Billboard: Hot Rap Singles (May 10, 1997)

Ok, so as promised, I'm continuing the Top Rap Singles from Billboard/Soundscan going back exactly 20 years to the date. What you'll quickly realize is that not a whole helluva lot changes from week to week. Biggie's 'Hypnotize' spends its 3rd consecutive week at #1, and everything else remains about the same too. I may have to consider doing these monthly, or else if you think it's dope for archiving purposes, I'll just keep doing them weekly. Still, it's dope to see Redman, Capone-N-Noreaga, Frankie Cutlass, Shamus, 2Pac, Jeru, Cru, Camp Lo, Akinyele, Lost Boyz, Outkast, Jay-Z, The Roots, KRS, Killarmy and more get so much support. There was a time when artists you'd now consider 'underground' received love on the charts, and were able to get mainstream recognition (and $$$). Even on the Hot R&B Singles, Biggie is #1 there, too. Nas and Allure charted with 'Head Over Heels,' and Tracey Lee's 'The Theme,' KRS's 'Step Into A World' and others successfully crossed over making both lists. Click HERE for last week's list, which included a playlist of the same tracks.

Billboard: Hot Rap Singles (May 3, 1997)

I've been meaning to start doing this sooner, but let's introduce it today; the 'Hot Rap Singles' from 20 Years Ago (May 3, 1997). Each week I'll try to pull up these charted/hottest singles from 20 years ago to see trends and what nostalgia some of the songs generate. Charts are from Billboard but collected, compiled and provided by Soundscan. On the week of May 3, 1997, Biggie was at #1 with his lead single 'Hypnotize' off 'Life After Death.' Jay-Z was the chart's "Greatest Gainer" moving from #41 the prior week to #15 with the 4th and final single 'Feelin It' from his debut album, 'Reasonable Doubt.' 2Pac's 'How Do You Want It' was approaching a year on the charts, and Camp Lo was looking at 6 months with their smash, 'Luchini.' The list also had hits from Tracey Lee, KRS-One, Foxy Brown, Puffy & Mase + joints from Outkast, Capone-N-Noreaga, Redman, Jeru The Damaja, Lost Boyz, The Roots, Lil' Kim and more. One of the list's biggest surprises was the underground joint 'Tight Team' from Shamus; if you're not familiar, give his slept-on LP, 'Serving Life,' a listen. The full list is above, but I pulled selections from Spotify - based on taste/what was available - and made a Playlist below. Jay-Z removed 'Reasonable Doubt' from streaming services (except Tidal) so I couldn't include 'Feelin It.' I'll work on presenting the material better in future weeks.

VIBE's Best Rapper Alive Chart (2008)

The year was 2008 and Vibe released this chart to narrow down who the "Best Rapper Alive" was at the time. Now, I hate lists and this is no exception, but why not have a little fun with it, right? There were some tough choices as I filled out my chart. Lupe Fiasco vs. Q-Tip was difficult but ultimately I decided that Lupe is a better technical-rapper than Q-Tip and I feel like Q-Tip would agree. 50 Cent vs. Fat Joe, another one I think people will go against me on, but Fat Joe has been consistently releasing quality music since the early 90s and I enjoy his early catalog over 50's. Big Boi vs. Killer Mike, ouch - I could go either way here and ultimately neither are beating out Nas or Black Thought, so it's a lose/lose to debate it too heavily. Ghostface vs Raekwon comes down to preference, I'm not mad at either. T.I. vs Ludacris, I've just never been T.I.'s biggest fan so it is what it is. Ultimately, the hardest choices are knocking off Scarface and Black Thought - to any eMCee. I had no problems letting Hov take the L to Nas (again), fight me in the comments about it lol. Oh and this is not to be confused with the 2009 chart Vibe released that ultimately lead to beef between Joe Budden and the Wu-Tang Clan, culminating in Joe getting punched in the eye on his JoeBuddenTV. That was, however, a classic moment and not be forgotten! Switch out the artists who were "hot" at the time, for artists who are "hot" now and you have mostly the same list of legends vs. newcomers. Who do you think is missing that would make it into the later rounds, or ultimately win the Best Rapper Alive? Copied below is a blank chart, feel free to fill it out yourself, too.