Examples of "Clean" Hip-Hop Songs (over 30 years) (from Adam Kruse)

The following comes from Adam Kruse's (2016) article, "Featherless Dinosaurs and the Hip-Hop Simulacrum: Reconsidering Hip-Hop's Appropriateness for the Music Classroom" in Music Educators Journal.

​​Examples of “Clean” Hip-Hop Songs (over 30 years)
“Clean” is in the ears of the listener. Teachers should listen ahead before using these in class. Many of the artists listed below have numerous “clean” songs.

1986 – “It’s Tricky” by Run-DMC
1987 – “I Know You Got Soul” by Eric B. and Rakim
1988 – “Lyte as a Rock” by MC Lyte
1989 – “You Must Learn” by Boogie Down Productions
1990 – “Can I Kick It?” by A Tribe Called Quest
1991 – “Summertime” by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
1992 – “Jump” by Kris Kross
1993 – “Keep Ya Head Up” by 2Pac
1994 – “We Run Things (It’s Like Dat)” by Da Bush Babees
1995 – “I Wish” by Skee-Lo
1996 – “Earth People” by Dr. Octagon
1997 – “Just Cruisin’” by Will Smith
1998 – “Everything is Everything” by Lauryn Hill
1999 – “Hip Hop” by Mos Def (Yasiin Bey)
2000 – “When Kenpo Strikes” by RedCloud
2001 – “Held Down” by De La Soul featuring Cee-Lo
2002 – “It’s Going Down” by Blackalicious
2003 – “I Can” by Nas
2004 – “Breathe, Stretch, Shake” by Ma$e featuring P. Diddy
2005 – “Birds Eye View” by Zion I
2006 – “Kick, Push” by Lupe Fiasco
2007 – “Paper Planes” by M.I.A.
2008 – “Lip Gloss” by Lil Mama
2009 – “Creepin’” by Chamillionaire featuring Ludacris
2010 – “Window Seat” by Erykah Badu    
2011 – “Beautiful” by Talib Kweli featuring Big K.R.I.T., Outasight & Mela Machinko
2012 – “Good Feeling” by Flo Rida
2013 – “I’m Turnt” by Lecrae
2014 – “Glory” by Common & John Legend
2015 – “Sunday Candy” by Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment