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Best Songs of the 2000's

Posted Nov 24th 2009 3:00PM by BoomBox Staff
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Some critics choose to complain about the current state of hip-hop. As this decade comes to an end, we decided to take a different route and celebrate the best songs that have kept the genre alive. OutKast kicked off the decade with the frenetic 'B.O.B.,' Jay-Z held on to his throne with '99 Problems' and Kanye West's 'Jesus Walks' paved the way for a new school of MCs to create unimpeded, non-formulaic music. Here's to another decade of great music!

10. 'Get Ur Freak On,' Missy Elliott (2001)

As one of the most inventive artists of the new millennium, Missy topped herself with the dizzying 'Get Ur Freak On.' Lucky for all you club-goers, singing along to this one is an easy way to disguise that slur.

9. 'The Light,' Common (2000)

The Chi-town rapper is one of the few that can sound this romantic on a track and get away with it. Good thing "pause" wasn't invented around the time this dropped.

8. 'Get By,' Talib Kweli (2002)

As one of the few underground songs to cross the mainstream threshold this decade, 'Get By' is still a song for the everyman, even if it put its everyman creator in a higher tax bracket.

7.'What You Know,' T.I. (2006)

The self-proclaimed King of the South released this slow-rolling, epic jam in 2006, upping the bar for all Southern rappers that came after him. What you know about that?

6. 'Crazy,' Gnarls Barkley (2006)

Cee-Lo Green and producer Danger Mouse joined forces to create this sonic whirlwind, which plays like the audio equivalent of a hippie rainbow.

5. 'Lose Yourself,' Eminem (2002)

Of all the Eminem joints to make the list, this anthem captured the raw intensity and emotion that comes with performing. This one put '8 Mile' in the history books in spit of its visual association with Mekhi Phifer's dreads.

4. 'A Milli,' Lil Wayne (2008)

Over a stuttering Bangladesh-produced beat, Weezy F. Baby throws head-spinning rhymes on top of an instrumental as challenging as it is intoxicating. Best enjoyed with a fine glass of sizzurp.

3. 'Jesus Walks,' Kanye West (2004)

It's not every day you hear the name "Jesus" in a rap song, but 'Jesus Walks' was inspiring enough to make you catch the Holy Ghost.

2. 'B.O.B.,' OutKast (2000)

Fervent, absurd, frantic -- just a few words to describe OutKast's 'B.O. B.,' a melting pot of all the influences that went into hip-hop over the past decade. Just don't try to karaoke this one.

1. '99 Problems,' Jay-Z (2004)

Hova took it to stadium status with this Rick Rubin-produced beast, knocking harder than five Memphis Bleek albums combined. Bonus points for the storytelling.

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4 Comments

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pitbull7177

man all of ya can say what you want but this list is ok i knew weezy would here but where is busta rhymes and jeezy?

December 25 2009 at 8:58 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

sonnycarson1

YO CHRISTOPHER:

AS FAR AS MORE IMPACT AT THE TIME WHEN IT CAME OUT YES IT WAS. "HEY YA" HELP PUSH "SPEAKERBOXXX/THE LOVE BELOW" RECORD SALES OF 10 MILLION. BUT REAL TALK, I THINK "SO FRESH, SO CLEAN" WAS BETTER THAN BOTH OF THEM.

December 19 2009 at 1:41 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

sonnycarson1

EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO THEIR OPINION AS FAR AS THE BEST SONGS OF THE 2000'S. OUT OF THE TEN I LIKE SIX. AND OF THOSE SIX, I WOULD REALLY ONLY KEEP THREE ON THIS LIST. MISSY'S JOINT (NOPE), A MILLI (GARBAGE A** OVERRATED BEAT), B.O.B. (HEY NA WOULD OF BEEN A BETTER FIT), AND 99 PROBLEMS (COME ON NOW JAY GOT 99 SONGS THAT BETTER THAN THIS ONE). WHO MAKES UP AND DECIDES THIS S**T?

November 25 2009 at 12:59 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to sonnycarson1's comment

Christopher

are you really gonna say that hey ya was better than B.o.B

December 18 2009 at 10:15 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply