jiggy With It"
Artist: Will Smith
Ghostwriter: Nas (Uncredited)
Best line: "Now honey honey come ride, DKNY, All up in my eye"
While Will Smith has taken his talents to the world of visual entertainment with phenomena like Men In Black and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, his rap career is often forgotten. "Gettin' Jiggy With It" was the third decisive single from Smith's Big Willie Style in 1997, and as it turns out it may have included a bit of Nas' style as well. Nas finally elaborated on the rumor in 2014 in a Reddit AMA:Alright, let's clear this up once and for all. I hung out with Will in the studio. And watched him write it. It was a fun studio session, and I said a line or two or three to him. It wasn't that serious. Will Smith wrote that song.
But seriously, I watched him have fun making that record on his own, and Will is a true MCSong: "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang"
Artist: Dr.Dre
Ghostwriter: The D.O.C (Credited)
Best line: “Like my nigga D.O.C. / No one can do it better”
Even losing his voice from a near fatal car accident in 1989 couldn't keep The D.O.C out of the rap game. While living with Snoop and Warren G the very next year, the MC from Dallas penned arguably his most famous track for Dr Dre titled "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang." He even shouted himself out - how meta is that?Song: "Rapper's Delight"
Artist: Sugarhill Gang
Ghostwriter: Grandmaster Caz (Uncredited)
Best line: "Everybody go: Hotel, motel, whatcha gonna do today (say what?) Cause I'ma get a fly girl, gonna get some spank and drive off in a def OJ"
Ghostwriting may date back to 1979 and a New Jersey pizza shop. According to Grandmaster Caz, his then manager Big Bank Hank stole the lyrics for The Sugarhill Gang's breakout hit "Rapper's Delight." He makes a pretty solid case, considering Hank referred to himself as Caz's alter-ego Casanova Fly: "I’m the C-A-S-N the O-V-A and the rest is F-L-Y."Song: "The Message"
Artist: Dr Dre
Ghostwriter: Royce Da 5'9 (Credited)
Best line: "It's just not me, but you know I'mma always ride wit you, I miss you, sometimes I wish I just died wit you"
Originally written about Royce's friend who was shot in the neck on a corner block, Dre reportedly heard the track in the studio and immediately thought about his recently departed half-brother Tyree. Royce didn't even know about his Dre's brother until after he'd written the song. The rest they say, is history.Song: "I'll Be Missing You"
Artist: Diddy
Ghostwriter: Sauce Money (Credited)
Best line: "Give anythin' to hear half your breath, half your breath / I know you still livin' your life, after death"
The second tribute song to make the list, "I'll Be Missing You" is Puff Daddy's tribute to the late Notorious B.I.G. Written by one-time member of Jay Z's crew Sauce Money, the song actually won a Grammy and is currently ranked in the top 100 biggest songs of all time according to Billboard.What are your favorite ghostwritten tracks? Let us know in the comments below!