Not just at Decades, but at all of the clubs in the Panorama/DC Clubbing family, there’s a true love for legendary New York-based rappers as well as their most iconic hits. We’ve also noted that for as many things may feel different as of late, one of the more exciting vibes may be the idea that the idea that we may see a resurrection of the “jiggy era,” aka the time when the street-meets-club-meets-pop vibe of rap stars including the Notorious B.I.G., 50 Cent, Puff Daddy/P. Diddy, Ja Rule, and more. Therefore, we’ve gone through Billboard charts and numerous critical reads and countdowns about this amazing era in rap and compiled the best of the best.

NUMBERS 25 TO 16

25. Jay Z – Dirt Off Your Shoulder (2004) (PURCHASE)
24. LL Cool J – Loungin’ (1996) (PURCHASE)
23. Puff Daddy – Been Around The World (1997) (PURCHASE)
22. Lil Kim – No Time (1997) (PURCHASE)
21. Jay Z – I Just Wanna Love You (Give It To Me) (2001) (PURCHASE)
20. Puff Daddy – Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down (1997) (PURCHASE)
19. Busta Rhymes – Woo Hah (Got You All In Check) (1998) (PURCHASE)
18. Terror Squad – Lean Back (2002) (PURCHASE)
17. Jennifer Lopez feat. Ja Rule – Ain’t It Funny (2001) (PURCHASE)
16. Ja Rule feat. Ashanti – Always On Time (2001) (PURCHASE)

TOP 15

15. 50 Cent feat. Nate Dogg – 21 Questions (2003) (PURCHASE)

50 Cent followed up his immediate pop smash success with another song we’ll re-discover later on in this countdown with a duet featuring left-coast legend Nate Dogg. A peerless rap-love ballad that still holds a near and dear spot in the hearts of all who never forget it, it continues to set a standard of excellence.

14. Nelly feat. P. Diddy and Murphy Lee – Shake Ya Tailfeather (2003) (PURCHASE)

The soundtrack for 2003-released film Bad Boys II created the perfect moment for St. Louis’ Nelly to get the swaggerific East Coast co-sign from none other than P. Diddy himself. The result was a hip-shaking hit that still packs dancefloors to the present day.

13. Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana – Run It! (2005) (PURCHASE)

The surge of Cam’ron, Jim Jones, and the Dipset was a rap radio phenomenon that eventually surged through to the pop charts. Key to this surge was the acclaim of Juelz Santana, who impressively went from Dipset lieutenant to crossover pop icon to Grammy nominated artist. This Chris Brown song created massive success for both Brown and Santana.

12. Fat Joe feat. Ashanti – What’s Luv (2001) (PURCHASE)

By 2001, Fat Joe had spent a solid decade in the rap industry without truly hitting crossover success. However, in blending with Murder Inc.’s lead pop diva Ashanti he achieved the greater acclaim that he arguably had long deserved.

11. P. Diddy feat. Ginuwine & Loon – I Need A Girl (Part 2) (2002) (PURCHASE)

The second generation of Sean Combs’ hip-hop career was highlighted by a change in name from Puff Daddy to P. Diddy, but the hits — as always — couldn’t and wouldn’t stop. Though not dependent upon an 80s pop sample for its success, this danceable ballad still was a Bad Boy hitmaker.

10. Notorious B.I.G.- Mo Money Mo Problems (1997) (PURCHASE)

Biggie’s most significant posthumous hit was his single “Mo Money Mo Problems.” Spurred on by one of his own quotes about the issues attached to making so much money so soon in one’s career, this is a cautionary tale with significant pop appeal.

9. Notorious B.I.G. – Hypnotize (1997) (PURCHASE)

Herb Alpert’s jazzy 1979 hit “Rise” provided the perfect backdrop for Biggie Smalls going in on big upping not just Brooklyn — as always — but himself, as well as how his friends in, yes, DC, prefer wearing Versace. It’s likely one of his most instantaneously iconic songs from his career.

8. Jennifer Lopez feat. Ja Rule – I’m Real (PURCHASE)

Ja Rule’s ability to seamlessly blend rap and R & B flavor took him from being a street flavor-favoring hardcore emcee to being one of the Billboard charts’ favorite rappers of the early 2000s. Similarly to “Ain’t It Funny,” this increased the crossover success garnered by the earlier mentioned J-Lo and Ja Rule collaboration.

7. 50 Cent feat. Olivia – Candy Shop (2005) (PURCHASE)

Following the success of his debut album, 50 Cent returned in 2005 with The Massacre, his sophomore release. Clearly, 50 was not guilty of hitting a “sophomore slump,” as this album kicked things off for a second 50 Cent album that went on to achieve 15 million copies in global sales.

6. Mariah Carey feat. Ma$e and The Lox – Honey (1997) (PURCHASE)

Mariah Carey’s been NYC rap-affiliated since going back “like babies with pacifiers” with the Ol’ Dirty Bastard. However, on her 1997 album Butterfly, her collaboration with Bad Boy’s Ma$e and The Lox is a perpetual pop-rap pleasure point.

5. Pussycat Dolls feat. Busta Rhymes – Don’t Cha (2003) (PURCHASE)

Maybe the greatest success of the influence of the “jiggy rap” era was that Vegas showgirl concept-turned-pop music act could blend with Busta Rhymes’ long-established dominance as a key contributor to the “jiggy” era and rocket to pop superstardom.

4. (tie) 50 Cent feat. Snoop Dogg and G-Unit – P.I.M.P. (2003) (PURCHASE)

The idea that 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Lloyd Banks, and Tony Yayo can all be on the same track discussing the fine arts of money and seduction is astounding. Steel pan meeting boom bap and rhythmic swing makes for a next level musical experience.

4. (tie) 50 Cent – In Da Club (2003) (PURCHASE)

Celebrating parties in the club? Pretty much par for the course behavior, and thus, it definitely could deserve an anthem. But, this anthem probably exceeds any expectation anyone could have for a song just discussing popping bottles and getting it in on a weekday or weekend nightlife evening.

3. Puff Daddy feat. Faith Evans and 112 – I’ll Be Missing You (1997) (PURCHASE)

Celebrating the life and times of the Notorious B.I.G. could appear to be a cause for a less than entertaining song. However, in classic 1997 Puff Daddy fashion, it’s the sample from The Police’s 1983 smash “Every Breath You Take” that makes it a sing-and-dance-along classic.

2. Nas feat. Lauryn Hill – If I Ruled The World (1996) (PURCHASE)

By 1996, Lauryn Hill’s star had exploded via singing Roberta Flack’s 1974 hit “Killing Me Softly” on her rap trio The Fugees’ cover hit on the same name. Singing the hook of Kurtis Blow’s 1985 hit “If I Ruled The World” allowed for Nas to achieve a similar to Blow level of mainstream success and renown.

1. Beyonce feat. Jay Z – Crazy In Love (2003) (PURCHASE)

A decade before they were married, Jay Z and Beyonce were still very much an item. Impressively, it was because of Jay’s New York rap swagger that Beyonce was able to increase her crossover appeal. A match made in heaven long before it was literally a match made in heaven at the altar, this one is significant on many levels.