The Best Hip-Hop Songs of 2003
Looking for the best hip-hop songs of 2003? We’ve got you covered. From classics like 50 Cent’s “In Da Club” to Missy Elliott’s “Work It,” these are the tracks that defined the year.
Best Hip-Hop Songs of 2003
It’s hard to argue that 2003 wasn’t one of the best years for hip-hop. There were so many good songs that came out that year. From Jay-Z’s “In My Lifetime, Vol. 1” to 50 Cent’s “In Da Club”, there was a little something for everyone. Let’s take a look at some of the best hip-hop songs of 2003.
“In Da Club” – 50 Cent
“In Da Club” is a song performed by 50 Cent and written by him alongside Mark DeSantis. It was released in January 2003 as the lead single from 50 Cent’s debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin’ (2003). The song peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming 50 Cent’s second consecutive number one single on that chart, following “Wanksta”. It spent eight weeks on top of the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, becoming 50 Cent’s third consecutive number one hit from the album. Rolling Stone ranked it #374 in their 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list in 2010.
“Crazy in Love” – Beyoncé ft. Jay-Z
“Crazy in Love” is a song by American singer Beyoncé featuring American rapper Jay-Z. The song was released as the lead single from Beyoncé’s debut studio album Dangerously in Love (2003). It samples The Chi-Lites’ 1970 hit “Are You My Woman? (Tell Me So)”, and combines elements of hip hop, contemporary R&B, and 1970s Soul music. Upon its release, “Crazy in Love” peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming Beyoncé’s first number-one single as a solo artist and Jay-Z’s sixth.
The song’s success propelled Dangerously in Love to commercial success. “Crazy in Love” won three Grammy Awards in 2004, including Song of the Year and Best R&B Song. Its accompanying music video features Beyoncé surrounded by Secret Service agents, interacting with Jay-Z in stylized choreography. Along with other songs featured on Dangerously in Love, “Crazy in Love” helped Beyoncé to achieve widespread success following its release; she became one of the most commercially successful recording artists of the 2000s.
“Where Is the Love?” – Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas’ “Where Is the Love?” was one of the best hip-hop songs of 2003. The song features a catchy hook and verses from Will.I.Am and apl.de.ap, two of the group’s three MCs. The song is about the state of the world and asks the question, “Where is the love?”
“Ignition (Remix)” – R. Kelly
“Ignition (Remix)” is a song written and produced by American R&B singer R. Kelly. It was released in 2002 as the lead single from his sixth studio album Chocolate Factory. The song is seen as one of Kelly’s most well-known songs and has been popular in the United States, Europe and Oceania. The “Ignition (Remix)” peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topped the charts in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. In 2008, it was ranked as the 91st greatest song of all time by Rolling Stone magazine.
Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2003
2003 was a great year for hip-hop music, with many artists putting out great albums. Some of the best hip-hop albums of 2003 include 50 Cent’s “Get Rich or Die Tryin'”, Jay-Z’s “The Black Album”, and Outkast’s “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below”. Let’s take a look at some of the best hip-hop songs of 2003.
“The Black Album” – Jay-Z
“The Black Album” is the eighth studio album by American rapper Jay-Z, released on November 14, 2003, by Roc-A-Fella Records. It was advertised as his final album before retiring, which is also a recurring theme throughout the songs, although Jay-Z resumed his recording career in 2006.
For the album, Jay-Z wanted to enlist a different producer for each song, working with Nujabes, Kanye West, The Neptunes, Just Blaze, 9th Wonder, The Alchemist, Rick Rubin, and Timbaland. “The Black Album” features guest appearances from Beyoncé Knowles, Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott, DMX and Madonna.
Released during a time when Jay-Z was publicly feuding with Nas (which started over the production of Nas’ song “Made You Look”), the album features two diss tracks aimed at Nas (“What More Can I Say” and “Encore”), as well as a track intended to start peace between the two rappers (“Threat”). “The Black Album” debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and has been certified three times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
“Get Rich or Die Tryin'” – 50 Cent
50 Cent’s debut album, “Get Rich or Die Tryin'” was released on February 6, 2003, on Shady Records. The album features production from Dr. Dre, Eminem, and Timbaland, among others. “Get Rich or Die Tryin'” peaked at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 872,000 copies in its first week. The album was certified platinum by the RIAA in March 2003.
“The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse” – Jay-Z
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse is the seventh studio album by American rapper Jay-Z. It was released on November 12, 2002, by Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings. The album serves as a sequel to his sixth album The Blueprint (2001). Parts of the album were rerecorded after Jay-Z’s brief relationship with R&B singer Aaliyah ended abruptly due to her untimely death in August 2001. Production for the album took place during 2001 to 2002 at various recording studios and was handled by several producers, including The Neptunes, Kanye West, Timberland, Just Blaze, and Rick Rubin.
The Blueprint 2 was released to commercial and critical success. Upon its release, the album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling over 3 million copies in its first week. It became Jay-Z’s second consecutive album to top the chart in the United States and was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It also went on to become one of hip hop’s most commercially successful albums of all time selling over 13 million copies worldwide.
The Blueprint 2 received generally positive reviews from music critics. Most praised Jay-Z’s lyrical performance and improvement upon The Blueprint while some criticized him for becoming more mainstream and pop-oriented on songs like “Excuse Me Miss” and “Girls, Girls, Girls”. Several artists made cameo appearances on the album including Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek, Babyface, Stevie J., Busta Rhymes, Sean Paul, Lil Kim & Twista among others.
“Speakerboxxx/The Love Below” – Outkast
This double album is Outkast’s magnum opus, a 25-track behemoth that explores the limits of hip-hop and R&B while expanding the duo’s own musical horizons. Andre 3000 and Big Boi were already one of the most inventive groups in rap before this album, but on “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below” they fully realized their musical ambitions, crafting an ambitious, eclectic record that stands as one of the best hip-hop albums of all time.
Best Hip-Hop Moments of 2003
2003 was an amazing year for hip-hop. We saw the rise of 50 Cent, the release of The Black Album, and Missy Elliott’s “Work It” taking over the airwaves. Let’s take a look at some of the best hip-hop moments of 2003.
50 Cent being shot nine times
Nine bullets couldn’t stop 50 Cent.
On May 24, 2000, the rapper was shot nine times in front of his grandmother’s home in South Jamaica, Queens. 50 was waiting for a friend when an unknown assailant opened fire, hitting the rapper in the hand, arm, hip, both legs, chest and left cheek. The bullets caused severe damage to his lower intestine and left him with a permanent curvature in his spine.
Despite the severity of his injuries, 50 Cent made a full recovery and went on to have a hugely successful career in music. In 2003, he released his debut album “Get Rich or Die Tryin’” which became a huge commercial success, selling over 8 million copies worldwide. The album’s lead single “In Da Club” was one of the biggest hits of the year and helped cement 50 Cent’s place as one of the biggest names in hip-hop.
Jay-Z and Beyoncé getting married
In April 2008, Jay-Z and Beyoncé got married in a top-secret ceremony at his New York City apartment. The wedding was so hush-hush that even their closest friends didn’t know about it until after the fact. The song “Crazy in Love”, which features Beyoncé on the chorus, was released shortly after their wedding and became one of Jay-Z’s biggest hits.
Outkast winning Album of the Year at the Grammys
In 2003, Outkast won the coveted Album of the Year Grammy for their work on Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. This was a huge moment not just for the group, but for hip-hop as a whole. It was a sign that the genre was being taken seriously by the mainstream and that its musicians were being recognized for their artistry.
50 Cent and Ja Rule beefing
The best hip-hop moments of 2003 were defined by the beef between 50 Cent and Ja Rule. The two rappers had been feuding for years, but things came to a head in 2003 when 50 Cent released the diss track “Fuck Ja Rule.” The track caused Ja Rule to lose a lot of street cred, and he was never able to recover.
