In the 2000s, hip hop industry experienced an incredible transformation. While some artists lamented its increasingly commercial nature and absence of story-based rap songs, others continued producing enjoyable and relevant hip hop tracks.
This decade witnessed some of the most iconic rap stars ever. Here are some of the greatest songs from this era in rap history.
Jay-Z
Jay-Z was one of the most influential rap artists during the 2000s, famous for his ability to balance emotional lyrics with intelligent rhymes.
Forbes recognized him as the world’s first billionaire rapper in June 2019.
“Empire State of Mind,” Jay-Z’s most iconic song from his career, has become an indelible staple of hip hop music and is regularly covered by many musicians. Furthermore, its broad appeal appeals to both urban and mainstream audiences alike.
Jay-Z’s classic hit “Empire State of Mind” stands the test of time; however, many other songs from his career have become classics as well. One such track is “Drop It Like It’s Hot”, which has been covered by multiple artists over time.
This song was first released in 2004 and quickly became a top seller, yet eventually led to litigation from EMI, the owner of the Beatles album White Album, when Jay-Z used instrumentals from it on this track.
50 Cent
50 Cent was one of the most prominent rap artists of the 2000s, known for his unique blend of party rap and gritty hip-hop with high-quality beats that always set him apart.
He had an extraordinary story that set him apart in his genre. Following an arrest for drug dealing, he transformed his life and began producing mixtapes.
50’s rapidly rose through the ranks thanks to producer Sha Money XL and his G-Unit collective (which featured Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo). His debut mixtape How to Rob quickly became a cult classic that even captured Eminem’s interest.
He eventually signed to Columbia Records, who released his debut album Power of the Dollar. Additionally, he released several singles prior to this event including “Your Life’s on the Line” and “Thug Love”.
His debut LP received overwhelming critical acclaim, earning positive feedback from both critics and fans. Furthermore, it sold well – over 1.15 million copies were sold during its initial week, placing it firmly at the top of charts.
Eminem
Eminem rose to international renown during the 2000s as one of the greatest artists ever, releasing hit albums such as The Marshall Mathers LP and The Eminem Show that proved immensely popular with his audience. Unfortunately, however, after 2003 his success began to decline due to personal matters.
Eminem’s 2000s rap music was filled with emotion and powerful lyrics that resonated deeply with fans, providing inspiration to live life to its fullest. His fans connected deeply to him as his lyrics provided guidance for living a meaningful life.
His song “Kill You” caused outrage among listeners due to its use of offensive and degrading references directed towards women and homophobic remarks; some politicians even found the song inappropriate for public consumption.
This track was an outstanding example of Eminem’s ability to blend his old-school sound with a more contemporary one, creating something still highly lyrical but newer sounding than anything Shady had released previously.
Eminem also released another well-known song during this period titled, “Cleanin’ Out My Closet,” wherein he uses lyrics to vent his rage against his mother and express the negative energy within. This track provides insight into another side of Eminem that many may not know about.
Kid Cudi
The 2000s were an exciting era for rap music, giving birth to some of its most innovative artists while cementing rap’s place within popular culture.
While much of rap music from the 2000s has lost its importance over time, certain tracks still hold relevance today – one such track being Kid Cudi’s “Day N’ Nite.” This track launched one of the most prolific artists of recent memory.
Kid Cudi’s “Pursuit of Happiness,” another powerful song from this era, stands out for its beautiful synths and captivating voice – two qualities which set this track apart.
Cudi’s music features this track as an integral element, with lyrics that are deeply honest and emotive. He has suffered with his mental health throughout his life, and this song allows him to open up about these issues like never before. Additionally, it serves as an ideal track for anyone experiencing similar difficulties themselves.
Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott is one of the most legendary American rappers ever, and her music from the 2000s remains a classic. Known for her seductive tunes and giving women a voice within the industry.
She has collaborated with many different artists, scoring many hits over her career. Additionally, she’s an acclaimed songwriter; having collaborated on tracks with Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey and Mariah Young among many others.
Supa Dupa Fly was her debut rap album released in 1997 and quickly achieved platinum certification, producing several hit songs as a result of its success.
Supa Dupa Fly, like her other albums, draws heavily upon old school hip hop with plenty of shout outs and samples from that period. If you love hip hop then this album will undoubtedly become part of your legacy and will certainly not disappoint.
Miss E So Addictive and Under Construction are widely considered among the greatest female-fronted rap albums ever. Her songs not only pay homage to an era but are also great fun for listeners to experience.
Madlib
Madlib was known for crafting some of the most innovative Hip Hop music during the 2000s. His production genius’s beats could range anywhere from jazz, funk and pop; most notable were his collaborations with MF Doom and Freddie Gibbs which produced some of the finest Hip Hop albums of that decade.
Madlib was born in Oxnard, California to jazz musicians Otis Jackson and Dora Faddis and was inspired by records by Dizzy Gillespie and Charles Mingus while growing up. Later he went on to make a living as a producer for Stones Throw Records.
Madlib was known for both his production and MCing skills, working closely with MF Doom (masked rapper-producer) to release Madvillainy (2004) which became an instant classic and reached Billboard 200 status.
Madlib may have been quiet over the past five years, yet he remains active as an artist and producer. His collaborations with MED and Blu on 2015’s Bad Neighbor show how Madlib still finds ways to innovate his sound through Hip Hop music creation.
Ghostface Killah
Ghostface Killah is widely considered one of the greatest rappers ever. He is best known for his storytelling ability and making statements through each song he releases, not to mention being consistently entertaining throughout his music career – something many other top rappers struggle with.
He is also part of the Wu-Tang Clan, widely considered the premier rap group ever. Established in New York’s outer boroughs in 1991, this collective comprises nine rappers.
The Clan’s raps were an amalgam of controlled chaos, righteous anger and dizzying scratch workouts that targeted law enforcement officials, prison industrial complexes, media outlets, and drug addictions.
Ghostface released Supreme Clientele in the 2000s, an album which he still considers one of his finest efforts. This collection showcased all his rapping skill and ability while producing several memorable tracks that remain popular today.
DJ Khaled
DJ Khaled is an American record executive, producer, and rapper who has made waves in hip hop industry with hit songs released throughout 2000s.
DJ Khaled has garnered considerable acclaim within the music industry, with many likening his style of music to that of Jay-Z or Eminem. Additionally, he brings together an impressive roster of artists for each track he produces.
“Wild Thoughts,” released by DJ Khaled in 2017, features Rihanna and Bryson Tiller as guests, drawing inspiration from Carlos Santana’s 1999 hit song, “Maria Maria.” This track quickly became one of DJ Khaled’s best sellers.
This song became an incredible success and won a Grammy award for Best Rap/Sung Performance, written to commemorate Nipsey Hussle who passed away.
“Higher” was released in 2019 to celebrate success, inspiring audiences worldwide and featuring footage of Nipsey Hussle himself.