The Fast & Furious movie franchise seems to grow bigger with every new installment, and that’s no different when it comes to the soundtracks, as each entry boasts a few of the very best Fast and Furious songs. With over-the-top action sequences and big-budget action, the soundtracks grow with the movies, and even the songs of the Fast and Furious films team up superstars, just like the ever-expanding casts. The songs bring together several popular artists, especially in the hip-hop and pop genres.
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Over time, some of these songs have gained an iconic status, such as the titular song in There Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, which has become more popular than the film itself. Ludacris’s “Act a Fool” has so much energy and perfectly mirrors 2 Fast 2 Furious vibrant filmmaking. Then, of course, “See You Again” adds a significantly emotional touch to Furious 7. However, there are so many other great hype tracks and reggaeton songs from the series, and the best Fast & Furious songs aren’t only the ones that were exclusively made for the movies.
20 “Pump It Up” By Joe Budden
2 Fast 2 Furious
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While most people know Joe Budden now for his podcasting, he was once a top rapper, and he had a song on the 2 Fast 2 Furious soundtrack. The bouncy and fast track was a nice fit for the film. It flipped a horn sample from “Soul Vibrations” by Kool and the Gang. The track is a club-ready anthem that is played over the end credits of 2 Fast 2 Furious, rather than over a specific scene.
While later songs added to the film’s end credits often have a little more meaning to them, this was added with a little more of the atmosphere of the film’s story. With the entire idea of Paul Walker and Tyrese Gibson first meeting and working together, this was a welcome song to play over the credits to fit the attitude that the film had, which was completely different from the first movie. The song was certified gold in the United States and ended up peaking at No. 10 on the U.S. Hot Rap Songs chart.
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19 “Rollin’ (Urban Assault Vehicle)” By Limp Bizkit, DMX, Method Man & Redman
The Fast And The Furious
Before things moved more to rap and Latino hits in later movies, the first film specifically was full of hard alternative rock tracks. This includes the song by the long-derided alt-rock band Limp Bizkit. This was actually a remixed version of the hit song “Rollin’ ,” with the subtitle “Urban Assault Vehicle” added to it. This wasn’t just Limp Bizkit singing the song, as they added some of the era’s top rap stars to join them, including the late DMX, Method Man, and Redman.
Limp Bizkit’s “Rollin'” was also used in WWE for former world champion Undertaker from 2000 to 2002.
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The song played over the scene before the nighttime drag race in this first film. It was a perfect addition to The Fast and the Furious since its fast beat and aggressive rap verses got people more than ready to see some illegal street racing. While the song doesn’t have the same reputation as it once did, at the time, there weren’t many better choices for a movie and scene like this one.
18 “Blanco” By Pitbull Featuring Pharrell Williams
Fast & Furious
“Blacno” from Pitbull is the song that opens up the fourth movie in The Fast and the Furious franchise. The movie opens with a huge, dangerous heist where Dom and his crew hijack fuel tankers in the Dominican Republic in a daring move where they have to knock tankers off the main truck and hook them up to the crew’s cars. By the end, Dom and Letty barely escape an explosive death in one of the franchise’s most inspired opening scenes.
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The film then flips to a moment later in the future with street racing at night in Panama City, and the entire scene opens with “Blanco” playing as a fun, upbeat party song to show the difference between this lifestyle and the high-risk heist lifestyle that Dom is often involved in. This fast-paced and fun song, with a verse by Pharrell Williams, is a great way to shift focus to the other side of Dom’s life, and it was a perfect start to this new chapter for The Fast and the Furious.
17 “Superstar” By Saliva
The Fast And The Furious
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Brian was still an undercover agent in the first The Fast and the Furious movie and he was trying to prove himself to Dom. Brian got himself a souped-up Supra, and then he and Dom went out for a drive. They came upon a wealthy snob in a Ferrari, and Brian said it was a nice car and asked how much it retailed for. The guy remarked, “More than you can afford,” so Dom told Brian to “smoke him.” Brian not only did that, but he drove so fast and in control that Dom looked at him impressed.
Brian had just made himself a ”
superstar
” in Dom’s eyes.
The race started out with the opening to this Saliva song, but when Brian got the lead and just poured it on, while Dom held on tight and looked a little scared, the chorus “Make me a superstar” played over the soundtrack. The Fast and the Furious had a lot more alt-rock than later releases, but this was a perfect song to show the aggression of street racing and held further meaning since Brian had just made himself a “superstar” in Dom’s eyes.
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16 “Debonaire” By Dope
The Fast And The Furious
This hard rock song by Dope was playing over the scene where the FBI agents were heading in for their big bust of Dom and his crew. It intercuts with the crew eating and the FBI showing up to arrest everyone. Brian was in tow as one of the arresting officers for the various busts. At the same time, Dom was kissing and having some romantic moments with Letty oblivious to what was happening across town. The song was a hard rock background to the FBI, showing their might.
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At the same time, this was also a look at Brian’s wide-eyed FBI agent and Dom’s cool attitude, which he exhibited while not knowing the FBI was bringing down his crew. This was not the only time that the hard beats of “Debonaire” were used in entertainment; it was also a song played in Scream 3 and, for professional wrestling fans, was Rhino’s entrance theme when he wrestled in ECW.
15 “Bang” By Rye Rye Featuring M.I.A.
Fast & Furious
“Bang” is one of the coolest and most stylish songs in the Fast & Furious franchise, though it might not be quite as well-remembered as other tracks. The song might not be part of any specific street racing or action scene in Fast & Furious, as it plays as the credits roll, but it’s a perfect upbeat song that perfectly captures the mood of the whole film. As the Fast & Furious series has always been about style and urban culture, especially in 2009, the song perfectly mirrors that too.
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The track is by Rye Rye and M.I.A., two female rappers who were absolutely at the top of their games in 2009, and M.I.A. was especially leading the rap zeitgeist. The final credit scenes from all the Fast and Furious movies always feature some great picks, and this was just another example of keeping the “mood” of the film, so the audience has no problem jamming through the end credits.
14 “Exotic Race” By Murci Featuring Sean Paul & Dixson Waz
F9
It seemingly isn’t a Fast & Furious movie unless there’s a Spanish-speaking hype track. “Exotic Race” is that token song, and it’s one of the best in the series. Sean Paul featuring on a Fast & Furious soundtrack is long overdue, as his phenomenal popularity as a rapper in the 2000s made it a shock that he didn’t appear in the series until 2021.
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However, he featured in F9 in the best way possible, as “Exotic Race” has so much unstoppable energy. The song plays when Dom and the crew arrive in Montequinto in F9, driving armed tanks and giant vehicles, and the hype is on another level, making it one of the best Fast and Furious songs. The scenes with the fast car chases and action rarely need anything other than the stunts to sell the moment, but the songs always make it just a little bit better.
13 “Toretto” By J Balvin
Fast X
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It comes as a surprise that it wasn’t until 10 movies in that a song called “Toretto” was commissioned for the franchise. The series has become all about Dom having almost superhero-like powers and turning into a mythic figure, so it only makes sense that he has his own theme song of sorts. While the song isn’t particularly specific to the character when it comes to the lyrics, J Balvin brings his typical reggaeton beats and rhythm to the song, which is Toretto all over.
It represents Dominic Toretto’s Latin American roots and his love of places like Brazil, and it fits perfectly with those sequences in Fast X. Forget about the song’s title, because this was an instance where the track was just so good that it worked even if it didn’t have the name of the main protagonist in the title. The song never hit any of the music charts, but it remains instantly recognizable by fans of the movies.
12 “Deep Enough” By Live
The Fast And The Furious
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“Deep Enough” has become iconic in Fast & Furious history and is easily one of the best Fast and Furious songs. The track plays at the beginning of the first movie when Brian is introduced in his green Mitsubishi Eclipse, then drives to Toretto’s Market in a Ford Lightning, and continues to play during Brian and Mia’s iconic tuna sandwich conversation.
The lyrics have nothing to do with the movie whatsoever, as the rock song’s lyrics, “I wanna know are those replacement hips, is that a Swatch Watch, do you know what time it is?” hilariously plays as Brian walks to the market, but that’s what makes it so entertaining. At this time, it was all about just putting banging tracks onto the soundtrack, and this one gets the blood pumping in the audience, even if it has nothing to do with the storyline at the time.
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11 “Better As One” By The Heavy
Hobbs & Shaw
“Better as One” has become one of the most memorable Fast & Furious songs, and it’s thanks to the Hobbs & Shaw sequence that’s the most outright comedic scene in the franchise. The song plays over a split-screen sequence of the titular characters’ very different but very similar morning routines. They both have eggs for breakfast, though Hobbs has his raw, and they both drive very different vehicles but clearly have a passion for cars.
