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.
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