#1

1. Jay-Z - Dirt Off Your Shoulder
Album: The Black Album
Year: 2003

This song is the one for me. Please remember that this isn't the authoritative list of the greatest songs, but rather my personal favorites. When you talk about a song having all of the perfect parts, this is the blueprint. First, it's got Jay-Z, the Greatest Of All Time, on what MAY be his best album, in his prime. They call Jigga the "King Of Flows," and this song shows why. It also has the best beat from probably the best producerIf you haven't seen "Fade To Black", the Jay-Z live DVD, I highly recommend it. It has footage of him recording The Black Album with all of the greatest producers, and the scene of him recording "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" is the best. He basically walks into Timbo's studio, rejects a bunch of the beats he has lined up...until he hears this one. He knew a classic when he heard it. And this one is certainly a classic.

Best Lines: Jay-Z

Your homey Hov' in position, in the kitchen with soda
I just whipped up a watch, tryin to get me a Rover
Tryin to stretch out the coca, like a wrestler, yessir
Keep the Heckler close, you know them smokers'll test ya
But like, fifty-two cards when I'm, I'm through dealin
Now fifty-two bars come it, now you feel 'em
Now, fifty-two cars roll out, remove ceiling
In case fifty-two broads come out, now you chillin
with a boss bitch of course S.C. on the sleeve
At the 40/40 club, ESPN on the screen
I paid a grip for the jeans, plus the slippers is clean
No chrome on the wheels, I'm a grown-up for real

Thanks to everyone for tuning into the list. I hope you enjoyed it. I'll throw up the Honorable Mention list next week.

#2

2. Outkast - Bombs Over Baghdad
Album: Stankonia
Year: 2000

This song held the top spot for me for a long, long time. I didn't think anything could ever topple this one...and Number One only beats this one by a hair. BOB is the perfect song because it appeals to everyone: fast, intricate raps for hip-hop heads, electric guitar for the rockers, and a bangin' beat for everyone that loves to hear a good ole' fashion rap tune. Outkast could be the greatest rap duo of all time, and the first single off of the fantastic Stankonia is their best song, in my humble opinion. I think I listened to this song like 76 times in a row when I first heard it. I wish that Andre would go back to rapping when thinking about this song. I feel bad even putting this at 2...it's really more of a 1A.

Best Lines: Andre 3000

In-slum-national, underground
Thunder pounds when I stomp the ground (Woo!)
Like a million elephants with silverback orangutans
You can't stop a train
Who want some? Don't come un-pre-pared
I'll be there, but when I leave there
Better be a household name
Weather man tellin' us it ain't gon' rain
So now we sittin' in a drop-top, soakin wet
In a silk suit, tryin' not to sweat
Hits somersaults without the net
But this'll be the year that we won't forget

#3

3. Juvenile ft. Mannie Fresh, Lil' Wayne - Back That Azz Up
Album: 400 Degreez
Year: 1998

Just the perfect Cash Money jam...and the one that started it all. Nobody really knew who Juvie was before this...sure, he had "Ha", but I don't think that people really took him seriously until this song. The thing that makes this song so great is its staying power. It came out 8 YEARS AGO...and if it came on in a club, it would STILL tear the roof off. You don't like this song for the insightful lyrics...you love it because it makes you want to shake yo ass, and thats fine with me.

Best Lines: Juvenile

Girl you workin with some ass yeah, you bad yeah
Make a n---a spend his cash yeah, his last yeah
Hoes frown when you pass yeah, they mad yeah
You gon' ride in the Jag yeah, with that head
You could smoke a fire bag yeah, of grass yeah
Got money I can flash yeah, and trash yeah

#4

4. Jay-Z - Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
Album: The Blueprint
Year: 2001

What a great song. One of Kanye's first HUGE singles before anyone knew who Kanye was, Jigga in his prime and an unbelievable sample. Who knew that the Jackson 5 could bump so hard? This is just one of those prefect summer jams...I remember blasting this song the summer right before Freshman Year of college. One of the best songs from the G.O.A.T.

Best Lines: Jay-Z

Can't leave rap alone the game needs me
Haters want me clapped and chromed it ain't easy
Cops wanna knock me, D.A. wanna box me in
But somehow, I beat them charges like Rocky
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
Not guilty, he who does not feel me
is not real to me, therefore he doesn't exist
So poof -- vamoose, son of a bitch!

#5

5. Dr. Dre ft. Eminem - Forgot About Dre
Album: 2001
Year: 1999

Truthfully, I thought that Eminem sucked before I heard this song. One listen of this changed all of that. Both Dre and Em kill this beat. I think this is probably Dre's best beat...which is certainly saying a lot. The part when Em comes in really is the high point of this song. But the beat is the best part of this song: simple string plucks, an electric guitar and futuristic drum patterns as well.

Best Lines: Eminem

I don't give a fuck if it's dark or not
I'm harder than me tryin to park a Dodge
when I'm drunk as fuck
Right next to a humungous truck in a two-car garage
Hoppin out wit two broken legs, tryin to walk it off
"Fuck you too bitch, call the cops!"
I'ma kill you and them loud ass motherfuckin barkin dogs