No one has the same type of holiday spirit that a rapper does. From Kanye West to Run-D.M.C., their spins on Christmas classics or originals range from hilarious to the weird and serious, but all stay true to themselves.
Busta Rhymes made Justin Bieber‘s “Drummer Boy” a stand-out track from Bieber’s Under the Mistletoe album, while DMX‘s impromptu Power 105 remix to “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” gives the original a run for its money. Tyler, The Creator has moved past his “F–k Santa” days, showing off a newfound enthusiasm for the season through his involvement with the 2018 film The Grinch.
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Below, check out Billboard‘s 30 favorite Christmas hip hop songs, in no particular order. (You might not actually want to play these around the kids on Christmas Day.)
1. Kanye West, Cam’Ron, Jim Jones, Vado, Pusha T, Musiq Soulchild, CyHi Da Prynce, Teyana Taylor and Big Sean, “Christmas in Harlem”
2. Run D.M.C., “Christmas in Hollis”
3. TLC, “Sleigh Ride”
4. DMX, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Remix)”
5. Run the Jewels, “A Christmas F–king Miracle”
6. Kurtis Blow, “Christmas Rappin'”
7. Eazy-E, “Merry Muthaf–kin’ Xmas”
8. Run-D.M.C., Mase, Diddy, Snoop Dogg, Salt-N-Pepa, Onyx and Keith Murray, “Santa Baby”
9. Snoop Dogg, “Santa Claus Goes Straight to the Ghetto”
10. Ying Yang Twins, “Deck da Club”
11. Ghostface Killah, “Ghostface X-Mas”
12. Justin Bieber feat. Busta Rhymes, “Drummer Boy”
13. Mr. Lif, “Santa’s Got a Muthaf–kin Uzi”
14. RZA & Craig Ferguson, “Deck the Halls”
15. Jim Jones, “Ballin’ on Xmas”
16. Treacherous 3, “Christmas Rap”
17. Ludacris, “Ludacrismas”
18.De La Soul, “Millie Pulled On Santa”
19. The Juice Crew All-Stars, “Cold Chillin’ Christmas”
20. Outkast, “Player’s Ball (Christmas Version)”
21. Gucci Mane, “St. Brick Intro”
22. Chance The Rapper, “I’m Your Santa”
23. Lil Jon Feat. Kool-Aid Man, “All I Really Want For Christmas”
24. Tyler, The Creator, “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch”
25. Jermaine Dupri, Bow Wow, Mariah Carey, “All I Want for Christmas is You (So So Def Remix)”
26. DRAM, “#1HAPPYHOLIDAY”
27. Trick Daddy Feat. LaTocha Scott, “Thug Holiday”
28. Chris Brown, “This Christmas”
29. Def Loaf Feat. Kodak Black, “All I Want for Christmas”
30. Jeezy, “Hustlaz Holiday”