The Millennium

The year 2000 continued to be profitable for rap music as the genre expanded regionally and the sound became more accessible to mainstream audiences. Much of the music celebrated life’s excesses, partying, and good times. The lines between R&B and Hip-Hop continued to blur, and new stars and subgenres emerged continuously.

The Songs

The 2000s would see incredible rap songs. The era that gave us classic hits from Kanye West, Lil Wayne, 50 Cent, Ludacris, Missy Elliot, Snoop Dogg, Lil Jon, T-Pain, Usher, Soulja Boy, Nas, Ja Rule, and more — it began with a year full of bangers.

This article covers the nine best songs from the year that kicked off the decade.

“Country Grammar” – Nelly

Regional pride has existed in recorded rap music since songs like “Brooklyn’s In The House” and" Do Or Die Bed Stuy." Throughout the decades, regions outside New York started expressing regional pride in their music. By the late 1980s, N.W.A. released Straight Outta Compton and influenced regions nationwide to express pride in their hometowns. 

“Country Grammar” by Nelly was a celebration of St. Louis, a region not well known in Hip-Hop before Nelly and his St. Lunatics clique. Sonically, “Country Grammar” didn’t sound like New York, the West Coast, or The Dirty South. The bounce of “Country Grammar” was an original one.

"Stan” – Eminem

Eminem is multitalented in his ability to craft and project words poetically but also in his ability to tell stories cinematically. "Stan" is the story of a superfan with stalker tendencies who has written several letters to his favorite rapper. 

After never being responded to, Stan writes Em an aggressive letter which starts as a calm conversation and escalates to him aggressively questioning why Em never responded. The story is told in a way where the listener can easily visualize the story. “Stan” could have very well been a movie.

“Ms. Jackson" - OutKast

When Andre 3000 stated at the 1995 BET Hip Hop Awards that “The South got somethin’ to say,” it was the equivalent of the U.S. flag being planted into the moon by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin in 1969. 

The Dirty South had arrived and were staking their claim. “Ms. Jackson” told the story of a couple on the verge of a breakup and a nosey parent making things worse. The funk track, with its throw-back feel courtesy of members of the funk band Cameo, resonated with music fans across several genres.

“I Just Wanna Love You (Give It 2 Me)” – Jay-Z

This Pharrell-produced gem filled the dance floors in 2000. It contained a funk throwback hook that bordered on a spoof of bands like the Ohio Players, but it proved to be a massive hit for Jay-Z, helping to drive sales of his album The Dynasty Roc La Familia to double Platinum.

"So Fresh, So Clean” – OutKast

Again, the funk was strong in 2000, and the throwback vibes of that era were very much alive. “So Fresh, So Clean,” with its throbbing bassline and Cameo-inspired hook, kept the dance floors packed, provided something for the players to ride to, and filled the airwaves with a number-one hit for the Dynamic Atlanta Duo.

“Ante Up” – M.O.P. and Funkmaster Flex

New York didn’t have the stranglehold on rap music it held for the first decade of recorded rap. But Brooklyn’s Mash Out Posse brought their signature energy times ten to the DR Period-produced track that many mistook for the work of DJ Premier. “Take rings off, take chains off,” they commanded. Brooklyn strikes again.

“Whoa!” – Black Rob

The Bad Boy reign continued into 2000 with Black Rob’s anthem, “Whoa!” The string-heavy beat and Rob’s gravelly voice and delivery gave us one of the most infectious anthems of the year. Rest in power Black Rob.

“Sippin’ On Some Syrup” – Three 6 Mafia feat. UGK and Project Pat

The regional train stopped in Memphis, and the Hypnotize Minds crew gave us a lesson on their preferred way to get intoxicated. “Sippin’ on Some Syrup” was another huge anthem in a year dominated by anthems. As previously stated, partying and excess were prevalent in 2000, and Three 6 added on in a huge way.

“Shake Ya Ass” – Mystikal

The funk throwback vibe is heavy on what was arguably 2000’s biggest dancefloor hit. With a flow reminiscent of the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, Mystikal, who was no stranger to the game, reminded us that New Orleans was still in effect. Pharrell and the Neptunes blessed Mystikal with a song that hit 13 on Billboards Hot Hip-Hop and R&B and 13 on the Hot 100.