10 Rappers Share Their Workout Playlists

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Action_Bronson
Image via Get Drty LA

Working out and rap music have a long and storied history together.  Whether it's Kanye laying down the rules for his new workout plan or Drake shootin' in the gym, rappers have always used workouts as a go to for lyrical referencing. This got us wondering, what would our favorite rappers' workout playlists look like?

We've imagined what 10 of our favorite rappers would listen to while pumping iron, hitting the trails and calling the shots. Click through the slides to see which songs made it and which didn't and feel free to use them to workout just like your favorite emcee.

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Stephen Fiorentine is a freelance writer from Long Island. He loves his New York Giants and Yankees, as well as Cool Ranch Doritos. Follow him on Twitter.

RELATED: The Best Workout Songs of 2014 (So Far)
RELATED The Ultimate Midnight Runner's Playlist

Action_Bronson
Image via Get Drty LA

Action Bronson

Best for: Weight Training

No rapper in the game uses more sports references that Bronsalino does, so it makes sense that you'd be bumping the "Young Randy Velarde" in the gym while trying to get jacked.

Playlist:

10. "Strictly 4 My Jeeps"
9. "Easy Rider"
8. "Steve Wynn"
7. "Bird On a Wire" ft. Riff Raff
6. "Live From Kissena Blvd."
5. "Pepe Lopez"
4. "Ron Simmons"
3. "Intercontinental Champion"
2. "The Rockers" ft. Wiz Khalifa
1. "9-24-11"

A$AP_Rocky
Image via We Are SME

A$AP Rocky

Best for: Cycling

With beats ranging from eardrum-shattering dubstep to spaced out cloud rap, Pretty Flacko is perfect for increasing and decreasing intensity on the trails.

Playlist:

10."Wild For the Night" ft. Skrillex & Birdy Nam Nam
9. "Ridin'" ft. Lana Del Rey
8. "F**kin' Problem" ft. Drake, 2 Chainz & Kendrick Lamar
7. "Purple Swag"
6. "Brand New Guy" ft. Schoolboy Q
5. "Goldie"
4. "Bass"
3. "Peso"
2. "Palace"
1. "1 Train" ft. Kendrick Lamar, Joey Bada$$, Yelawolf, Danny Brown, Action Bronson & Big K.R.I.T.

Danny_Brown
Image via Raw Roots

Danny Brown

Best for: High interval training

Perhaps the most turnt up rapper there is today, Danny Brown will give you that extra dose of energy while performing a high interval workout.

Playlist:

10."Attack" ft. Rustie
9. "Jealousy" ft. The Purist
8. "Grown Up"
7. "ODB"
6. "Dip"
5. "Blueberry" ft. Darq E Freaker
4. "Side B [Dope Song]"
3. "Outer Space"
2. "Bruiser Brigade" ft. Dopehead
1. "Monopoly"

Drake
Image via I Am Super George

Drake

Best for: Shootin' in the gym

When you think Drake, you may think slow jams, but Drizzy does, in fact, have a slew of songs that make you go 0 to 100 real quick.

Playlist:

10. "Draft Day"
9. "0 to 100/The Catch Up"
8. "I'm Goin In" ft Lil Wayne
7. "Trophies"
6. "Over"
5. "Forever" ft. Kanye West, Lil Wayne & Eminem
4. "I'm On One" ft. Rick Ross & Lil Wayne
3. "Started From the Bottom"
2. "Headlines"
1. "Stay Schemin'" ft. Rick Ross & French Montana

Eminem
Image via BET

Eminem

Best for: Boot Camp

You want someone to whip you into to shape for boot camp? Look no farther then the aggressive rhymes of Slim Shady himself.

Playlist:

10. "Rap God"
9. "Renegade" ft. Jay Z
8. "'Till I Collapse" ft. Nate Dogg
7. "Kill You"
6. "Won't Back Down" ft. Pink
5. "My Name Is"
4. "Not Afraid"
3. "The Way I Am"
2. "The Real Slim Shady"
1. "Lose Yourself"

Jay_Z
Image via Broadway World

Jay Z

Best for: Outdoor cardio

Jay Z was raised by the streets, so why not take to them with your running shoes and a playlist from J-HOVA.

Playlist:

10. "Can I Live"
9. "F*ckwitmeyouknowigotit" ft. Rick Ross
8. "Where I'm From"
7. "Thank You"
6. "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)"
5. "On To The Next One" ft. Swizz Beatz 
4. "Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up)" ft. Amil & Beanie Sigel
3. "Public Service Announcement (Interlude)"
2. "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
1. "Heart of the City (Ain't No Love) 

Lil_wayne
Image via Idolator

Lil Wayne

Best for: Skateboarding

If there's one rapper to listen to while skating, it's Weezy. Just don't bail like Tunchie in the picture above.

Playlist:

10. "Pop Bottles" ft. Birdman
9. "A Milli"
8. "I'm Me"
7. "6 foot 7 foot" ft. Cory Gunz
6. "Go DJ"
5. "Fireman"
4. "Rich As F**k" ft. 2 Chainz
3. "Right Above It" ft. Drake
2. "Wasted"
1. "Believe Me" ft. Drake

Nas
Image via XXL

Nas

Best for: Cardio

With both critically acclaimed and crossover hits, Nas' hit-spanning career is perfect to listen to while performing some cardio.

Playlist:

10. "The Don"
9. "Life's a B*tch"
8. "Hip Hop Is Dead" ft. will.i.am
7. "One Love"
6. "The World Is Yours"
5. "Made You Look"
4. "N.Y. State of Mind"
3. "Get Down"
2. "I Can"
1. "Ether"

2_Chainz
Image via That's Enuff

2 Chainz

Best for: Spinning

If you know of a spin class to 2 Chaniz then, please, sign us up!

Playlist:

10. "Used 2"
9. "Birthday Song" ft. Kanye West
8. "Mainstream Ratchet"
7. "I'm Different"
6. "Spend It"
5. "Feds Watching"
4. "Fork"
3. "No Lie"
2. "Mercy" ft. Kanye West, Big Sean & Pusha T
1 "Bandz A Make Her Dance" ft. Juicy J & Lil Wayne

Kanye_west
Image via Idolator

Kanye West

Best for: Total body conditioning

Kanye has repeatedly changed his sound during his career, meaning that his eclectic catalogue is the perfect soundtrack for your little bit of everything workout.

Playlist:

10. "Black Skinhead"
9. "Send It Up" 
8. "Paranoid" ft. Mr. Hudson
7. "On Sight"
6. "Power"
5. "Start It Up" ft. Lloyd Banks, Swizz Beatz, Fabolous & Ryan Leslie
4. "Champion"
3. "Through the Wire"
2. "Can't Tell Me Nothing"
1. "The New Workout Plan"

RELATED: The Best Workout Songs of 2014 (So Far)
RELATED The Ultimate Midnight Runner's Playlist

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