Playlist Central

At the turn of the new millennium, hip-hop was experiencing some surprising developments. A white guy from Detroit named Eminem became a superstar and Nelly put St. Louis on the map. Acts like Common, dead prez and Mos Def fed rap fans plenty of food for thought, while Jay-Z provided the soundtrack for the clubs when it came time to let loose and relax. The music was diverse, vibrant and increasingly representative of previously ignored regions.