11: "Grindin'" - Clipse
Before this song was released, we knew The Neptunes could make great pop music. Their two biggest hits before this were Jay-Z's "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)" and Britney's "I'm A Slave 4 U", both bouncy hits that had that signature Neptunes sound. It was with "Grindin'", however, that they expanded on that sound, showing us their stark yet powerful approach to hardcore Hip-Hop production. It was a world apart from the industry R&B and pop they had been churning out, a raw electronic backed kind of Hip-Hop that married beautifully with hardcore street rap. This song is the reason The Neptunes went on to dominate rap radio in the 2000's, and why everyone from Snoop Dogg to Common was clamoring to work with them.
12: "Hip-Hop" - Dead Prez
As you may have gleaned from the previous posts, protest and social consciousness have little place in today's corporate homogenized Hip-Hop. It's hard to imagine anyone getting signed to a major label now who's "down for running up on them crackers in they city hall". This song managed to get some people's attention when it was released in 2000, mostly due to its forward-thinking bass-driven beat that would become mainstream eight years later with songs like "A Milli", but it may have drawn people's focus away from the lyrics and the overall message. What we're doing is bigger than Hip-Hop, yet so many contemporary MCs work so within the style that they can't rise above the genre and reflect on it. It's hard to be bigger than Hip-Hop when Hip-Hop is the biggest thing in the world.
13: "Get Ur Freak On" - Missy Elliott
If there's one thing Timbaland is very good at, its taking disparate musical elements and molding them into a cohesive beat. World music, like the Asian strings here or the Middle Eastern samples in "Big Pimpin'", are one of his specialties. They don't sound foreign, rather they sound perfectly contextualized, like you've been hearing them on the radio for years. Its a testament to Timbaland and Missy's artistic relationship that this weird song with Indian strings, African drums, random Chinese chattering, and hawked loogies made it the Billboard Top 10. We've all heard this song a hundred times to the point where it seems commonplace, yet it couldn't be further from ordinary.
14: "The Light" - Common
Things looked pretty different at the beginning of the 2000's then where we are now. Coming off the 90s, the identity of the decade was up for grabs, and for a brief moment that identity had more to do with a politically correct swanky new bohemian lifestyle than the paranoia and frustration of the post-911 era. Artists like Common appealed to the dotcom boomers who wanted their rap smooth and non-confrontational. When things were good we got beautiful Hip-Hop ballads about love. When things got bad, shit got real.
15: "Stay High" - Three 6 Mafia feat. Young Buck, 8 Ball & MJG
If there was an unlikely story of the decade in Hip-Hop, it has to be to comeback of Three 6 Mafia. These Memphis horror-core rappers rose to prominance in the 90s feuding with Bone Thugs N Harmony and rapping about body parts in trunks. Years in the game have only solidified the production heart of the click, DJ Paul and Juicy J. The beat on this song is ridiculous, so much more polished and refined than the brutish beats of their early albums. Three 6 managed to parlay the sucess of this song into featuring on and producing big name chart hits, and set them up to produce one of the songs in the top ten.
16: "The Way I Am" - Eminem
Eminem existed between decades, and in many ways was the transition point from the pop music scene of the 90s into the Hip-Hop dominated one we see today. If it weren't for the millions of new white rap fans created overnight by Eminem's popularity we would not see anywhere near the amount of rap in our everyday popular culture. Eminem primed a generation of white teenagers to become the rap consumers of the 2000s. Without his impact this list might not be half as long, and "The Way I Am" is pure unadulterated Hip-Hop from an MC at his zenith.
17: "Southern Hospitality" - Ludacris
Despite what this list says, this has to be my favorite Neptunes production. This is the song where we knew Ludacris was here to stay,and the song that cemented the Neptunes sound as the sound of the years to come. Years before Snoop Dogg and Justin Timberlake got the Pharrell makover, a little southern rapper with a big mouth was making gold with a perfect marriage of Star Trak funk and Ludacris crunk.
18: "Flashing Lights" - Kanye West
Kanye West is a famous man. The 2000s had to give up on some things, most notably our pop stars. With internet music sharing and more and more musical options, it's unlikely we'll ever get a larger-than-life star like Michael Jackson ever again. That said, Kanye comes pretty damn close, at least in his own mind. From calling Bush a racist to award-show antics (I'ma let you finish...), Kanye wants to be our King of Pop. And if Kanye is Michael Jackson, then "Flashing Lights" is grandiose pop poetry, genetically engineered for the dancefloor and near perfect in its craftsmanship.
19: "Get By" - Talib Kweli
Jay-Z once said "If skills sold, truth be told I'd probably be, lyrically, Talib Kweli", to which Talib replied: "If lyrics sold then truth be told I'd probably be just as rich and famous as Jay-Z." Why critically-acclaimed MCs have such trouble making the crossover to mainstream auidences is probably similar to why bands like Deerhunter and Animal Collective aren't wildly famous while considered to be the best. When these artists try to make the leap to the Billboard 100 they rarely stay there, but their pop aspirations are often excellent, like "Get By". Produced by Kanye West, here Talib really does play the Jay-Z role to awesome results.
20: "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" - Jay-Z
I've talked up the Neptunes a lot over the course of this list, but here the top twenty kicks off with three songs in row produced by none other than Kanye West. The element that Kanye added to early 21st century Hip-Hop is hard to define, but its centered around his masterful use of soul-based samples. "Izzo" was the first national platform for the young Mr. West, and after America heard this, we needed more.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
The 100 greatest Hip-Hop songs of the 2000's: 21-30
21: "Oh Boy" - Cam'ron feat. Juelz Santana
If things had worked out differently, Cam'ron could have been 50 Cent, the Diplomats could have been G-Unit. Cam was cursed with bad luck, his group dissolved around him, Rocafella dropped him, and his stock in the rap world plummeted. This doesn't mean Cam'ron didn't produce some of the most interesting rap of the decade; both Come Home With Me and Purple Haze are stellar albums. What it does mean is that we may have had a chance to have a lot more Cam'ron in our lives, which wouldn't have hurt anybody.
22: "Ms. Jackson" - OutKast
In the year 2000, OutKast was the best band in the world. That statement isn't really debatable, as the music scene at the turn of the millennium was bleak as hell. In a sea of Creed and N*SYNC, OutKast were some of the only people doing anything interesting. With "Ms. Jackson", they let the world know they had skill. The song hit number one and earned the duo a Grammy, launching OutKast into the pantheon of rock critic favorites. The fact that they haven't given us a song like this every year since then is a fact we have to live with.
23: "Jesus Walks" - Kanye West
The complete absence of spirituality in popular music can't be denied. That's why its no surprise that "Jesus Walks" garnered some much attention. Kanye dared radio to play the song, and they did in droves. Critics applauded the song while religious leaders saw it as an amazing call the Christ. Even the Stellar Awards, the biggest gospel recognition award, came close to nominating The College Dropout for best gospel rap album, until someone noticed that it wasn't gospel at all. Perhaps most importantly, "Jesus Walks" gave us the first indication that West was destined for mega-stardom, someone who could say unpopular things and still have people listen.
24: "In Da Club" - 50 Cent
What a great idea. Take Eminem's massive fan base of new Hip-Hop listeners and package them an inner-city rapper ready to further the Shady empire. His debut album sold 872,000 copies in its first week, thanks to scores of white kids. 50 was able to dominate the rap scene for the first half of the decade, being THE rap superstar. Unfortunately those white kids didn't stay loyal for long, and his black listeners began to see through his facade and nine bullet holes. 50 Cent will always be a millionaire, but he might not sell a million copies again.
25: "One Mic" - Nas
When rap was in its golden age, it had the potential to change the world. MCs like KRS-One saw themselves as teachers trying to uplift their people. I don't have to tell you again that that is no longer the case. Yet the idea still influences modern rap, the position of MC as inspiration still exists. While underground of independent Hip-Hop still clings to that ideal, mainstream rappers seem to ignore it. Nas is a special breed though, a relic from the New York hardcore days that knows what it means to be an MC. You have to pair the tales of the streets with the hopes of the heart. Emotion needs its place in rap music, and power and dominance aren't emotions. Let's hope that Nas stays visible amongst the herd.
26: "Still Tippin'" - Mike Jones feat. Slim Thug & Paul Wall
Wanna know what Houston sounded like in 2005? Well, here you go. I don't think a specific city's music scene exploded into national consciousness like this since Seattle in 1991. If that's true, then this is Houston's "Smells Like Teen Spirit"; three of its best MCs over an archetypal Swishahouse beat, dripping with southern swag.
27: "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" - Jay-Z
Timbaland and Jay-Z make quite the team. Together they made "Big Pimpin", which if it wasn't released on December 28, 1999 would be near the top of this list. "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" is a different animal, full of swirling synths and dramatic drum programming. The whole thing feels easily executed and nonchalant, perfect for 2003.
28: "Bring 'Em Out" - T.I.
Sometimes when you listen to a song, you want it to energize you, to get you out of your seat and get to clappin'. This is one of those. T.I.'s first crossover hit is a stadium ready banger, and is played at almost any NBA game you go to. Built around a Jay-Z vocal sample, producer Swizz Beatz creates a cavalcade of horns, sirens, and whistles; the song literally sounds like half time. Jock Jams for the 21st century.
29: "Touch The Sky" - Kanye West feat. Lupe Fiasco
Soul is always welcome in Hip-Hop, and Kanye was the main purveyor of Soul Rap during the last decade. Produced by Just Blaze and centered around a killer Curtis Mayfield sample, "Touch The Sky" oozes with 70's bump and funk (and it's not just due to the Evel Knievel inspired video). Add a fresh-faced Lupe to the mix and those horns are gonna stay with you all day.
