13 Incredible Neighbor / Neighborhood Songs

Reading Time: 14 min read

🎧 13 Incredible Neighbor / Neighborhood Songs features DMX, The Emotions, Foo Fighters, NLE Choppa, Pooh Shiesty & Troye Sivan.

“T

he concrete matrix, street organizations / They gave violations, hood public relations.” Thanks for informing us, 🎙 Common! 🎵 “The Neighborhood” is a brilliant opener on the rapper’s 2014 album, 💿 Nobody’s Smiling. Years and years prior to that, 🎙 Fred Rogers asserted, “It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood / A beautiful day for a neighbor,” going on to ask the question, “Would you be mine?” Oh, the innocence of the childhood classic, 🎵 “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” from the iconic show, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, which first aired in 1968! How about a more recent, NEIGHBORHOOD lyric from actor/musician 🎙 Caleb McLaughlin? On his 2021 single 🎵 “Neighborhood”, he sings, “Take her to my neighborhood, bring it on back” (his girlfriend, that is).

The common thread between all those songs is they incorporate neighbor / neighborhood lyrics. None of those songs appear on 🎧 13 Incredible Neighbor / Neighborhood Songs, but we have a stacked compendium nonetheless! 🎧 13 Incredible Neighbor / Neighborhood Songs features gems courtesy of🎙 DMX, 🎙 The Emotions, 🎙 Foo Fighters, 🎙 NLE Choppa, 🎙 Pooh Shiesty and 🎙 Troye Sivan among others. So, we have a little rap, a little soul, a little rock, and some LGBTQ+ 🏳️‍🌈 pop in the mix. So, without further ado, call up the neighbors if you’d like and check out these incredibly neighborly songs!

1. Pooh Shiesty, “Neighbors”

Ft. BIG30

**💿 Shiesty Season • 🏷 Atlantic • 📅 2021**

“The chopper stay so close to me that you would think we neighbors (We close like neighbors).” Well, howdy neighbor ! 🎵 “Neighbors” serves as a single, and banger from 💿 Shiesty Season, the 2021 breakout album from rapper 🎙 Pooh Shiesty. On this unapologetic joint, Shiesty taps rapper 🎙 BIG30 for the assist on the second verse. Of course, it is Shiesty that does the heavy lifting 🏋, performing the intro, chorus (excerpted above), and first verse.

“Neighbors” clocks-in at just under three minutes in duration. That’s enough time for both rappers to “do the damn thing.” Helping them to accomplish that is production by 🎛 C Mo. C Mo provides a hypnotic backdrop with rhythmic 808s and low-key yet highly effective, rhythmic keys. Pooh gives a nice laidback yet potent flow successfully riding the beat. In addition to his rhymes, which include references to drugs, I heart the ad-libs Shiesty adds to the mix. Also, the chorus is catchy despite being on some violent, G-shit. As for BIG30, well, he’s no that chopper talk too: “Fifteen shots in my FN, I call this bitch my mini-me.” Wow!

2. NLE Choppa, “Neighborhood Watch”

**💿 Top Shotta • 🏷 Warner • 📅 2020**

“Bitch, I’m rollin’ an opp and I’m sippin’ on Wock’ (Ayy) / And she givin’ me top while I’m clutchin’ the Glock.” Well da-yum, there’s a lot going on in those two lines, 🎙 NLE Choppa. Interestingly, Choppa was a mere 17 years old when he recorded 🎵 “Neighborhood Watch.” “Neighborhood Watch” appears as the 13^th track on his 2020 debut album, 💿 Top Shotta. He may be young, but day-um is he aggressive when it comes to rapping – he gives no fucks!

“Nigga ain’t spinned on me
Nigga ain’t even got that much nuts
Would’ve got shot in the head, but he ducked
If I miss a shot, then I go make it up
Catch him on the rebound, hundred round go
Mama say stop, (Brrr) but the bullets, they blow
I shoot too much, my fingers sore
Big red dot on the nose for a bozo.”

To his credit, NLE Choppa launches “Neighborhood Watch” with an edgy but melodic intro. In other words, instead of talking his 💩, he sings his 💩… something like that. Anyways, soon enough, we get agile, biting, hard-nosed unapologetic un-pitched rhymes on the verses, like the excerpted lyrics. He has awesome inspiration, courtesy of a banging beat, slick production work by 🎛 Kannon. Remember how I said NLE Choppa is melodic on the intro? Well, he’s also melodic on the catch chorus – a direct contrast to his un-pitched rhymes on the verses.

“Got the neighborhood watch on the corner (Ayy, on the corner)
Got the neighborhood smokin’ marijuana (Smokin’ marijuana)
I got the neighborhood watchin’ for the Dada (Watching for the Dada)
But little do they know that I’m the one that's gunnin’ (That I'm the one that's gunnin’).”

3. Foo Fighters, “Sky is a Neighborhood”

**💿 Concrete and Gold • 🏷 RCA • 📅 2017**

🎵 “The Sky is a Neighborhood” is ‘the cat’s meow’ on 💿 Concrete and Gold, the 2017 album by 🏆 Grammy-winning rock band 🎙 Foo Fighters. “The Sky is a Neighborhood” begins lushly, with an ambient sound, led by choral vocals, guitar, and cello. Soon enough, 🎙 Dave Grohl enters in, something like a “bull in a china shop.” His entrance changes the vibe of the song, giving it an edgier, more hard-rock oriented sound. Even though the sound is rock through and through, there’s a soulfulness as well. The complete transformation occurs once menacing guitars enter in at a massive forte on the chorus.

Speaking of the chorus, it’s among the many selling points of “The Sky is a Neighborhood.” It’s catchy, latching from an initial listen.

“Oh, my dear
Heaven is a big band now
Gotta get to sleep somehow
Bangin’ on the ceiling
Bangin’ on the ceiling
Keep it down.”

Lyrically, the song is simple. Grohl isn’t delivering a poetic performance on “Sky,” but nonetheless, it’s incredibly enjoyable. Musically, Foo Fighters do a fantastic job of capturing the oft-overused ‘epic’ sentiment. To reiterate, the massive wall of guitar on the chorus, along with some colorful accentuating lines, is decadent, sweet ear candy to say the least. It doesn’t hurt having 🎛 Greg Kurstin on as the producer.

Also Appears On 🔽:
🔗 🎧 11 Thrilling Songs About the Sky

4. DMX, “Hood Blues”

Ft. Westside Gunn, Benny The Butcher & Conway The Machine

**💿 Exodus • 🏷 Def Jam • 📅 2021**

The world lost a musical icon in 2021 with the passing of gruff-voiced, East Coast rapper 🎙 DMX on April 9, 2021. Simmons was ‘rough around the edges,’ but the sheer talent and influence he brought to the game, as well as his tremendous faith, is undeniable. He’s on fire on the song 🎵 “Hood Blues,” a highlight from his 2021 posthumous album, 💿 Exodus, named after his youngest son.

The production is marvelous, a product of 🎛 Avenue Beatz and 🎛 Swizz Beatz. Creating the jazzy backdrop is a sample of “Shady Blues” (🎙 Lee Mason). Of course, beyond the picturesque production, the highlight are the performers. 🎙 Westside Gunn shines on the first verse, asserting, “Pray five times a day, get on the wave, nigga.” 🎙 Benny The Butcher follows on the second verse, with a number of clever lines. 🎙 Conway The Machine gets to work on the third verse, quoting Nas: “‘Cause Nas said a G at night wasn’t good enough, and he was right.” Finally, the ‘man of the hour’ arrives to close things out on the fourth verse, asserting, “I done Punk’d more niggas than Ashton Kutcher (C’mon, c’mon).” Woo! He also memorably states on the outro, “I’m not fifty years old for nothing.”

