Justa's Top 10 Hip-hop Songs this past decade...so far.
Friday, October 2, 2009 at 10:00AM My cuz and I decided to do this via twitter last week (view his list here)so with no further delay...
The Top 10 Hip-Hop Songs this decade so far(in no particular order)...
UGK ft Outkast - International Players Anthem
After Aqumeni, I never thought the Outkast had the same cohesiveness together. Just different mindsets and songs weren't as complete as a group. Well this one right here was the reintroduction to the ATLiens. Andre 3000 verse...fire. In addition to that if you managed to actually, you'll notice that the no one else's verse loses any steam on this legnedery collabo. Plus the background accompaniment beat from the Academy-Award winning producers Juciy J and DJ Paul who gave us the Oscar winning "Its Hard Out Here For a Pimp". Solid Gold. Dirty South at its finest here.
Jay-Z - 99 Problems
Tough to find one Jay-Z song from the 2000 era. If I had to pick one though this is it. This brought it all back to where it beginning. The Rick Rubin 80's LL Cool J/Beastie Boy-ish beat crazy bannanas. In addition Hov gave us a 3 different verses. One B-Boy, one on some straight storytelling Slick Rick steez, and last was on the gangsta note. Doesn't get better then this. Love how it brought everything back to where it began. Screw that VH1 Honors this year...it already happened 6 years ago.
Clipse - Grindin'
Don't what Skate Board P was thinking on this. He basically took the skeleton of N.E.R.D's "Truth or Dare" and introduced the world to the brothers Thorton. Dudes where on another level lyrically from what anyone heard drug rap wise. Too this day I don't think most comprehend what was being said in these verses fully. This is not your average drug rap. They did what everyone else was doing and made it better. Plus this was the hey day of Cash Money, Ja Rule, and what ever other nonsense dominated hip-hop at the time... No one saw this coming.
Lupe Fiasco - Paris, Tokyo
This song is amazing because not only Lupe is a lyrical wizard, but its like his "The Dark Knight Returns" being "Paris, Tokyo" to "Batman Begins" which would be "Kick,Push". A sequal done better then the orignal. He took the concept of escpaism and gave u more visuals. Song motivated to get out and see this planet. Good to hear alternatives to "the hood" not just songs about it.
Method Man & Redman - Da Rockwilder
Ultimate party starter. Never been anywhere when this comes on and people are standing around. It's not stupid rap either. It's lyrical greatness from Def Squad and Wu-Tangs standouts. A rare party jam that isn't dumb. "Get the sh*t to crackin' got you feenin' with your pipes out,Time for some action, surfin' the avenue,Mad at you, where I used to battle crews, Back when Antoinette had that attitude"- Method Man... Exactly you didnt even know what you were dancing to something this hot. Plus the video... greatness at its best!
Talib Kweli - Get By
This hook is the anthem for our generation...think this will forever be one of the great Kanye productions and with Kweli killing the beat with lines such as "The TV got us reachin for stars,Not the ones between Venus and Mars, the ones that be readin for parts,Some people get breast enhancements and penis enlargers,Saturday sinners Sunday morning at the feet of the Father" a conscious song that doesn't force anything. This is a rare.
The Game ft 50 Cent - Hate it or Love it
In my opinion I think this will be one of the best songs ever Curtis Jackson will ever do. His verses about growing up were heartfelt, hook was great and chemistry with The Game...priceless. A actual inspirational track from two of the more "hardcore gangster rappers". Cool & Dre beat was the perfect accompany to a song about hope from where you would never expect it.
Nas - One Mic
One of Bad Boys finest Hitmen and Nasir Jones teamed up for one of the most creative songs lyrically I ever heard. The change of volume and flow on this song is like none other. Everything about this song is on point. Well except if you downloaded via napster back in the days...you know what I am talking about too, that dog barking in the background? HAHA!
TI - What You Know About That
Goosebumps anytime this DJ Tromp beat starts up. This was TI at his finest hour.. With a grand background that announced he was now one of the kings. The style he spits with is crazy on this. I don't think any rapper alive could replicate the level of style and flow over this track like TI did. One of the best pure braggin type songs of all time. The production on his voice and beat was crazy. No one, and I mean no one could replicate this.
Eminem - Stan
This is the song that made me take Marshall Mathers seriously as a artist. The depth and level of story to this song are amazing. Lyrically Em draws you in as he recounts the tale of a fan that was a little to obessed. The spooky background by The 45 King and Dido sampled hook gives his mature tale a extra dose of sadness. Nothing in his catalog has since reached the level of craft of this song I feel personally.
Rock Co Kane Flo- De La Soul ft MF Doom
Jake One killed this sample. Just Blaze tried to flip it on some lame tip, but it never matched the quality of it's first usage. De La Soul are masters of hip-hop period. To throw in one of the most abstract lyrically gifted MC's to the mix was just madness. The change of speed on the last 4 bars of everyones flow was genius. I've seen Posdonous do this in real time many occasions so this is not studio tricks boys and girls. Real styles for you to deal with. Plus Dooms and Daves verses were just as criminally insane love when doom spits "He eats rappers like a complete breakfast, your rhymes aint worth the weight of their cheap necklace" Awww its just soooo crazy man. Who thinks of stuff like that?
Honorable Mentions
Nappy Roots feat. Anthony Hamilton - Po' Folks
This was this decades "Fu-gee-la", That track that everyone could sing regardless of color. Yet the realness of the song was unheard of on commercial radio at the time. The breakout hit featuring a then also featured a future soul star in the making Anthony Hamilton. You know you know the words to this hook... go head sing it.
Kanye West - Stronger
Ye went hard over his most commercial breakout single ever. Love his rhymes as well as the original production. Another one of those club hits that are smart. This song showed the world that Ye was no joke on the mic while crossing over to even wedding playlist."Now bow in the presence of greatness, You should be honored by my lateness' that I even show up to this fake shit" dude was not joking. Was really hard to leave this one off the list.
Dead Prez-Hip-Hop
Tough competition is the only reason this is not on the list. One of the most in your face songs of the decade for sure. Nothing matched this one. Used to love listening to this around republicans..haha!
Wu Tang Clan ft Issac Hayes- I Can't Go To Sleep
Ghostface sets this one off with his sobbing flow. The way the track the organ lead just builds in the background every verse is crazy. From a crew with many classics available this one was very hard to leave off the list. Especially it being one of the last Issac Hayes appearances in music. Another tough call.
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