By Ama Brown 
AFRO Editorial Assistant 

From the fun to the sentimental, this week, the AFRO has compiled a list of classic hip-hop songs to fill the air with holiday cheer.  While we love Mariah Carey, in the 50th year of hip-hop, the time is now to highlight the work of the beat riders and rhyme writers who have carried the genre on their backs for decades, solidifying a movement. This Christmas, make sure you get into the holiday spirit with these hip-hop holiday tunes. Share your favorite hip-hop songs with the AFRO via social media, using the hashtag the #AFROhiphopholiday

Happy holidays and happy 50th anniversary to hip-hop!

  1. Kurtis Blow’s 1979 hit, “Christmas Rappin,” is a classic that features amodernized rendition of “Twas the night before Christmas.”  
  2. Run DMC’s “Christmas in Hollis” was a breakout hit from the Def Jam Records charity album in 1987.
  3. TLC’s 1992 song, “Sleigh Ride,” is a Christmas tune for the old heads looking to jam to the world’s most iconic trios.
  4. In 1996 Snoop Dogg turned “Santa Claus Goes Straight To The Ghetto” into a posse cut, featuring Daz, Nate Dogg, Tray Deee and others. Take on the holiday with the smooth tones of Nate Dogg’s vocals and Snoop Dogg’s festive lyrics.
  5. Ying Yang Twins’ 2014 song, “Ho Ho Ho,” is the perfect selection for the Christmas party where no kids are allowed.
  6. Dej Loaf and Kodak Black teamed up in 2016 for their song “All I Want for Christmas,” a holiday tune with a sentimental vibe. 
  7. The party is still going more than two decades after Quad City DJs released their 1995 hit, “What You Want for Christmas.”
  8. In 2012, rap artist DMX was asked for an impromptu Christmas song. What he delivered was a gritty twist on the classic hit “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
  9. Tyler the Creator debuted “Big Bag” in 2018, bringing Dr. Seuss’s “The Grinch who stole Christmas” to life.
Kurtis Blow’s 1979 hit, “Christmas Rappin,” is a classic that features a modernized rendition of “Twas the night before Christmas.”  Courtesy of Discogs
Run DMC’s “Christmas in Hollis” was a breakout hit from the Def Jam Records charity album in 1987. Courtesy of SoundCloud
TLC’s 1992 song, “Sleigh Ride,” is a Christmas tune for the old heads looking to jam to the world’s most iconic trios. Courtesy of Discogs
In 1996 Snoop Dogg turned “Santa Claus Goes Straight To The Ghetto” into a posse cut, featuring Daz, Nate Dogg, Tray Deee and others. Take on the holiday with the smooth tones of Nate Dogg’s vocals and Snoop Dogg’s festive lyrics. Courtesy of Amazon
Ying Yang Twins’ 2014 song, “Ho Ho Ho,” is the perfect selection for the Christmas party where no kids are allowed. Courtesy of Spotify
The party is still going more than two decades after Quad City DJs released their 1995 hit, “What You Want for Christmas.” Courtesy of Soundcloud
In 2012, rap artist DMX was asked for an impromptu Christmas song. What he delivered was a gritty twist on the classic hit “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Courtesy of Discogs
The party is still going more than two decades after Quad City DJs released their 1995 hit, “What You Want for Christmas.” Courtesy of Soundcloud
Tyler the Creator debuted “Big Bag” in 2018, bringing Dr. Seuss’s “The Grinch who stole Christmas” to life. Courtesy of Spotify