1 / 32

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)

2 / 32

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)

3 / 32

B.o.B, “Don’t Let Me Fall” - The ATL hybrid flexed his singing skills on this gold single. Proving he could handle his own hooks, B.o.B's anthem for defying the odds and going for your dreams impacted pop culture as well as it became a mainstay at sports events and was used as the intro for the 2011 BCS National Championship Game on ESPN. B.o.B's strong vocal cords kept him outside the box and helped him live up to his "no genre" tag.(Photo: Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)

4 / 32

Big K.R.I.T., “Free My Soul” - The Sip’s Big K.R.I.T has sung a lot of his own hooks and stated that it all came about because he couldn’t get anyone to take on the duties when he was coming up. His Curtis Mayfield soulful-like melodies stuck out on tracks like this one, which helped solidify his critically acclaimed mixtape ReturnOf4eva.(Photo: Rick Kern/WireImage)

Photo By Rick Kern/WireImage

5 / 32

Phonte of Little Brother, "Cheatin'" - Phonte first started unveiling his hidden talent as part of North Carolina hip hop trio Little Brother. Debuting as his alter ego, Percy Miracles, he turned into R. Kelly on The Minstrel Show’s “Cheatin’” as he put a un-faithful lover on front street with stanzas like, “How could you do this to me after all these years?/ Girl I don't know what in the f--k you think this is.” He also showed off his rifting skills alongside R&B crooners Eric Roberson and Shana Tucker on cuts like “Better” from his other group Foreign Exchange.(Photo: Ronna Gradus/Getty Images)

6 / 32

Pimp C of UGK, "Living This Life" - Pimp C is another soulful MC who leaned on the book of Curtis Mayfield when he employed his singing ability on tracks like UGK's "Living This Life." Pleading for God to show him a way up out the streets, Chad Butler's hymnal-like vocals echoed, "Lord it's so hard, living this life/ A constant struggle each and every day/ Some wonder why, I'd rather die/ Than to continue living this way."(Photo: Bill Olive/Getty Images)

7 / 32

Pharrell Williams, "Happy" - Skateboard P knows his way all around the studio as the producer/rapper/singer has showed his multiple talents over the years, but this year it was his singing chops that took him to new heights. Featured on the soundtrack to the blockbuster film Despicable Me 2, his No. 1 single "Happy" earned him an Academy Award nomination and made him an international star as he topped the charts in more than 20 countries.(Photo: Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)

8 / 32

Iggy Azalea, "Change Your Life" - Before taking over the hip hop charts with tracks like "Fancy," Australian emcee Iggy Azalea was thinking about forging her way into the industry with pop-influenced tunes. She even sang a few of her hooks including the 2013 T.I.-assisted "Change Your Life."(Photo: Angela Weiss/Getty Images for FRIENDS 'N' FAMILY)

9 / 32

Biz Markie, "Just a Friend" - We could point to how 50 Cent, Pharrell and Mario have all flipped this 1989 song in one way or another, but really, it speaks for itself. It's the epitome of a hip hop hit: a blend of comedy, yearning, lyrical skill, boom bap and a memorable, melodious hook. And by now, every hip hop head has at one point (or a hundred) sung out "Oh baby, you/ Got what I need!"(Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

10 / 32

Mos Def, "Umi Says" - Just before we officially entered hip hop's platinum era, Mos Def (now known as Yasiin Bey) released his debut album Black on Both Sides, which included one of the most well-known underrated tracks of his catalogue, "Umi Says." The clarity in his content is undeniable. Some things are just not about the numbers.(Photo: WENN)

11 / 32

J. Cole, "Lost Ones" - Written and given the video treatment prior to his Roc Nation/Columbia Records signing, this J. Cole song is the perfect example of his dexterity as an artist. Not only did he produce the track, but he also tackled a touchy subject, delivered both a male and female's perspective with adept lyrical intelligence and an emotional hook.(Photo: John Ricard / BET)