30: "Fix Up, Look Sharp" - Dizzee Rascal
From across the pond came Dizzee, a mushmouthed East London rapper with one hell of a debut album. Boy In Da Corner sounded like nothing we'd ever heard in Hip-Hop, and frankly its still ahead of its time. The minimalist laptop beats were like nothing in rap at the time, leading to the album topping many critics year-end best of lists. Yet the album didn't make much impact on American Hip-Hop loyalists, with this song being the exception. Build around a bombastic Billy Squire sample, "Fix Up, Look Sharp" got your attention. The song grabs you and holds you close, your ears wanting to recoil as youstrain to make out Dizzee's garbled lyrics. A sensory assault of the finest kind.
If things had worked out differently, Cam'ron could have been 50 Cent, the Diplomats could have been G-Unit. Cam was cursed with bad luck, his group dissolved around him, Rocafella dropped him, and his stock in the rap world plummeted. This doesn't mean Cam'ron didn't produce some of the most interesting rap of the decade; both Come Home With Me and Purple Haze are stellar albums. What it does mean is that we may have had a chance to have a lot more Cam'ron in our lives, which wouldn't have hurt anybody.
22: "Ms. Jackson" - OutKast
In the year 2000, OutKast was the best band in the world. That statement isn't really debatable, as the music scene at the turn of the millennium was bleak as hell. In a sea of Creed and N*SYNC, OutKast were some of the only people doing anything interesting. With "Ms. Jackson", they let the world know they had skill. The song hit number one and earned the duo a Grammy, launching OutKast into the pantheon of rock critic favorites. The fact that they haven't given us a song like this every year since then is a fact we have to live with.
23: "Jesus Walks" - Kanye West
The complete absence of spirituality in popular music can't be denied. That's why its no surprise that "Jesus Walks" garnered some much attention. Kanye dared radio to play the song, and they did in droves. Critics applauded the song while religious leaders saw it as an amazing call the Christ. Even the Stellar Awards, the biggest gospel recognition award, came close to nominating The College Dropout for best gospel rap album, until someone noticed that it wasn't gospel at all. Perhaps most importantly, "Jesus Walks" gave us the first indication that West was destined for mega-stardom, someone who could say unpopular things and still have people listen.
24: "In Da Club" - 50 Cent
What a great idea. Take Eminem's massive fan base of new Hip-Hop listeners and package them an inner-city rapper ready to further the Shady empire. His debut album sold 872,000 copies in its first week, thanks to scores of white kids. 50 was able to dominate the rap scene for the first half of the decade, being THE rap superstar. Unfortunately those white kids didn't stay loyal for long, and his black listeners began to see through his facade and nine bullet holes. 50 Cent will always be a millionaire, but he might not sell a million copies again.
25: "One Mic" - Nas
When rap was in its golden age, it had the potential to change the world. MCs like KRS-One saw themselves as teachers trying to uplift their people. I don't have to tell you again that that is no longer the case. Yet the idea still influences modern rap, the position of MC as inspiration still exists. While underground of independent Hip-Hop still clings to that ideal, mainstream rappers seem to ignore it. Nas is a special breed though, a relic from the New York hardcore days that knows what it means to be an MC. You have to pair the tales of the streets with the hopes of the heart. Emotion needs its place in rap music, and power and dominance aren't emotions. Let's hope that Nas stays visible amongst the herd.
26: "Still Tippin'" - Mike Jones feat. Slim Thug & Paul Wall
Wanna know what Houston sounded like in 2005? Well, here you go. I don't think a specific city's music scene exploded into national consciousness like this since Seattle in 1991. If that's true, then this is Houston's "Smells Like Teen Spirit"; three of its best MCs over an archetypal Swishahouse beat, dripping with southern swag.
27: "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" - Jay-Z
Timbaland and Jay-Z make quite the team. Together they made "Big Pimpin", which if it wasn't released on December 28, 1999 would be near the top of this list. "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" is a different animal, full of swirling synths and dramatic drum programming. The whole thing feels easily executed and nonchalant, perfect for 2003.
28: "Bring 'Em Out" - T.I.
Sometimes when you listen to a song, you want it to energize you, to get you out of your seat and get to clappin'. This is one of those. T.I.'s first crossover hit is a stadium ready banger, and is played at almost any NBA game you go to. Built around a Jay-Z vocal sample, producer Swizz Beatz creates a cavalcade of horns, sirens, and whistles; the song literally sounds like half time. Jock Jams for the 21st century.
29: "Touch The Sky" - Kanye West feat. Lupe Fiasco
Soul is always welcome in Hip-Hop, and Kanye was the main purveyor of Soul Rap during the last decade. Produced by Just Blaze and centered around a killer Curtis Mayfield sample, "Touch The Sky" oozes with 70's bump and funk (and it's not just due to the Evel Knievel inspired video). Add a fresh-faced Lupe to the mix and those horns are gonna stay with you all day.
30: "Fix Up, Look Sharp" - Dizzee Rascal
From across the pond came Dizzee, a mushmouthed East London rapper with one hell of a debut album. Boy In Da Corner sounded like nothing we'd ever heard in Hip-Hop, and frankly its still ahead of its time. The minimalist laptop beats were like nothing in rap at the time, leading to the album topping many critics year-end best of lists. Yet the album didn't make much impact on American Hip-Hop loyalists, with this song being the exception. Build around a bombastic Billy Squire sample, "Fix Up, Look Sharp" got your attention. The song grabs you and holds you close, your ears wanting to recoil as youstrain to make out Dizzee's garbled lyrics. A sensory assault of the finest kind.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
The 100 greatest Hip-Hop songs of the 2000's: 31-40
31: "Don't Say Nuthin'" - The Roots
Making a more commercial sounding album isn't necessarily a cop-out, especially if it gets you working with Scott Storch. No one delivers inner-city anxiety like Black Thought, and here his murmurs and threats seem sinister, but the beat calms us back down, reminding us that for the moment its only a song, not the truth.
32: "Ridin'" - Chamillionaire feat. Krayzie Bone
A hit song has always had the ability to become larger than life, but in the 2000's there were so many more venues and outlets. Because of this song Chamillionaire was recognized by the RIAA as the first multi-platinum ringtone artist ever. Sometimes these things just happen; release a catchy hip-hop classic right when ringtones are at their zenith and reap success. Listening to "Ridin'", its pretty clear luck had little to do with it.
33: "Work It" - Missy Elliot
Missy's 2002 album Under Construction set the stage for the rest of the decade in many ways. Timbaland's beats had always sounded great paired with Ms. Elliot's raps, but the new pseudo-dancefloor grooves were prime for the big time. Timbaland's cache would only increase over the next years, his success tied to this song and his longest collaborator.
34: "Lose Yourself" - Eminem
If I had to categorize Marshall Mathers's musical output during the last decade, the word I would use is "disappointing". After exploding into American consciousness with 1999's The Slim Shady LP and The Marshall Mathers LP released a year later, Em retreated more and more from the limelight as his work's quality decreased. By the time he released Encore in 2004 he was panned and ignored, after many music magazine's declared him the next Elvis. His shining moment of the 2000's was certainly this song, a companion to his auto-biographical film but more an ode to his humble beginnings and love of Hip-Hop. There have been some recent indications that perhaps Eminem has more to offer us. This song is a reminder that once he offered us greatness.
35: "Welcome to Jamrock" - Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley
Dancehall was another style that was supposed to take over America last decade, yet apart from some infectious Sean Paul we didn't really get too close. Jamaican elements definitely found their way into our pop, just listen to Rihanna's "Pon De Replay". "Welcome to Jamrock" is not really dancehall, though, and bears little similarity to relentless danceability of Beenie Man. Rather, Damian Marley is doing American Hip-Hop filtered through the Jamaican soundsystem, and the result is intoxicating. It's slow, syrupy, easy-going and evil all at the same time. Art is all about contradictions.
36: "Blinded By The Lights" - The Streets
Personal emotion statements are infrequent in modern Hip-Hop, hidden behind a near-impenetrable wall of machismo. Mike Skinner's 2005 album under The Streets name was full of them. Told as a first person narative from track to track, Skinner loses money, gets a girl, loses said girl, and finds said money. We see the MC through the whole album with no facade or persona, Mike Skinner as Mike Skinner. The highlight, both musically and emotionally, is this song, a horrid night of drugs and revelation set to pounding nightclub synths. Its incredibly haunting and touching, and it's sense of helplessness stays with you.
37: "Kick, Push" - Lupe Fiasco
"The Rapper" has become a trope, a stereotype to conform to. Those that do can achieve a lot, simply by association with the culture. When an MC comes along that makes a point of avoiding the type we listen a little keener. When unknown talent Lupe Fiasco made a song about a skateboard instead of a Maybach, he made it clear his voice would be easily deciferable from the herd. The song refuses to be complacent, reveling in its uniqueness.
38: "Ante Up" - M.O.P.
Hardcore New York Hip-Hop was the 90's forte; artists like Wu-Tang and Busta Rhymes made in-your-face rap music that didn't make any concessions for the dancefloor. We can't say the same for the 2000's, but at least we have "Ante Up". Sneaking out in 2000, this song is so hard it might loosen your bowels. The fervor with which the Mash Out Posse scream out their rhymes is infectious; you literally want to hit the streets and jack some jewelery. Get up off your goddamn diamonds.
