Classic Rhymefest humor ("I'm Saddam, except I got weapons") sprinkled with Classic Rhymefest musings ("They sold MySpace for $500 million/They sold YouTube for $1.6 billion/And you're in the project fighting over a building"). made considerable strides in the 2000s because of songs like "How About Some Hardcore" and "Ante Up." But you simply can't turn it off because his flow is so damn infectious. Kanye came to his rescue on the back of this Jackson 5-sampling anthem from Snoop dropped this one in the hovering humidity of '04 and watched it sit on No.1 for three weeks. "Ante Up" is further proof that their albums should come with the following warning sticker: "Repeated listens may lead to violence against things." “Exhibit C” embodies everything people admire about Jay Electronica—a combo of compelling confessionals and convincing boasts, delivered in a charismatic manner. Cam'ron's recession rap anthem captures the frustrations that peppered the global economic turmoil. Musically accessible, but no less intriguing than "Ether." Midwest hip-hop at its braggiest, grimiest, and nastiest. And they held onto those values all the way to the end of the group's run in 2007. Aided by a familiar Biggie line ("Where Brooklyn at? Oh man, the good ol' days when Timbaland was cranking out club knockers every other Tuesday.

(Bombs over Baghdad)" The gulf war, political imbalance, and global warming never sounded so good. Its simplicity only accentuates the sound of Jay’s heartbreaking. Ball & G invoke the ghost of Biggie on this rewind-worthy stomp jam from their 10th album,

It's impossible to fully appreciate the genius of this concert favorite until you've seen hip-hop fans leap up in excitement as Jay-Z delves into an exercise in lyricism. Here's a ranking of the 10 best rap and hip-hop duos of all time. Pure proof that we can all get along. MF DOOM reached the height of his creativity in the 2000s. Among the The song's hazed-out jazzy vibe, coupled with Tech's psychopathic recital, is incredibly chilling. Lupe’s skateboard anthem made the world take notice of the Chi-Town MC’s push for the return of the art of storytelling sorely needed in this decade. Oh man, the good ol' days when Timbaland was cranking out club knockers every other Tuesday.

Mash Out Posse came out the door with a loud bang and sustained that intensity throughout the 2000s. Too bad, 50 doesn't craft hooks like this anymore. Master storyteller Slick Rick assists in this witty narrative about the "hip-hop police," a fictional law enforcement unit that arrests artists solely on account of obscene lyrics. as a missile metaphor to challenge their peers to go hard or go home: "Don't pull the thang out unless you plan to bang." "Daydreamin'" is a colorful blend of poetry, blues, and hip-hop.

It's the very song that helped spur the Def Jux revolution. It's impossible to fully appreciate the genius of this concert favorite until you've seen hip-hop fans leap up in excitement as Jay-Z delves into an exercise in lyricism. Usually, when he does so, it's because he has trouble on his mind. 2007, despite its numerous disappointments, spawned many memorable moments. The beat, courtesy of the late great Roc Raida, will have you reaching for Bengay from too much head bobbing.

Weezy goes on a free-verse rampage, rambling about everything under the sun. "10 Bricks" is a movie on wax, replete with vivid descriptions and rewind-worthy metaphors. Dwayne Carter dons his overalls and proceeds to stitch his ailing patients one after the other. "Why am I workin' here? ​Loud and languorous, "Still Tippin'" captured the essence of southern hospitality in 2004.

"Yesterday," a standout cut from Atmosphere's, finds Slug reminiscing about his father's days on earth. That unmistakable bling tug filled the floor quicker than a money rain. Without a doubt, two rap heads are better than one.

Little did we know, at the time, that Cudi planned to make a career out of stoner jams. Instead, the Teacha finds a million more ways to symbolize Hip-Hop on the title track from "Get Ur Freak On" is a testament to her array of artistic strengths. With a flip of the beat, a bubbly rap song descends into a somber subway banger, as Tip recalls his days as a young MC.
The glorious midtempo throb of "Rising Up" outshines everything on Backed by a warm acoustic guitar, "The Heart Gently Weeps" is meditative storytelling at its finest. Theme music for any revolution. Orbiting around a bombastic Billy Squire sample, "Fix Up, Look Sharp" grabs your ear instantly and keeps ringing even after the last note has dropped. Well, you won't, after hearing Devin Copeland and friends highlight the travails of a demanding music industry. Everything he touched was magic. Perfect for a mid-tempo In the midst of his battle with Nas, Jay-Z needed a magical moment. The genre's roots are based both in hip hop acts who sampled heavy metal music, such as Beastie Boys, MC Strecker Cypress Hill, Esham and Run–D.M.C., and rock bands who fused heavy metal and hip hop influences, such as 24-7 Spyz and Faith No More. OutKast used the eerily prescient "B.O.B." Kid Cudi's trippy psych-jam became the go-to song for lonely stoners in the 2000s. They lost their record deal, regained it after several years, then lost a group member.

Henry Adaso has written about hip-hop since 2005 and founded the award-winning blog The Rap Up.