Photo By photo: John Ricard / BET

12 / 32

Lil Wayne, "God Bless Amerika" - Weezy's most obvious politics are usually buried within the filling of his albums, but he brazenly brandished his pen with his vocals and visuals for "God Bless Amerika," gently letting his words hang over the track at times and even blending a sample of Soul II Soul's "Back To Life" in his lyrics. (Photo: Gary Miller/FilmMagic)

13 / 32

Nicki Minaj, "Right Thru Me" - We knew we were in a for a change with Nicki when she hit us with the "Massive Attack," but she sealed the deal when she went straight for the heart strings on "Right Thru Me." Even though it was released right after her first Rap & B attempt, "Your Luv" (and charted less favorably), it was proof that the Barb was not going to stop doing things her way: acting in the videos, singing when she wants and rapping, maybe. (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

14 / 32

Cee Lo Green, "F--k You" - Cee Lo blended the boldness his Dungeon Family days and his distinctive pop-soul crooning, which made him a international star with "Crazy," and made himself a mainstream mainstay with "F--k You." The controversial song crept up the charts, eventually pushing over 6 million, and nabbed a Grammy Award. It even got a remix from The Voice judge himself, "Thank You," a tribute to firefighters. (Photo: Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images)

15 / 32

Lauryn Hill, "Killing Me Softly" - We knew we had something extraordinarily special when Lauryn Hill covered Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly" for The Fugee's second and final album The Score. We knew she could sing, and we knew she could flow, but there was such an honesty in this vocal performance — and her adlibs were so hip hop — that it captured the mainstream (and a Grammy) in a way she hadn't done before. Her next release was the one that changed the game: her solo debut. (Photo: David Wolff - Patrick/Redferns via Getty Images)

16 / 32

Busta Rhymes "I Know What You Want (Give It to Me)" - Not many rappers can say they went up against Mariah Carey's five octave range and did well. Bussa Buss cleverly accomplished this deed with "I Know What You Want (Give It to Me)," the second single from 2003's It Ain't Safe No More. Carey and Busta's instant chemistry was as fluid as the lyrics.(Photo: Judy Eddy/WENN.com)

17 / 32

Kanye West, "Heartless" - In 2008, Kanye West healed his love wounds by shunning the rap lane and giving Auto-Tune a run. Ye had many moments of vocal victory on 808's & Heartbreaks but "Heartless" — the second single from the album — easily led the pack.(Photo: Taylor Hill/WireImage)

18 / 32

Kid Cudi, "Day 'n' Night" - Singing on his debut single was a risk that paid off for Kid Cudi. Penned by Cudi and Dot da Genius, "Day 'n' Night" earned two Grammy nods and powered the Ohio native's Man on the Moon release. The track was Cudi's interpretation of the Geto Boys' classic "Mind Playing Tricks on Me."(Photo: C.M. Wiggins/WENN.com)

19 / 32

Snoop Dogg, "Sexual Eruption" - Who can forget when the Dogg Father stepped out of his animal moniker and slipped into the shoes of a '70s funk singer? "Sexual Eruption" (dubbed "Sensual Seduction" for the censors) showed off Snoop's aptitude for role play, long before his Snoop Lion reggae aspirations.(Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for BET)

20 / 32

T.I., "Whatever You Like" - In T.I.'s words, "It ain't trickin' if ya' got it." Tip bypassed rapping to brag in song about doting on his lady for a change via "Whatever You Like." Cash stacks, luxury cars and plentiful amounts of Patron are just some of the perks named on the triple-platinum single. The release stands as the Grand Hustle head's most successful solo single to date, topping Billboard for seven nonconsecutive weeks.(Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

21 / 32

Eminem, "Not Afraid" - Eminem did more than share his road to recovery on "Not Afraid," he even opened up about the pitstops. As the lead single off Recovery, the autobiographical track found Em crooning a triumphant message about breaking free from addiction.(Photo: Scott Gries/PictureGroup)

22 / 32

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, "Tha Crossroads" - In 1995, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony gave us E. 1999 with this tune packed in, a cathartic release about missing loved ones who’ve passed. The single alone went two-times platinum.  (Photo: Jerod Harris/WireImage)

23 / 32

Queen Latifah, "Ladies First" - The late ‘80s didn’t just begin the golden age of hip hop music. It also saw the explosion (and diversification) of the female MC. In celebration of women, Queen Latifah had a budding hip hop nation harmonizing this anthem and recognizing the unheralded power of the ladies.  (Photo: John Parra/Getty Images for The Black's Annual Gala)

24 / 32

Notorious B.I.G., "Playa Hater" - At the height of ghetto fabulous, its main purveyor, the Notorious B.I.G., re-arranged the Delphonics’s ‘70s hit “Hey Love” to let all his haters know, “You’ve been robbed.” In doing so, Big lent listeners a humorous, melodic refrain.(Photo: Chris Walter/WireImage)

25 / 32

Mase, "Jealous Guys" ft. 112 and Puff Daddy - Ma$e, Puff Daddy (when that was Diddy’s name) and R&B group 112 made this cut easy to sing along to when they completely borrowed New Edition’s 1983 hit “Jealous Girl.”  But instead of crooning about guys being hurt by women, the collabo harmonized about dudes getting mad because their girls were getting together with the Bad Boy crew.  (Photo: John Shearer/WireImage for Nickelodeon Magazine)

26 / 32

50 Cent, "21 Questions" - On this gold-selling single, hip hop music’s hook singing master Nate Dogg was hired to express the desire to find out if a woman was going to be his ride-or-die chick. Moreover, showing his softer side sent 50 Cent’s love cut to No. 1 on the rap charts.  (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella)

27 / 32

Wyclef, "911” - Wyclef united with the Queen of Hip Hop Soul, Mary J. Blige, for this melodic and bluesy cut about Wyclef falling into a dangerous love. In his crudest of Bob Marley-inspired vocals, Clef urged, “Someone, please call 911!” Not a major cut, but it hit hard enough to land at No. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100.  (Photo: Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)

28 / 32

Drake, "Marvin's Room" - A lot has been said about Drake's singing ability, but no one can question the chart-topping success it routinely garners. This emotive 2011 single set things off for his sophomore effort, Take Care and became music’s drunk-dialing anthem of the year. (Photo: Paras Griffin /Landov)

29 / 32

Nelly, "Dilemma" ft. Kelly Rowland - Where most rappers are taking a creative risk when they croon on tracks, Nelly is showcasing one of his strong suits. The multi-platinum superstar hit pay dirt when he teamed with Destiny’s Child's Kelly Rowland on his 2002 hip-pop smash, “Dilemma.” The song won a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and sold over 10 million copies worldwide.  (Photo: Robert Mora/Getty Images)

30 / 32

Ja Rule, "I'm Real" ft. Jennifer Lopez - Being able to hit a note was the ultimate gift and a curse for Ja Rule. Hip hop purists mocked the Murda Inc. star for his melodic abilities, but his career reached new levels when he unleashed his gruff baritone on Jennifer Lopez's 2001 single "I’m Real.” Ja helped push the song to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and his talents as a crooner were in high demand soon after. Surely we all know what brought his reign to an end.  (Photo: Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect)

31 / 32

Missy Elliott, "One Minute Man” - Being a deft rapper, accomplished songwriter and award-winning producer, Missy Elliott's talents as a singer were often overlooked. Missy’s light, honey-toned vocals proved the right vessel to deliver her demands on this seductive anthem.  (Photo: Chris McKay/Getty Images for BET)

32 / 32

Outkast, "Ms. Jackson" - André 3000 sang the infectious hook to this Outkast classic. A No. 1 single on the Bilboard Hot 100 chart, the song helped push the group’s Stankonia album to platinum four times over. The performance was a foreshadowing of the smart, bluesy, soulful feeling 3 Stacks would later offer fans throughout his The Love Below album. (Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)