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.
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