Fear is weakness, learn from what experience teaches.
Beware of leeches, the vampires, my secrets…
Never follow, cause most niggas is straight up cowards.
Take care of my body’s the temple, my mind is the power.

Nas, “Self Conscience,” from Nas & Ill Will Records Presents QB’s Finest, 2000. More from Nas >

I start thinking:
How many souls hip-hop has affected?
How many dead folks this art resurrected?
How many nations this culture connected?
Who am I to judge one’s perspective?

Common, “6th Sense,” Like Water for Chocolate, 2000. More from Common…

Dear Mister-I’m-Too-Good-To-Call-Or-Write-My-Fans,
This’ll be the last package I ever send your ass.
It’s been six months and still no word, I don’t deserve it.
I know you got my last two letters; I wrote the addresses on ‘em perfect.
So this is my cassette I’m sending you, I hope you hear it,
I’m in the car right now, I’m doing 90 on the freeway.
Hey Slim, I drank a fifth of vodka, you dare me to drive?
You know the song by Phil Collins, “In the Air Tonight”
About that guy who coulda saved that other guy from drowning
But didn’t, then Phil saw it all, then at a a show he found him?
That’s kinda how this is, you coulda rescued me from drowning.
Now it’s too late; I’m on a thousand downers now, I’m drowsy,
And all I wanted was a lousy letter or a call.
I hope you know I ripped ALL of your pictures off the wall.
I love you Slim. We coulda been together, think about it.
You ruined it now, I hope you can’t sleep and you dream about it,
And when you dream I hope you can’t sleep and you SCREAM about it.
I hope your conscience EATS AT YOU and you can’t BREATHE without me.

Eminem, “Stan,” The Marshall Mathers LP, 2000. More from Em…

I been drunk most my life, don’t ask me why.
Through ninth grade, I ain’t go to high school,
…I went to school high.

Styles P, “Recognize,” from The LOX We Are The Streets, 2000

I make niggas eat dirt and fart dust,
Then give you a $80 gift certificate to Pussies “Я” Us.

Ludacris, “Mouthing Off,” Back for the First Time, 2000

MCs get a little bit of love and think they hot,
Talkin bout how much money they got…all y’all records sound the same.
I’m sick of that fake thug, R&B-rap scenario, all day on the radio,
Same scenes in the video, monotonous material.
…Y’all don’t hear me though:
These record labels slang our tapes like dope.
You can be next in line and signed, and still be writing rhymes and broke.

stic.man, “Hip-Hop,” from Dead Prez’s Let’s Get Free, 2000

All I see is sissies in magazines smiling…
Whatever happened to wildin’ out and being violent?
Whatever happened to catching a good, old-fashioned, passionate ass whoopin’?
And getting your shoes, coat and your hat tooken?

Eminem, “Marshall Mathers,” The Marshall Mathers LP, 2000

Don’t sell yourself to fall in love,
With those things you do…

J Dilla, “Fall in Love,” from Slum Village’s Fantastic Vol 2., 2000

It’s a beautiful day, and everybody’s feelin’ wonderful,
The ladies is out, lookin’ fly, dressed comfortable.
I love to wake up, and feel the breeze through my window,
Slip on fatigues, grab a dutch, and roll some indo.

Dead Prez, “Happiness,” Let’s Get Free, 2000

I can drink a whole Hennessy fifth.
Some call that a problem, but I call it a gift.

Xzibit, “Get Your Walk On,” Restless, 2000

Just because no one can understand how you speak,
Don’t necessarily mean that what you be sayin is deep.

Talib Kweli, “Good Mourning,” from Reflection Eternal’s Train of Thought, 2000

You can’t fool all the people all of the time,
But if you fool the right ones, the rest will fall behind.

Dead Prez, “Propaganda,” Let’s Get Free, 2000

Now what Clan you know with lines this ill?
Bust shots at Big Ben, like we got time to kill.

