ESL Hip Hop

Learn English with hip-hop and rap.

Learn New Vocabulary and Idioms with Jay-Z

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Jay-Z is a rapper, record producer and entrepreneur from Brooklyn, New York City. In addition to being one of the most talented and best-selling MCs in the world,  Jay-Z is also one of the most financially successful hip-hop artists. He owns several companies and was even the former CEO of Def Jam Recordings. In 1998, […]

Idioms and Vocabulary with Pete Rock & CL Smooth

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Pete Rock and CL Smooth are a hip-hop duo from Mount Vernon, New York, which is a small city outside of New York City. They released their debut album, Mecca and the Soul Brother, in 1992 and released The Main Ingredient two years later. In “T.R.O.Y.” they pay respects and honor their deceased friend, Troy ‘Double T-Roy’ […]

Expressing Regrets Using ‘Should Have’ with Macklemore

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Macklemore is a rapper and musician from Seattle, Washington. He started creating music independently in 2000, and he now performs with producer Ryan Lewis. Although he was not born into a musical family, he was exposed to hip-hop at an early age and started writing lyrics at 14. Macklemore released his debut album The Heist in October […]

10 New Idioms You Must Learn Now with Yasiin Bey

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Yasiin Bey, formerly known as Mos Def, is an American MC and actor whose lyrics often focus on political and social issues. In 1998, he formed the duo Black Star with Talib Kweli, and they were a major force in the 1990s underground hip-hop scene. In “Mathematics” Yasiin Bey cleverly discusses social problems using numbers […]

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 […]

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 […]

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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