If you ask young people what kind of music they prefer, you’ll often get hip-hop and rap as an answer. So that rap can also be shown to its best advantage on the go, special hip-hop headphones can now be purchased in stores, which have a unique sound spectrum and thus ensure a particularly impressive sound experience. What you should consider when choosing Best Headphones for Hip Hop And Rap and which models are particularly recommended, we have summarized for you in our guide article below.
Table of Contents
A look at the history of hip-hop headphones
Not that long ago, you searched in vain in specialist shops for special headphones that would meet the high demands of hip-hop and rap lovers. This was especially annoying because most headphones only had a manageable bass strength – because exactly the opposite would be a decisive (if not the only) purchase criterion for optimal enjoyment of this type of music.
Hip-Hop Star Dr. Dre, who is best known to many hip-hop fans for his collaboration with rap superstar Eminem, finally discovered this niche in the market and, in cooperation with Beats Electronics, brought special headphones under the name “Beats by Dr. Dre ”in the trade. Since these not only impress with their excellent sound, but also with their extremely stylish design, they soon enjoyed great popularity. Several famous stars like Ludacris, Jay-Z or 50 Cent have now followed suit with their own headphones, the original from Dr. However, Dre is still considered to be one of the best hip-hop headphones available in stores right now.
How do you recognize good hip-hop headphones?
When Dr. Dre launched its Beats headphones in 2008, the question of how to recognize good hip-hop headphones was quickly answered: You simply bought headphones, which were unique at the time. In the meantime, however, so many manufacturers offer hip-hop headphones in their product range that newcomers can unfortunately quickly lose track of them. But don’t worry: we will of course support you in your selection.
The myth of bass-heavy headphones
You can quickly tell whether a retail employee actually knows about hip-hop headphones by whether they just want to sell you a pair of very bass-heavy headphones . One could assume that deep bass is a main criterion for hip-hop headphones – but this is not necessarily the case. While it is of course correct that headphones, with which one mainly wants to listen to hip-hop and rap, should deliver rich and deep bass, a neutral frequency response is much more important. Such a model outputs all frequencies roughly equally loud and neutral, which not only creates a rich, but also a natural sound. Rule number 1 when buying is therefore: A neutral frequency response is mandatory.
Impedance has the highest priority
Another very important criterion for buying hip-hop headphones is their impedance. If you’ve never heard the word before, we’ll try to explain it to you as simply as possible: The manufacturer specifies the impedance in ohms – which provides information about the resistance of the headphones. The Ohm number is how easily the headphones are powered by an amplifier. For example, headphones with a low ohm value require less power to produce the same volume than headphones with a higher ohm value.
If headphones have a high impedance and thus a high ohm value, they will provide better resolution and better sound – but at the same time they also require a more powerful headphone amplifier . One could assume that headphones with the highest possible ohm value are the better choice. However, this only applies if you want to connect it to your hi-fi system mainly in your own four walls.
If, on the other hand, you use the headphones on the go and want to connect them to your MP3 player or smartphone, you should prefer a model that has a lower ohm value of 100 ohms maximum. The reason for this lies in the fact that rechargeable or battery-operated devices deliver significantly less voltage, which at the same time limits the maximum output voltage at the headphone output. In summary, this means nothing other than that low-impedance headphones connected to a mobile device are significantly louder than headphones with a high ohm value.
Note: Headphones with a low ohm value of up to 100 ohms are more suitable for use with a mobile device, while high-resistance headphones (100-800 ohms) are primarily designed for connection to a hi-fi system. Many manufacturers even state on the packaging whether the headphones are suitable for mobile phones .
The design also plays a major role
Before buying, you should definitely note that with hip-hop headphones, not only the technical equipment, but also the design plays a decisive role: Since the hip-hop scene likes to splurge instead of spill, many young people prefer to grab it headphones with a distinctive design. Of course, an expensive product does not always necessarily mean high-quality workmanship and flawless performance. In the area of hip-hop headphones in particular, however, it is mostly the more expensive models that are convincing across the board.
All important criteria at a glance
So that you don’t forget an important criterion when buying hip-hop headphones, we have an overview for you here:
- Rich bass is just as important as a neutral frequency response
- Pay attention to a low ohm value if the headphones are to be used on the move
- Pay attention to a higher ohm value if the headphones are to be used on a hi-fi system
- Good hip-hop headphones should also impress with their stylish design
The Best Headphones for Hip Hop And Rap Music Reviews
As already mentioned at the beginning, the selection of headphones that are especially suitable for enjoying hip-hop and rap is now hard to oversee. To make buying new headphones a little easier for you, we have therefore listed 10 very recommendable models for you below.
Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro Plus
[amazon box=”B0753T9TY5″]
Beyerdynamic is one of the leading audio brands in the industry, consistently making great headphones for a wide variety of uses. The Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro Plus is perfect for hip-hop because of the amazing clarity of the bass and the impact it adds to your music.
The package contains 16 unique designs that give the headphones a different look. You can use a different design each day of the week, and there are additional options to invest in.
The Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro Plus is made in Germany and uses high quality materials that ensure a long service life. You can expect these headphones to take a beating before the sound loses quality. The technical level that has gone into this product ensures that the tone is precise and delivers over the entire frequency range.
A custom sound slider is located on the right earcup that changes the sound profile. You can switch between different sound profiles. They range from analytically clear to powerful bass. Perhaps the latter setting is ideal for enjoying your hip hop tracks.
Variable noise reduction is available to reduce the effects of ambient noise on your sound experience. Don’t expect all ambient noise to be removed though, as the level of noise reduction here is not competitive compared to other headphones.
The lack of volume controls on the earpiece can be frustrating for some users. Plus, they’re pretty bulky, which means that outdoor use can be a bit cumbersome.
In conclusion, the Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro Plus is a great choice for those who want a mix of visual adaptability, excellent bass, comfortable fit, and variable noise cancellation. All hip hop fans will love owning a pair of these headphones as they bring the music to life in an exciting way.
Sony WH-XB900N Extra Bass Headphones
[amazon box=”B09CGB6VRR”]
The Sony WH-XB900N extra bass headphones claim the top spot among the best Sony bass headphones. Why? Because they have so much bass – they can create incredibly deep bass and detailed lows that will make your head shake. Ideal for hip-hop fans!
Sony is specifically marketing these headphones as EXTRA BASS headphones, and that label is not the place to be. These headphones have a tremendous bass response with a frequency response of 2 Hz to 20 kHz. This 2 Hz value is probably the lowest we’ve ever seen or heard (yes, below 15 Hz your ears won’t be able to hear this anymore because it’s too low for human hearing).
Compared to the Sony 1000XM4 and Bose 700, we think the Sony WH-XB900N outperforms them all. These headphones create a lot more bass that can make your ears vibrate, and you can even tweak the equalizer settings to get a much deeper bass for EDM and rock music genres.
An added benefit of the Sony XB900N headphones is their noise cancellation. While these aren’t as good as the Sony 1000XM4, they definitely help to block out some ambient noise so that you can listen to quiet music in crowded rooms. The headphones work perfectly when used on the plane or in the office where you want to focus on your music. Turning on noise cancellation will help improve the bass response a bit.
What Sony does right with these headphones, in addition to bass response and sound quality, is battery life. These headphones have up to 30 hours of playtime on a single charge and support Bluetooth wireless streaming directly from your smartphone device. The touch sensor controls on the side of the headphones allow you to pause / play and skip music or the active voice assistant.
And there’s also a quick attention mode that automatically lowers the volume so you can have a quick chat with someone without removing your headphones.
If you’re planning on getting these headphones, we strongly recommend tweaking your sound settings with the Sony Headphone Connect app, which you can download from the Apple or Google Play Store.
Bose SoundLink Around Ear Wireless Headphones II
[amazon box=”B079P7N7DT”]
Bose is one of the most respected audio brands in the world that consistently provides personal audio solutions that are very competitive. The multitude of features here is a hip hop fanatic’s dream in search of amazing audio performance. The Bose SoundLink II is a great choice for those on a budget and who appreciate industry-leading audio quality.
The bass is amazing as the low frequencies have been fine-tuned for an immersive sound experience. Active EQ is also available to tailor the audio experience to your needs. If you don’t like the sound of your favorite hip-hop tracks, just play around with the settings. Therefore, the Bose SoundLink II headphones are ideal for music lovers who know exactly what they want.
The Bluetooth connection lasts 15 hours between charges, which is more than enough for a full day, or maybe the whole week, depending on how often you will be using it. There is a button on the right ear cup that you can use to switch the connection between different devices. So when you’re enjoying a movie on your TV and a call comes in, just use the switch to connect to your smartphone.
A microphone is included that allows you to take calls in noisy environments.
It comes with an elegant protective case that allows you to travel with the Bose SoundLink II without damaging it. The long battery life and the low weight of the elegant design make them ideal for trips.
The durable materials used are shockproof, meaning that if you drop the headphones they won’t break instantly.
However, a more expensive product deserves more attention and the Bose SoundLink II also has disadvantages. The headband is not as comfortable as other headphones in this price range. In addition, the noise isolation is only sufficient.
Overall, the Bose SoundLink II is a solid companion for hip-hop fans who want to be on the go while enjoying their music. The mix of 15 hours of battery life and minimalist design is ideal for on the go.
VPSN ANC Bluetooth Headphones
[amazon box=”B0C1C89QVF”]
As its name suggests, the US rapper VPSN played a key role in the development of the VPSN ANC Bluetooth Headphones. The result is a remarkable high-end headphone, which not only impresses with its very fresh and fashionable design including illuminated ear cups, but also with its impressive sound experience, which even experienced music professionals swear by. While the integrated active noise canceling technology suppresses disturbing ambient noise, the innovative driver and circuit design not only ensures rich bass, but also clear highs and mids at the same time.