Method Man, “Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off),” from Wu-Tang Clan’s The W, 2000

These niggaz ain’t thugs, the real thugs is the government.
Don’t matter if you Independent, Democrat or Republican,
Niggaz politickin’ the street, get into beef,
Start blastin’…now a new cat is executive chief.

Talib Kweli, “Ghetto Afterlife,” from Reflection Eternal’s Train of Thought, 2000

I put the great Mother Nature on a pedestal.
She always fly, but today, she’s exceptional.

Dead Prez, “Happiness,” Let’s Get Free, 2000

Nowadays rap artists coming half-hearted,
Commercial like pop, or underground like black markets.
Where were you the day hip-hop died?
Is it too early to mourn? Is it too late to ride?

Talib Kweli, “Too Late,” from  Reflection Eternal’s Train of Thought, 2000

We speak the love language, they speak from pain and anguish.
Some don’t love theyselves, so they perception is tainted.

Talib Kweli, “Love Language,” from Reflection Eternal’s Train of Thought, 2000

Dallas Mavericks want me as a bald-headed 5’ 8" guard with a 95" vertical.
Vince Carter respect my legs, ask Shawn Kemp.

Kool Keith, “Extravagant Traveler,” Matthew, 2000

You would rather have a Lexus, or justice?
A dream, or some substance?
A Beamer, a necklace, or freedom?

stic.man, “Hip-Hop,” from Dead Prez’ Let’s Get Free, 2000

It’s important to practice good hygiene,
At least if you wanna run with my team.

Del the Funky Homosapien, “If You Must,” Both Sides of the Brain, 2000

Player haters be givin’ me harsh looks,
But I’m tryin to sell records like Garth Brooks.

Big L, “Holdin’ It Down,” The Big Picture, 2000

Nowadays, crazy ass bitches want they bills paid,
But can’t even make a good thing of Kool Aid.

Ice Cube, “The Gutter Shit,” War and Peace Vol. 2, 2000

A flower that grow in the ghetto know more about survival than the one from fresh meadows.

Talib Kweli, “Love Language,” from Reflection Eternal’s Train of Thought, 2000

Just say the word, I’ll leave your DNA on the curb,
And stick my dick in your ear and fuck what you heard.

Rakim, “I’ll Buss Em, You Punish Em,” from Canibus’ 2000 B.C., 2000

I’m gettin’ stacks while you askin’ people, ‘Do you want some fries with that?’

Big L, “Holdin’ It Down,” The Big Picture, 2000

I found college awkward: another teacher, same old chalkboard.
I felt I was shifting backward, when I expected to shoot forward.

MC Paul Barman, “School Anthem,” It’s Very Stimulating EP, 2000

What is the meaning of C.L.A.S.S.?
Is it a Conspiracy Levelled At Sleepy Students trying to pass?

MC Paul Barman, “School Anthem,” It’s Very Stimulating, 2000

Niggaz thought M.O.P. stand for “mop” and shit…

Lil’ Fame, “Cold As Ice,” Warriorz, 2000

And from the moment that I saw you, I knew you was trouble,
But I disregarded detour signs,
And did not stop til you was mine.
I guess God was like, ‘Aight, fine.’
Careful what you wish for, cause you just might get it in heaps.
Try to give it back, He be like, ‘Nah, that’s yours to keep.’

Mos Def, “Ms. Fat Booty 2,” from Lyricist Lounge 2, 2000

You can plan a pretty picnic but you can’t predict the weather, Ms. Jackson.

Andre 3000, “Ms. Jackson,” from Outkast’s Stankonia, 2000

I just want to innovate and stimulate minds,

Travel the world and penetrate the times,

Escape through rhythms,

In search of peace and wisdom.

Common, “The 6th Sense,” Like Water for Chocolate, 2000. More from Comm…

Sick, sick dreams of picnic scenes:
Two kids, sixteen with M-16’s and ten clips each,
And them shits reach through six kids each,
And Slim gets blamed in Bill Clint’s speech to fix these streets?

Eminem, “Remember Me?” The Marshall Mathers LP, 2000. More from Em…