The Best Singing Performances by Rappers

Childish Gambino drops "Sober" and more melodious MC tunes.

Childish Gambino, “Sober” - Childish Gambino put his vocals skills to the test with his new single, “Sober,” from his forthcoming Gangsta Grillz mixtape STN MTN / KAUAI. Drowning his pain in a bottle after his girl calls it quits, he harmonizes, “And now that it's over, I'll never be sober/ I couldn't believe, but now I'm so high.” While many MCs can carry a tune, Childish Gambino’s falsetto range could carry a whole album and leave you in a Prince or Michael Jackson mind state after listening, which makes you wonder what the rapper/actor/writer/comedian can’t do. But he's not the only MC to get respect for his crooning. Read on.(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Lil Mama, “Truly in Love” - Lil Mama proclaimed herself the Voice of the Young People back in 2008 with her highly slept on debut. Besides flexing her MC skills, she also let the world peep her softer side with this song. “It makes me crazy, crazy jealous when I ask around/ I’m always thinking 'bout you when you're not around/ and only time will tell if we are truly in love,” she sang.(Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)
"Paper Route" - B.o.B doesn't hold back on this one, taking shots at the establishment that, as he put it, silenced the Dixie Chicks. He raps, "This the type of talk that'll probably piss off my publicist/ And I ain't even started, the water ain't even bubbling/ The type of talk that'll probably get me in trouble with the law or maybe the government/ Come after me in public." The beat kicks into high gear about a minute in with heavy claps and electric guitar.(Photo: Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)/content/dam/betcom/images/2013/06/Shows/BETX/060713-shows-betx-music-matters-big-krit.jpg

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Childish Gambino, “Sober” - Childish Gambino put his vocals skills to the test with his new single, “Sober,” from his forthcoming Gangsta Grillz mixtape STN MTN / KAUAI. Drowning his pain in a bottle after his girl calls it quits, he harmonizes, “And now that it's over, I'll never be sober/ I couldn't believe, but now I'm so high.” While many MCs can carry a tune, Childish Gambino’s falsetto range could carry a whole album and leave you in a Prince or Michael Jackson mind state after listening, which makes you wonder what the rapper/actor/writer/comedian can’t do. But he's not the only MC to get respect for his crooning. Read on.(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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