The 2000s may get a bad rap from most Hip-Hop heads, but truthfully, the decade produced some gems. Not only did the 2000s see Hip-Hop’s best artists still going strong — from Scarface, Jay-Z, and  OutKast to Common and The Roots — an entirely new crop of talent emerged. 

Little Brother, Jay Electronica, 50 Cent, Rick Ross, Kanye West, and more arrived on the scene and, in some cases, dominated.  Fresh off the Y2K craze, amidst 106 & Park and TRL ruling pop culture, and in the height of the bling era, 2002 managed to produce quite a few memorable Hip-Hop songs. Here are 12 of them.

Go DJ: Head to the Club

“Hot In Herre” - Nelly

Nelly scored a massive hit with Kelis on the vocals when he connected with — you guessed it, The Neptunes. You couldn’t go anywhere in 2002 without hearing this song, which cleverly samples Chuck Brown’s hit “Bustin’ Loose,” and the track reigned on the charts. Twenty years later, it’s still one of Hip-Hop’s biggest pop hits and a weapon in Nelly’s arsenal. Nelly even repurposed the track’s title for his upcoming music festival, Hot in Herre.

“Work It” Missy Elliott

Super talented multi-hyphenate Missy Elliott struck gold again in 2002 when she dropped “Work It,” an incredibly catchy track that dominated the airwaves. Of course, the wild, colorful video captured Missy’s zany genius, and the track remains a staple in her loaded discography.

“Grindin’” - Clipse

One of the biggest tracks of 2002 came courtesy of Clipse, over classic Neptunes production. The track still stands as their signature song, years later, and one of the most memorable Hip-Hop entries of all time.

Lose Yourself: Get Motivated

“Lose Yourself” - Eminem

Eminem recorded his signature track in 2002, “Lose Yourself.” The song soundtracked his semi-autobiographical film 8 Mile and is still one of Hip-Hop’s biggest songs decades later. It stayed on top of the charts and was the first rap song ever to win an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

“Oh Boy” - Cam’ron featuring Juelz Santana 

One of Cam’ron’s biggest hits came in ‘02 courtesy of “Oh Boy,” and its prominent sample of “I’m Goin Down” by Rose Royce. It peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200, but stayed on top of the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop singles chart for five weeks, eventually earning a Grammy nomination.

“Guess Who’s Back” - Scarface featuring Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel

Over early Kanye West production, Scarface settles the debate on whether he’s one of the best to ever do it on this standout from this stellar album, The Fix. One of the most quietly appreciated songs in his lengthy discography, Face is in top form on the track alongside two of Hip-Hop’s most skilled MCs.

“Told Y’all” - Trina featuring Rick Ross

The lead single from her sophomore album, Diamond Princess, “Told Y’all,” pairs Trina with fellow Floridian Rick Ross, as the pair bounce back and forth over always-appreciated Cool & Dre production. 

“Doobie Ashtray” - Devin the Dude

Devin the Dude is quietly one of Hip-Hop’s greatest storytellers, and he’s in top form on this track produced by DJ Premier. A cautionary tale at its finest, Devin’s comical warnings about remaining grounded and remembering who truly has your back are much-appreciated on this signature gem from his long catalog.

“Get By” - Talib Kweli

Following his stellar outing as Black Star alongside Mos Def, people were hyped about Talib Kweli’s solo debut, Quality. With the lead single, “Get By,” produced by Kanye West, he lived up to the excitement surrounding his release and created one of the best songs of the year in the process.

Luv U Better: Grown & Sexy Vibes

"Gangsta Lovin” - Eve featuring Alicia Keys

Eve and Alicia Keys connected on the 2002 track “Gangsta Lovin” and wound up dominating charts worldwide. The mid-tempo song, featuring Alicia’s rendition of Yarbrough & Peoples's "Don't Stop the Music" on the chorus, became Eve's second consecutive number-two hit on the Billboard 100.

“Luv U Better” - LL COOL J

No stranger to Hip-Hop love songs, LL COOL J proved he still had the charm and charisma to woo his upset lover on “Luv U Better.” Featuring production from The Neptunes, and a focused agenda to win his woman back, this track stands as one of his best love ditties to date.

“Beautiful” - Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell

Seriously, The Neptunes dominated 2002. They show up again on what’s become one of Snoop’s most celebrated songs, which isn’t an easy feat given the quality and quantity of his output over the past 30 years. A breezy summertime jam, Snoop is comfortable with Pharrell on the hook, setting the tone for the airy vibe.

What Are Some Other Dope Hits that Dropped in ‘02?

If you’re building a playlist of the greatest hits from 2002, you might need a couple more tracks to fill it out. 

Here are some other great songs that’ll take you down memory lane:

• “Always On Time” - Ja Rule featuring Ashanti
• “Pass the Courvoisier Remix” - Busta Rhymes featuring P. Diddy and Pharell Williams
• “One Mic” - Nas
• “Dilemma” - Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland
• “Get Low” – Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz