rap fans?

[Aquarius]

Help! I need a rap song that was popular in 2003. The thuggier the better--so long as most people would recognize it. This is research for a fic and I have good reasons for selecting this genre of music.

Thanks.

[honeybee]

2003 is a little late for me. Back in high school, I was all about the Beastie Boys, De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest.

But in 2003 50 Cent ruled the roost. So, you could use In da Club or 21 questions.

Sometimes it pays to be a teacher!

[Aquarius]

Funny thing, I like Fiddy! But I think his recognizable songs are too poppy for my purposes. I'm looking for something more likely to scare uptight suburbanites than end up on their iPods.

I may take a little artistic license and use "Game Over" by lil Flip, though it came a year too late. But it's got the hardcore beats and the swearing and the "scary ghetto stuff" I'm looking for. But if I can find anything a year or two earlier, I'd feel better about that for accuracy's sake.

[justTripn]

I love Eminem's "Lose Yourself," (2003) but it's a little on the wholesome side, being the theme song for "8 Mile."

[Silverbullet]

JT, if there is one world that i absolutely hate it is "Wholesome" I detest the word. Got shoved at me all through my youth. Good clean "Wholesome" fun with a good clean "wholesome" girl. Or just good clean Wholesome anything. Got to a point I wanted to throw up when I heard the word.

So a Song that is Wholesome would be too syrupy (s) and sickening sweet.

I know, the Music from my Era was like that but no one called it Wholesome.

[justTripn]

OK, more accurately "Lose Yourself" is less offensive than standard Eminem songs and (sorry) is quite . . . inspiring?

Lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it
You better never let it go
You got one chance.
Do not miss this chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime . . .

The music is like a heart pounding. It's about a rap battle, but it captures the feeling before a any big sports event or contest: soccer championship, Super Bowl. I love it.

[Aquarius]

I thought of Eminem, too, because he's a homeboy, but again, he's still got to much appeal in the 'burbs and on the pop and alternative stations. I'm looking for something that goes 'BOOM!!!" when played loud, offensive as hell, popular enough that high school and college kids would recognize it even if they didn't live in the inner city, but their parents would feel incredibly threatened by it.