1997 - Ego Trip’s Top 40 Rap Singles
A snapshot of 1997’s single releases, borrowing the top 40 list from the rap nerd’s bible that is Ego Trip‘s Book of Rap Lists. At this point it’s probably worth pointing out that the content of these release lists starts to deviate fairly dramatically from the personal tastes of the Classic Material curators (as is evidenced by the fact that very few of the records listed here appear on our 1997 mixtape). The same is largely true of the lists for 1996. Nonetheless it’s interesting to see the divergence of taste and opinion as the decade draws to a close so in the interests of completeness we’ll continue to post these.
1. Puff Daddy featuring the Lox, Lil’ Kim & the Notorious B.I.G.: “It’s All About the Benjamins (Remix)” (Bad Boy)
2. The Notorious B.I.G. featuring Puff Daddy & Mase: “Mo’ Money Mo’Problems” (Bad Boy)
3. The Notorious B.I.G.: “Hypnotize” (Bad Boy)
4. Busta Rhymes: “Put Your Hand Where My Eyes Can See” (Elektra)
5. The Beatnuts featuring Big Punisher & Cuban Link: “Off the Books” (Relativity)
6. Jay-Z: “Who You Wit” (Qwest)
7. Puff Daddy featuring The Notorious B.I.G. & Mase: “Been Around the World” (Bad Boy)
8. Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz: “Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)” (Codeine)
9. The Lox featuring Lil’ Kim & DMX: “Money, Power & Respect” (Bad Boy)
10. Mase featuring Kelly Price: “Feel So Good” (Bad Boy)
11. Wu-Tang Clan: “Triumph” (Loud)
12. L.L. Cool J featuring Method Man, Redman, Canibus & DMX: “4. 3. 2. 1” (Def Jam)
13. Young Bleed featuring Master P & C-Loc: “How Ya Do Dat” (No Limit)
14. Capone-n-Noriega featuring Tragedy: “T.O.N.Y. (Top of New York)” (Penalty)
15. Gang Starr: “You Know My Steez” (Noo Trybe)
16. Makaveli featuring the Outlawz: “Hail Mary” (Death Row)
17. Lil’ Kim featuring Lil’ Cease: “Crush on You (Remix)” (Big Beat)
18. Missy Elliott: “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” (EastWest)
19. Nas, Foxy Brown, AZ & Nature: “Phone Tap” (Aftermath)
20. Wyclef Jean featuring Lauryn Hill: “Guantanamera” (Ruffhouse)
21. Redman featuring Erick Sermon: “Whateva Man” (Def Jam)
22. Tha Alkaholiks featuring Ol’ Dirty Bastard: “Hip Hop Drunkies” (Loud)
23. Mos Def: “Universal Magnetic” (Rawkus)
24. DJ Pooh featuring Kam: “Whoop! Whoop!” (Big Beat)
25. Rakim: “It’s Been a Long Time” (Universal)
26. Ras Kass: “Soul on Ice (Remix)” (Priority)
27. Scarface featuring 2Pac & Johnny P: “Smile” (Rap-a-Lot)
28. Street Smartz featuring O.C. & Pharaohe Monche: “Metal Thangz” (Tru Criminal)
29. Reflection Eternal featuring Mos Def & Mr. Man: “Fortified Live” (Rawkus)
30. EPMD: “Da Joint” (Def Jam)
31. Rampage featuring Busta Rhymes: “Wild for da Night” (Elektra)
32. Mobb Deep featuring Big Noyd & Rakim: “Hoodlum” (Loud)
33. KRS-One: “Step into a World (Rapture’s Delight)” (Jive)
34. Freak Nasty: “Da Dip” (HardHood)
35. D.I.T.C.: “Day One” (D.I.T.C.)
36. Krumb Shatcha: “Gettin’ Closer to God” (Mass in Action)
37. Big Mike: “Burban & Impalas” (Rap-a-Lot)
38. Mos Def, Tash & Q-Tip: “The Body Rock” (Rawkus)
39. Tela: “Tired of Ballin’” (Suave House)
40. Mr. Complex: “Visualize” (Raw Shack)