In this attention-deficit ridden generation of Hip-Hop, the most important part of most albums is the introduction.
The greeting, the rising of the curtain or the knock on the door; everything about the beginning of an album has to say “hello, I’m here, and this is what you are in for.” Much like how a movie has to set the plot within the first couple of scenes, an album has to grab the listeners attention and let you not regret spending ten dollars (or wasting the hard drive space) on your project.
In this current decade, Hip-Hop artists are more aware than ever about what the opening track of an album must contain. In the 2000s, artists like T.I., Eminem, Young Jeezy, Jay-Z, Kanye West and more all mastered exactly how to open up the album as you were ripping open the packaging and reading the liner notes.
This week’s Wired 25 takes a look at the best introduction songs of the 2000s. Ranging from the intimidating, impactful, and subtle, we’ve got all the best from the year 2000 to now. Check out the list after the jump and check out the Spotify playlist down below including the 25 listed and a few extras we felt belonged, but just couldn’t fit.
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Photo: Jonathan Mannion
25. Waka Flocka Flame – “Bustin At Em” – Flockavelli
Waka Flocka Flame gave Hip-Hop it’s nuts back when he kicked the doors in with “Bustin’ At Em.” This take-no-prisoners introduction to the game was wild, violent, dread shaking fun over some vintage Lex Luger production.
24. Young Jeezy – “The Recession”- The Recession
While George W. Bush was in charge and the recession hit the United States hard, the hood took to the street prophet known as Young Jeezy for inspiration. If Jeezy said we were going to be alright, dammit, we were going to be alright.
23. Kanye West – “Good Morning” – Graduation
Kanye delivered on his third straight classic album with this minimally produced introduction to Graduation. Wake up Mr. West, Mr Fresh.
22. Drake – “Over My Dead Body” – Take Care
Drake blew his nose at a sophomore slump when he dropped Take Care, arguably the best work in his young career. On this record he said what everyone was afraid to admit on the album’s opening number, he killed the game.
21. Beanie Sigel – “Feel It In The Air” The B. Coming
Just cracks began to show in the Roc-A-Fella empire, Beanie Sigel let his feelings known on his final album under the label, The B. Coming. That intuition is something else.
20. The Clipse – “We Got It For Cheap” – Hell Hath No Fury
The Clipse’s dope boy classic, We Got It For Cheap, kicked off with some of the most intense, honest, and charismatic bars in the duos career. Move over, Alicia.
19. Eminem – “White America” – The Eminem Show
Although the actual intro included a curtain opening signifying the beginning of The Eminem Show, Marshall got his Public Enemy and got political all while pointing the finger at the very audience that lifted his popularity and tried to bring him down. He could be one of your kids.
18. T.I. – “King Back” KING
The album that stamped T.I. as the undisputed King of the South started with a bold proclamation. How fitting.
17. Nas – “Get Down” – God’s Son
Nas pays homage to James Brown on one the intro of one of his finer works, God’ Son.
16. Kendrick Lamar – “F**k Your Ethnicity” Section .80
Although most of the world got familiar with Kendrick Lamar on good kid, m.A.A.d. city, most fans knew Kendrick had truly arrived with his independent release Section .80.
15. Lloyd Banks ft. Tony Yayo – “Aint No Click” – The Hunger For More
Back when G-Unit ruled the world and 50 Cent was king, Lloyd Banks was the next in line. He enjoyed a great run as a solo artist following the release of Beg For Mercy and as the money machine finished counting up, Banks let loose a metaphor-heavy style that was bitten by plenty of rappers.
14. Nas – “No Introduction” Life Is Good
Arguably Nas’ best album since Illmatic, the King of Queens got reflective and flexed his once-in-a-lifetime lyrical ability over some theatrical J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League production.
13. Common – “Be (Intro)” – Be
With Kanye West manning the boards, he led one of his Chicago heroes back to prominence with his comeback album, Be. This song was also used in a memorable Jordan commercial featuring Carmelo Anthony and Terrell Owens.
12. Andre 3000 – “The Love Below” Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
The freakishly talented Andre 3000 decided not to rap at all on his intro for The Love Below, and decided to sing over some beautiful instrumentation.
11. Kanye West ft. Nicki Minaj and Teyana Taylor – “Dark Fantasy”- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Can we get much higher? Kanye West came back after Taylor-Gate and shut all critics up with this masterpiece.
10. Jay-Z & Kanye West ft. Frank Ocean & The-Dream – “No Church In The Wild” – Watch The Throne
It was just different. Frank Ocean’s soulful voice started the duo album we always wanted but never thought we would actually get until we got it.
9. Ludacris – “Southern Fried Intro” – Chicken & Beer
Ludacris proved he was more than just a gimmick and showed that the former DJ was one of the fiercest spitters in his city with the introduction to Chicken And Beer.
8. Rick Ross – “I’m Not A Star” – Teflon Don
Rick Ross’ menacing Lex Luger-produced intro to Teflon Don got the blood flowing and created a catch phrase for humble braggers everywhere. I’m not a star? Somebody lied.
7. Lil Wayne – “Tha Mobb” – The Carter 2
Lil Wayne’s reign of terror as the top rapper in the game (you can’t deny it) started with this intro to his best work to date, The Carter II.
6. Jay-Z – “The Ruler’s Back” – The Blueprint
They call it The Blueprint for a reason. Jay-Z showed everyone how to do this with a perfect introduction to a damn near perfect album.
5. – G-Unit – “G-Unit” – Beg For Mercy
America’s nightmare were at it again as G-Unit’s boastful introduction to their group album served as one of the most memorable kick-in-the-door moments of the decade.
4. Nas – “Stillmatic Intro” – Stillmatic
“People thought i’d make another Illmatic, but it’s always forward I’m moving. Never backwards stupid, here’s another classic.” Enough said.
3. Young Jeezy – “Thug Motivation 101” – Thug Motivation 101
You want to make an impact on your debut album? Top a rags to riches opening line like “I used to hit the kitchen lights, cockroaches everywhere. Hit the kitchen lights, now there’s marble floors everywhere.”
2. Jay-Z – “Intro” – The Dynasty
This song sounds like the opening score of a movie, talk less of an album. Jigga introduced his team that changed Hip-Hop in the 2000s and arguably began Jay-Z’s run as the undisputed king of Hip-Hop. No father figure, but we pardoned you, Jigga.
1. 50 Cent – “Intro/What Up Gangsta” – Get Rich Or Die Tryin
Technically, the intro to this album began with two coins falling to the floor and a gun loading, but this song doesn’t sound quite complete without that five second intro. What up cuz? Everybody knows exactly where they were when they first heard this song and album. This was a moment.
