One of the most quintessential songs about Los Angeles is Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang by Dr. Dre. Released in 1992, this song perfectly captures the vibe of LA during the early 1990s – all bass, beats, and bravado. It’s no surprise that Dre was born and raised in Compton, just a few miles south of downtown LA. This song is a celebration of LA’s unique culture and its endless opportunities for young people who are willing to put in the work.

The album's first single, "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang" reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 on March 20, 1993, behind "Informer" by Snow, outperformed The Chronic's other singles. The song was selected by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the 500 songs that shaped rock and roll. XXL magazine named it the top hip-hop song of the decade. The song samples "I Want'a Do Something Freaky to You" by Leon Haywood. In June 1994, it was reissued in certain European countries.

• Released: 1992
• Songwriters: Tracy Curry, Calvin Broadus, Otha Haywood

Los Angeles is one of the most exciting cities on earth, and it’s no wonder that so many musicians have written songs about it. One of the best songs about Los Angeles is “Los Angeles” by Frank Black. This song perfectly captures the feeling of being in this city, with its mix of excitement and loneliness. If you’re ever feeling homesick for Los Angeles, or just want to feel its energy, then you recommend listening to “Los Angeles” by Frank Black.

Los Angeles also served as the main theme song for the short-lived but cult favorite VH1 talk show Late World with Zach. It was also featured in the soundtrack of Tony Hawk's American Wasteland as well as in Girl Skateboards' 2003 video Yeah Right!, in which the song played during Eric Koston's video part. Also, a music video was made for the song featuring Black himself. The music video was featured on an episode of MTV's Beavis and Butt-head and was directed by John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants.

• Released: 1993
• Songwriter: Frank Black

Sheryl Crow’s “All I Wanna Do” is a quintessential Los Angeles song. Released in 1993, the song perfectly captures the laid-back vibe of the city and its many attractions, from the beach to the Hollywood Hills. In the lyrics, Crow sings about wanting to just “hang out downtown” and enjoy all LA offers. Its lyrics are about the simple pleasures of life in Los Angeles and is a perfect song for an afternoon drive along the coast.

The song is Crow's biggest US hit, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 behind "I'll Make Love to You" by Boyz II Men for six consecutive weeks, and it also topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. All I Wanna Do won the 1995 Grammy for Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and was nominated for Song of the Year. In addition to its US success, "All I Wanna Do" peaked at number one in Australia for one week and in Canada for four weeks, also topping the RPM Adult Contemporary chart in the latter country. In New Zealand and the United Kingdom, it peaked at number four, and in Europe, it reached the top 10 in Austria, Flemish Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands. It is Crow's most significant international hit to date.

• Released: 1994
• Songwriters: Sheryl Crow, Kevin Gilbert, Bill Bottrell, Wyn Cooper, David Baerwald

Regulate is one of the best songs about Los Angeles. Released in 1994, Regulate was Warren G’s first solo single and it quickly became a West Coast classic. Produced by Dr. Dre, the song samples Michael McDonald’s I Keep Forgettin’ and features Nate Dogg on the chorus. The song also starts with a read introduction referencing dialogue from the film Young Guns. The music video featured scenes from Above the Rim, including an appearance by Tupac Shakur. The lyrics are about two lovers who meet in a dark alley and end up getting into a shootout. Even though the song is based on a true story, it’s still one of the most fun and upbeat tracks about Los Angeles!

Regulate became an MTV staple and the song reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 8 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart. It was number 98 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop and number 108 on Pitchfork Media's "Top 200 Tracks of the 90s".

• Released: 1994
• Songwriters: Nate Dogg, Warren G

When it comes to songs about Los Angeles, it would be hard to exclude I Wish by Skee-Lo. Released in 1995, this song perfectly captures the essence of LA – the glamour, the glitz, and the dreamers who come here chasing their aspirations. With its infectious beat and Skee-Lo’s smooth vocals, this song is a must-listen for anyone who loves LA! Its lyrics are about how he wishes he were a little bit taller and that girls would notice him, but I think we can all understand that feeling!

In the United States, the single peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for selling 600,000 copies domestically. Internationally, the song reached number 4 in Sweden and Norway, number 5 in Finland, number 6 in the Netherlands, number 10 in Switzerland, number 14 in Germany and New Zealand, number 15 in the UK, and made it to the Top 25 in Belgium and France. The song was nominated for Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 38th Annual Grammy Awards but lost to Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise". Blender listed "I Wish" as number 359 on its list of "500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born".

