The Best Albums of 2000

Hip hop dominated popular music in the early 2000s. Artists such as Eminem, OutKast, The Black Eyed Peas, T.I., 50 Cent, Kanye West, Nelly, Nas, Jay-Z, Ghostface Killah, Snoop Dogg, Missy Elliott, M.I.A., Lil’ Kim, Gorillaz, Young Jeezy, Lil Wayne, The Game and Ludacris were among the dominant mainstream hip hop artists to have represented the hip hop genre for the decade. Distinct regional differences also developed outside the hip hop/rap strongholds of the 1990s, New York City and Los Angeles. Though the Los Angeles style of the 1990s waned, Gangsta rap continued to be popular through the 2000s, and more commercially oriented party rap dominated the charts. The emergence of hip-hop from the south and the midwest was starting to take place, and by the end of the decade, hip-hop was starting to spread internationally. Here are all of the 2000 albums ranked.

Don’t miss out on the music of 2000 below! Click to find out why 2000 is one of the greatest years of rock ever!

10. Rated R (Queens Of The Stone Age)

“For me, which is typical, the first album is the best. Rated R and Songs For The Deaf are “better” if that makes sense. What I mean is the first album shows the enthusiasm of the new band and a creative explosion in songwriting that really culminated with Rated R and Songs. In a non manufactured Top 40 world easily a half dozen songs from both Rated R and Songs could have been hit singles.”

9. Relationship Of Command (At The Drive-In)

“This album is one of the most well received Post-Punk epics ever. And for good reason. Non stop awesome.. This album blows itself out of the water track after track like a dolphin mosh pit.. With rocket boosters.”

8. Stankonia (OutKast)

“Stankonia is a perfect example of thriving and new age southern hip hop. While the cd may cover generic categories as women and having sex, it also explores more political as well social themes.It ranges from up tempo songs with lyrics flying at you with blazing speed to slower songs with catchy beats and memorable lyrics.”

See more: Queens of the Stone Age Albums Ranked

7. Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea (PJ Harvey)

“PJ Harvey is known for her unusual/avant garde approach to music. It can sometimes be borderline abrasive or not user-friendly. “Stories from the City” is one of her most accessible albums. The songwriting is more melodic and less distorted. Her voice is a lot more clean and beautiful too; she displays her range much more. Thom Yorke of Radiohead appears on a couple of the tracks and compliments them extremely well.”

6. The Marshall Mathers LP (Eminem)

“There are so many classics on here. However if you’re looking at this, you already know it. I am writing the review because of the misleading description – at least in my case – of “These listings are for the disc only and do not come with the case, album art, or inserts.” I received the entire CD/Case/Inserts. Don’t know if that happens with everybody but mine is obviously the true article.”

5. Parachutes (Coldplay)

“Coldplay conquered their UK home territory when “Parachutes” was released there in July 2000. The album “officially” arrived in the US in November, and is finally making some headway due to the exposure of the hard-rocking singalong track “Yellow”. Coldplay’s “Parachutes” is the logical extension of Travis’ “The Man Who” of a year ago, and is equally compelling, mixing hard to resist melodies (at times rocking hard, at times very intimate) with touching lyrics about love, regret, hope, life.”

4. Since I Left You (The Avalanches)

“This album is extremely versatile. Play it loudly, and I can rock out and dance to it in my car. Play it with headphones and I can zone out during my commute on public transportation and notice all sorts of new things each time. Play it quietly in the background and it’s great for computer programming.”

See more: Modest Mouse Albums Ranked

3. The Moon & Antarctica (Modest Mouse)

“Conceptual album by the famed indie group Modest Mouse. This album marks a slightly different direction in the band’s sound. The common themes are of the afterlife, space, and insignificance of our tiny lives. The first track, 3rd Planet, gives a summary of the entire album by rapidly switching between themes: work, God, the universe, and sex.”

2. Lift Yr. Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven (Godspeed You! Black Emperor)

“Mostly, the songs are very slow and require a lot of patience to listen to. Sometimes you might think it is too repetitive or boring, but you must fully indulge to appreciate this. However, usually it can be difficult to do that, you will most likely get “lost” in the music. There are sometimes ambient, quiet sections but they either suddenly explode into a chaotic rush of instruments, or slowly make their way up to a climatic point, then come crashing back down.”

1. Kid A (Radiohead)

“Every song is perfect from Everything in its right place to Motion Picture Soundtrack. If you are more of a fan of Radiohead’s early work and don’t like much of their new stuff you might not like it at least right away it contains very little electric guitar and one acoustic guitar song How to Disappear Completely. Most songs contain more synths and keyboard like in the opening track Everything in its right place is just a keyboard and Thom singing.”