They both even steal drinks from their respective bars at the end of the montage. Not only is “Better as One” a groovy soundtrack, but the title foreshadows the characters teaming up, too. The song wonderfully parallels these two characters, who are so very different but who are also very similar to each other in the long run. This is one track that is more about the scene it plays over than the song itself, but it is still very memorable.
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10 “Rest Of My Life” By Ludacris Featuring Usher & David Guetta
Fast & Furious 6
Rapper-turned-actor Ludacris has been playing Tej Parker since 2 Fast 2 Furious, a film that also featured his iconic hit “Act A Fool.” “Rest of My Life” is an EDM-influenced feel-good anthem that finds Ludacris stressing about working hard and then living life like there’s no tomorrow. Usher, who had previously collaborated with Ludacris on “Yeah,” helms the chorus while French DJ David Guetta handles the instrumental hook.
Even though it was released as a single from the album Ludaversal, “Rest of My Life” plays in the closing credits of Fast & Furious 6, continuing the trend of optimistic ending songs in the franchise. The song is special not only because franchise star Ludacris sings it but also because of the idea of Family that had really been hammered into place in the franchise by this time.
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9 “All Roads Lead Home” By Ohana Bam
Hobbs & Shaw
Serving as a standalone adventure for characters Hobbs and Shaw, Hobbs & Shaw had a multi-genre soundtrack that seemed to focus more on electro-house and rock along with the usual dose of hip-hop. In this context, rapper Ohana Bam’s “All Roads Lead Home” stands for the family-related themes that the film’s second half presents.
As Hobbs heads back to his childhood home in Samoa after years, he reunites with his estranged brother as they plan to team up to defeat the terrorist Brixton Lore and his forces. The song plays as the protagonist’s Samoan peers prepare for war, making for a rousing anthem. As Hobbs goes back home and prepares to fight, there wasn’t a more rousing and energetic track on the soundtrack for Hobbs & Shaw and It got everyone ready for the big coming battle.
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8 “Hey Ma” By Pitbull Featuring J Balvin & Camila Cabello
The Fate Of The Furious
Continuing the tradition of using Spanish songs in the soundtracks, the eighth installment opens with a track called “Hey Ma” that brings together rapper Pitbull, pop/R&B vocalist Camila Cabello, and reggaeton artist J Balvin. Available in both Spanish and English versions, “Hey Ma” is an easygoing love song as Balvin and Cabello croon on being infatuated with each other.
Pitbull, on the other hand, stresses his Cuban roots while describing a lively setting in the country. Interestingly, as Pitbull revealed in an interview, the song was initially recorded with Britney Spears and Romeo Santos before his new-age collaborators stepped in (via Us Magazine). The song was a perfect addition to the soundtrack and the fact it featured three of the most successful Latino musical artists of the time made it even better.
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7 “Good Life” By Kehlani & G-Eazy
The Fate Of The Furious
Kehlani and G-Eazy collaborated for “Good Life,” a song that perfectly fits with the traditional family scenes at the end of almost all recent Fast and Furious films. Similar to “Rest of My Life,” “Good Life” is a celebratory tune and one of the best Fast and Furious songs that allows both artists to show off the successful lives they lead. At the same time, they also seem to encourage listeners to follow their intuition and stick with their “day ones” to make it big in life.
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Similarly, Dominic Toretto’s crew has been together since the start with every member having each other’s back. This song is also more than just a big track that fits into the Fast and Furious franchise. It was also one of the biggest songs in the world in the summer of 2017, which was played everywhere all the time. It hit 59th on the Billboard Hot 100, 29th on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts, and was 35th on the US Pop Airplay charts.
6 “We Own It” By Wiz Khalifa & 2 Chainz
Fast & Furious 6
One of the most successful rap songs on YouTube, “We Own It,” is one of the best Fast and Furious songs too. The track captures the adrenaline-fueled essence of the film. From Fast Five onwards, the franchise went beyond the street-racing territory and went on to increase its scope to even larger storylines. However, be it a heist in Brazil or a nuclear war in Iceland, high-speed car chases have always formed a crucial part of the universe, and “We Own It” sums it up.
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Wiz Khalifa and 2 Chainz boast of their courage and ‘ride or die’ attitude all through the song, with Khalifa’s hook being a notable highlight. The lyrics fit the movie franchise so perfectly, with the two rappers singing, “Stuck to the plan, always said that we would stand up, never ran/We the fam, and loyalty never change up.” The track is one that encapsulates everything the family believes in.
