50 Years Of Hip Hop: The Rankdown Part 3 (COMPLETE)

[Soulsista]

60. Here We Go - Trina feat. Kelly Rowland

Born in Miami, Katrina Taylor originally wanted to be a real estate agent before getting involved in music. She was first noticed on Trick Daddy's 1999 single "Nann". Her 2005 single "Here We Go", featuring Kelly Rowland, peaked at #3 on the rap chart, #8 on the R&B chart, and #17 on the Hot 100. It was built on a sample of "Tender Love" by The Force MDs.

Trina is currently a regular on Love & Hip Hop: Miami.


Points: 705
Average: 56.94
Standard Deviation: 23.402 (43rd highest)

jtd Thee Stallion - 8

🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 18

ilikemilk - 33
beyoncelover - 38

BB🌕 - 47
SHOOTER - 47

Soulsista - 60

aerodynamite - 64
willapted33 - 65
B-Boy - 69
dremolus - solarpunk - 69
rowellfarm490 - 69

singingrulebritannia - 71
312999 - 74

Ivy Leegue™ - 88

American Idiot - 91


Eight top half rankings go down with the next reveal. Someone else will lose a bottom 10.

[🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲]

Could have been ranked much higher, IMO. One of Trina's best songs.

[Soulsista]

59. It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp - Three 6 Mafia

Three 6 Mafia was formed in Memphis by DJ Paul (Paul Beauregard), his brother Lord Infamous (Ricky Dunigan), and Juicy J (Jordan Houston III). Later on they would add members Koopsta Knicca (Robert Phillips), Gangsta Boo (Lola Mitchell), and Crunchy Black (Darnell Carlton). In 2005 they wrote "It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp" for the movie Hustle & Flow which starred Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson. It won an Oscar for Best Original Song, the first by a hip hop group and the second overall hip hop song to do so (the first is still to come in this rankdown).

Three 6 Mafia recorded their own version for their album Most Known Unknown with vocals by Paula Campbell.

Here they are performing with Taraji at the Oscars.




Points: 709
Average: 56.69
Standard Deviation: 16.796 (14th lowest)

singingrulebritannia - 38
SHOOTER - 39
Soulsista - 40

dremolus - solarpunk - 41
Ivy Leegue™ - 42
ilikemilk - 44
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 48
American Idiot - 50

willapted33 - 58
jtd Thee Stallion - 60

BB🌕 - 61
aerodynamite - 63

beyoncelover - 75
rowellfarm490 - 76

312999 - 81

B-Boy - 91


Six more top half rankings will be lost with the next reveal. On the flip side, someone gets rid of a bottom 5.

[Soulsista]

58. Wanna Get To Know You - G-Unit feat. Joe

G-Unit, or Gorilla Unit, was formed in NYC by 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, and Tony Yayo. Young Buck was later added while Tony was in jail. Their debut album Beg For Mercy was released in 2003. The album's third single, "Wanna Get To Know You" featuring Joe, peaked at #5 on the rap chart, #10 on the R&B chart, and #15 on the Hot 100 in 2004. Samples "Come Live With Me Angel" by Marvin Gaye.

G-Unit disbanded in 2014, only to reunite a few months later with all four core members plus new member Kidd Kidd. They officially broke up a second time in 2022.


Points: 713
Average: 56.44
Standard Deviation: 21.649 (48th lowest)

ilikemilk - 22
B-Boy - 28

BB🌕 - 31
American Idiot - 36

beyoncelover - 44
Soulsista - 48

dremolus - solarpunk - 51
willapted33 - 52
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 55
singingrulebritannia - 59

rowellfarm490 - 66

SHOOTER - 74
Ivy Leegue™ - 78

aerodynamite - 81
jtd Thee Stallion - 82

312999 - 96


The next two songs are tied. Leaving us now is a song with a Top 20 and two bottom 20s.

[312999]

I definitely prefer Stay Fly or Lolli Lolli. I think both of them
Would have been top 20 for me.

Meanwhile Wanna Get To Know You was just so boring.

