Episode 96 - In the Year 2000

Towa Tei - B.M.T. feat. Mos Def & Biz Markie
The Beatnuts - You're A Clown feat. Biz Markie
De La Soul - My Writes feat. Xzibit, Tash & J-Ro
Xzibit - Alkaholik feat. Erick Sermon, Tash & J-Ro
Tony Touch - Likwit Rhyming feat. Defari, Xzibit & Tash
Pharoahe Monch - The Next Shit feat. Busta Rhymes
Saukrates - Ultimate MC Rush feat. Heltah Skeltah
Reflection Eternal - Down For The Count feat. Rah Digga & Xzibit
DJ Quik - U Ain't Fresh feat. Erick Sermon & Kam
Mykill Miers - Wanna Be An Emcee? feat. Freddie Foxxx
Freddie Foxxx - Bumpy Knuckles Baby
M.O.P. - Follow Instructions
Ghostface Killah - Buck 50 feat. Method Man, Capadonna & Redman
Busta Rhymes - The Heist feat. Raekwon, Ghostface Killah & Roc Marciano
Blackalicious - A To G
Dilated Peoples - Shape of Things To Come feat. Aceyalone
Aceyalone - Five Feet
Cali Agents - How The West Was One
Rasco - Blood Brothaz feat. Planet Asia
Zion I - Critical feat. Planet Asia
Encore - Filthy feat. Evidence
Murs - All Day
Mountain Brothers - Thoroughbred
Bahamadia - Special Forces feat. Planet Asia, Rasco & CHOPS
Screwball - F.A.Y.B.A.N.
Missin' Linx - M.I.A.
Ghostface Killah - One
The Dwellas - Ill Collabo feat. Organized Konfusion

We're back and we're going back, way back. Back to the new millennium where hip-hop was thriving, the DIY backpack era started to fizzle, but the major labels swooped in and were plucking groups one by one. Collabos were in full effect and more noticeably than in years past, very cross-coast friendly. The independent game was coming off a stellar '99 with the release of Operation: Doomsday, but powerhouse labels like Interscope, Def Jam and MCA started to infiltrate and influence while changing landscape of hip-hop.

Outkast released Stankonia. Eminem dropped he Marshall Mathers LP and the Wu came with the underwhelming The W. Each week we were force-fed videos by Black Eye Peas, Wyclef Jean, Jay-Z and Mystikal. 2000 was a pivotal time in music. The Rawkus dominance was slowly winding down and many of our favorite rappers starting yearning more and more for that commercial success, indirectly alienating their fan bases. Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre controlled much of the market and Dre's 2001 album, which released in 1999, made everyone rethink their production. No longer were the days of lo-fi beats or low-budget anything. Production had to be sonically rich, with heavy bass lines, strings, powerful synths and sporting soulful vocals.

On episode 96, we play some of our favorites that came out in the new millennium with music from Ghostface Killah, Xzibit, Dilated Peoples, Zion I, Blackalicious, Screwball and M.O.P. to name a few. At the break, we reminisce about 2000, The Spitkicker Tour, burning CDs off Napster and Limewire, Sega Dreamcast and select or sleeper albums of the year