credit: Gaby Smith
It’s that time of year again and now it’s your turn to throw the Halloween house party. You’ve planned your ironic costume, you’ve hidden all the breakables, you’ve bought all the beer… but what about the music? This top ten list of hip hop tracks inspired by horror movies should set the right mood…
1) Monster – Kanye feat. Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Bon Iver and Nicki Minaj
How could we not start the list with this track? From arguably the best hip hop album of 2010, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is home to this absolute beast of a track. It boasts some impressive features such as Nicki Minaj wiping the floor with everyone within a ten mile radius and Rick Ross’s thirty three word opener. With references to classic monsters like Godzilla and King Kong as well as nightmare inducing Chuckie from Child’s Play (1988), this is a perfect Halloween track.
2) Addams Groove – MC Hammer
This jam from the nineties is the perfect excuse to down the punch bowl and throw some really bad shapes. Originally featured in The Addams Family (1991), this unusual mashup was give the green light for some reason. The nineties were a weird time, but if you don’t feel like dancing when you hear this, you’re taking Halloween too seriously. Loosen up.
3) Ghostbusters – Run DMC
This doesn’t need much of a preface as literally anything by Run DMC belongs on a house party playlist. However, this Ghostbusters II (1989) themed track is perfect for Halloween.
4) Scream – Master P feat Silkk The Shocker
Written with Scream 2 (1997) in mind, these two hip hop greats boast about smoking weed with the grim reaper himself. If the repeated shrieking woman sample in the hook isn’t enough to set the mood for your Halloween party, cancel it.
5) King – Mike G
It’s relatively common to hear throwbacks to Stephen King in hip hop, but Odd Future member Mike G decided to show everyone up by crafting an entire song out of references. The Shining (1980), Carrie (1976), The Mist (2007), Christine (1983), Firestarter (1984)… the list goes on. The analysed lyrics with all the refrences can be found HERE.
6) D’evils – Jay Z
This dark sounding track from Hova not only uses a sample of Snoop’s ‘Murder Was the Case’ for the hook but also references to The Exorcist (1973) to describe the evil possession money and greed has on the soul. Yeah, it’s a bit heavy, but that only makes it more appropriate for this time of year.
7) Murder Ink – Dr Dre
You probably have a copy of Dre’s 2001 in your car for when you fancy listening to The Next Episode on your way home from work. If you ever decide to skip to track 15 for a change, you’ll find this dark homage to John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978). The creepy piano sample is rather loved in the hip hop community and has also been used by the likes of Biggie, Soulja Boy and the Based God himself.
8) American Psycho – D12
Full of spooky imagery from Ouija boards to stone cold murder. As well as a title dedicated to Patrick Bateman in American Psycho (2000), Shady and Bizarre spit bars in reference to Clockwork Orange (1971), Halloween (1978) and Carrie (1976).
9) Gimme Some More – Busta Rhymes
Classic Busta doesn’t disappoint with a track that samples the eerie strings of Psycho (1960). The ghost of Hitchcock really likes this one.
10) A Nightmare of My Street – DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
Flash back to ’88 when everyone was having nightmares about Freddy Krueger, apparently even twenty year old Will Smith wasn’t safe. This track inspired by A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988) is a must have at Halloween.
HONORABLE MENTION
Bath Salt – ASAP Mob/Flatbush Zombies
Alright, so this one doesn’t technically reference any horror movies BUT the music video is perfect for projecting at your Halloween house party. The coven-esque witchcraft imagery will perfectly set the mood.
Donuts 