“Rosa Parks” – Outkast
Andre 3000 and Big Boi had already made a name for themselves by the time “Rosa Parks” hit the airwaves. Known for their weirdo fashion style and abilities to lyrically murder any track the the duo blessed with their vocals, “Rosa Parks” reaffirmed our convictions that, indeed, Outkast could even make a harmonica fueled hoedown bridge sound dope as fuck.
“Doo Wop” – Lauryn Hill
In the late ’90s Lauryn Hill’s singing and rapping skills were matched by few, if any, MCs in the game, male or female. I mean, The Fugees we were already beyond impressed by Hill's conscious approach to hip-hop while still spitting with the fire of a hardcore rapper. So when we thought the bar couldn’t be raised any higher, “Doo Wop (That Thing)” from Hill’s solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill dropped and we were collectively slayed by arguably the most talented female rapper/singer of all time. The track would go on to win Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song at the 1999 Grammy Awards.
Honorable mentions:
“Are You That Somebody” – Aaliyah
“Closing Time” – Semisonic
“Nobody’s Supposed To Be Here” – Deborah Cox
“Intergalactic” – Beastie Boys
“Iris” – Goo Goo Dolls
