By Lesley Mealor / Edited by Samantha Bellerose, B.Ed, Dip.Dance (Performing Arts)
Tired of hearing the same old, tired Kidz Bop songs on repeat when your child wants to practice their hip hop skills? As a dance teacher and judge, believe me, so am I! Finding clean, appropriate, and FUN music for hip hop is harder than it should be, but lucky for you, I’ve done the work already!
These 20 songs are good, clean fun with great beats for practicing hip hop, funk styles, and social dances.
Searching for appropriate music that kids will be excited to dance to can be a challenge. Ranging from artists your child knows and loves to oldies but goodies, and a few surprises in between, this playlist will be a hit for hip hop!
Your List of 20 Songs for Hip Hop Dance Classes
1. Independent Women Part I
With a relaxed beat and a strong message of female empowerment, this song by Destiny’s Child is sure to inspire your dancing kiddo!
2. Good Feeling
The tempo of this song is brisk, which is great for building stamina in hip hop dancers!
3. Working Class Heroes (Work)
I love using this song because it’s just plain fun, but it also has a great message that even though we all have to go to work, it can be fun!
4. It’s Just Begun (2002 Remastered)
This song has an old school funk feel perfect for practicing popping, locking, gliding or waving!
5. Fuego (Remix)
This song has such a fun groove you can’t help but dance! Throw in some Latin flair while you’re practicing!
6. Motown Philly
The early 90s produced some of the most popular R&B and hip hop artists, and Boyz II Men’s “Motown Philly” is a fun song to practice hip hop steps from that time period.
7. Shell Shocked
The 2014 movie “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” featured some pretty great music, including this hard hitting song by Juicy J, Wiz Khalifa and Ty Dolla $ign.
8. Good To Be Bad
The recent kid-friendly franchise “Descendants” produced some excellent music for hip hop, including this song with an upbeat message about being proud of where you come from!
9. How We Do
Snoop Dogg has come a long way from droppin’ it like it’s hot. He is featured in this song from “The Sponge Bob Movie: Sponge on the Run”.
10. Jump
Another old school hip hop song, “Jump” has a driving rhythm that is sure to keep your kiddos bouncing and rocking to to the beat!
11. Hey You (The Rock Steady Crew)
The Rock Steady Crew was an original breaking and hip hop crew that was famous in the early 1980s for their impressive breaking skills. The video for this song features some of these amazing early bboys and bgirls.
12. Let the Bass Go
With a fun and funky beat, “Let The Bass Go” by Black Knight is a great song for practicing or simply jamming out in the car!
13. Emoji
Beware – the chorus of this song will never leave your head once you hear it! “Emoji” by Brooklyn Queen is a true bop that kids will love dancing to!
14. My Baby
This Lil Romeo song samples from The Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back” and has a smooth, relaxed vibe for practicing the basics!
15. My Family
From the 2019 iteration of “The Addams Family”, this song features Migos and Snoop Dogg among others, and includes some fun adaptations of the classic snaps we all know and love! Use this song for practicing changing movement qualities.
16. Burnitup
Janet Jackson and Missy Elliot show us how to heat up the dance floor with their 2015 single “Burnitup”. This song has a jazzy feel which is great for street dance styles.
17. Pon de Replay
This pop song by Rhianna has elements of dance hall and reggae, and is perfect for trying out hip isolations.
18. Tick Tick Boom
A driving, hard hitting song from the 2020 release of “Scoob!”, “Tick Tick Boom” has a solid downbeat to keep your dancer in rhythm with the music!
19. Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It
Will Smith’s iconic “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It” might even inspire some moves from mom and dad! Be sure to break out your best matching tracksuits to fully dive into this song!
20. We’re Back
“Ghostbusters II” included this bop by Bobby Brown, and has a fast tempo that’s great for practicing footwork. You might even catch some ghosts if you’re lucky!
