Side 4 of 11
2003
Your uncle was a freshman
8 tracks
- 01
Suga Suga
Baby Bash · feat. Frankie J
latin rapsummerFind similar tracks →On the charts
Peaked at #7 on the Hot 100; a surprise crossover smash.
Why it mattered
The smoothest summer song of 2003. Baby Bash and Frankie J made something so laid-back and infectious it crossed every demographic. Windows down, volume up, no exceptions.
- 02
Let's Get Retarded
Black Eyed Peas
pop-rapparty starterFind similar tracks →On the charts
Later re-released as 'Let's Get It Started' and peaked at #21 on the Hot 100.
Why it mattered
Before the rebrand, this was the version everyone played at parties. The Black Eyed Peas were transitioning from backpack rap to pop dominance, and this was the turning point.
- 03
Can't Let You Go
Fabolous · feat. Mike Shorey, Lil' Mo
east coastslow jamFind similar tracks →On the charts
Peaked at #7 on the Hot 100; Fab's biggest hit at the time.
Why it mattered
Fabolous over a silky beat with Lil' Mo on the hook — this was the slow jam that played when the lights went low. Every mixer, every house party, someone requested this.
- 04
Dirt Off Your Shoulder
Jay-Z
hip-hopswaggerFind similar tracks →On the charts
Peaked at #5 on the Hot 100 from The Black Album.
Why it mattered
Timbaland's beat was alien. Jay-Z's swagger was untouchable. The shoulder brush became a whole cultural gesture — Obama even did it. This was confidence as a song.
- 05
Through the Wire
Kanye West
hip-hopsoul sampledebutFind similar tracks →On the charts
Peaked at #15 on the Hot 100; Kanye's debut single, recorded with his jaw wired shut.
Why it mattered
Kanye rapped through a wired-shut jaw over a Chaka Khan sample and introduced the world to a producer who demanded to be in front of the mic. This was the beginning of everything.
- 06
Magic Stick
Lil' Kim · feat. 50 Cent
hip-hopclubFind similar tracks →On the charts
Peaked at #2 on the Hot 100; kept off #1 by 50 Cent's own 'In Da Club.'
Why it mattered
Kim and 50 trading bars over a Scott Storch beat. Provocative, funny, and undeniably catchy — this was the song everyone pretended they didn't know all the words to.
- 07
Freek-a-Leek
Petey Pablo
crunksouthern rapFind similar tracks →On the charts
Peaked at #7 on the Hot 100; Petey Pablo's follow-up smash.
Why it mattered
North Carolina crunk energy. Petey Pablo kept the party going with another high-energy anthem that DJs couldn't keep out of their sets. The roll call hook was genius.
- 08
Rubber Band Man
T.I.
trapAtlantaFind similar tracks →On the charts
Peaked at #30 on the Hot 100; T.I.'s first major crossover hit.
Why it mattered
Atlanta trap before anyone called it trap. T.I. announced himself as the King of the South over a Neptune-esque beat. The rubber band on the wrist became the accessory of the year.
