Capital XTRA names Gangsta’s Paradise as the favourite Hip Hop song

Gangsta’s Paradise by Coolio featuring L.V. has been voted the biggest Hip Hop track in Capital XTRA’s 50 Years of Hip Hop survey.

A listener vote to chart 50 of the biggest Hip Hop tracks ever was held by the Global station, with the top 50 being played throughout August Bank Holiday Monday.

‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ was voted the top Hip Hop track, beating ‘Ready Or Not’ by The Fugees (feat. Lauryn Hill) and ‘The Real Slim Shady’ by Eminem. The 1995 hit featured on Coolio’s second album ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ and has received a number of accolades including Coolio being awarded a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance, MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video and Best Video From a Film and a Billboard Music Award for the song/album.

Capital XTRA has been celebrating the 50-year anniversary of the genre with a host of special on-air moments throughout the month.

Capital XTRA’s Omah Howard, who revealed the top song, said: “To celebrate 50 years of Hip Hop here at Capital XTRA, we’ve been counting down the greatest Hip Hop songs of all time voted for by you! Everything we have played today has shaped the picture we call Hip Hop, every song holds a unique piece of the puzzle to fit the picture.

“But there has to be a number one, and it can only be Coolio and LV ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’, the greatest Hip Hop song of all time, voted for by Capital XTRA listeners, announcing and it playing it gave me chills. What an incredible way to celebrate Hip Hop!”


Capital XTRA’s 50 Years of Hip Hop: The Greatest with Lucozade Zero

1. Gangsta’s Paradise – Coolio and L.V.
2. Ready Or Not – The Fugees (feat. Lauryn Hill)
3. The Real Slim Shady – Eminem
4. Stan – Eminem (feat. Dido)
5. California Love – 2Pac (feat. Dr. Dre)
6. In Da Club – 50 Cent
7. Still D.R.E. – Dr. Dre (feat. Snoop Dogg)
8. 99 Problems – Jay-Z
9. It’s Like That – Run-D.M.C
10. Without Me – Eminem