[Soulsista]

57. I'm a Hustla - Cassidy

Born in Philadelphia, Barry Reese was discovered by Swizz Beatz and signed him to his label Full Surface. His 2005 single "I'm a Hustla" peaked at #5 on the rap chart, #8 on the R&B chart, and #34 on the Hot 100. Samples "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" by Jay-Z, and was later sampled Beyonce during her Coachella performance in 2018.

The music video introduced the hustla dance that would later be known as the motorcycle in Yung Joc's "It's Goin' Down".

Cassidy spent eight months in jail on manslaughter charges. He later suffered a fractured skull and several broken bones due to a car accident.


Points: 733
Average: 55.19
Standard Deviation: 22.076 (50th highest)

American Idiot - 16

beyoncelover - 25

dremolus - solarpunk - 35
B-Boy - 39

BB🌕 - 41
aerodynamite - 44
Ivy Leegue™ - 44
willapted33 - 47

ilikemilk - 55

312999 - 66
singingrulebritannia - 68

rowellfarm490 - 75
SHOOTER - 75
jtd Thee Stallion - 78

🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 87
Soulsista - 88


The next reveal will see two people lose a Top 10. Four others will shed a bottom 20.

[Soulsista]

56. Damn! - YoungBloodZ feat. Lil Jon

Formed in Atlanta, YoungBloodZ consists of J-Bo and Sean Paul (not to be confused with Sean Paul who has hits like "Gimme The Light" and "Get Busy"). Their biggest hit came in 2003 with the release of "Damn!". Featuring Lil Jon, it topped the rap chart and peaked at #2 on the R&B chart and #4 on the Hot 100.

In 2006 both members were arrested on drugs and weapons charges following a traffic stop involving a tour bus that had an expired license. The charges were later dropped.


Points: 733
Average: 55.19
Standard Deviation: 27.238 (11th highest)

B-Boy - 8
SHOOTER - 10

jtd Thee Stallion - 11

312999 - 40

🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 42
rowellfarm490 - 42

willapted33 - 57

singingrulebritannia - 61
Soulsista - 64
beyoncelover - 65
aerodynamite - 69

dremolus - solarpunk - 74

American Idiot - 83
Ivy Leegue™ - 83
BB🌕 - 86
ilikemilk - 88


More reveals later today, starting with the song that has the highest SD. Two Top 10s will go down, along with two bottom 10s.

[B-Boy]

I was hoping that “Damn” would make the Top 40.

[beyoncelover]

60. Here We Go - Trina feat. Kelly Rowland: Aww kinda sad to see this song show up as I do really like this song a lot and enough so to rank it at #38. It's nice seeing Trina doing this softer more serious song like this and I'm glad it was a big hit for her. Kelly sounds great on the song as usual, as well. Wish this could have been a bit higher.

59. It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp - Three 6 Mafia: This is a really good and enjoyable song. And legendary enough as it's an Oscar award winning song too. I do like this enough to rank it at #75. I did think this would do better. I do like this but it's never been a really huge favorite of mine or a song I heard a ton. But a good ranking for this song when it's highest ranking comes in at #38.

58. Wanna Get To Know You - G-Unit feat. Joe: This is a really cool and smooth jam! This is one of my favorite songs from G-Unit, alongside "Stunt 101." This is another one of the many songs I really like, so much so that I ranked this at #44. I really enjoy what all of the G-Unit members bring here and enjoy Joe on the chrous. Ooh lmao I had no idea that G-Unit reunited in the mid 2010s and then just broke up again last year though.

57. I'm a Hustla - Cassidy: Oh wow I forgot that I ranked this song so high and at #25 for that matter. :haha: But this song is such a gangsta and fun jam and I do love it. I didn't realized I loved it that much but yeah fun song and wished it was higher. I enjoyed a number of songs from Cassidy from "Hotel," "Get No Better" and "My Drink 'N My 2 Step." Also nice that there weren't any Bottom 10 rankings for this.

