20. Gang Starr - 1/2 & 1/2 - (Featuring M.O.P.) Anything with M.O.P. goes hard. A classic DJ Premier produced beat with the smooth and traditional MC Guru delivery. I honestly think that M.O.P. made me love this song as much as I do.
19. Kanye West - Through the Wire - This was Kanye's first single. Ever. Not to mention he spit it with his jaws wired shut, hence the name of the song, which samples "Through the Fire" by Chaka Khan. It sounds like Kanye rapped just after getting his wisdom teeth pulled, nevertheless he pulls it off with great success. "If you could feel how my face felt, you would know how Ma$e felt."
18. Wyclef Jean - Street Jeopardy - I do miss The Fugees with all my heart but I still got love for Wyclef's 1997 release titled The Carnival. Street Jeopardy features R.O.C. and John Forte (who served around 8 years in jail for possession of over a million bucks of cocaine) and depicts the lifestyle of drug dealing from its short lived glory and their downfall. "Have you ever heard the sound of a .44 at your door?"
17. 2Pac - California Love - (Featuring Dr. Dre) Admittedly, the only history I have with 2Pac is that "Changes" was one of my favorite tracks when I was super young. Aside from finding All Eyez On Me on the ground in my neighborhood a while back and buying his Greatest Hits double disk I have an extremely limited past with Pac. California Love, however, was love at first listen and I still feel for it.
16. Dr. Dre - Still D.R.E. - (Featuring Snoop Dogg) Of course this made the list. This was arguably the hottest track of 99' and still gets mad love when ever its played. At this present day if this song was to come on randomly at a party how stoked would you be? On a side note: Chronic 2001 was 6 X platinum a year after it was released. "Niggas try to be the king but the ace is back."
15. The Roots - You Got Me - (Featuring Erykah Badu & Eve) The Roots are incredible. This song is so smooth, lyrically and instrumentally. I don't know if I can call this track "contemporary," but if I could I would say this is as natural as it gets.
14. The Notorious B.I.G. - Machine Gun Funk - Ready to Die bred numerous classics, this track easily my favorite (and interestingly enough quoted to be Biggie's favorite). Signature B.I.G. flow and lyricism and a nice bass heavy beat with its funky elements make for a deadly combination. "If you fuck with big and heavy I'll get up in that ass like wedgie."
13. Talib Kweli - Get By - This Kanye West produced track is mind blowing. Not only because of the amazing beat but because the lyrics are amazing and the flow is unstoppable. I've never paid much attention to the baseline of a song, but this bumps in my eardrum all day long. Even my mother likes it. "We go through episodes too, like "Attack of the Clones"."
12. Nas - Represent - One time for your mind, Nas tells it how it is. Lyrics about the Queensbridge, New York City lifestyle and a buttery DJ Premier produced beat create a real nice, but also in a sense grimy track that is a staple in New York City hip-hop. This is easily one of the most underrated tracks off of Illmatic. "Straight up shit is real and any day can be your last in the jungle." I'd really like to quote the entire song.
11. A Tribe Called Quest - Buggin' Out - Most people favor Midnight Marauders over the Low End Theory. Not me though. Buggin' Out was the first Tribe track I heard and is still my favorite. Phyfe Dawg and Q-Tip are great lyricists. Buggin' Out proves their versatility in flow and lyricism as their rhymes are both skillful but also comical. "Never half step because I'm not a half stepper. Drink a lot of soda so they call me Dr. Pepper."
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