Tasty Tracks: Food-Related Hip-Hop for Your Lunch Break

Lunch breaks are best spent with great food and great music. I don’t know about you, but I find that to really feel like I’m getting a break, I need to get my brain off work. Music is a great way to do that. Try these tracks or even toss on the playlist during your next break!

MF DOOM – One Beer

Hey, who said you can’t have a beer on your break? “One Beer” from Mm..Food is a classic song on a classic album. For those unaware, this song was actually recorded for Madvilliany (hence the Madlib beat). Ultimately Madlib felt the song didn’t match the vibe of Madvilliany, so it found its home on MF DOOM’s album—where it’s a perfect fit. RIP DOOM.

Lupe Fiasco – Gotta Eat

Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool is a great album front to back. This song in particular showcases Lupe’s ability to use metaphors to an extent that most rappers could only dream of. The song tells the story of a gangster who you learn about throughout the album, but on “Gotta Eat,” he uses food metaphors. Enjoy!

J Dilla – Last Donut of the Night

Donuts is one of my favourite albums, and this beat is a standout. It’s so smooth. When I had the idea for this post, I knew I had to include it. Plus, the music video is pretty funny.

Goodie Mob – Soul Food

On this title track, Goodie Mob show their appreciation for southern food like chicken, rice, and gravy. This is a song for the food that hits the spot.

Gucci Mane – Lemonade

Gucci’s song “Lemonade” might be one of his most recognizable, and for good reason. It’s fun, catchy, and provocative. This man said he’s putting codeine syrup in his lemonade and that his Corvette is painted lemon. I may not relate, but what I can relate to is craving a cold glass on lemonade on a hot Summer day.  

Kendrick Lamar – DUCKWORTH.

This song is about Kendrick’s father working at a KFC in the ‘90s. Top Dawg, who later signed Kendrick, was planning to rob that KFC. It’s a wild and emotional journey with a top-of-the-line beat from 9th Wonder. Not exactly about food, but the whole song takes place within a KFC.

A Tribe Called Quest – Ham ‘N’ Eggs

I’ve always felt like People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm was underrated compared to some of the other Tribe albums. A lot of the album has aged very well, with exception to the lyric “I don’t eat no ham n’ eggs, ’cause they’re high in cholesterol.” Now a days, we love our eggs. I’m eating eggs to this track, and some ham for good measure.

Looking for more great songs and artists? Browse one our collections of underrated songs from 2021, reviews of projects, and artist guides.