• Released: 1995
• Songwriter: Antoine Roundtree

Santa Monica is one of the most iconic neighborhoods in Los Angeles and it’s no surprise that it has been the inspiration for so many songs. One of the most famous is “Santa Monica” by Everclear from their 1995 album Sparkle and Fade. The song was written by the band's lead singer, Art Alexakis. The song is about a young man who is struggling to find his way in life and he turns to Santa Monica as a place to find hope. He sings about how the beach and the boardwalk offer him a chance to forget his troubles and feel free.

Though it was not officially released as a single in the United States, American radio stations played "Santa Monica" enough for it to reach number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart and top the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for three weeks in 1996. It became a top-forty hit in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom; it is the band's highest-charting single in Australia.

• Released: 1995
• Songwriters: Art Alexakis, Greg Eklund, Craig Montoya

Lullaby is among the best songs about Los Angeles. "Lullaby" is a song by American rock singer Shawn Mullins from his fourth studio album, Soul's Core (1998). It was released in August 1998 and is Mullins' most successful song to date, reaching number one on the US Billboard Adult Top 40, number seven on the Billboard Hot 100, and number nine on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. It also found success abroad, reaching number nine on the UK Singles Chart, number five in Australia, and number two in Canada. The song has appeared on thirty-two different releases including the original album, Soul's Core, greatest hits albums, 1990s compilations, and acoustic compilations. It was also sung by Dave Allen in the 2011 film Bad Teacher.

The lyrics of Lullaby are about a man who is reflecting on his life and all of the amazing moments he’s experienced. He’s grateful for everything he’s been given and he’s looking forward to the next chapter in his journey. The song is a perfect anthem for anyone who’s feeling sentimental about their hometown – whether that’s Los Angeles or anywhere else in the world.

• Released: 1998
• Songwriter: Shawn Mullins

There’s something about the Decemberists’ “I’m Yours” that just makes you want to sing along and dance. This song is purely a love song about Los Angeles. Colin is singing about the beautiful disaster the city is, how he sees the most amazing and awe-inspiring decay of the norms of society, yet the root of the society(human interaction) is stronger than any other city in the world. He's saying that Los Angeles doesn't have any of the superficial norms society thinks it has, and instead, has things that mainstream society sees as repulsive, like pollution, a huge class divide, etc. Yet, the people are happy to live in their filth, and appreciate all the real things the society has to offer, that other cities, which maybe look for beautiful, and do not have these "social no-nos" ever will. Colin wrote this song, and if he did, he is talking about how much he loves Los Angeles.

The song perfectly captures the energy and excitement of Los Angeles, making it one of the best songs about the city. With its jangly guitars and upbeat tempo, it’s the perfect song to listen to while cruising down the freeway with the windows down. So put on your sunglasses and turn up the volume, because this song is sure to get you in a Los Angeles mood!

• Released: 2003
• Songwriter: Colin Meloy

Los Angeles Is Burning is a single by the punk rock band Bad Religion from their 2004 album The Empire Strikes First. "Los Angeles Is Burning" was released to radio on April 27, 2004. According to bassist Jay Bentley, the lyrics argue that the media is sensationalistic. The music video features men with television cameras replacing their heads firing flames into the animated landscape of Los Angeles. Although the song was written at a time when there was a major wildfire nearby, the late 2003 Cedar Fire, Bentley makes clear that the song was using the fire as a metaphor. It is maybe about the Los Angeles riots of 1992, which were sparked by the acquittal of four police officers who had been videotaped beating Rodney King.

Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz wrote the song in response to what he saw as the systematic racism exhibited by the police and the judicial system during the riots. He later said, “When I saw those cops beating Rodney King, it just cooked my brain. I thought, ‘This isn’t some random act of violence – this is a lynching.’ And that’s how the song started.” Los Angeles Is Burning is really great lyrics, great music, and great attitude. The song reached number 40 on the Modern Rock Tracks in July 2004.

• Released: 2004
• Songwriter: Brett Gurewitz

One of the best songs about Los Angeles is Shangri-LA. It is a song by the electronic band Yacht. It was released in 2009 as the lead single from their second album, See Mystery Lights. It is a concept album about utopia. This is Yacht's second album to include Claire L. Evans. The song reached number one on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording.

The lyrics of Shangri-LA are about Los Angeles and its many attractions, including Hollywood, the Sunset Strip, and Beverly Hills. The song has a cheerful, catchy tune. Surely when you listen to it, you will not be able to help but sway to the tune. Besides, in the description of the MV on Youtube, the Yacht band wrote: "You can't spell Shangri-La without L.A." Yacht frontman Jona Bechtolt said of the song: “Shangri-LA is about Los Angeles as an idea: a place where you can be anyone you want to be and do anything you want to do.”

• Released: 2011
• Songwriters: Matty Malneck, Carl Sigman, Robert Maxwell