10 Good Rap Songs Of 2008

The 10 good rap songs of 2008 chosen for this list reflect some of the positive things happening in the genre. Guys like Nas and Jay-Z were able to express what was happening in the black community, the same way Public Enemy did it a few years earlier. It may not have been the best year, but it was a very good year, indeed.

1.  "Dr. Carter" by Lil' Wayne. "Your first patient, yeah, is suffering from a lack of concept." If this is your musical problem, take it to Dr. Carter (a.k.a. Lil' Wayne) because he has healing powers. He has the musical medicine to fix it.
2.  "Queens Get the Money" by Nas. On this one Nas gets political. It's stripped-down keyboard grove features Nas getting real, which made it one of 2008's best.
3. "Rising Up" by The Roots (Feat. Wale & Chrisette Michele). Chrisette Michele's jazzy/soul vocal is what sells this upbeat track. The Roots are not just one of the best rap acts, but one of the best instrumental groups in all of pop music. That's why this 2008 rap song stands out from the pack so much.
4. "Don't Touch Me (Throw da Water on 'Em)" by Busta Rhymes. This track, with its speedy wordplay is fine. But the video, with all the old soul singer imitations is even better. Go look it up on YouTube. Right now.
5. "Day 'N' Nite" by Kid Cudi. This track proves you don't need a lot of production touches. A song is not always measured by the number of special guests on it. It can be great words, placed to a memorable groove.
6. "My President" (Feat. Nas) by Young Jeezy. What does it mean to the rap world to have a black president? This Young Jeezy helps answer that question. It also asks more questions.
7. "History" by Jay-Z. Too much hip-hop is  focused on the here and now. It's all about the one rapping, and not about the world that created them. This Jay-Z track breaks that trend by giving a history lesson in song.
8. "MVP" by Ludacris. This song stood out in 2008 because it actually features scratching. Whatever happened to scratching? Why don't more songs have it? Instead, too many songs have soul singer cameos, instead. Bring back the wheels of steel.
9. "Life Is Better" Q-Tip feat. Norah Jones. Of course, if you're going to feature a vocalist, there is no better singer than Norah Jones. He fills this track with her smokey vocal goodness.
10. "Lollipop" by LIl' Wayne. This was not just a good rap song from 2008. It was also one of the best pop songs from that year. Lil' Wayne certainly had his magic working on this one. It still sounds cool today, two years later.