COMPLEX: The 10 Best Rappers From 2000-2009

[King Lance]

When you think about it, the 2000s were like the worst decade ever. It kicked off with the fiasco that was the 2000 presidential election, then we got 9/11, and then the war in Iraq. By the time Katrina hit, five years in, we pretty much just threw up our hands and said, "Fuck it, this sucks. Let's all start making remember-the-'90s lists to put up on our Tumblrs." And then, for good measure, the cruel decade closed with the entire global economy crashing. Because why should any of us deserve to be happy?

But when it came to hip-hop, things were a little less bleak. Hear the haters tell it, and the rappers of the 2000s didn't compare to the rappers of the '80s and '90s. But that's unfair. Every decade has its ebbs and flows. In every decade, artists rise to the occasion to put on for their culture. In this regard, the 2000s were no different.

However, different things did happen in the 2000s. With the rise of the mixtape scene, artists produced previously unheard-of amounts of music. Meanwhile, older rappers proved that it was possible to have a career in hip-hop that lasted more than five years. In fact, that this would become the norm. Perhaps most significantly, hip-hop saw its powerbase shift, with Southern rappers becoming the dominant voice of the genre while the West Coast failed to produce many new stars (Peace to the Game, though) and New York became less and less relevant.

All this stuff, of course, is better understood in hindsight. It's always hard to see the current forest for the trees. So a few years removed, we take a look back at the decade that was (from 2000 to 2009) and name The 10 Best Rappers of The 2000s.

[Ed. note—Honorable mentions to: Game, Ludacris, Nelly, Ja Rule, and Common who all had their moments along the way but didn't make the cut. Better luck next decade!]



1. Jay Z
Albums Released Between 2000-2009: The Dynasty: Roc La Familia (2000), The Blueprint (2001), The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curce (2002), The Black Album (2003), Kingdom Come (2006), American Gangster (2007), The Blueprint 3 (2008)
Classic Mixtape: S. Carter Collection (2003)
Group Albums: N/A
Biggest Billboard Hits Between 2000-2009: "Empire State of Mind f/ Alicia Keys," "Run This Town f/ Rihanna & Kanye West," "Dirt Off Your Shoulder," "'03 Bonnie & Clyde f/ Beyonce," "Izzo (H.O.V.A)"

2. Eminem
Albums Released Between 2000-2009: The Marshall Mathers LP (2000), The Eminem Show (2002), Encore (2004), Relapse (2009)
Classic Mixtape: N/A
Group Albums: Devil's Night (2001), D12 World (2004)
Biggest Billboard Hits Between 2000-2009: "Lose Yourself," "Without Me," "Crack a Bottle f/ Dr. Dre & 50 Cent," "Shake That f/ Nate Dogg," "We Made You"

3. Lil Wayne
Albums Released Between 2000-2009: Lights Out (2000), 500 Degreez (2002), Tha Carter (2004), Tha Carter II (2005), Tha Carter III (2008)
Classic Mixtape: Dedication 2 (2006), Da Drought 3 (2007), No Ceilings (2009)
Group Albums: We Are Young Money (2003)
Biggest Billboard Hits Between 2000-2009: "Lollipop f/ Static Major," "A Milli," "Got Money f/ T-Pain," "Prom Queen," "Mrs. Officer f/ Bobby Valentino & Kidd Kidd"

4. 50 Cent
Albums Released Between 2000-2009: Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003), The Massacre (2005), Curtis (2007), Before I Self Destruct (2009)
Classic Mixtape: 50 Cent is the Future (2002), No Mercy, No Fear (2002), God's Plan (2002)
Group Albums: G-Unit's Beg for Mercy (2003), T.O.S (Terminate on Sight) (2008)
Biggest Billboard Hits Between 2000-2009: "In Da Club," "21 Questions f/ Nate Dogg," "Candy Shop f/ Olivia," "P.I.M.P f/ Snoop Dogg, Lloyd Banks & Young Buck," "Disco Inferno"