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 Blues: 3BOPS No. 31 (2021)
🔗 🎧 40 Best Songs of 2021 (So Far)
🔗 🎧 Neighborhood: 5ive Songs No. 48 (2021)

5. Megan Thee Stallion “Girls in the Hood”

**💿 Good News • 🏷 300 Entertainment • 📅 2020**

“Fuck bein’ good, I’m a bad bitch…” 🎵 “Girls in the Hood” (💿 Good News) marks another successful banger from the ever-unapologetic, 🏆 Grammy-winning rapper, 🎙 Megan Thee Stallion. “Girls in the Hood” is short but sweet, featuring fine production work from 🎛 Illadaproducer and 🎛 Scott Storch, including some old-school hip-hop cues coupled with a modern, hard-hitting beat.

The biggest reason for the success of “Girls in the Hood” is Megan, who serves up plenty of aggressive lyrics. Continuing to be a self-described “bad bitch,” she’s sexed up and assertive AF about what she does to her men (“I’ma make him eat me out while I’m watchin’ anime”). There is no shortage of colorful one-liners. The catchy chorus serves as the centerpiece.

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 Neighborhood: 5ive Songs No. 48 (2021)

6. Troye Sivan, “Suburbia”

**💿 Blue Neighbourhood • 🏷 Capitol • 📅 2015**

🎵 “Suburbia” is arguably the crowning achievement of 💿 Blue Neighbourhood, the debut studio album by South African/Australian pop artist, 🎙 Troye Sivan. Throughout Blue Neighbourhood, Sivan shows us an authentic peek into his world. By the time we reach “Surburbia,” the ‘blue neighbourhood’ seems to have an optimistic spin, something that couldn’t be said earlier.

“Yeah, there’s so much history in these streets,” Sivan sings, regarding where he came from and grew up.

“There’s so much history in my head
The people I’ve left
The ones I’ve kept... can’t replace my blood
Yeah, it seems I’m never letting go of suburbia.”

Even though the neighborhood has had its dark moments in Sivan/the protagonist’s life, he’ll never forget it – he can’t.

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 Neighborhood: 5ive Songs No. 48 (2021)

7. Trey Songz, “Neighbors Know My Name”

**💿 Ready • 🏷 Atlantic • 📅 2009**

“I bet the neighbors know my name.” Well, in many circumstances, if you’re a social being, the neighbors likely do know your name and know something about you, 🎙 Trey Songz. Of course, on 🎵 “Neighbors Know My Name,” a highlight from the 2009 album, 💿 Ready, Songz isn’t referencing knowing his name through mere acquaintance. The neighbors know his name because of the killer sex him and his girl have been having – loud, raw relations to say the least. After all, “Sometimes, she call me Trigga ‘cause I make her body bust / He might think my name is ‘Oh shit,’ I make her cuss.” Woo!

“I bet the neighbors know my name
Way you screaming, scratching, yelling
Bet the neighbors know my name
And they be stressing while we sexing
Bet the neighbors know my name
My name, my name
I bet the neighbors know my name
My my my.”

The chorus is the centerpiece, but the verses provide more description of the act on this sensual slow jam. “Girl, your legs keep shaking and I swear / We breaking our new headboard, headboard,” Trey asserts freakily on the first verse. On the second verse, he sings, “Girl, your body’s a problem, they call me the problem solver.” Man, oh man, he’s confident of what he’s giving, that’s for sure! And of course, the neighbors are annoyed by their passion: “While I’ll be banging on your body, they be banging on our wall / While they dreaming, you be screaming now they banging on our door.” The sex is lit, period.

Also Appears On 🔽:
🔗 🎧 15 Compelling Name Songs

8. Travis Garland, “Neighbor”

**💿 Travis Garland • 🏷 Stereotypes Music • 📅 2013**

“Every time I pull up, come out / I be like there she go / You be like, ‘Hey, hello’ / Acting like you really don’t know.” Studly pop musician 🎙 Travis Garland seeks to begin an immoral relationship on 🎵 “Neighbor,” a highlight from his 2013 album, 💿 Travis Garland. Garland was once a member of the boy band 🎙 NLT alongside 📺 Glee star/musician, 🎙 Kevin McHale. Anyways, what exactly makes the relationship immoral? Well, Mr. Garland hooks up with his married neighbor while her husband is gone. Scandalous!!!

