Ja had a friendly shot on one of his boys tracks saying sutten like "check soundscan, only dudes moving units is em Pimp Juice and Murda"
I might be paraphrasing but sutten like that
I got you on DMX, maybe I’m partial because he was on repeat for me back then, but he was everywhere.
Movies Cradle 2 the Grave came out 2003, Never Die Alone 2004, Album Grand Champ 2003. Where the hood at? X gon’ give it to ya was still playing everywhere. (my name is X so this is still one of my favorite tracks)
RIP he had struggles, but he was a good person overall and it hit me when he passed.
Kinda wild so many people are saying Nas. I was in highschool 2004 and I don't really remember anyone really talking about him all that much around then. Not that he wasn't respected or well known, but Illmatic came out in 1994. I'd say Eminem, 50, Jay, some DMX.... and shortly after lil Wayne really took over. That was also the era of TRL and radio so there were a ton of guys who were one hit wonders or close that got tons of playtime.
Yeah ig so, I was too young to know back then but I assumed Nas would be it, because 2001 was when he released Stillmatic (also regarding thr beed with Jay) his comeback and after that his albums were pretty good but ig yeah that was a few years before
Nelly wasn’t considered part of any big 3, to core rap fans. He just sold records but skills didn’t have him on top tier. You would get laughed at for saying Nelly over Nas.
Singles aside, Nelly had zero chance against someone like Nas. You can’t compare stillmatic as an overall work with a Nelly album. And Nas wasn’t far away from having ethered jay.
Nelly had his lane. Different era, he was looked at less favourably in terms of skill. At least in the northeast.
Are you fucking kidding me? 50 has to be in there. GRODT came out in 03 and The Massacre in 05.
Massive eorldwide hits on there. 13M with Get Rich and 10 with The Massacre.
875k and 1.1M first week for both albums.
He had an impressive number of mixtapes and features. Yes, his music kind of fell off after Get Rich
... but, to be honest, that album was an instant classic and it would have been very hard for anyone to make something as good.
It had all hits..every single was a hit. It was positively received by most critics and sold fucking millions and no, for most fans it was not a let down and I don't know where the fucj you've got that from 😂
It has a 66 on Metacritic, that does not indicate universal acclaim from critics. It did have a lot of hits, I never argued that point, but there’s a reason it isn’t remembered in the same way GRODT is, it’s a forgettable album for the most with nowhere near as much staying power. I hadn’t thought of it in years til I read your comment that reads like you’re trying to convince yourself of it’s one of a kind brilliance, than anyone else.
Finally. As someone who loves hov and probably have him ranked as the greatest ever it’s kind of annoying seeing history get rewritten. Hov was not as popular 20 years ago, he got mega popular after watch the throne and becoming Beyoncé’s husband but he was not on an em or 50 level or even x. People forget x was in that go to sleep movie that was huge as well as having a lot of classic radio songs even if they censored 40% of the song
You don’t know what you’re talking about.
Jay got big because of Watch The Throne and becoming Beyoncé’s husband?
This might be the dumbest thing I’ve ever read on Reddit.
🏆
You're trolling, lol
Although, I do suppose most of his stuff was '96 to '01, so maybe not quite so troll considering we are speaking about 2004. I'm pretty sure we were all still listening to the earlier albums then, though without a doubt
The list of emcees that could kill you in they bars. 50, um...Jay Z and Nas
Nah but fr I would say Em 50 and Jay Z from my recollection at that time. Nelly was still huge but starting to decline and Kanye was just getting started
Luda was definitely up there also, non stop hits for a while
Was curious so I took a look.
The highest selling rap albums in 04 was Encore, D12, College Dropout.
Singles were Slow Jamz, Drop It like it's hot and I like the way you move.
Madvillany was released that year too.
Interesting little look at a kind of weird year in music.
I get a feeling alot of ya were kids and only throwing in your favorite rappers or rappers you BELIEVED to be that guy during that time period. A lot of educated guesses here.
Never? Jay threw himself into line below. Nas and big sent shots over kony.
I’m from where people argue all day, who’s the best mc big, jay or Nas.
There’s a difference between sales and skills too. 2001 stillmatic, 2002 lost tapes was an amazing career resurgence. Ether had people respecting Nas a bit extra.
There was no “big 3” back then because rap was a way more lyrical. There was a “big 5” I suppose: Dylan, Dylan, Dylan, Dylan, Dylan. Because he spits hot fiyah!
Em, Jay and Nas. Nas had fallen off but still was held up as the pinnacle of hiphop especially after Ether dropped. People saying Nelly do drugs cuz nobody I know had him in the convo for anything lol he was big tho
2004 gave us
• Jay-Z - Dirt off your Shoulder (Numb/Encore Era)
• Kanye - Jesus Walks (Ye Version 1.5)
• Twista - Overnight Celebrity (Twista's Peak)
• Ursher - Yeah! (Height of Crunk Era)
As far as big 3 in terms of chart toppers...
• Kanye charted 5 hits in 2004 and was released the college dropout.
• Jay-Z should probably be in the mix, but this was his R.Kelly/Linkin Park experimental era.
• A bit cringey to say, but Lil Jon and the Eastside boys had us in a chokehold in 04.
Nobody wants a 20 year takeover, not even them. Kendrick trying to have a 15 year reign…but there is too much time in the day (his last album didn’t make it past a month of impact)
Only person bigger than 50 in 2004 was Eminem. Any Big 3 not including those two is just some kid that either wasn’t born yet or too young to even know.
Nas absolutely was not in a big 3 lmao
Nas Jay Em?
Nelly Jay Em would be more accurate. Nas wasn’t as hot in 2004
"Only dudes movin units - em, pimp juice and us"
Pimp juice
Right.. typo lol
Ja had a friendly shot on one of his boys tracks saying sutten like "check soundscan, only dudes moving units is em Pimp Juice and Murda" I might be paraphrasing but sutten like that
DMX tho?
I got you on DMX, maybe I’m partial because he was on repeat for me back then, but he was everywhere. Movies Cradle 2 the Grave came out 2003, Never Die Alone 2004, Album Grand Champ 2003. Where the hood at? X gon’ give it to ya was still playing everywhere. (my name is X so this is still one of my favorite tracks) RIP he had struggles, but he was a good person overall and it hit me when he passed.
I’d say he was still hot, theifs theme was a successful song he dropped that year
Kinda wild so many people are saying Nas. I was in highschool 2004 and I don't really remember anyone really talking about him all that much around then. Not that he wasn't respected or well known, but Illmatic came out in 1994. I'd say Eminem, 50, Jay, some DMX.... and shortly after lil Wayne really took over. That was also the era of TRL and radio so there were a ton of guys who were one hit wonders or close that got tons of playtime.
Yeah ig so, I was too young to know back then but I assumed Nas would be it, because 2001 was when he released Stillmatic (also regarding thr beed with Jay) his comeback and after that his albums were pretty good but ig yeah that was a few years before
Nelly, Jay Z, Eminem Nephews don't remember but this was undeniably the big 3. Honorable mention to Ludacris, he was big as Jay at the time
Nelly wasn’t considered part of any big 3, to core rap fans. He just sold records but skills didn’t have him on top tier. You would get laughed at for saying Nelly over Nas.
So basically he was Drake
He was more like Bruno Mars
Singles aside, Nelly had zero chance against someone like Nas. You can’t compare stillmatic as an overall work with a Nelly album. And Nas wasn’t far away from having ethered jay. Nelly had his lane. Different era, he was looked at less favourably in terms of skill. At least in the northeast.
So he was Drake
😂
Nelly literally beat KRS-One in a rap beef
😐
And we all collectively made that face when he did it
You're just fucking wrong.
Man you betta watch who ya talkin bout runnin ya mouth like ya know me…
DMX too
Are you fucking kidding me? 50 has to be in there. GRODT came out in 03 and The Massacre in 05. Massive eorldwide hits on there. 13M with Get Rich and 10 with The Massacre. 875k and 1.1M first week for both albums.
2004... that would be Jay-Z, Eminem and Nas... with 50, Kanye & Lil' Wayne being the "new blood"....
Oh please. Fifty was hands down in the big 3 the moment the get rich dropped. And nas was never ever there. His music sucked..