Tuitager Bluetooth Headphones
[amazon box=”B09CY995KT”]
The Tuitager Bluetooth Headphones is much cheaper than the SMS Audio SYNC: It only costs around 90 $ and therefore does not burden the wallet too much. It’s a very light model that can be easily folded up when not in use for a long time – and its headband is also adjustable in size. Since the sound with its powerful bass and the cool look are absolutely impressive, we can only recommend this model to anyone who does not want to take out a loan for their new headphones.
Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones
[amazon box=”B07YVYZ8T5″]
And another pair of headphones from Beats: The Beats Solo 3 Wireless also impresses with a particularly good sound experience and also provides an excellent Bluetooth connection. With a battery life of up to 40 hours, this model is absolutely impressive – especially since it has enough energy for up to 3 hours of music enjoyment after a very short charge of just 5 minutes. If this is an important criterion for you, there is no good reason not to buy these headphones.
Koss Porta Pro On Ear Headphones
[amazon box=”B00001P4ZH”]
These unique looking headphones come to your home at a low price of just under 40 $. The price-performance ratio is excellent here as you get a comfortable fit, good audio performance and durability.
The highly acclaimed headphones have a unique visual design that ensures a comfortable and secure fit. The headband is quite thin and has no padding, but the earpads have different settings that you can use to change the type of fit. The lack of soft padding in these headphones means the weight is kept to a minimum. Plus, they don’t feel bulky at all, which makes them ideal for travel.
Deep bass is offered via the oxygen-free copper coils. The bass level implemented here is ideal for hip-hop as it highlights the colorful nature of the music genre. The bass, however, doesn’t compare to some of the more expensive options on this list.
You could take the headphones apart in terms of cons, but you shouldn’t when you consider the relatively low price point. The variety of features is impressive and suitable for every hip hop enthusiast.
In conclusion, the Koss Porta Pro On Ear Headphones offer a mix of comfort, solid sound quality and an affordable price.
OneOdio Bluetooth Over Ear Headphones
[amazon box=”B0828PYKZN”]
Do you have a very small budget, but still want to achieve an appropriate audio level? Then check out the OneOdio, which costs less than 30 $. The headphones offer a number of great features for the average hip hop enthusiast.
The visual design is rather simple and stylistically not too demanding. The ear cups are large and made of a material that provides soft padding. However, the materials are not top notch and could get a durability issue after years of use.
A natural and clear sound is achieved by the 40 mm large dynamic drivers. At this affordable price, you’ll struggle to find better audio drivers that make more impact on bass. Ask your friends to try these headphones out blindly and guess the price – they will likely say they cost a lot more than they actually cost.
The OneOdio offers wireless Bluetooth with a battery life of 15-20 hours. However, a cable is also included if you want to switch to wired connectivity when the battery is empty.
Overall, the OneOdio is a great choice for people who are price conscious and want a good level of performance when listening to hip hop music. The mix of high quality earcups, solid audio performance and long battery life means that the price-performance ratio is definitely right here.
Crossfade M-100 Master Over-Ear Headphone
[amazon box=”B07S3H78GX”]
V-Moda is one of the most famous manufacturers of headphones in the world and the M-100MA-MB is one of the most powerful models of this brand. The headphones offer a very strong sound quality and are especially recommended for fans of bass-heavy music.
The bass is very overwhelming and can very quickly put the mids and highs in the shade. This could quickly become uncomfortable for some people, so you should definitely test this model before buying. The M-100MA-MB delivers deep and precise bass and is one of the most powerful models in this category.
It is built very robustly and makes a very valuable impression. It can only be recommended to a limited extent for people with a large ear circumference, as it can press on the ears after prolonged use.
E7 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones Bluetooth
[amazon box=”B0C38CRPD5″]
Cowin isn’t the most popular audio brand out there, but the E7 is a solid performer for the budget buyer. It is a highly valued headphone that provides hip hop fans with good audio quality. They have a practical design with bulky ear cups but are still suitable for outdoor wear.
The 40mm audio drivers are powerful enough to deliver deep, punchy bass that enables a high quality hip hop experience. The sound is clear over the entire frequency range, but the highs can sometimes sound a little uncomfortable. In addition, you get good audio quality at high volumes.
Bluetooth 4.0 has been implemented here and that’s good enough to provide a decent level of audio performance. The NFC coupling is possible with other devices. You can also control the headphones to enable incoming calls from your smartphone. The microphone isn’t the best, but it’s good enough for clear communication.
The lightweight design is comfortable to wear and suitable for everyday use. The soft, pillow-like ear cups are a joy to wear as they put minimal pressure on your ears. They’re big enough to fit your entire ear and the headband is adjustable to fit any head size.
Before buying the COWIN E7 headphones, take the time to familiarize yourself with some of the drawbacks. The overall audio quality could be better, but it’s hard to complain at this affordable price.
In conclusion, the COWIN E7 headphones are a great choice for hip hop fans on a budget. If you love the combination of noise cancellation, solid bass, and wireless connectivity, then you can’t go wrong with these headphones.
We hope that we were able to help you with our guide article and the ten headphones that we introduced. Have fun listening to rap!