39: "Testify" - Common
Common wasn't really poised to make a big impact in the last decade. He was a remnant from the Soulquarians, a neo-soul based collective that included Erykah Badu and Talib Kweli. They were the self-conscious rappers that were supposed to change the game, but they were done by 2001. Luckily for Common, a young fellow Chicagoan by the name of Kanye West was willing to resurrect his career, and 2005's Be did just that. Built entirely from West's beats, the album was just what Common needed, and this song of deceit and betrayal is its best track.
40: "Cherchez LaGhost" - Ghostface Killah feat. U-God
As any douchey college professor will tell you, great art is all about contrast. Contrast like taking a nerdy disco hit and pairing it with Ghostface's free association raps. Contrast like soft singing and U-God's condom-breaking dick. Imbue something sweet with something sinister.
Making a more commercial sounding album isn't necessarily a cop-out, especially if it gets you working with Scott Storch. No one delivers inner-city anxiety like Black Thought, and here his murmurs and threats seem sinister, but the beat calms us back down, reminding us that for the moment its only a song, not the truth.
32: "Ridin'" - Chamillionaire feat. Krayzie Bone
A hit song has always had the ability to become larger than life, but in the 2000's there were so many more venues and outlets. Because of this song Chamillionaire was recognized by the RIAA as the first multi-platinum ringtone artist ever. Sometimes these things just happen; release a catchy hip-hop classic right when ringtones are at their zenith and reap success. Listening to "Ridin'", its pretty clear luck had little to do with it.
33: "Work It" - Missy Elliot
Missy's 2002 album Under Construction set the stage for the rest of the decade in many ways. Timbaland's beats had always sounded great paired with Ms. Elliot's raps, but the new pseudo-dancefloor grooves were prime for the big time. Timbaland's cache would only increase over the next years, his success tied to this song and his longest collaborator.
34: "Lose Yourself" - Eminem
If I had to categorize Marshall Mathers's musical output during the last decade, the word I would use is "disappointing". After exploding into American consciousness with 1999's The Slim Shady LP and The Marshall Mathers LP released a year later, Em retreated more and more from the limelight as his work's quality decreased. By the time he released Encore in 2004 he was panned and ignored, after many music magazine's declared him the next Elvis. His shining moment of the 2000's was certainly this song, a companion to his auto-biographical film but more an ode to his humble beginnings and love of Hip-Hop. There have been some recent indications that perhaps Eminem has more to offer us. This song is a reminder that once he offered us greatness.
35: "Welcome to Jamrock" - Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley
Dancehall was another style that was supposed to take over America last decade, yet apart from some infectious Sean Paul we didn't really get too close. Jamaican elements definitely found their way into our pop, just listen to Rihanna's "Pon De Replay". "Welcome to Jamrock" is not really dancehall, though, and bears little similarity to relentless danceability of Beenie Man. Rather, Damian Marley is doing American Hip-Hop filtered through the Jamaican soundsystem, and the result is intoxicating. It's slow, syrupy, easy-going and evil all at the same time. Art is all about contradictions.
36: "Blinded By The Lights" - The Streets
Personal emotion statements are infrequent in modern Hip-Hop, hidden behind a near-impenetrable wall of machismo. Mike Skinner's 2005 album under The Streets name was full of them. Told as a first person narative from track to track, Skinner loses money, gets a girl, loses said girl, and finds said money. We see the MC through the whole album with no facade or persona, Mike Skinner as Mike Skinner. The highlight, both musically and emotionally, is this song, a horrid night of drugs and revelation set to pounding nightclub synths. Its incredibly haunting and touching, and it's sense of helplessness stays with you.
37: "Kick, Push" - Lupe Fiasco
"The Rapper" has become a trope, a stereotype to conform to. Those that do can achieve a lot, simply by association with the culture. When an MC comes along that makes a point of avoiding the type we listen a little keener. When unknown talent Lupe Fiasco made a song about a skateboard instead of a Maybach, he made it clear his voice would be easily deciferable from the herd. The song refuses to be complacent, reveling in its uniqueness.
38: "Ante Up" - M.O.P.
Hardcore New York Hip-Hop was the 90's forte; artists like Wu-Tang and Busta Rhymes made in-your-face rap music that didn't make any concessions for the dancefloor. We can't say the same for the 2000's, but at least we have "Ante Up". Sneaking out in 2000, this song is so hard it might loosen your bowels. The fervor with which the Mash Out Posse scream out their rhymes is infectious; you literally want to hit the streets and jack some jewelery. Get up off your goddamn diamonds.
39: "Testify" - Common
Common wasn't really poised to make a big impact in the last decade. He was a remnant from the Soulquarians, a neo-soul based collective that included Erykah Badu and Talib Kweli. They were the self-conscious rappers that were supposed to change the game, but they were done by 2001. Luckily for Common, a young fellow Chicagoan by the name of Kanye West was willing to resurrect his career, and 2005's Be did just that. Built entirely from West's beats, the album was just what Common needed, and this song of deceit and betrayal is its best track.
40: "Cherchez LaGhost" - Ghostface Killah feat. U-God
As any douchey college professor will tell you, great art is all about contrast. Contrast like taking a nerdy disco hit and pairing it with Ghostface's free association raps. Contrast like soft singing and U-God's condom-breaking dick. Imbue something sweet with something sinister.
Friday, January 22, 2010
The 100 greatest Hip-Hop songs of the 2000's: 41-50
41: "We Takin' Over" - DJ Khaled feat. Akon, T.I., Rick Ross, Fat Joe, Birdman, & Lil' Wayne
I don't really know what DJ Khaled does exactly, besides screaming at the beginning of every song. He doesn't produce any of his hits and packs them to the brim with thug rap's finest. As far as a great posse cut goes though, you can't really compete with this one, with Akon belting to the heavens over a Timbaland-meets-Miami beat.
42: "All Caps" - Madvillain
MF DOOM's creative output during the 2000's was copious, varied, and often brilliant, and Madvillainy might be his highpoint. With venerable producer Madlib channeling a superhero and mid-century obsessed RZA, DOOM spits his usual brand of monotonic mutterings with a sneering swagger.
43: "Get Low" - Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz feat. Ying Yang Twins
Perhaps the most ubiquitous Hip-Hop song of the decade, few people would argue that "Get Low" is high culture worthy of much respect, but those people are idiots. The song that made "Crunk" a household name is not just culture but art; perfectly crafted and masterfully honed to instill booty-shaking and junk-grinding in its audience. Is the mark of art not that of conveying a feeling? Does Lil Jon not hold his pimp cup the way Raphael grasped his brush?
44: "Encore" - Danger Mouse feat. Jay-Z & The Beatles
I'm not sure, but I think when Jay-Z decided to release an a capella version of The Black Album, he must have known that it would fuel the fire that was the internet remix and mashup community of the early 2000's. Some mashup releases spawned from the internet had gotten mainstream press, but when Danger Mouse created The Grey Album he became the first mashup superstar. He also deepened the sense of what a mashup album could be, paving the way for more elaborate experimentations with sampled pop music.
45: "Throw Some D's" - Rich Boy feat. Polow da Don
This song exemplifies the reasons for the South's dominance in Hip-Hop during this decade. It blends soul samples, a southern staple, and the electronic-based bubblegum chirps and thoomps that drive the hits of everyone from Nelly to T.I.. The fact that its coming from Drumma Boy and Polow, two of the best contemporary hip-hop producers, and features the energetic barking of Rich Boy lauding another dirty south stable, his cars, makes it classic.
46: "Takeover" - Jay-Z / "Ether" - Nas (Tie)
Bad blood in Hip-Hop is generally good for a couple of good dis songs, but the feud between New York legends Jay-Z and Nas was good for the two most epic battle raps ever. Jay made the first move, with the first track off The Blueprint being a swaggerific attack aimed at Mobb Deep and Nas fired off over a haunting and powerful Doors sample. The irreverence with which the song was delivered begged response, so Jay couldn't have been surprised when "Ether" was released a few months later, beginning with gunshots and the words "Fuck Jay-Z". Where "Takeover" was taunting and even puerile, "Ether" was angry and venomous and pulled no punches. Despite the two titans having reconciled, most fans agree that Nas won this round.
47: "Gold Digger" - Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx
Coming off the hipster/backpack rap that was The College Dropout, Kanye West had all the critics loving him, and could have recreated that album over and over for similar success. Being a critic's darling was never in Kanye's plan though, and "Gold Digger" was the first sign that West was much more interested in pop perfectionism. The song thumps and bumps and stays with you for days, a skill that Kanye has only improved upon.
48: "So Fresh, So Clean" - OutKast feat. Sleepy Brown
It seems that as we stand in 2010, smoothness has been delegated to our R&B superstars, while a rapper's most important job is to be "hard". For someone to get this smooth now, they'd have to call in a favor from Trey Songz. OutKast didn't have to try to be smooth, they just were, and this song is the silkiest thing to get on the radio of the whole decade.
49: "Deception" - Blackalicious
If rap could have had a motto for the 2000's, "don't let money change you" might be apt. As Hip-Hop became more mainstream and more commercial it became increasingly difficult to find any of the social commentary or cerebral thinking that made so much of 90's rap so interesting. As mainstream rap became more prevalent, alternatives to that mainstream became scarce. This song got some national attention when it was released in 2000; if it had been 2009 it probably would have been a different story.
50: "Georgia...Bush" - Lil' Wayne
No cause gathered as much attention from the rap community in the last decade as much as helping victims of Hurricane Katrina, not just because of New Orleans's vibrant Hip-Hop scene but also because of the underlying feelings of racism that surrounded the issue. When Kanye West famously declared "George Bush doesn't care about black people", it was fueled by emotion and the weight of the moment. When Lil' Wayne decided to make his comment on Bush, it was collected, coherent, and almost free from emotion. It plainly stated the facts of the failure of Katrina, all while presenting a feeling that New Orleans was already recovering. It's hate and hope all in one song.