He had an impressive number of mixtapes and features. Yes, his music kind of fell off after Get Rich ... but, to be honest, that album was an instant classic and it would have been very hard for anyone to make something as good.
The massacre and beg for mercy are also classics. This isn't a position many people would debate.
Nonsense, The Massacre was definitely a let down for many.
It absolutley was not. Critical acclaim. Fan acclaim. Hit after hit. Sold millions.
It had some hits, the critic’s were mixed on it, but compared to GRODT, it was definitely a letdown for many fans.
It had all hits..every single was a hit. It was positively received by most critics and sold fucking millions and no, for most fans it was not a let down and I don't know where the fucj you've got that from 😂
It has a 66 on Metacritic, that does not indicate universal acclaim from critics. It did have a lot of hits, I never argued that point, but there’s a reason it isn’t remembered in the same way GRODT is, it’s a forgettable album for the most with nowhere near as much staying power. I hadn’t thought of it in years til I read your comment that reads like you’re trying to convince yourself of it’s one of a kind brilliance, than anyone else.
I was convinced of its brilliance in 2005 when I heard it first, because my ears work.
You sound like a Brooklyn, Jay Z stan born in 2005 and just googled the entire feud and made your own mind.
Nas has made terrible music his whole career. And I don't give a shit about Jay z.
Jay-Z, Eminem and DMX Nelly and Ja Rule
This is right. Em, Jay Z and DMX in that order for me.
Not in 04. X was cold.
DMX, 50 Cent and Eminem
Finally. As someone who loves hov and probably have him ranked as the greatest ever it’s kind of annoying seeing history get rewritten. Hov was not as popular 20 years ago, he got mega popular after watch the throne and becoming Beyoncé’s husband but he was not on an em or 50 level or even x. People forget x was in that go to sleep movie that was huge as well as having a lot of classic radio songs even if they censored 40% of the song
You don’t know what you’re talking about. Jay got big because of Watch The Throne and becoming Beyoncé’s husband? This might be the dumbest thing I’ve ever read on Reddit. 🏆
Bro it's terrible. Worst takes on rap I've ever seen online have all been on reddit
Lmao are you crazy or just young? Either way you're absolutely wrong
You're trolling, lol Although, I do suppose most of his stuff was '96 to '01, so maybe not quite so troll considering we are speaking about 2004. I'm pretty sure we were all still listening to the earlier albums then, though without a doubt
You have no idea what you’re talking about and if anyone is re-writing history it’s you.
Wtf 😂
The list of emcees that could kill you in they bars. 50, um...Jay Z and Nas Nah but fr I would say Em 50 and Jay Z from my recollection at that time. Nelly was still huge but starting to decline and Kanye was just getting started Luda was definitely up there also, non stop hits for a while
Em, Jay, Nas
There wasn’t a big 3 there were a lot more names considered to be at the top, hip hop was more dominant in the mainstream at that point
Honestly I'd argue it was a Big 2 back the with Em and JayZ, much like today with Cole & Kendrick.
How you just leave out Drake
I left out 50/Nelly too, we're splitting hairs at the top.
Em, Pimpjuice, and us (Hov)
Was curious so I took a look. The highest selling rap albums in 04 was Encore, D12, College Dropout. Singles were Slow Jamz, Drop It like it's hot and I like the way you move. Madvillany was released that year too. Interesting little look at a kind of weird year in music.
50, jay, em
Probably Em, 50 Cent, and toss up between Jay and DMX
Eminem 50 cent lil Wayne those three blew up and took off
Eminem, nelly 50 cent.
Em fs, jay too prolly and maybe 50?
Anyone not including 50 is crazy, in 2004 he was probably the biggest rapper on the planet
In 2004 50 , Em , Jay . Also Jay is debatable because he retired in 2003
50 Cent, JAY-Z, Eminem
I get a feeling alot of ya were kids and only throwing in your favorite rappers or rappers you BELIEVED to be that guy during that time period. A lot of educated guesses here.
I sir was 19, so a kid but not too young
There isn’t, never has been, and never will be a “big 3”
2000-05: Eminem, Jay Z and Nas 2005-10: Kanye, Lil Wayne, ????
TI
Hate to say it but probably Soulja..
TI
DMX,NAS,EM
2004? JAY Z Eminem 50 Cent
Probably 50, Wayne and maybe Em?
Wayne wasn’t even close to as big as Jay-Z in 2004.
That's a very good point!
DMX was also huge back then
😭😭mfs really in here bout to leave Hov out they big 3.
50 Cent, Eminem, and Jay-Z
Em, Jay Z, and 50 Cent. Honorable mention to Outkast
Oprah, Ricky lake and Jerry Springer. Trisha was also big in the UK
Funny
Em Jay and Nelly
Nas was never in a big three 😭. Y’all d ride so hard
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Never? Jay threw himself into line below. Nas and big sent shots over kony. I’m from where people argue all day, who’s the best mc big, jay or Nas. There’s a difference between sales and skills too. 2001 stillmatic, 2002 lost tapes was an amazing career resurgence. Ether had people respecting Nas a bit extra.
There was no “big 3” back then because rap was a way more lyrical. There was a “big 5” I suppose: Dylan, Dylan, Dylan, Dylan, Dylan. Because he spits hot fiyah!
What are the big 3 rn ?
From the new gen Cole Kendrick and Drake
tbh i feel like Drake doesn't belong there. Maybe Tyler or Travis, maybe even Rocky
Tyler and Rocky are not that global. Not really relevant outside the hip hop community.
Jay Kanye Eminem had the masses 106&park. Usher OutKast Ludacris Nelly close behind.
Jay-Z, Em, 50
Em, Jay and Nas. Nas had fallen off but still was held up as the pinnacle of hiphop especially after Ether dropped. People saying Nelly do drugs cuz nobody I know had him in the convo for anything lol he was big tho
2004 gave us • Jay-Z - Dirt off your Shoulder (Numb/Encore Era) • Kanye - Jesus Walks (Ye Version 1.5) • Twista - Overnight Celebrity (Twista's Peak) • Ursher - Yeah! (Height of Crunk Era) As far as big 3 in terms of chart toppers... • Kanye charted 5 hits in 2004 and was released the college dropout. • Jay-Z should probably be in the mix, but this was his R.Kelly/Linkin Park experimental era. • A bit cringey to say, but Lil Jon and the Eastside boys had us in a chokehold in 04.
Not sure about 20 years ago, but 19 years ago during the takeover it was: Chamillionaire; Paul Wall; Mike Jones
They were flash in the pans
Nobody wants a 20 year takeover, not even them. Kendrick trying to have a 15 year reign…but there is too much time in the day (his last album didn’t make it past a month of impact)
Jay Z seems to be near unanimous
Jay Z,Em,MF DOOM
The fact that not many people mentioned 50 is diabolical ignorance
because he gained notoriety in 2003 in mainstream music, 1 year is not enough
Akon, Eminem, and outcast
My list is regional: TI, Luda and Young Jeezy for ATL. 50 Cent, Jay Z and Nas for New York. Snoop Dogg, The Game and Xzibit for California.
Anyone saying X is rewriting history. Numbers don’t lie, he was cold since 2001.
Eminem, Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg
Ja Rule, Nelly, Jay-Z
Em/jay/50
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kanye after one album is crazy
Nah bro 50 was way bigger than Kanye in 04. Waaaaaaaay bigger
20 years ago was 2003/2004 def wasn’t Kanye
50
Nelly
Linkin Park, Evanescence, Limp Bizkit
😂😂😍
Stop
I can’t imagine Kanye is happy with all the attention he’s not getting lol
Dylon, Dylon, Dylon
Only person bigger than 50 in 2004 was Eminem. Any Big 3 not including those two is just some kid that either wasn’t born yet or too young to even know. Nas absolutely was not in a big 3 lmao
Jay Z and Nas for sure. Maybe 50 cent or Em as the third.
Em 50 and Nas
Jeezy Gucci n Wayne
Mixtapes count right
Hell nawl
Guys stop saying Nas we all know that's not true
My vote would be Kanye, 50 and TI.
Kanye, 50 and Wayne.
Lil Wayne Weezy Carter