“Fuck a neighborhood watch
All you need is me girl I’m always on the clock.”

Oh shit! Garland’s fantasy isn’t far-fetched. Going for it as opposed to merely fantasizing, however, is dead wrong of course. At least Garland’s horniness and lust make for an engaging, titillating musical listening experience. “You nasty (damn) / And I know it / I can tell by the way you grab that hose / And how you hold it,” Travis sings on the pre-chorus. Hose, huh? The way she grabs it? Wow! Garland admits to staring at her ass (“Washing your car showing off that ass”), not to mention his willingness to “do a favor.” Overlooked and underrated in 2013, Travis delivered some sweet modern R&B with “Neighbors.”

9. Kendrick Lamar, “Hood Politics”

**💿 To Pimp a Butterfly • 🏷 Interscope • 📅 2015**

“I don’t give a fuck about no politics in rap, my nigga / Our lil’ homie Stunna Deuce ain’t never comin’ back, my nigga,” 🎙 Kendrick Lamar proclaims on 🎵 “Hood Politics.” The politics on this record aren’t democrat/republican politics but rather localized within the hood and specific to California (Note: there are political references, such as “Obama say, ‘What it do?’”). “Hood Politics” marks one of the most electrifying songs from his 2015 masterpiece, 💿 To Pimp a Butterfly. As the excerpted lyric from the first verse suggests, K-Dot keeps it ‘all the way’ real.

Following an intro, Lamar endears himself to the listener thanks to an addictive, ‘gives no fucks’ chorus:

“I been A-1 since day one, you niggas boo boo
Your home boy, your block that you’re from, boo boo
Lil hoes you went to school with, boo boo
Baby mama and your new bitch, boo boo.”

Woo! Throughout the verses, Kendrick educates us about how things roll in the hood (“Hopped out the Caddy, just got my dick sucked / The little homies called and said, ‘The enemies done cliqued up’”), as well as ensuring listeners understand he never fails to keep it TRILL. There is no shortage of potent lyrics. One of my favorites is about the music biz: “Critics want to mention that they miss when hip-hop was rappin’ / Motherfucker, if you did, then Killer Mike’d be platinum.” Say that, say that!

10. Tech N9ne, “Hood Go Crazy”

Ft. 2 Chainz & B.o.B.

💿 Special Effects • 🏷 Strange Music • 📅 2015

“This the type of shit to make the hood go crazy / On the interstate doin’ 180 / She said ‘do it for me, baby’ / Took a double shot and then we all went crazy.” 🎙 Tech N9ne is awesome – that goes without saying. That said, the Midwest rapper scored a hit with 🎵 “Hood Go Crazy” from his 2015 album, 💿 Special Effects. Nino didn’t do it all by himself either. He enlists 🎙 2 Chainz and 🎙 B.o.B. for the assist on this 🎛 Freak van Workum-produced banger. It’s B.o.B. who drops the totally infectious hook.

With hot production and a killer hook by B.o.B., that leave Tech N9ne and 2 Chainz to drop the verses. N9ne is electrifying, wowing with a quick-paced flow and sharp, confident, party/sex-laden rhymes. As for the artist formerly known as Tity Boi, well, he’s true to self – outlandish as ever. “With a ring, married to the game, had ‘em throwin’ rice,” Chainz raps on the third verse, continuing, “Wait a minute, put my thing in her, I’m tryna knock up / I’m tryna put a singer in her so I can do a banger with her.” Don’t ever change 2 Chainz – don’t ever change! “Hood Go Crazy” ranks among the most memorable songs of the Tech N9ne catalog.

