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.
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