5. Kanye West
Albums Released Between 2000-2009: The College Dropout (2004), Late Registration (2005), Graduation (2007), 808s and Heartbreak (2008)
Classic Mixtape: Get Well Soon... (2003)
Group Albums: N/A
Biggest Billboard Hits Between 2000-2009: "Gold Digger f/ Jamie Foxx," "Stronger," "Heartless," "Love Lockdown," "Good Life"

6. T.I.
Albums Released Between 2000-2009: I'm Serious (2001), Trap Muzik (2003), Urban Legend (2004), King (2006), T.I. vs T.I.P. (2007), Paper Trail (2008)
Classic Mixtape: In Da Streets Pt. 1 (2002), Down With The King (2004)
Group Albums: Grand Hustle Presents: In Da Streetz Volume 4 (2006)
Biggest Billboard Hits Between 2000-2009: "Whatever You Like," "Live Your Life f/ Rihanna," "Dead and Gone f/ Justin Timberlake," "What You Know," "Bring 'Em Out"

7. Cam'ron
Albums Released Between 2000-2009: S.D.E. (2000), Come Home with Me (2002), Purple Haze (2004), Killa Season (2006), Crime Pays (2009)
Classic Mixtape: The Diplomats, Vol. 1 (2002)
Group Albums: Diplomatic Immunity (2003), Diplomatic Immunity 2 (2004)
Biggest Billboard Hits Between 2000-2009: "Hey Ma," "Oh Boy," "Down and Out,"

8. Young Jeezy
Albums Released Between 2000-2009: Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101 (2005), The Inspiration (2006), The Recession (2008)
Classic Mixtape: Trap or Die (2005)
Group Albums: U.S.D.A's Cold Summer (2007)
Biggest Billboard Hits Between 2000-2009: "Soul Survivor f/ Akon," "Put On f/ Kanye West," "I Luv It," "Go Getta' f/ R. Kelly, "And Then What" f/ Mannie Fresh

9. Nas
Albums Released Between 2000-2009: Stillmatic (2001), Lost Tapes (2002), God's Son (2002), Street's Disciple (2004), Hip Hop Is Dead (2006), Untitled (2008)
Classic Mixtape: N/A
Group Albums: N/A
Biggest Billboard Hits Between 2000-2009: "I Can," "Hip Hop is Dead," "Made You Look," "One Mic"

10. Andre 3000
Albums Released Between 2000-2009: N/A
Classic Mixtape: N/A
Group Albums: OutKast's Stankonia (2000), Speakerboxx/The Love Below (2003), Idlewild (2006)
Biggest Billboard Hits Between 2000-2009: "Ms. Jackson," "Hey Ya," "The Whole World" "So Fresh, So Clean," "Roses"

http://www.complex.com/music/2013/08/be ... -of-2000s/

[Trimss]

Cool list.

mad that Eminem ain't first but idc cuz Berzerk is out tomorrow.

[PAINKILLƎR]

list belongs in the trash, along with all the editors and staff from complex

[Hansen]

Every Jay-Z hit is a feautured track

[fifflaren]

Wayne used to be so good back in the days, it's a shame to see what he has become.

[King Lance]

Cool list.

mad that Eminem ain't first but idc cuz Berzerk is out tomorrow.

stop complaining about everything like Jagoda

[superman11]

Wayne used to be so good back in the days, it's a shame to see what he has become.

What days were these?

[RayMcTechGuy]

Solid list, I believe Eminem should be first, but hey, I'm not complaining.

[Trimss]

Cool list.

mad that Eminem ain't first but idc cuz Berzerk is out tomorrow.

stop complaining about everything like Jagoda

where do you see me complaining i said idc

[Shuttle Destroyer]

Great list
Nice to see Em so high above
T.I. after only Weezy, 50, Em and Jay is a big thing for him too

[_Jesus_]

Eminem shall have the 10 spots for himself

[Sofi1993]

Em should of been 1st

But whatever im to excited to care about a list like this

[Jason M.]

Would Collision Course count as a group album for Jay Z?