Complex: The 10 best rappers from 2000-2009

[MINT]

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/best-rappers-of-2000s/

 

[MINT]

Eminem should be #1 looool

 

[GiantGonzalez]

no gucci

 

[50CentStan]

50 should be #1, jay and gnauze should be tied somewhere next to jeezy

 

[Cheercomp]

Andre3K tho? Why not Big Boi if we're going to count group efforts?

 

[cleanface coney]

at Jay Z

dude been rappin since the 80s

 

[Fmju]

I actually don't have any issues with the list this time around outside of a few opinion changes, I just have an issue with Complex having terrible editors

 

[Da King]

No Game?


Documentary was 5/5 CLASSIC, doctors advocate was 4.5/5, dude was one of the biggest names during that period, no can deny that


300 bars

 

[MINT]

No Game?


Documentary was 5/5 CLASSIC, doctors advocate was 4.5/5, dude was one of the biggest names during that period, no can deny that


300 bars :wow

The Doc was a 3.5/5.
good production, trash lyrics

 

[MiC]

Should go em jay Wayne kanye 50 top 5 in order

 

[Regular_P]

Another trash ass list from Complex. Eminem's last good album was in 2002, yet he's the #2 rapper of that decade?

 

[Tommy Knocks]

wayne should be number 1. em should be in the middle some where, cause he only had 2 albums and a handful of features.

wayne had like 3 albums, 3 solid mixtapes and was on EVERYBODY shyt destorying nikkas on they own record. He practically ran the mid 00s.

50 should also be in the top 3 because he changed the industry in more ways than one.

basically take em out at number 2, push the list up, and then put him at 5 and switch jay and wayne, and id be ok with the list. nikkas dont wanna see a southern rapper in the number 1 slot tho, so leaving jay aint that bad either.

 

[MINT]

Another trash ass list from Complex. Eminem's last good album was in 2002, yet he's the #2 rapper of that decade?

TMMLP and TES are amongst the very best hip hop albums of all time.

 

[MINT]

wayne should be number 1. em should be in the middle some where, cause he only had 2 albums and a handful of features.

wayne had like 3 albums, 3 solid mixtapes and was EVERYBODY shyt destorying nikkas on they own record. He practically ran the mid 00s.

50 should also be in the top 3 because he changed the industry in more ways than one.

and lil wayne hasn't release a single great album
quality > quantity.

 

[Tommy Knocks]

and lil wayne hasn't release a single great album
quality > quantity.

You might want to take another listen to Carter II and III.

I could listen to Carter III straight through. Mainstream to streets agree on that.

Carter II is a very underrated album, it had some soulful gems and club bangers.