I don't really know what DJ Khaled does exactly, besides screaming at the beginning of every song. He doesn't produce any of his hits and packs them to the brim with thug rap's finest. As far as a great posse cut goes though, you can't really compete with this one, with Akon belting to the heavens over a Timbaland-meets-Miami beat.
42: "All Caps" - Madvillain
MF DOOM's creative output during the 2000's was copious, varied, and often brilliant, and Madvillainy might be his highpoint. With venerable producer Madlib channeling a superhero and mid-century obsessed RZA, DOOM spits his usual brand of monotonic mutterings with a sneering swagger.
43: "Get Low" - Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz feat. Ying Yang Twins
Perhaps the most ubiquitous Hip-Hop song of the decade, few people would argue that "Get Low" is high culture worthy of much respect, but those people are idiots. The song that made "Crunk" a household name is not just culture but art; perfectly crafted and masterfully honed to instill booty-shaking and junk-grinding in its audience. Is the mark of art not that of conveying a feeling? Does Lil Jon not hold his pimp cup the way Raphael grasped his brush?
44: "Encore" - Danger Mouse feat. Jay-Z & The Beatles
I'm not sure, but I think when Jay-Z decided to release an a capella version of The Black Album, he must have known that it would fuel the fire that was the internet remix and mashup community of the early 2000's. Some mashup releases spawned from the internet had gotten mainstream press, but when Danger Mouse created The Grey Album he became the first mashup superstar. He also deepened the sense of what a mashup album could be, paving the way for more elaborate experimentations with sampled pop music.
45: "Throw Some D's" - Rich Boy feat. Polow da Don
This song exemplifies the reasons for the South's dominance in Hip-Hop during this decade. It blends soul samples, a southern staple, and the electronic-based bubblegum chirps and thoomps that drive the hits of everyone from Nelly to T.I.. The fact that its coming from Drumma Boy and Polow, two of the best contemporary hip-hop producers, and features the energetic barking of Rich Boy lauding another dirty south stable, his cars, makes it classic.
46: "Takeover" - Jay-Z / "Ether" - Nas (Tie)
Bad blood in Hip-Hop is generally good for a couple of good dis songs, but the feud between New York legends Jay-Z and Nas was good for the two most epic battle raps ever. Jay made the first move, with the first track off The Blueprint being a swaggerific attack aimed at Mobb Deep and Nas fired off over a haunting and powerful Doors sample. The irreverence with which the song was delivered begged response, so Jay couldn't have been surprised when "Ether" was released a few months later, beginning with gunshots and the words "Fuck Jay-Z". Where "Takeover" was taunting and even puerile, "Ether" was angry and venomous and pulled no punches. Despite the two titans having reconciled, most fans agree that Nas won this round.
47: "Gold Digger" - Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx
Coming off the hipster/backpack rap that was The College Dropout, Kanye West had all the critics loving him, and could have recreated that album over and over for similar success. Being a critic's darling was never in Kanye's plan though, and "Gold Digger" was the first sign that West was much more interested in pop perfectionism. The song thumps and bumps and stays with you for days, a skill that Kanye has only improved upon.
48: "So Fresh, So Clean" - OutKast feat. Sleepy Brown
It seems that as we stand in 2010, smoothness has been delegated to our R&B superstars, while a rapper's most important job is to be "hard". For someone to get this smooth now, they'd have to call in a favor from Trey Songz. OutKast didn't have to try to be smooth, they just were, and this song is the silkiest thing to get on the radio of the whole decade.
49: "Deception" - Blackalicious
If rap could have had a motto for the 2000's, "don't let money change you" might be apt. As Hip-Hop became more mainstream and more commercial it became increasingly difficult to find any of the social commentary or cerebral thinking that made so much of 90's rap so interesting. As mainstream rap became more prevalent, alternatives to that mainstream became scarce. This song got some national attention when it was released in 2000; if it had been 2009 it probably would have been a different story.
50: "Georgia...Bush" - Lil' Wayne
No cause gathered as much attention from the rap community in the last decade as much as helping victims of Hurricane Katrina, not just because of New Orleans's vibrant Hip-Hop scene but also because of the underlying feelings of racism that surrounded the issue. When Kanye West famously declared "George Bush doesn't care about black people", it was fueled by emotion and the weight of the moment. When Lil' Wayne decided to make his comment on Bush, it was collected, coherent, and almost free from emotion. It plainly stated the facts of the failure of Katrina, all while presenting a feeling that New Orleans was already recovering. It's hate and hope all in one song.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
The 100 greatest Hip-Hop songs of the 2000's: 51-60
51: "Rubber Band Man" - T.I.
I have an old issue of The Source from 2003 on my desk that has an article entitled "The New South", sort of a profile in up-and-coming Southern MC's. The three they choose to feature most heavily were Lil Jon, David Banner, and Bone Crusher. You have to turn a few pages to see, buried in with photos of Killer Mike and Field Mob, a lone picture of a young man named T.I. staring apathetically at the camera. There was a lot of talent emerging from Atlanta during the early days of Crunk, and its a testament to T.I.'s talent that he was able to make himself into a Hip-Hop superstar. This song helped, with the aforementioned Mr. Banner producing (his strongest suit) and a fiery T.I. making the drug game sound cheery.
52: "Music" - Erick Sermon feat. Marvin Gaye
Sure, its a tribute, but to whom? Is it for Marvin, an ode to him, a call for remembrance? Doubtful. As producer and founding member of EPMD, Sermon seems to be making tribute to music in general. When we've become so mired in Hip-Hop culture as we did in this past decade, its easy to forget what it is we're doing here: making music. Having Marvin sugarcoat it for us makes it that much sweeter.
53: "Awnaw" - Nappy Roots feat. Jazze Pha
Southern Hip-Hop seems to have spawned from a West-Coast influence, owing much of its success to the gangsterism of N.W.A. or the hyphy sounds of Oakland. That's why it's so nice to hear a song that actually sounds "Southern", although artists that attempt this are often reduced to one hit wonders. Nappy Roots were no exception, but what a hit. They deliver a down-home ode to good living that is incredibly authentic and endearingly earnest.
54: "Empire State of Mind" - Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys
This is Jay-Z's first number one hit. Let me repeat that: this is Jay-Z's FIRST NUMBER ONE HIT. That's pretty amazing for arguably the biggest rap star of the past 15 years, but radio was never very friendly towards the Jigga Man. He's kind of an enigma; critics love him, he's had more number one albums than the Beatles, but few find him really captivating or electrifying like his younger contemporaries. Yet this song is redemptive, for all those times Jay didn't wow us right out the gate or talked about himself just a bit to much in his songs. Here we see Jay as we should; a product of New York and it's music.
55: "Modern Man's Hustle" - Atmosphere
In 1999, if asked to name a trend for the coming decade, I probably would have said white rappers. Eminem's popularity was gargantuan, and his legion of new white rap fans set the stage for the 21st century Hip-Hop domination we see now. Yet the white rappers never came; there hasn't been anyone close to making it in the mainstream like Em, and those in underground rap scenes have made little impact outside of them. Those that have seen success, like Atmosphere and its MC Slug, have had to create their own niches that don't rely on their whiteness. So we get Atmosphere's unique brand of emotional, angst-ridden rap that deals mostly with girls, sex, and relationships. We may never get another Eminem, but I'm not sure anybody's asking for one.
56: "Tell Me When To Go" - E-40 feat. Keak Da Sneak
Mention the word "Hyphy" to anyone from the Bay Area and a grin will form on their face. Ask them to explain it and they'll probably say "You wouldn't understand." Oakland's music has long been inside information to NorCal residents, people who've been appreciating E-40 and Keak for over 10 years. This was the rest of the world's only opportunity to get on board, with a thumping Lil Jon beat that is purposefully non-Crunk and verses from Hyphy veterans looking for a bigger audience, though I think they're quite content with the one they have.
57: "In The Music" - The Roots
I have an old issue of The Source from 2003 on my desk that has an article entitled "The New South", sort of a profile in up-and-coming Southern MC's. The three they choose to feature most heavily were Lil Jon, David Banner, and Bone Crusher. You have to turn a few pages to see, buried in with photos of Killer Mike and Field Mob, a lone picture of a young man named T.I. staring apathetically at the camera. There was a lot of talent emerging from Atlanta during the early days of Crunk, and its a testament to T.I.'s talent that he was able to make himself into a Hip-Hop superstar. This song helped, with the aforementioned Mr. Banner producing (his strongest suit) and a fiery T.I. making the drug game sound cheery.
52: "Music" - Erick Sermon feat. Marvin Gaye
Sure, its a tribute, but to whom? Is it for Marvin, an ode to him, a call for remembrance? Doubtful. As producer and founding member of EPMD, Sermon seems to be making tribute to music in general. When we've become so mired in Hip-Hop culture as we did in this past decade, its easy to forget what it is we're doing here: making music. Having Marvin sugarcoat it for us makes it that much sweeter.
53: "Awnaw" - Nappy Roots feat. Jazze Pha
Southern Hip-Hop seems to have spawned from a West-Coast influence, owing much of its success to the gangsterism of N.W.A. or the hyphy sounds of Oakland. That's why it's so nice to hear a song that actually sounds "Southern", although artists that attempt this are often reduced to one hit wonders. Nappy Roots were no exception, but what a hit. They deliver a down-home ode to good living that is incredibly authentic and endearingly earnest.
54: "Empire State of Mind" - Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys
This is Jay-Z's first number one hit. Let me repeat that: this is Jay-Z's FIRST NUMBER ONE HIT. That's pretty amazing for arguably the biggest rap star of the past 15 years, but radio was never very friendly towards the Jigga Man. He's kind of an enigma; critics love him, he's had more number one albums than the Beatles, but few find him really captivating or electrifying like his younger contemporaries. Yet this song is redemptive, for all those times Jay didn't wow us right out the gate or talked about himself just a bit to much in his songs. Here we see Jay as we should; a product of New York and it's music.
55: "Modern Man's Hustle" - Atmosphere
In 1999, if asked to name a trend for the coming decade, I probably would have said white rappers. Eminem's popularity was gargantuan, and his legion of new white rap fans set the stage for the 21st century Hip-Hop domination we see now. Yet the white rappers never came; there hasn't been anyone close to making it in the mainstream like Em, and those in underground rap scenes have made little impact outside of them. Those that have seen success, like Atmosphere and its MC Slug, have had to create their own niches that don't rely on their whiteness. So we get Atmosphere's unique brand of emotional, angst-ridden rap that deals mostly with girls, sex, and relationships. We may never get another Eminem, but I'm not sure anybody's asking for one.
56: "Tell Me When To Go" - E-40 feat. Keak Da Sneak
Mention the word "Hyphy" to anyone from the Bay Area and a grin will form on their face. Ask them to explain it and they'll probably say "You wouldn't understand." Oakland's music has long been inside information to NorCal residents, people who've been appreciating E-40 and Keak for over 10 years. This was the rest of the world's only opportunity to get on board, with a thumping Lil Jon beat that is purposefully non-Crunk and verses from Hyphy veterans looking for a bigger audience, though I think they're quite content with the one they have.
57: "In The Music" - The Roots
When The Roots released Phrenology in 2002, critics raved over it, citing its neo-soul psychedelia and new age stylings. For me, especially after loving the dark muted jazz that was Things Fall Apart, the album never lived up to the hype. That's why 2006's Game Theory was such pleasant shock. It abandoned the long jam session feel of their previous two albums and instead painted a bleak landscape of America; mired in the Bush years and fearful of the inner city. The whole album is amazing, and "In The Music" is its most paranoid and anxious track.
58: "Sippin' On Some Syrup" - Three 6 Mafia feat. UGK
How this happened is anybody's guess. Two southern crews that made their debuts in the 90's go on to be some of the biggest taste-makers of the 2000's. When this song dropped in 2000 it got some attention, but was really too ahead of its time for the Nelly-fueled Hip-Hop landscape. Ten years later the elements that sounded foreign then are now commonplace; slow metronomes of electronic beats, mush-mouthed southern odes to cough syrup, and a vicious (and viscous) regional intensity.
59: "The Whole World" - OutKast feat. Killer Mike
Ah, OutKast. In the first few years of the decade it seemed as if they were poised for domination; 2000's Stankonia produced their biggest hits of their career while the music press were ready to anoint them the title of biggest band in the universe. However, somewhere between the sprawling solo albums and the failure that was Idlewild, OutKast became a dinosaur, a relic of Hip-Hop's past. Andre 3000 seems completely disinterested in music, and Big Boi's solo album has been in record label limbo for years. This moment was sweet though, when OutKast made this new track for their greatest hits album and in the process created an eerie horn-driven vaudevillian cheer where Killer Mike's howl is pushed to the forefront. The last blast of raw creativity from a united OutKast.
60: "Why?" - Jadakiss feat. Anthony Hamilton
As years go by we see less and less political and social commentary in Hip-Hop. The feelings that were so important to Golden Era rappers like KRS-One have been replaced by "realness" and gangsterism. That's why Jadakiss's song caught our attention in 2004; it was a Bush-era protest that reminded us of the revolution songs of the 70's,with Anthony Hamilton adding the soul much needed to get the message across.
58: "Sippin' On Some Syrup" - Three 6 Mafia feat. UGK
How this happened is anybody's guess. Two southern crews that made their debuts in the 90's go on to be some of the biggest taste-makers of the 2000's. When this song dropped in 2000 it got some attention, but was really too ahead of its time for the Nelly-fueled Hip-Hop landscape. Ten years later the elements that sounded foreign then are now commonplace; slow metronomes of electronic beats, mush-mouthed southern odes to cough syrup, and a vicious (and viscous) regional intensity.
59: "The Whole World" - OutKast feat. Killer Mike
Ah, OutKast. In the first few years of the decade it seemed as if they were poised for domination; 2000's Stankonia produced their biggest hits of their career while the music press were ready to anoint them the title of biggest band in the universe. However, somewhere between the sprawling solo albums and the failure that was Idlewild, OutKast became a dinosaur, a relic of Hip-Hop's past. Andre 3000 seems completely disinterested in music, and Big Boi's solo album has been in record label limbo for years. This moment was sweet though, when OutKast made this new track for their greatest hits album and in the process created an eerie horn-driven vaudevillian cheer where Killer Mike's howl is pushed to the forefront. The last blast of raw creativity from a united OutKast.
60: "Why?" - Jadakiss feat. Anthony Hamilton
As years go by we see less and less political and social commentary in Hip-Hop. The feelings that were so important to Golden Era rappers like KRS-One have been replaced by "realness" and gangsterism. That's why Jadakiss's song caught our attention in 2004; it was a Bush-era protest that reminded us of the revolution songs of the 70's,with Anthony Hamilton adding the soul much needed to get the message across.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
The 100 greatest Hip-Hop songs of the 2000's: 61-70
61: "From The Chuuuch To Da Palace" - Snoop Dogg feat. Pharrell
What can I say, the Neptunes are all over this list. They were THE production team of the decade, and their strength laid in the huge number of people they worked. Snoop might have been the best decision they ever made. The man with the longest career in Hip-Hop delivers over this beat and makes it feel like an electronic feedback assault. His other Neptunes classic would sound more like a murmur over whispers, and we'll see it later in this list.
62: "Gravel Pit" - Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang stayed productive and important in the 2000's, that is if you ask anybody who isn't in the group. It seems the Clan looks at the current state of Hip-Hop and doesn't see a place for itself. It's a far cry from the gritty urban early 90's that spawned them, and its true that most modern rap doesn't come close to the atmosphere or lyrical dexterity of the Wu. But when RZA's on the beat and you get verses from some of the greatest voices in the game, perfection is impossible to avoid.
63: "Stronger" - Kanye West
The blending of electronic and Hip-Hop music is not an idea new to the last decade. Everyone from Afrika Bambaataa to Mantronix to Timbaland has blended electro, dance and rap before. Electrified Hip-Hop did find a new existence in the Rap/Pop world of the late 2000's, and "Stronger" led the charge. Its hard not to create dancefloor dynamite when you supe up one of the greatest Daft Punk songs, but add Kanye's goofy meets gangsta mentality and you've got a sure thing.
64: "Day 'N' Nite" - Kid Cudi
Here we have a direct response to the Electro/Rap movement. Artists like Kid Cudi and Drake could be labeled "Post-Kanyean", with their relance on dance-inspired sounds forced to slow to Hip-Hop speeds and lyrics that probably wouldn't impress Rakim or Nas. Say hello to the trend of the next decade.
65: "Dumb It Down" - Lupe Fiasco
The importance of lyrical expertise seems to have left the building around the time we lost Pac & Big, with beats and producers growing increasingly important. The Hip-Hop community has responded with the "Real Hip-Hop" argument, basically claiming that older music like Wu-Tang or Biggie is what rap should be, and almost all new rap (whether its Lil' Wayne or Soulja Boy) is garbage. Lupe doesn't make this argument at all. He is a modern day MC, but he sees many of his contemporaries as folding to pressure, either from black urban listeners or white owners and distributors. The problem is not old vs. new, but that there are too many interests involved in the rap process now. It seems the only interests Lupe cares about are his own.
66: "Stuntin' Like My Daddy" - Birdman & Lil' Wayne
Sometimes a song is just imbued with a kind of power, and every time you hear it you go superhuman. This is one of those songs. Over horns that sound like they were sampled from the Imperial March Birdman & Wayne massacre the track with lines like "Bitch i'm paid, that's all I gotta say" and "Show me my opponent". Take into consideration that Wayne's verse was used as the climax of Girl Talk's Feed the Animals and you've got a classic on your hands.
67: "Live Your Life" - T.I. feat. Rihanna
T.I.'s 2008 album Paper Trail was markedly different from his previous efforts. Where his earlier albums focused on his hood mentality bred in the Atlanta Trap, Paper Trail is focused, polished, and most importantly, redemptive and positive. Maybe it was facing a year in prison that de-thugged T.I., but the results seem worth it. A score of hits came from the album, but "Life Your Life" made the biggest impact. Its also the best thing Rihanna's ever done.
68: "Project Bitch" - Cash Money Millionaires
"Cash Money Records, where dreams come true." The Cash Money story is ready for the Hollywood treatment; a little indie label in New Orleans blows up to the national scene, implants itself in the nation's psyche, surpasses its crosstown rivals No Limit, and spawns one of the biggest names in 21st century rap. When I first heard this song I was 12 and living in the suburbs, and it blew my mind. Thus the power of regional rap; a song with the style of the community that birthed it gets piped across the country, giving everyone a chance to hear what they want to hear: something new.
