The 10 Best Los Angeles Anthems

Kendrick and Dre's "Compton" is just the latest L.A. ode.

/content/dam/betcom/images/2012/041/Music-04-01-04-15/040212-music-kendrick-lamar-dr-dre.jpg
"Westside Story," The Game feat. 50 Cent - Over a hard-as-nails, piano-driven beat from Dr. Dre and Scott Storch, Game is at his best, shouting out '63 Impalas and red-laced Chuck Taylors on this standout from his 2005 debut, The Documentary. Don't let 50 Cent's Queens roots distract you — his chorus reps the Left Coast.
"Some L.A. N---az," Dr. Dre feat. featuring Hittman, Defari, Xzibit, Knoc-turn'al, Time Bomb, King T, MC Ren & Kokane - Dr. Dre assembled a multigenerational all-star squad of Angeleno newcomers and legends — including his old N.W.A. homie MC Ren — on this stark hometown anthem from his sophomore album, 2001. (Photo: David Tonge/Getty Images)"City of the Angels," Bill Withers - This 1976 song beautifully recounts Withers' real-life move to L.A., where he relocated at age 29 after nine years in the Navy. "L.A., L.A., find a place for me," Wither pleads. "Gimme all your spaces please, it's where I wanna be."   (Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Next Gallery

Women's History Month: The Most Iconic Fashion Moments by Black Women

13 Photos

1 / 11

The Top 10 Los Angeles Anthems - Dr. Dre, Game and Snoop Dogg may have crowned Kendrick Lamar the new king of L.A., but they all had one thing that he doesn't — a true hometown anthem. Until now. Earlier this week, K-Dot leaked "Compton," a triumphant duet with Dre produced by Just Blaze. "Ain't no city quite like mine," the hook declares, before morphing into a Roger Troutman–inspired vocoder outro. Here, inspired by Kendrick and his upcoming major-label debut, good kid, m.A.A.d city, we're counting down the top 10 L.A. anthems to standd the test of time. Get your W's ready. —Alex Gale (Photos from left: Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup, John Sciulli/Getty Images for Clear Channel)

ADVERTISEMENT