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 Neighborhood: 5ive Songs No. 48 (2021)

11. Arcade Fire, “The Suburbs”

**💿 The Suburbs • 🏷 Arcade Fire / Sony • 📅 2010**

“In the suburbs, I learned to drive / And you told me we’d never survive / … You always seemed so sure / That one day we’d be fighting in a suburban war.” Taking it back to 2010, 🎙 Arcade Fire had a tremendous year. Their album, 💿 The Suburbs, would shock the world and win the 🏆 Grammy for Album of the Year. Though a surprise, The Suburbs was (and still is) a fine album by 🎙 Win Butler and company. The LP opens with the neighborhood in mind – title track, 🎵 “The Suburbs.”

Musically, “The Suburbs” is sweet. The I – vi – III – V chordal progression stands out – at least for us music theory nerds. Furthermore, the production work is well-rounded and bright. Win Butler serves up clear vocals, including a ripe falsetto on the chorus where he sings, “Sometimes I can’t believe it/ I’m moving past the feeling again/ Sometimes I can’t believe/ I’m moving past the feeling again.” Before tackling what Butler gets at on the chorus, can’t fail to shout out the magnificence of the strings, guitars, and acoustic piano, which contributes some haunting moments. As far as the form, there are three verses and three chorus, with the final chorus extended with an outro. Revisiting the chorus, Butler recollects his past, growing up in the suburbs. Sometimes, he can’t believe certain things happened, and now, as an adult, he’s moved beyond the happenings of his childhood. The verses are even more specific to memories and the future (verse three specifically).

12. Green Day, “Jesus of Suburbia”

**💿 American Idiot • 🏷 Reprise • 📅 2004**

“I’m the son of rage and love / The Jesus of Suburbia / From the bible of ‘none of the above.’” So, if I’m interpreting this correctly, the guy in the aforementioned lyrical excerpt is a deity of the suburbs? Okay… Anyways, few associate 🏆 Grammy-winning rock band 🎙 Green Day with Jesus, who is mentioned on this standout from the 2004 masterpiece, 💿 American Idiot. 🎵 “Jesus of Suburbia” makes religious references, but not in the most “Christian way possible.” Sift through the lyrics of this conceptual rock song and it’s definitely NOT biblical!

Over its course and many parts, it’s clear that the protagonist is rebellious and could care less about moral and spiritual authority. This ‘Jesus of Suburbia’ is on his own path and controls his own destiny.

“Everyone is so full of shit
Born and raised by hypocrites
Hearts recycled but never saved
From the cradle to the grave.”

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 Neighborhood: 5ive Songs No. 48 (2021)

13. The Emotions, “Don’t Ask My Neighbors”

**💿 Rejoice • 🏷 Columbia • 📅 1977**

“You’re wondering if / I care about you / Is there some cause / That I should doubt you?” Uh-oh – sounds like trouble in paradise! 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B collective 🎙 The Emotions, like many R&B groups, thrive off singing songs about love and the plight of love. In the case of 🎵 “Don’t Ask My Neighbors” from their 1977 album, 💿 Rejoice, the female R&B groups seems to be looking for direct communication.

“Don’t ask my neighbors
Don’t ask my friends I hang around
Uh uh, don’t be afraid
To come to me (come to me)
Don’t ask my neighbors.”

Throughout the song, there’s a picture painted that he doesn’t know how to read her very well. This prompts him to ‘ask around’ as opposed to going directly to the source – his girlfriend. “And you run her and there / To ask my feelings,” they sing, adding, “Friends nly guess / They can’t say really, oh.” True. “Don’t Ask My Neighbors” was a moderate pop success, faring better on the R&B charts. Regardless, this beautiful single hails from one of R&B’s best eras.

13 Incredible Neighbor / Neighborhood Songs 🎧 [📷: 300 Entertainment, Arcade Fire, Atlantic, Bill Nino, Brent Faulkner, Capitol, Columbia, Craig Adderley, Daniel Frank, David McBee, Def Jam, Interscope, Jessica Bryant, Jon Tyson, The Musical Hype, Pexels, RCA, Reprise, Sony, Stereotypes Music, Strange Music, Unsplash, Warner]

13 Incredible Neighbor / Neighborhood Songs | Playlist 🎧

Published by the musical hype on November 25, 2021November 25, 2021