56. Damn! - YoungBloodZ feat. Lil Jon: I had a feeling this song would be polarizing so this being the 11th most polarizing isn't too surprising to me. This is a fun jam and I do really like this. I like it enough to place it at #65. So it's not a huge favorite.... but it was also one of those songs that I felt grew on me over the years compared to when it was out.

[Soulsista]

55. Shake Ya Ass - Mystikal

Born in New Orleans, Michael Tyler joined the army as a combat engineer after high school. Turning to music, he recorded for the Big Boy, Jive, and No Limit labels, appearing on songs like Make 'Em Say Uhh!" by Master P and "It Ain't My Fault" by Silkk The Shocker. His 2000 single "Shake Ya Ass" (with the radio edit titled "Shake It Fast") was produced and co-written by The Neptunes. It peaked at #7 on the rap chart, #3 on the R&B chart, and #13 on the Hot 100.

Mystikal has been in and out of prison over the years for charges including sexual battery, extortion, and failing to file tax returns. His most recent arrest came in 2022 for property damage, false imprisonment, domestic abuse, strangulation, and battery. He faces a life sentence in prison if convicted.


Points: 790
Average: 51.63
Standard Deviation: 34.193 (Highest)

🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 4
Soulsista - 9

aerodynamite - 11
beyoncelover - 17

B-Boy - 24
jtd Thee Stallion - 25

Ivy Leegue™ - 35
dremolus - solarpunk - 40

rowellfarm490 - 68
singingrulebritannia - 69
SHOOTER - 70

BB🌕 - 83
willapted33 - 88
American Idiot - 90

ilikemilk - 95
312999 - 98


The next reveal has the 9th highest SD. Two more Top 10s will be lost, along with two bottom 10s.

[312999]

Finally! Kinda knew that this would be a high SD but idk if I was exactly expecting it to be the highest.

[Soulsista]

54. Headsprung - LL Cool J

"Headsprung" was released in 2004 as the lead single from his album The DEFinition. Produced and co-written by Timbaland, it peaked at #4 on the rap chart, #6 on the R&B chart, and #16 on the Hot 100. It was later covered by Keri Hilson.


Points: 795
Average: 51.31
Standard Deviation: 28.925 (9th highest)

312999 - 9
aerodynamite - 10

ilikemilk - 15
Ivy Leegue™ - 15

American Idiot - 26

SHOOTER - 43

rowellfarm490 - 51
Soulsista - 53
beyoncelover - 56

singingrulebritannia - 63
B-Boy - 70
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 70

BB🌕 - 75
dremolus - solarpunk - 78

willapted33 - 91
jtd Thee Stallion - 96


Someone will lose their #2 with the next reveal. Two others will rid themselves of a bottom 20.

[312999]

Dang.. not what I expected as my first top 10 loss, and thought that this would have been higher.

[Soulsista]

53. Back Like That - Ghostface Killah feat. Ne-Yo

Raised on Staten Island, Dennis Coles rose to prominence as a member of Wu-Tang Clan. He later went solo, and in 2006 released the single "Back Like That". Featuring Ne-Yo, it peaked at #11 on the rap chart and #14 on the R&B chart. Samples "Baby Come Home" by Willie Hutch and contains an interpolation of "Song Cry" by Jay-Z.

Ghostface converted to Islam in 2004. In 2011 he was sued by Jack Urbont for copyright violation involving the 1960s Iron Man theme. The case was dismissed when it was ruled that Marvel owned the theme song and not Urbont.


Points: 803
Average: 50.81
Standard Deviation: 22.760 (47th highest)

ilikemilk - 2

Soulsista - 29

312999 - 31
singingrulebritannia - 34
aerodynamite - 35
willapted33 - 40

BB🌕 - 43
dremolus - solarpunk - 46
rowellfarm490 - 49

jtd Thee Stallion - 52

Ivy Leegue™ - 69

🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 71
B-Boy - 72
American Idiot - 75

SHOOTER - 82
beyoncelover - 83


Another Top 10 goes down with the next reveal. Someone else will lose a bottom 20.

[Soulsista]

52. Thugz Mansion - 2Pac feat. Nas & J. Phoenix

"Thugz Mansion" was released in 2002 from the album Better Dayz. It peaked at #4 on the rap chart, #10 on the R&B chart, and #19 on the Hot 100. The song talks about how when the narrator dies, he would like to be in a place where all his troubles would go away and he would finally find happiness.


Points: 814
Average: 50.13
Standard Deviation: 20.549 (41st lowest)

Ivy Leegue™ - 6

ilikemilk - 17

beyoncelover - 35
singingrulebritannia - 36

dremolus - solarpunk - 45
B-Boy - 48

Soulsista - 51
rowellfarm490 - 52
aerodynamite - 53
American Idiot - 53
BB🌕 - 53
jtd Thee Stallion - 55
willapted33 - 60

SHOOTER - 73
312999 - 77

🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 88


The last song to miss the top half has three Top 20s...and a bottom 10.

[Soulsista]

51. I Miss You - DMX feat. Faith Evans

"I Miss You" was released in 2002 as the third single from DMX's album The Great Depression. Featuring Faith Evans, it peaked at #37 on the R&B chart. Samples "This Masquerade" by George Benson and interpolates the hymn "Amazing Grace". The song is dedicated to DMX's grandmother.


Points: 827
Average: 49.31
Standard Deviation: 27.065 (15th highest)

singingrulebritannia - 13
Soulsista - 17
BB🌕 - 19

ilikemilk - 28
SHOOTER - 28

American Idiot - 31
willapted33 - 33
rowellfarm490 - 35

aerodynamite - 52
B-Boy - 59

dremolus - solarpunk - 67
beyoncelover - 68

jtd Thee Stallion - 73

312999 - 85
Ivy Leegue™ - 90

🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 91

[Soulsista]

The Top 50:

50 Cent - In Da Club
Beanie Sigel & Freeway - Roc The Mic
Big L - Flamboyant
Big Tymers - Still Fly
Bubba Sparxxx - Ugly
Busta Rhymes - Break Ya Neck
Cam'ron feat. Juelz Santana - Oh Boy
Chamillionaire feat. Krayzie Bone - Ridin'
Clipse - Grindin'
Common - Testify
Da Brat feat. Tyrese - What'chu Like
Drake - Forever
Eminem - Lose Yourself
Erick Sermon feat. Marvin Gaye - Music
Eve feat. Gwen Stefani - Let Me Blow Ya Mind
Fabolous feat. Nate Dogg - Can't Deny It
Fat Joe feat. Ashanti - What's Luv?
Flo Rida feat. T-Pain - Low
The Game feat. 50 Cent - Hate It Or Love It
J-Kwon - Tipsy
Ja Rule feat. Ashanti - Always On Time
Jay-Z - 99 Problems
Jeezy feat. Akon - Soul Survivor
Jermaine Dupri feat. Ludacris - Welcome To Atlanta
Juvenile feat. Soulja Slim - Slow Motion
Kanye West - Through The Fire
Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz feat. Yin Yang Twins - Get Low
Lil Kim feat. Mr. Cheeks - The Jump Off
Lil Wayne - A Milli
Lloyd Banks - On Fire
Ludacris feat. Pharrell - Southern Hospitality
Lupe Fiasco feat. Matthew Santos - Superstar
Memphis Bleek feat. Jay-Z, Twista & Missy Elliott - Is That Your Chick (The Lost Verses)
Method Man & Redman - Part II
Mike Jones feat. Slim Thug & Paul Wall - Still Tippin'
Missy Elliott - Get Ur Freak On
Mos Def & Pharoahe Monch feat. Nate Dogg - Oh No
Mr. Cheeks - Lights, Camera, Action!
N.O.R.E. - Nothin'
Nas feat. will.i.am - Hip Hop Is Dead
Nelly - (Hot S**t) Country Grammar
Outkast - B.O.B.
P. Diddy - I Need a Girl (Part 2)
Sean Paul - Gimme The Light
Snoop Dogg feat. Pharrell - Drop It Like It's Hot
Styles - Good Times
T.I. feat. Rihanna - Live Your Life
Talib Kweli - Get By
Terror Squad - Lean Back
Twista - Overnight Celebrity


More reveals coming on Monday!

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tags}beyoncelover singingrulebritannia aerodynamite B-Boy 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 jtd Thee Stallion willapted33 dremolus - solarpunk American Idiot BB🌕 312999 ilikemilk Ivy Leegue™ rowellfarm490 SHOOTER

[singingrulebritannia]

lol, no fucking way should "I Miss You" be missing the top half in favor of mediocrity like "I Need A Girl", "Live Your Life" and "Lean Back", are you kidding me?

[beyoncelover]

55. Shake Ya Ass - Mystikal: LOL I was curious which song was it that would be the song with the highest SD.... and lo and behold, it's this one. This totally makes sense having the highest SD. But ugh I ranked this at #17, so I do clearly love this a lot. This is such a fun and catchy jam. I really love the Neptunes production on this. Mystikal is such a fun fool on this but love what he brings to the song. I'm glad that there are multiple Top 30 ranks in there to outset those lower rankings to bring this up higher here.

54. Headsprung - LL Cool J: Wow another song where all of the rankings are all over the place. Also wow at the 9th highest SD - didn't realize this would be so polarizing. "Headsprung" has a fire feel to it and is another great rap jam. But Omgg this was my #56.... why couldn't this have come in like 2 spots lower? Lmaoo I'm never gonna get a perfect rank and this is probably the closest I'll get to that. Anyway, fun jam. Love LL's rapping here and the Timbaland beat on this. I also really enjoy "Luv U Better" and "Control Myself" as far as 2000s LL songs goes.

53. Back Like That - Ghostface Killah feat. Ne-Yo: Oops, I didn't expect to be the lowest ranker of this song with ranking it at #83. So oops, I feel kinda bad about that, haha. This wasn't a song I remembered all that well. But I liked it while listening to it. But it just wasn't enough to rank it over the many songs I know and really like or love so that's why it got a lower ranking for me.

52. Thugz Mansion - 2Pac feat. Nas & J. Phoenix: Aww nooo, sad to see this song showing up now as this was my #35. This is a really good and emotional song... and just another great song from 2Pac. Probably not his very best but he always delivers with his music. I also enjoy what Nas & J. Phoenix bring to the song too.

51. I Miss You - DMX feat. Faith Evans: I didn't really remember this song but listening to this, I was really moved and really like this. I liked it enough to rank this at #68, but again couldn't rank it any higher over the other songs I love. A great emotional and powerful song from DMX. Love what he and Faith Evans both bring to this song. While this is really good, I really wish "Party Up (Up In Here)" was represented for DMX's entry as that would have been a Top 20 shoo-in for me (possible Top 15/10 contender, in fact).

Excited to see how the Top 50 goes down!

[🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲]

Sucks that Shake Ya Ass is out. That was my jam in middle school. I even remember seeing the video on The Box.

[312999]

I will have the closeness stats up maybe by Sunday, going to be a bit busy these few days, and I will try to see if I can put a few other nice stats up for the first half.

[Soulsista]

Reminder that reveals will resume tomorrow!

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tags}beyoncelover singingrulebritannia aerodynamite B-Boy 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 jtd Thee Stallion willapted33 dremolus - solarpunk American Idiot BB🌕 312999 ilikemilk Ivy Leegue™ rowellfarm490 SHOOTER

[312999]

Closeness Stats for the first half

1. 11.7 - rowellfarm490
2. 12.8 - Soulsista
3. 12.86 - singingrulebritannia
4. 14.06 - BB🌕
5. 14.34 - willapted33
6. 14.84 - aerodynamite
7. 15.96 - dremolus - solarpunk
8. 16.94 - American Idiot
9. 18 - Ivy Leegue™
10. 20 - SHOOTER
11. 20.1 - B-Boy
12. 20.96 - ilikemilk
13. 24.36 - beyoncelover
14. 26.1 - jtd Thee Stallion
15. 26.42 - 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲
16. 30.02 - 312999

[Soulsista]

And we're back with more reveals!

Kicking off today's reveals will see someone lose a Top 10. No one loses a bottom 20, but eight people will lose a bottom half ranking.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tags}beyoncelover singingrulebritannia aerodynamite B-Boy 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 jtd Thee Stallion willapted33 dremolus - solarpunk American Idiot BB🌕 312999 ilikemilk Ivy Leegue™ rowellfarm490 SHOOTER

[Soulsista]

50. Lights, Camera, Action! - Mr. Cheeks

Born in the South Jamaica section of Queens, Terrance Kelly rose to prominence as a member of the Lost Boyz. He went solo in 2001, releasing the single "Lights, Camera, Action!". It topped the rap and R&B charts and peaked at #14 on the Hot 100. Samples Eddie Kendricks' #1 hit "Keep On Truckin'".

The remix featuring Missy Elliott, P. Diddy, and Petey deleted later appeared on the soundtrack to the movie XXX.



Fun fact: singer/poet Gil Scott-Heron was his uncle.


Points: 842
Average: 48.38
Standard Deviation: 17.929 (18th lowest)

B-Boy - 6

Soulsista - 28

🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 35
BB🌕 - 37
SHOOTER - 38

aerodynamite - 41
312999 - 42
willapted33 - 49

jtd Thee Stallion - 51
singingrulebritannia - 52
ilikemilk - 59
beyoncelover - 60

American Idiot - 62
Ivy Leegue™ - 65

rowellfarm490 - 73
dremolus - solarpunk - 76


A Top 20 goes down with the next reveal. Someone else loses a bottom 20.

[SHOOTER]

This one held up better than I expected. Still a jam.

[Soulsista]

49. What'chu Like - Da Brat feat. Tyrese

"What'chu Like" was the lead single from Da Brat's third album Unrestricted. Featuring Tyrese, it peaked at #11 on the rap chart, #9 on the R&B chart, and #26 on the Hot 100 in 2000. Samples "Love For The Sake Of Love" by Claudja Barry.

Da Brat came out as bisexual in 2020, and in 2022 married Jesseca Dupart. She gave birth to their first child in July 2023.


Points: 867
Average: 46.81
Standard Deviation: 19.597 (32nd lowest)

🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 19

Soulsista - 22
B-Boy - 22
dremolus - solarpunk - 29
beyoncelover - 30

ilikemilk - 37
Ivy Leegue™ - 38

aerodynamite - 42
American Idiot - 48

singingrulebritannia - 56
jtd Thee Stallion - 59

rowellfarm490 - 65
willapted33 - 66
BB🌕 - 67
312999 - 68

SHOOTER - 81


The next reveal will see two people lose a Top 10, including someone's #2. On the flip side, someone will shed a bottom 20.

[SHOOTER]

My least favorite Da Brat single. That's What I'm Looking For >

[Soulsista]

48. I Need a Girl (Part 2) - P. Diddy

"I Need a Girl (Part 2)" was released in 2002 as the second single from We Invented The Remix. It peaked at #2 on the rap and R&B charts and #4 on the Hot 100. Features Ginuwine, Loon, Mario Winans, and Tammy Ruggeri. Contains an interpolation of an earlier Diddy song, "Victory".

It's the sequel to "I Need a Girl (Part 1)", which features Usher and Loon.




Points: 868
Average: 46.75
Standard Deviation: 27.104 (14th highest)

jtd Thee Stallion - 2
312999 - 10

🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 12
dremolus - solarpunk - 14
ilikemilk - 19

Soulsista - 43
B-Boy - 50

beyoncelover - 51
aerodynamite - 55
Ivy Leegue™ - 57
BB🌕 - 58

American Idiot - 65

rowellfarm490 - 74
SHOOTER - 77
singingrulebritannia - 79

willapted33 - 82


Someone says goodbye to a Top 20 with the next reveal. Another gets rid of a bottom 20.

[SHOOTER]

Part 1 >

@ ya mama.