1996 - Ego Trip’s Top 40 Rap Singles
A snapshot of 1996’s best loved single releases, borrowing the top 40 list from the rap nerd’s bible that is Ego Trip‘s Book of Rap Lists:
1. Outkast: “Elevators (Me & You)” (LaFace)
2. Jay-Z: “Dead Presidents”/“Ain’t No Nigga” (Roc-a-Fella)
3. Fugees: “Killing Me Softly” (Ruffhouse)
4. Jay-Z featuring Mary J. Blige: “Can’t Knock the Hustle” (Roc-a-Fella)
5. Busta Rhymes: “Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check” (Elektra)
6. Goodie Mob: “Cell Therapy” (LaFace)
7. Westside Connection: “Bow Down” (Priority)
8. Junior M.A.F.I.A. featuring the Notorious B.I.G.: “Get Money (Remix)” (Big Beat)
9. Lil’ Kim: “No Time”/“Queen Bitch” (Undeas)
10. Mobb Deep: “Drop a Gem on ‘Em” (Loud)
11. Too $hort featuring Erick Sermon: “Buy You Some” (Jive)
12. Ghostface Killah featuring Raekwon, Cappadonna & the Force MDs: “Daytona 500” (Razor Sharp)
13. Fugees: “Ready or Not” (Ruffhouse)
14. Jeru the Damaja: “Ya Playin’ Yaself” (Payday)
15. Mobb Deep: “Hell on Earth (Front Lines)” (Loud)
16. De La Soul: “Stakes is High”/“The Bizness” (Tommy Boy)
17. Crucial Conflict: “Hay” (Pallas)
18. GZA: “Shadowboxin’”/“4th Chamber” (Geffen)
19. Fugees: “Fu-Gee-La”/“How Many Mics” (Ruffhouse)
20. The East Flatbush Project featuring DeS: “Tried by 12” (10/30 Uproar)
21. Akinyele featuring Kia Jefferies: “Put It in Your Mouth” (Stress)
22. 2Pac featuring Dr. Dre: “California Love” (Death Row)
23. Xzibit: “Paparazzi” (Loud)
24. The Fab 5: “Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka” (Duck Down)
25. Bone Thugs-n-Harmony: “Tha Crossroads” (Relativity)
26. Do or Die featuring Johnny P & Twista: “Po Pimp” (Rap-a-Lot)
27. Redman: “Funkorama” (Interscope)
28. Capone-n-Noriega featuring Mobb Deep & Tragedy: “L.A., L.A.” (25 to Life)
29. Company Flow: “8 Steps to Perfection”/“Vital Nerve” (Official)
30. Chuck D: “No” (Mercury)
31. M.O.P.: “Brownsville”/“Stick to Ya Gunz” (Relativity)
32. Ghostface Killah featuring Raekwon: “Motherless Child” (Razor Sharp)
33. Master P featuring Mia X: “Bout It, Bout It II” (No Limit)
34. InI: “Fakin’ Jax” (Soul Brother)
35. Royal Flush: “Worldwide” (Blunt)
36. Saukrates: “Father Time” (Day)
37. Mr. Voodoo: “Lyrical Tactics”/“Shine” (Fortress)
38. Big Noyd featuring Prodigy of Mobb Deep: “Recognize & Realize (Pt.1)” (Tommy Boy)
39. Foxy Brown featuring Blackstreet: “Get Me Home” (Def Jam)
40. Big Shug: “Crush”/ “Official” (Payday)