20 songs that represent Los Angeles

Ty Dolla Sign teamed up with Kendrick Lamar, Brandy, and James Fauntleroy on his single “LA.” The collaboration was perfect for each artist involved since they all hail from Los Angeles and its surrounding areas. Ty and Kendrick both rap about their life in times in LA, from gang violence to watching Lakers games, and even with any bad crime that occurs, they still have love for their hometown. On the hook, Fauntleroy and Brandy sing, “LA, can’t believe I fell in love in the city of LA / LA, it’s the city of angels, it can take you anywhere.”

Randy Newman celebrates the city on his hit “I Love LA.” The track is about a perfect sunny day in Los Angeles—from good weather, to riding in a droptop, and listening to The Beach Boys.

Kendrick Lamar teamed up with fellow Compton native Dr. Dre on his single “The Recipe.” The track is an ode to Los Angeles as the two rap about how people love the city for three different things: women, weed, and weather. The hook is about Kendrick showing love to other major cities across the nation, but nothing compares to his hometown.

On Weezer’s hit song “Beverly Hills,” the group realizes how much they lived an average life but desire to live lavishly like people in Beverly Hills. They know that lifestyle entails living in a massive mansion with a cleaning crew and enjoying days of lounging by a pool.

On Donna’s Summer hit song “Sunset People,” the singer is showcasing the glamorous life that people live in Los Angeles. She’s all about riding in a limousine from LAX airport, setting up shop in a penthouse suite, and seeing Hollywood stars everywhere.

“Straight Outta Compton” put the world on notice of getting to know the members of N.W.A. Not only did it help push the group to mainstream status, but it also helped usher in the gangsta rap sound of the West Coast. 

In 1971, rock band The Doors released their breezy guitar-driven track "L.A. Women." On the song, the band metaphorically describes Los Angeles as a woman, which is evident on lyrics like "I see your hair is burning / Hills are filled with fire / If they ever say I never loved you / You know they are a liar."

Beyoncé and Jay-Z team up on their hit song “Welcome To Hollywood.” The track is all about people wanting to live their Hollywood dreams, but they may fall privy to the lows of the entertainment lifestyle.

California technically doesn’t have a real winter season, so the natives tend to flock to the beaches. The Mamas & The Papas are reflecting on a cold winter day and dreaming about the sunny state on their hit song "California Dreamin.'"

“To Live & Die in L.A.” is Tupac’s ode to the city of angels. He raps about everything from California women, to specific dress codes, and shoutouts to natives like Snoop Dogg and the Dogg Pound.

In 2004, rock band Bad Religion released their single "Los Angeles is Burning," highlighting how media tends to gear towards sensationalism with news topics. At times, Hollywood media caters to this journalism style to create more shock value, and of course, readership and viewership. 

Tyga is all about giving a potential partner a better life, as long she comes to his city. In his track "Move to LA," he raps about how the girl should move to the city of angels with her best friend, that way he can give her the lavish lifestyle she deserves. 

Although sister trio Haim grew up in the city of angels, they contemplate leaving their hometown on their song "Los Angeles." On the track, the sisters sing about possibly moving to New York, even though the weather is vastly different, they feel like they've outgrown their city and are in need of a change. 

On Snoop Dogg’s album BUSH, the opening track “California Roll” lends some smooth vocals from Pharrell Williams and some harmonica instrumentation from Stevie Wonder. The track has Snoop highlighting how Los Angeles can help people reach their dreams and live a fine life. On the hook, they sing, “Baby you can be a movie star in Los Angeles / Get yourself a medical card in Los Angeles / Cause that’s how California rolls.”

While some people believe Los Angeles is all about the glitz and glamour, rock band Blink-182 showcase how the city has two different sides on their track "Los Angeles." Yes, there is a side of the city of fame and fortune, but there's also another aspect that is a bit dark and dangerous at times. 

On Brent Faiyaz’s song “LA,” he describes his life as a singer trying to fulfill his dreams in the city. He sings about everything from recording sessions in The Valley, to trying to get a record deal, missed meals, and buying drinks with his last dollar.

On Miguel’s track “Hollywood Dreams,” he sings about a young lady who desires a life of fame. Towards the song's end, he names famous Los Angeles streets, including Sunset, Crenshaw, Figueroa, and Slauson.

Post Malone raps about the downsides of fame on “Hollywood’s Bleeding.” The somber track details how people sometimes deal with demons like addiction and the feeling of being used by other people. 

Kool & the Gang’s hit song “Hollywood Swinging” is all about a fan watching a band’s live performance and desiring to also be a musician. Since it's the city of dreams, once people fulfill their aspirations, there's no point in leaving. 

People always refer to Los Angeles as a city where people can make their dreams come true. Rufus and Chaka Khan reflect on this sentiment on their single “Hollywood.” On the second verse, they sing, “You know he’s gonna be dressed to kill / He’s gonna find some brand new thrills / Whatever he’s looking for / Tell him that there’s much more in Hollywood.”