5 “I Will Return” By Skylar Grey
Furious 7
While Furious 7‘s “See You Again” is the most popular track from the album, even Skylar Grey lent her voice to a ballad dedicated to the late Paul Walker. Though the former mostly conveys the perspective of Vin Diesel and the other cast members, Grey’s “I Will Return” seems to be written from the perspective of Walker himself. The track is a haunting testimony of a person who has left their loved ones but wishes to come back.
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Brimming with mourning as well as hope, “I Will Return” is one of the more introspective songs from the Furious 7 soundtrack and low-key one of the best Fast and Furious songs. Losing Paul Walker was a blow not only to the cast but also to the fans of the popular street racing/heist franchise. This song is a beautiful addition to the movies, and it is hard not to think about Paul Walker and Brian when this song plays.
4 “Danza Kuduro” By Don Omar
Fast Five
Puerto Rican reggaeton artist Don Omar has had a long history with the film series, a musical relationship that dates back to Tokyo Drift when he dropped “Conteo” and “Bandoleros.” In Fast Five, he even shared an acting credit as Rico Santos while his dance hit “Danza Kuduro” plays in the final scene. The song, which also features vocals from Lucenzo, plays over a perfect montage that shows the activities of Dom and his team after the Fast Five heist in Rio.
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Splitting the money and going their separate ways, each one of the crew members seems to have a happy ending, and “Danza Kuduro” is a fitting track. The placement of the song in the movie is perfection, as it shows how each member of Dom’s Fast Family uses their share of the money after the heist is completed. This was also notable because this was one of the only films in the franchise without a recognizable track outside of this one.
3 “Act A Fool” By Ludacris
2 Fast 2 Furious
Ludacris’ single from 2 Fast 2 Furious is a time capsule of sorts. His flow evokes the head-bobbing energy of his older albums, while the accompanying music video would offer nostalgia to diehard fans of the series. Ludacris drives in flashy-colored cars, speeding and drifting them to perfection. It offers a simpler glimpse at the world of Fast & Furious, a franchise that was once just content with drag racing and 2000s hip-hop.
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“Act A Fool” earned Ludacris a Grammy nomination for Best Song Written for Visual Media, a feat that would later be repeated by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth for See You Again. It even peaked at No. 10 on the rap songs chart. Not only is this a Grammy-nominated song, which already makes it one of the best in the series, it it also almost impossible for anyone who knows the song not to rap it over the name of the movie’s title.
2 “Tokyo Drift” By Teriyaki Boyz
The Fast And The Furious: Tokyo Drift
“Tokyo Drift” is the magnum opus of the Japanese hip-hop group Teriyaki Boyz, garnering a cult status over the years. Teriyaki Boyz’s fiery flows aside, the song is also iconic for its production, particularly the cowbell-like instrumentation. It’s an ambitious crossover on its own as the production was handled by The Neptunes, the production duo of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo.
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Originally featured in the drifting scenes from the film, “Tokyo Drift” continues to stay relevant, as hip-hop artists ranging from Pusha T to Rich Brian still remix and sample it, and it’s still one of the best Fast and Furious songs. It is also a great song to add over the scenes of the street racing in Tokyo and is a great track for these moments in the franchise.
1 “See You Again” Wiz Khalifa Featuring Charlie Puth
Furious 7
Paul Walker’s untimely death was naturally a shock for the industry. With Walker posthumously appearing in the series’ seventh installment, “See You Again” served as a touching tribute to the late actor. Wiz Khalifa, a regular musical guest on the Fast and Furious films, pours out his emotions while rapping about true friendships, making allusions to Vin Diesel and Walker’s on-screen/off-screen bond.
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The song definitely served its purpose and moved listeners all over the world while also establishing featured vocalist Charlie Puth’s career. Puth’s piano intro and soulful chorus continue to hold goosebump-inducing melancholia, and the song plays in the following Fast & Furious movies too. If anything, this song remains a perfect memorial for Paul Walker and was a touching moment to send his character off into the sunset.
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8/10 The Fast And The Furious PG-13CrimeActionThriller
The first film in the Fast & Furious franchise, The Fast and the Furious introduces Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker), an undercover cop tasked with infiltrating Dominic Toretto’s (Vin Diesel) gang of street racers in order to investigate a string of vehicular heists. Falling in love with both Toretto’s sister and the world of street racing, O’Conner finds his sense of duty strained to the limit by loyalty to his newfound friends.
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*Availability in US Director Rob Cohen Release Date June 22, 2001 Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Cast Jordana Brewster , Michelle Rodriguez , Rick Yune , Vin Diesel , Paul Walker Runtime 106 minutes