69: "Black Mags" - The Cool Kids
Things change. Rap goes Pop. East vs. West becomes obsolete. Indie rap goes from intellectual and lush to sparse and to the point. The Cool Kids represent this change, with two MCs and an 808 they make a style of rap with a foot firmly in both the new and the old school. All it takes to be a gangster now is black and white film and a shitty bicycle. Yeah, things change.
70: "Wait (The Whisper Song)" - Ying Yang Twins
Chris Rock was right, I'm tired of defending this shit. Is it so wrong to have a song with the original skeet-skeeters whispering amorously about how good they are at sexing? It is? Well, we don't really care. Wait til you see my dick.
What can I say, the Neptunes are all over this list. They were THE production team of the decade, and their strength laid in the huge number of people they worked. Snoop might have been the best decision they ever made. The man with the longest career in Hip-Hop delivers over this beat and makes it feel like an electronic feedback assault. His other Neptunes classic would sound more like a murmur over whispers, and we'll see it later in this list.
62: "Gravel Pit" - Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang stayed productive and important in the 2000's, that is if you ask anybody who isn't in the group. It seems the Clan looks at the current state of Hip-Hop and doesn't see a place for itself. It's a far cry from the gritty urban early 90's that spawned them, and its true that most modern rap doesn't come close to the atmosphere or lyrical dexterity of the Wu. But when RZA's on the beat and you get verses from some of the greatest voices in the game, perfection is impossible to avoid.
63: "Stronger" - Kanye West
The blending of electronic and Hip-Hop music is not an idea new to the last decade. Everyone from Afrika Bambaataa to Mantronix to Timbaland has blended electro, dance and rap before. Electrified Hip-Hop did find a new existence in the Rap/Pop world of the late 2000's, and "Stronger" led the charge. Its hard not to create dancefloor dynamite when you supe up one of the greatest Daft Punk songs, but add Kanye's goofy meets gangsta mentality and you've got a sure thing.
64: "Day 'N' Nite" - Kid Cudi
Here we have a direct response to the Electro/Rap movement. Artists like Kid Cudi and Drake could be labeled "Post-Kanyean", with their relance on dance-inspired sounds forced to slow to Hip-Hop speeds and lyrics that probably wouldn't impress Rakim or Nas. Say hello to the trend of the next decade.
65: "Dumb It Down" - Lupe Fiasco
The importance of lyrical expertise seems to have left the building around the time we lost Pac & Big, with beats and producers growing increasingly important. The Hip-Hop community has responded with the "Real Hip-Hop" argument, basically claiming that older music like Wu-Tang or Biggie is what rap should be, and almost all new rap (whether its Lil' Wayne or Soulja Boy) is garbage. Lupe doesn't make this argument at all. He is a modern day MC, but he sees many of his contemporaries as folding to pressure, either from black urban listeners or white owners and distributors. The problem is not old vs. new, but that there are too many interests involved in the rap process now. It seems the only interests Lupe cares about are his own.
66: "Stuntin' Like My Daddy" - Birdman & Lil' Wayne
Sometimes a song is just imbued with a kind of power, and every time you hear it you go superhuman. This is one of those songs. Over horns that sound like they were sampled from the Imperial March Birdman & Wayne massacre the track with lines like "Bitch i'm paid, that's all I gotta say" and "Show me my opponent". Take into consideration that Wayne's verse was used as the climax of Girl Talk's Feed the Animals and you've got a classic on your hands.
67: "Live Your Life" - T.I. feat. Rihanna
T.I.'s 2008 album Paper Trail was markedly different from his previous efforts. Where his earlier albums focused on his hood mentality bred in the Atlanta Trap, Paper Trail is focused, polished, and most importantly, redemptive and positive. Maybe it was facing a year in prison that de-thugged T.I., but the results seem worth it. A score of hits came from the album, but "Life Your Life" made the biggest impact. Its also the best thing Rihanna's ever done.
68: "Project Bitch" - Cash Money Millionaires
"Cash Money Records, where dreams come true." The Cash Money story is ready for the Hollywood treatment; a little indie label in New Orleans blows up to the national scene, implants itself in the nation's psyche, surpasses its crosstown rivals No Limit, and spawns one of the biggest names in 21st century rap. When I first heard this song I was 12 and living in the suburbs, and it blew my mind. Thus the power of regional rap; a song with the style of the community that birthed it gets piped across the country, giving everyone a chance to hear what they want to hear: something new.
69: "Black Mags" - The Cool Kids
Things change. Rap goes Pop. East vs. West becomes obsolete. Indie rap goes from intellectual and lush to sparse and to the point. The Cool Kids represent this change, with two MCs and an 808 they make a style of rap with a foot firmly in both the new and the old school. All it takes to be a gangster now is black and white film and a shitty bicycle. Yeah, things change.
70: "Wait (The Whisper Song)" - Ying Yang Twins
Chris Rock was right, I'm tired of defending this shit. Is it so wrong to have a song with the original skeet-skeeters whispering amorously about how good they are at sexing? It is? Well, we don't really care. Wait til you see my dick.
The 100 greatest Hip-Hop songs of the 2000's: 71-80
71: "How We Do" - The Game feat. 50 Cent
Dr. Dre made a huge impact with 1999's Chronic 2001, and just like its title Dre's style overflowed into the next millennium. The early part of the century was dominated by Dre and his proteges, and "How We Do" is all about Dre. Game's Compton flow is the best think to come out of Cali in a long time, and 50 is still operating at his zenith. A dynamic duo that we'll see again on the countdown.
72: "Lean Back" - Terror Squad
Hip-Hop didn't used to have songs like this. Songs that become ubiquitous, that dominate all forms of media for an epic amount of time. "Lean Back" was a number one hit that refused to go away, a position usually reserved for mind-numbing pop songs. Just more proof of Hip-Hop's popularization and gentrification during the 2000's.
73: "Move Bitch" - Ludacris feat. Mystikal & I-20
Atlanta was crucial for the rise of regional rap during the last decade, and "Move Bitch" is one of Luda's most defiantly southern songs, with a greasy and powerful beat and the slurring twang of Mystikal and I-20. They create something that is at the same time cathcy and menacing, and as Chris Rock said, increasingly harder to defend. "Well as you can see, there's a bitch in his way that he needs to move. Thus the term: Move bitch, get out the way. You need to open your eyes so you can get the bitches out of your way!"
74: "Acid Raindrops" - People Under the Stairs
California Hip-Hop never really got over Death Row and Dr. Dre. The rest of the country we're huge contributes to the modern rap scene while the West Coast became less and less of a player. Indie Hip-Hop found its niche in California though, with groups like Jurassic 5 and People Under the Stairs. The songs were light, uplifting, drenched in SoCal sun and marijuana smoke, and hearkened back to the Native Tongues of the early 90's. They were also infectious. (Ignore the white guy in the video, who is probably from Cali and thinks this video was a great idea.)
75: "Back Like That" - Ghostface Killah feat. Ne-Yo
The Hip-Hop/R&B collaboration was perfected and proliferated during the 2000's, so much so that there's a new Grammy category for them. The massive success of songs like Usher's "Yeah" showed us that this was the new way to pop perfection, and "Back Like That" is a power pop tour de force. Ghostface spits the story of a breakup that has clearly given him pain, all while Ne-Yo delivers a hurricane of a hook.
76: "What's Golden" - Jurassic 5
At one point in the late 90's, Jurassic 5 and people like them were touted as the future of Hip-Hop, underground rap that was self-conscious and intellectual. As we'll see later in this list, the lofty goals set for underground Hip-Hop in the 90's were never manifested in the next decade. This was as close as we got, a J5 song that got moderate airplay. The group that was supposed to change the game would be disbanded in 2007.
77: "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" - Soulja Boy
The Soulja Boy story is certainly one that could only happen in the internet age. A young kid from Atlanta puts a simple rap song he made himself online, accompanied with a dance that goes along with it. Its a formula that's been exploited for success countless times, but never by such a complete outsider with no connections to the music industry. The result? Seven weeks at number one and instant fame for the young star.
78: "Hustlin'" - Rick Ross
Authenticity has always been a source of controversy in Hip-Hop, and its importance has always been debated. You'd have to be a fool to think that the majority of contemporary MCs murder people on a regular basis, yet "realness" is still to many the ultimate judge of a rapper. If this is the case, Rick Ross probably isn't your favorite. A former prison guard who took the name of a famous cocaine trafficker, Ross caught a lot of flack for being a phony. Who are we kidding? Hip-Hop is now Pop, and Pop is and always will be superficial. So go ahead, enjoy your fake gangsterism and fictional thuggery. Everybody else is.
79: "Ch-Check It Out" - Beastie Boys
The Beastie Boys are rap royalty, and their future at the moment seems tenuous with MCA's fight with cancer ongoing. 2004's To The 5 Boroughs was a testament to the city that birthed them and the old school sound of Golden Age Hip-Hop in NYC. Hopefully we will get a chance to see the Boys change their style once again, but in the meantime we can listen to them gracefully pay homage to a style that is long gone.
80: "Hot In Herre" - Nelly
Nelly + Neptunes = cultural phenomenon. Songs that get spread around everywhere lose some of their power, but listening to this track you can still here what it was that caused the commotion. Nelly is the party rap king, and over an irreverent Pharrell beat he created the song you play at a party that lets everyone know they're at a a party.
Dr. Dre made a huge impact with 1999's Chronic 2001, and just like its title Dre's style overflowed into the next millennium. The early part of the century was dominated by Dre and his proteges, and "How We Do" is all about Dre. Game's Compton flow is the best think to come out of Cali in a long time, and 50 is still operating at his zenith. A dynamic duo that we'll see again on the countdown.
