ESL Hip Hop

Learn English with hip-hop and rap.

Comparative Adjectives with Dead Prez

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Dead Prez is a hip-hop duo from New York City, and its members are stic.man and M-1. They are known for their aggressive and confrontational style, and their lyrics focus on socialism, social justice and Pan-Africanism, which is an ideology that encourages unity of all Africans worldwide. Dead Prez is particularly critical of corporate-controlled media, and they […]

Be Going To & Vocabulary with Bone Thugs n Harmony

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Bone Thugs n Harmony is a Grammy award-winning group from Cleveland, Ohio. The group consists of five members: Layzie Bone, Flesh-n-Bone, Bizzy Bone, Krayzie Bone and Wish Bone. Easy-E, former member of N.W.A., discovered and signed the group to Ruthless Records in 1993. Four years later, Easy-E passed away from AIDS, and Bone Thugs n […]

13 Words about Justice with Slick Rick

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Slick Rick, also known as Rick the Ruler, is a Grammy-nominated rapper from England. He started his career in 1983 during the Golden Age of hip-hop, and he joined Doug E Fresh’s Get Fresh Crew early in his career. Slick Rick is known for his narrative songs, and he is considered hip-hop’s best storyteller. In […]

“Had Better” with Eminem

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Even though hip-hop music has been around for over thirty years, very few great artists and rappers are known worldwide. Eminem is a rare exception, and many people across the globe recognize his face and music. His real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III, and he is sometimes referred to as Slim Shady. In “Lose […]

Learn 10 New Words with Lupe Fiasco

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Lupe Fiasco is a rapper, record producer and entrepreneur from Chicago, Illinois. He disliked hip-hop music in his early life because he thought it was too negative and vulgar, but he eventually developed an interest and joined a group when he was 19 years old. In “Around My Way” Lupe Fiasco offers his criticism of materialism, the […]

Celebrate Mother’s Day with Kanye West

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Kanye West is a rapper, record producer, film director and fashion designer from Chicago, Illinois. He made his first big break as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records where he worked on Jaz-Z’s 2001 album The Blueprint. In “Hey Mama” Kanye West dedicates the song to his mother, Donda West. He praises her for raising him in […]

First Conditional with Queen Latifah

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Queen Latifah is a versatile entertainer. She is a singer-songwriter, rapper, model, comedienne and actress. Over her career, she has won countless awards, including a Grammy in 1995 for Best Rap Performance. In her track “U.N.I.T.Y.” she speaks out against the disrespect of women in society and condemns sexist language that is often pervasive in […]

The Best Hip-Hop Song for the Present Perfect

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The Wu-Tang Clan is an American hip-hop group from Staten Island, New York City. They are one of the biggest and most successful hip-hop groups on the East Coast. The Wu-Tang Clan has nine members, including RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa and the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard. This […]

Level 1 Lesson 7: Everyday & Every Day

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Binary Star is an underground hip-hop duo from Pontiac, Michigan. The two members, Senim Sill and One Be Lo, formed the group in 1998 and released Water World in 1999. One year later, they remixed their debut album and renamed it Masters of the Universe, which eventually became a well-known LP. The duo grew apart and had a […]

Adverbs and Vocabulary with DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince

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DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince, whose real is Will Smith, were a hip-hop duo from West Philadelphia. In “Parents Just Don’t Understand”  The Fresh Prince sings about his annoying parents and tells an embarrassing story about his mother. The song appeared on the album He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper, and it won a […]

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