It’s not just Cleveland’s own rappers who have cause to reference our fair city, rappers from all over the world have given us a shout-out. Here are our top picks for the best hip-hop songs to feature Cleveland in their lyrics.
It’s not just Cleveland’s own rappers who have cause to reference our fair city, rappers from all over the world have given us a shout-out. Here are our top picks for the best hip-hop songs to feature Cleveland in their lyrics.
“Cleveland is the City,” by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
Starting off this list, of course, it has to be Bone Thugs-N-Harmony representing the city that “rocks.” Hailing from Cleveland, there’s only one Ohio city in Bone Thugs’ hearts. They express their love for the 216 on this track, “In the Columbus but they loved me not/When I went to Cleveland they said where you been/When I’m unconditional with my loving.”
Album art from Thug World Order“Cleveland,” by Machine Gun Kelly ft. Dubo
There’s no other rapper that is more proud to be from Cleveland than Machine Gun Kelly, and he lets you know it on Lace Up cut, “Cleveland.” Kelly “puts on” for his city in this hyped up anthem to CLE.
Screenshot of “Cleveland” music video“The Offs,” 2015 Cavs Playoff Anthem by Iman Shumpert
Iman Shumpert is a full time shooting guard and part-time rapper. When he’s not on the court, this NBA star is laying down rhymes. If only to help his fellow Cavs teammates get pumped up before games, as heard on this ridiculous 2015 Playoff Anthem.
Photo via imanshumpert/Instagram“God Only Really Knows (G.O.R.K.),” by FreshProduce
Local hip-hop duo, FreshProduce, are known for their left field-leaning funk beats. On “God Only Really Knows,” they up Cleveland’s beat game offering one of the most unique hip-hop songs the city has to offer.
Photo via wearefreshproduce/Instagram“Cleveland is the Reason,” by Kid Cudi
After Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Kid Cudi is arguably the biggest rapper from Cleveland. While he may be criticized by Machine Gun Kelly for leaving the city to become successful, he did made a track called “Cleveland is the Reason.” It appeared on his first official mixtape, which garnered attention from Kanye West. Here, Cudi claims Cleveland is the reason he’s cool.
Photo via kidcudi/Instagram“Cleveland Ohio,” by PARTYNEXTDOOR
The origins of this one-minute track from the Canadian rapper are unclear. Perhaps it’s about a fling he had with a girl in Cleveland singing, “She the one that I check, and the girl that I hit/Every time that I hit the O-Town.”
Photo via partynextdoor/Instagram“LeBron Flamez,” by Ripp Flamez
In the opening of the very well shot “LeBron Flamez” video, you hear a sportscaster announcing, “LeBron James who delivers on his promise to come home, and bring a championship to his beloved hometown,” while the city of Cleveland comes together downtown to celebrate. Ripp gives a shoutout to LeBron on this ode to the Cavs player, with the hook looking through his eyes, “There’s no way they gon’ do this without me/I been down, fuck 2 plays, I been out 3/I’m gon’ go to the hole, they gon’ foul me.”
Photo via rippflamez/Instagram“608AM in Cleveland,” by Well$
Well$ may be a rising rapper from North Carolina, but one night in Cleveland he was hit with inspiration to record here. “608am in Cleveland” shows the spontaneity of crafting a track. “Getting geeked up with some friends/It’s 3am/And I don’t sleep,” he announces at the beginning of the song letting you know when he started to record. 6:08 a.m. could be when they finished their song in Cleveland.
Photo via wellwellwells/Twitter“Starlight,” by Childish Gambino
On this Gambino track, DC Pierson references the 30 Rock episode (Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino used to write for the show), “Cleveland,” where Liz Lemon’s boyfriend (Floyd) leaves her to move back to the city. “On some Liz Lemon movin’ back to Cleveland.”
Because the Internet album art“So Right (Cleveland Remix),” by Milford Jerome
Milford Jerome must be a big J.R. Smith fan because the original “So Right” came out in 2013 when Smith was playing for the Knicks. Jerome updated the tune in 2015 when Smith came over to the Cavs, giving us the Cleveland remix of “So Right.” Explaining where Smith went on the chorus, “No need to miss me I’m not gone/I’m just ballin with LeBron.”
Sreenshot from the “So Right Remix (The Spearhead)” music video“Rasta,” by MellowHype ft. Tyler the Creator
The members of Odd Future may all be currently working on separate things, but there was one time when ringleader Tyler the Creator threw Cleveland a quick shoutout on this Mellowhype track. “My n**** Brain Leftin’, O-high like Cleveland.”
Yellowhite album art“No Wendy’s (Controlla Remix),” by Young Thug
On this track the rapper does name drop Cleveland, but he’s referencing Cleveland Avenue in Atlanta, where he’s from. However, Young Thug follows it up quick with a Kyrie Irving reference rapping, “I’m on Cleveland like I’m Kyrie Irving/Same place I caught my first STD.”
Photo via youngthug/Instagram“Purple Coming In,” by Future
“Purple Coming In” is a reference to Future’s love affair with lean (a purple, prescription-strength cough syrup-based drink), and it follows him where ever he goes, including Cleveland. “I sip out my cup and I need it/I grew up in the rut and I seized it/Sip the four of that Tuss’ out in Cleveland.”
Photo via future/Instagram“Selfish,” by Slum Village
Slum Village, the hip-hop group across the lake from Detroit, is known for having one of the most influential producers in the genre, J Dilla. While Dilla split from the group in 2001 a pre-megastar Kanye West takes over the production duties and even has a verse on “Selfish.” It’s an ode to females across the Globe. Elzhi raps and thanks, Jonetta from Cleveland for “some good head” in her Jetta. (Clever).
Detroit Deli album art“Get it in Ohio,” by Cam’ron
Ohio is unofficially the adopted home of Harlem rapper, Cam’ron (he owns a nightclub in Columbus). He’s name-dropped plenty of Ohio cities throughout his discography, but “Get it in Ohio” is where he talks about the state the most. Rapping about supplying drugs to the different cities. While Cleveland isn’t mentioned in this track the rapper does reference LeBron saying, “And in Akron, my n****s they would throw things/Not King James, these were coke kings.”
Crime Pays album art“Oil Money,” ft. Chuck Inglish, King Chip, Bun B & Dan Auerbach by Freddie Gibbs
King Chip recognizes his Cleveland roots on this Freddie Gibbs cut. The rapper, formally known as Chip tha Ripper, talks about how cold CLE can get in the winter rapping, “Cleveland n****, wintertime I catch a flight to somewhere sunny/Come to visit.”
Screenshot from “Oil Money” music video“All Girl Crazy,” by Dom Kennedy
On “All Girl Crazy,” Dom raps about how much he loves females, especially from the Midwest. “I fuck with Ohio, It’s ladies in Cleveland.”
Photo via dopeitsdom/Instagram“B.O.B.B.Y.” by RZA
On “B.O.B.B.Y.,” the Wu-Tang leader, RZA, takes a stab at Indians fans saying, “Stalked like a tomahawk, Indian bitch you get scalped/Like a ticket sold in Cleveland, you feel me in.” The scalping here is referencing both the scalping of someone’s head and those who illegally sell tickets at a higher cost, “like you might see at a Cleveland Indians game,” according to Genius.
Bobby Digital in Stereo album art“Welcome to Cleveland” by ThugDub ft. Joey Aich
“Straight from South Carolina to Cleveland,” ThugDub announces on this track. He brings boom bap style with him from the East Coast to the Midwest.
“Welcome to Cleveland” album art