72: "Lean Back" - Terror Squad
Hip-Hop didn't used to have songs like this. Songs that become ubiquitous, that dominate all forms of media for an epic amount of time. "Lean Back" was a number one hit that refused to go away, a position usually reserved for mind-numbing pop songs. Just more proof of Hip-Hop's popularization and gentrification during the 2000's.
73: "Move Bitch" - Ludacris feat. Mystikal & I-20
Atlanta was crucial for the rise of regional rap during the last decade, and "Move Bitch" is one of Luda's most defiantly southern songs, with a greasy and powerful beat and the slurring twang of Mystikal and I-20. They create something that is at the same time cathcy and menacing, and as Chris Rock said, increasingly harder to defend. "Well as you can see, there's a bitch in his way that he needs to move. Thus the term: Move bitch, get out the way. You need to open your eyes so you can get the bitches out of your way!"
74: "Acid Raindrops" - People Under the Stairs
California Hip-Hop never really got over Death Row and Dr. Dre. The rest of the country we're huge contributes to the modern rap scene while the West Coast became less and less of a player. Indie Hip-Hop found its niche in California though, with groups like Jurassic 5 and People Under the Stairs. The songs were light, uplifting, drenched in SoCal sun and marijuana smoke, and hearkened back to the Native Tongues of the early 90's. They were also infectious. (Ignore the white guy in the video, who is probably from Cali and thinks this video was a great idea.)
75: "Back Like That" - Ghostface Killah feat. Ne-Yo
The Hip-Hop/R&B collaboration was perfected and proliferated during the 2000's, so much so that there's a new Grammy category for them. The massive success of songs like Usher's "Yeah" showed us that this was the new way to pop perfection, and "Back Like That" is a power pop tour de force. Ghostface spits the story of a breakup that has clearly given him pain, all while Ne-Yo delivers a hurricane of a hook.
76: "What's Golden" - Jurassic 5
At one point in the late 90's, Jurassic 5 and people like them were touted as the future of Hip-Hop, underground rap that was self-conscious and intellectual. As we'll see later in this list, the lofty goals set for underground Hip-Hop in the 90's were never manifested in the next decade. This was as close as we got, a J5 song that got moderate airplay. The group that was supposed to change the game would be disbanded in 2007.
77: "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" - Soulja Boy
The Soulja Boy story is certainly one that could only happen in the internet age. A young kid from Atlanta puts a simple rap song he made himself online, accompanied with a dance that goes along with it. Its a formula that's been exploited for success countless times, but never by such a complete outsider with no connections to the music industry. The result? Seven weeks at number one and instant fame for the young star.
78: "Hustlin'" - Rick Ross
Authenticity has always been a source of controversy in Hip-Hop, and its importance has always been debated. You'd have to be a fool to think that the majority of contemporary MCs murder people on a regular basis, yet "realness" is still to many the ultimate judge of a rapper. If this is the case, Rick Ross probably isn't your favorite. A former prison guard who took the name of a famous cocaine trafficker, Ross caught a lot of flack for being a phony. Who are we kidding? Hip-Hop is now Pop, and Pop is and always will be superficial. So go ahead, enjoy your fake gangsterism and fictional thuggery. Everybody else is.
79: "Ch-Check It Out" - Beastie Boys
The Beastie Boys are rap royalty, and their future at the moment seems tenuous with MCA's fight with cancer ongoing. 2004's To The 5 Boroughs was a testament to the city that birthed them and the old school sound of Golden Age Hip-Hop in NYC. Hopefully we will get a chance to see the Boys change their style once again, but in the meantime we can listen to them gracefully pay homage to a style that is long gone.
80: "Hot In Herre" - Nelly
Nelly + Neptunes = cultural phenomenon. Songs that get spread around everywhere lose some of their power, but listening to this track you can still here what it was that caused the commotion. Nelly is the party rap king, and over an irreverent Pharrell beat he created the song you play at a party that lets everyone know they're at a a party.
Monday, January 4, 2010
The 100 greatest Hip-Hop songs of the 2000's: 81-90
81: "Break Ya Neck" - Busta Rhymes
This was Busta's last explosive moment, his last song that oozed exuberance and frenetic energy. Over a rollicking Dr. Dre beat the madcap MC dizzies us with a gale-force attack of lyrical excellence from one of Hip-Hop's last elder statesmen.
82: "What Happened To That Boy" - Birdman feat. Clipse
The Neptunes sound is easily identifiable and was omnipresent during the 2000's. Yet every song had its own style, and here again Birdman and Clipse make the track their own. Over a New Wave synth and handclaps Clipse makes the track drip like syrup, all while imparting it with a venomous villainy.
83: "Drivin' Me Wild" - Common feat. Lily Allen
Rap in the 2000's definitely calmed down. Gone were the days of Puffy's shiny suits, the braggadocio of DMX's screaming. Displays of raw emotion had no place in the 2 cool 4 school mentality of 2000's Hip-Hop. Cool was all that mattered, and Common was definitely cool.
84: "Lose Control" - Missy Elliot feat. Ciara & Fat Man Scoop
Missy Elliot is a shining light in music, someone who never compromised or changed who she was just to be more commercially viable. On this self-produced track, Missy thumps and bumps her way into dance-rap ecstasy. Pure Missy.
85: "What's Your Fantasy" - Ludacris feat. Shawnna
World, meet Ludacris. The year was 2000, and labels were desperate for regional rap. It was hard to imagine upon first hearing this song that Luda would go on to be one of rap's biggest stars, but it was impossible to ignore the energy and humor he gave his flow.
86: "Go DJ" - Lil' Wayne
It was on the back of Mannie Fresh that the Cash Money Records empire was built. His sparse electronic beats provided a playground for the young southern MCs at the label. "Go DJ" was his last hurrah, his last hit with a developing Lil' Wayne. 2004's Tha Carter was almost exclusively produced by Mannie Fresh. By the time Tha Carter II was released a year later, he wasn't featured on the album at all.
87: "Swagga Like Us" - T.I. feat. Jay-Z, Kanye West & Lil' Wayne
It seems like a no brainer. Get Kanye West to craft a beat around one of the most electrifying songs of the decade, then get the four most popular MCs in the world to rap over it. It wasn't much of a gamble, but it still payed off big. When a pregnant M.I.A. joined the four on stage at the VMAs, it became clear what this was: a meeting of titans.
88: "Through the Wire" - Kanye West
Who would have thought that a car accident, Ensure, and Chaka Khan would be the perfect formula to launch the biggest new name in rap of the decade? Kanye West, apparently, who turned tragedy into triumph. Kanye's journey from backpack rap to stadium status begins here.
89: "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" - Eve feat. Gwen Stefani
A leftover of the late nineties, this track has all the hallmarks of corporate rap. Beat by Dr. Dre and Scott Storch, Gwen on the hook, the lavish music video. But the song rides smooth and stays with you, the coolness reminding you where you are.
90: "Upgrade" - Lil' Wayne
Lil' Wayne is at his best when he's on the attack, and it's for this reason that Da Drought 3 is his most accomplished album. Over two discs Wayne tackles the biggest beats and makes them his, his freestyles outshining the originals in almost every instance. Over this Beyonce track and on the rest of the album Weezy makes his best case for being the best rapper alive.
This was Busta's last explosive moment, his last song that oozed exuberance and frenetic energy. Over a rollicking Dr. Dre beat the madcap MC dizzies us with a gale-force attack of lyrical excellence from one of Hip-Hop's last elder statesmen.
82: "What Happened To That Boy" - Birdman feat. Clipse
The Neptunes sound is easily identifiable and was omnipresent during the 2000's. Yet every song had its own style, and here again Birdman and Clipse make the track their own. Over a New Wave synth and handclaps Clipse makes the track drip like syrup, all while imparting it with a venomous villainy.
83: "Drivin' Me Wild" - Common feat. Lily Allen
Rap in the 2000's definitely calmed down. Gone were the days of Puffy's shiny suits, the braggadocio of DMX's screaming. Displays of raw emotion had no place in the 2 cool 4 school mentality of 2000's Hip-Hop. Cool was all that mattered, and Common was definitely cool.
84: "Lose Control" - Missy Elliot feat. Ciara & Fat Man Scoop
Missy Elliot is a shining light in music, someone who never compromised or changed who she was just to be more commercially viable. On this self-produced track, Missy thumps and bumps her way into dance-rap ecstasy. Pure Missy.
85: "What's Your Fantasy" - Ludacris feat. Shawnna
World, meet Ludacris. The year was 2000, and labels were desperate for regional rap. It was hard to imagine upon first hearing this song that Luda would go on to be one of rap's biggest stars, but it was impossible to ignore the energy and humor he gave his flow.
86: "Go DJ" - Lil' Wayne
It was on the back of Mannie Fresh that the Cash Money Records empire was built. His sparse electronic beats provided a playground for the young southern MCs at the label. "Go DJ" was his last hurrah, his last hit with a developing Lil' Wayne. 2004's Tha Carter was almost exclusively produced by Mannie Fresh. By the time Tha Carter II was released a year later, he wasn't featured on the album at all.
87: "Swagga Like Us" - T.I. feat. Jay-Z, Kanye West & Lil' Wayne
It seems like a no brainer. Get Kanye West to craft a beat around one of the most electrifying songs of the decade, then get the four most popular MCs in the world to rap over it. It wasn't much of a gamble, but it still payed off big. When a pregnant M.I.A. joined the four on stage at the VMAs, it became clear what this was: a meeting of titans.
88: "Through the Wire" - Kanye West
Who would have thought that a car accident, Ensure, and Chaka Khan would be the perfect formula to launch the biggest new name in rap of the decade? Kanye West, apparently, who turned tragedy into triumph. Kanye's journey from backpack rap to stadium status begins here.
89: "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" - Eve feat. Gwen Stefani
A leftover of the late nineties, this track has all the hallmarks of corporate rap. Beat by Dr. Dre and Scott Storch, Gwen on the hook, the lavish music video. But the song rides smooth and stays with you, the coolness reminding you where you are.
90: "Upgrade" - Lil' Wayne
Lil' Wayne is at his best when he's on the attack, and it's for this reason that Da Drought 3 is his most accomplished album. Over two discs Wayne tackles the biggest beats and makes them his, his freestyles outshining the originals in almost every instance. Over this Beyonce track and on the rest of the album Weezy makes his best case for being the best rapper alive.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
The 100 greatest Hip-Hop songs of the 2000's: 91-100
91: "Run" - Ghostface Killah feat. Jadakiss
A frantic, paranoid urban drama from Ghostface's smoothest album. A reminder that with all the gloss and glamour in modern rap, New York is still cops and robbers for some.
92: "Walk it Out" - Unk
Regional rap exploded in the 21st century, and Walk it Out is one of its most energetic jams. All you need is some hometown flavor and dance moves and you can have a national radio hit. So much for East Coast/West Coast.
93: "Make it Rain" - Fat Joe feat. Lil' Wayne
Anytime a song introduces a term into the Hip-Hop lexicon we take notice, especially when its being done by Lil' Wayne. As the originator of "Bling Bling" and "Drop it like it's Hot", Wayne adds "Makin' it Rain" to his personal dictionary.
94: "Mr. Me Too" - Clipse feat. Pharrell
The Neptunes dominated the 2000s; their sound unmistakable. It might be said that no other MCs sounded better over the Neptunes than Clipse, their oldest recording partners. Listen to Hell Hath No Fury and you'll swear you've never heard anything like it, despite their stranglehold on Top 40 radio.
95: "I Ain't Heard of That" - Slim Thug feat. Pharrell & Bun B
The Neptunes are all over this list, mostly because of their captivating list of collaborators. They produced the majority of Slim Thug's major label debut, and in the process made the most interesting record of the Houston rap wave of 2005.
96: "Stand Up" - Ludacris
Over a conservative Kanye West beat Ludacris cements his position as the decade's premier practitioner of Hip-Hop pop. Funny, catchy, and non-threatening, Luda became the everyman's (i.e. the white man's) favorite rapper.
97: "I Hate My Job" - Cam'ron
Recession-era rap from one of Hip-Hop's fallen stars. Cam may have lost the Diplomats and the purple minks, but even a dead end job can't stop him from waking up every morning.
98: "Hero" - Nas
Polow da Don is a Pop-producing god. "Love in This Club" is one of the most danceable pop songs ever, but here Polow pairs his grandiosity with one of the finest wordsmiths around to create a searing serenade to swagger.
99: "On Fire" - Lloyd Banks feat. 50 Cent
If you asked 50 Cent I'm sure at some point he thought he would define this decade and the next. Fiddy's cache has faded for sure, but a few gems shine through as exceptional. Together with G-Unit costar Banks and Eminem producing they created a beat that never leaves your head.
100: "Lip Gloss" - Lil Mama
Hip-Hop is no longer separate from the mainstream, it is the mainstream. Hip-Hop informs and influences nearly every form of music now, most notably Pop music. "Lip Gloss" is pure bubblegum filtered through finger snaps and handclaps. Removing the Hip-Hop from Pop and R&B isn't likely to happen anytime soon.
A frantic, paranoid urban drama from Ghostface's smoothest album. A reminder that with all the gloss and glamour in modern rap, New York is still cops and robbers for some.
92: "Walk it Out" - Unk
Regional rap exploded in the 21st century, and Walk it Out is one of its most energetic jams. All you need is some hometown flavor and dance moves and you can have a national radio hit. So much for East Coast/West Coast.
93: "Make it Rain" - Fat Joe feat. Lil' Wayne
Anytime a song introduces a term into the Hip-Hop lexicon we take notice, especially when its being done by Lil' Wayne. As the originator of "Bling Bling" and "Drop it like it's Hot", Wayne adds "Makin' it Rain" to his personal dictionary.
94: "Mr. Me Too" - Clipse feat. Pharrell
The Neptunes dominated the 2000s; their sound unmistakable. It might be said that no other MCs sounded better over the Neptunes than Clipse, their oldest recording partners. Listen to Hell Hath No Fury and you'll swear you've never heard anything like it, despite their stranglehold on Top 40 radio.
95: "I Ain't Heard of That" - Slim Thug feat. Pharrell & Bun B
The Neptunes are all over this list, mostly because of their captivating list of collaborators. They produced the majority of Slim Thug's major label debut, and in the process made the most interesting record of the Houston rap wave of 2005.
96: "Stand Up" - Ludacris
Over a conservative Kanye West beat Ludacris cements his position as the decade's premier practitioner of Hip-Hop pop. Funny, catchy, and non-threatening, Luda became the everyman's (i.e. the white man's) favorite rapper.
97: "I Hate My Job" - Cam'ron
Recession-era rap from one of Hip-Hop's fallen stars. Cam may have lost the Diplomats and the purple minks, but even a dead end job can't stop him from waking up every morning.
98: "Hero" - Nas
Polow da Don is a Pop-producing god. "Love in This Club" is one of the most danceable pop songs ever, but here Polow pairs his grandiosity with one of the finest wordsmiths around to create a searing serenade to swagger.
99: "On Fire" - Lloyd Banks feat. 50 Cent
If you asked 50 Cent I'm sure at some point he thought he would define this decade and the next. Fiddy's cache has faded for sure, but a few gems shine through as exceptional. Together with G-Unit costar Banks and Eminem producing they created a beat that never leaves your head.
100: "Lip Gloss" - Lil Mama
Hip-Hop is no longer separate from the mainstream, it is the mainstream. Hip-Hop informs and influences nearly every form of music now, most notably Pop music. "Lip Gloss" is pure bubblegum filtered through finger snaps and handclaps. Removing the Hip-Hop from Pop and R&B isn't likely to happen anytime soon.
Flitting on the Cusp
Well that sucked. The first decade of the 21st century is done, dead, gone. It was a decade when America reconnected with its hopelessness, with a national view that everything was getting worse and worse. Pessimism as American as apple pie. It was a decade so down in the dumps that a complete outsider won the presidency with the flimsiest of campaign promises; HOPE plastered in blinding Helvetica on posters. Is that all it takes now? A hope, a dream of happiness is as close as it gets anymore. At least we can lie to ourselves.
If this decade had a starting point, a place where the sea change occurred and the national tide turned, it would be April 20, 1999. College kids across the country were choking down weed for 4/20, some disgruntled Aryans were probably celebrating Hiter's 110th birthday, and two kids in Colorado walked into their school and killed 13 children and then themselves. Columbine showed us that we were not invincible. The Soviet Union was gone, the economy was booming, but the enemies of the 21st century would not be nations or institutions. Those angry young men in Colorado showed us that the individual was all it took to create chaos, and it was near impossible to stop the individual. Individuals attacked us on September 11, and we responded by going to war with an entire region and religion. There was no precedent for this decade. How do you respond to an enemy that kills itself during its first attack? Who do you vent your frustrations on? Civilians in the desert perhaps. Maybe a monolithic entity like Wall Street. Maybe a black man who is either doing nothing or altering the very fabric of America. I don't know either.
But for god sake it's over, and I am not a historian or a journalist. Those aspects of our decade and our century are only the setting that informs our culture. How we respond to these horrors is (in my mind) the only thing worth mentioning. So here I will discuss the trivial at length. Silly movies and grandiose pop songs, internet culture and must hear music; these are the only things that make history bearable. Stimulus = Response.
Since we have marked another arbitrary year into an arbitrary decade, I believe I will start with some arbitrary lists. Inane categorization that is prolific on sites across the internet. But screw those lists. They're made by someone else, and in the era of individual, the only one I care about is me.
If this decade had a starting point, a place where the sea change occurred and the national tide turned, it would be April 20, 1999. College kids across the country were choking down weed for 4/20, some disgruntled Aryans were probably celebrating Hiter's 110th birthday, and two kids in Colorado walked into their school and killed 13 children and then themselves. Columbine showed us that we were not invincible. The Soviet Union was gone, the economy was booming, but the enemies of the 21st century would not be nations or institutions. Those angry young men in Colorado showed us that the individual was all it took to create chaos, and it was near impossible to stop the individual. Individuals attacked us on September 11, and we responded by going to war with an entire region and religion. There was no precedent for this decade. How do you respond to an enemy that kills itself during its first attack? Who do you vent your frustrations on? Civilians in the desert perhaps. Maybe a monolithic entity like Wall Street. Maybe a black man who is either doing nothing or altering the very fabric of America. I don't know either.
But for god sake it's over, and I am not a historian or a journalist. Those aspects of our decade and our century are only the setting that informs our culture. How we respond to these horrors is (in my mind) the only thing worth mentioning. So here I will discuss the trivial at length. Silly movies and grandiose pop songs, internet culture and must hear music; these are the only things that make history bearable. Stimulus = Response.
Since we have marked another arbitrary year into an arbitrary decade, I believe I will start with some arbitrary lists. Inane categorization that is prolific on sites across the internet. But screw those lists. They're made by someone else, and in the era of individual, the only one I care about is me.
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