2004 in hip hop music explained

This article summarizes the events, album releases, and album release dates in hip hop music for the year 2004.

Released albums

Release DateArtistAlbumLabel
January 20Dizzee RascalBoy in da CornerBank Records
January 27TwistaKamikazeAtlantic Records
February 3MicranotsThe Emperor & the AssassinRhymesayers Entertainment
February 10Kanye WestThe College DropoutRoc-A-Fella Records, Def Jam Recordings
Drag-OnHell and BackRuff Ryders, Virgin Records
February 24Z-RoThe Life of Joseph W. McVeyRap-a-Lot Records
Royce da 5'9Death is CertainE1 Music
Trillville and Lil ScrappyWarner Bros. Records, Black Market Records, Warner Records, Reprise Records
Young GunzTough LuvRoc-A-Fella Records, Def Jam Recordings
March 1Noah23 & Jaffa GateAncient Israelites Older Than AnorthositeNorthstar Imprint[1]
March 2Cee-Lo GreenCee-Lo Green... Is the Soul MachineArista Records
BeansNow Soon Someday [EP]
March 3Tunnel RatsTunnel RatsUprok Records
March 16cLOUDDEADTen
March 23BlockheadMusic by CavelightNinja Tune
Cypress HillTill Death Do Us PartColumbia Records
Eyedea & AbilitiesE&ARhymesayers Entertainment
MadvillainMadvillainyStones Throw Records
MURS & 9th WonderMurs 3:16 The 9th EditionDefinitive Jux
N*E*R*DFly or DieStar Trak Entertainment, Virgin Records
Skatterman & Snug BrimUrban LegendzStrange Music
March 30Lil FlipU Gotta Feel MeSucka Free, Clover G, Columbia, Sony Urban
April 6Dark LotusBlack RainPsychopathic Records
Dilated PeoplesNeighborhood WatchCapitol Records
Non PhixionThe Green CD/DVDUncle Howie Records
April 13IllogicCelestial ClockworkWeightless Recordings
Plague LanguageFarewell ArchetypesLegendary Entertainment, Plague Language[2]
April 20AutomatoAutomato
Ghostface KillahThe Pretty Toney AlbumDef Jam Recordings
April 27D12D12 WorldShady Records, Interscope Records
May 4Ill BillWhat's Wrong with Bill?Psycho+Logical-Records
May 11Gift of Gab4th Dimensional Rocketships Going UpQuannum Projects
MF GrimmSpecial Herbs + Spices Volume 1Day by Day Entertainment
Pete RockSoul Survivor IIBBE Records
May 18Method ManDef Jam Recordings
The StreetsA Grand Don't Come for Free
TwiztidCryptic Collection Vol. 3Psychopathic Records
May 20LecraeReal TalkReach Records
June 1Masta KillaNo Said DateNature Sounds
June 8The X-EcutionersThe RevolutionsSony Music
Spice 1The Ridah
June 15Beastie BoysTo the 5 BoroughsCapitol Records
ProofI Miss the Hip Hop ShopIron Fist Records
Sabac RedPsycho+Logical-Records
June 22Erick SermonChilltown, New YorkMotown Records
JadakissKiss of DeathRuff Ryders Entertainment, Interscope Records
Phat KatThe Undeniable LPBarak Records
June 27Noah23Sigma OctantisLegendary Entertainment, Plague Language[3]
Mitochondrial Blues
June 29Goodie MobOne Monkey Don't Stop No ShowKoch Records
HeadsetSpace Settings
Lloyd BanksThe Hunger For MoreG-Unit Records, Interscope Records
Slum VillageDetroit Deli: A Taste of DetroitCapitol Records
Lil WayneTha CarterCash Money Records
July 13Leak Bros.WaterworldEastern Conference Records
The PharcydeHumboldt Beginnings
Project: DeadmanSelf InflictedStrange Music
The RootsThe Tipping PointGeffen Records
7L & EsotericBabygrande Records
July 27Anybody KillaDirty HistoryPsychopathic Records
Bigg JusBlack Mamba Serums v2.0Big Dada Recordings
OuterSpaceBlood and AshesBabygrande Records
August 3Masta AceA Long Hot SummerM3 Records
MF DoomInsomniac, Inc.
Theodore Unit718
August 10Brand NubianFire in the HoleBabygrande Records
Kutt CalhounB.L.E.V.E.Strange Music
Mobb DeepAmerikaz NightmareJive Records
Mr. HydeBarn of the Naked DeadPsycho+Logical-Records
ShyneGodfather Buried AliveDef Jam Recordings
August 17Northern StateAll City
213The Hard WayDoggystyle Records, G-Funk Entertainment, Dogg Foundation, TVT Records
August 24The Foreign ExchangeConnectedBarely Breaking Even
Jedi Mind TricksLegacy of BloodBabygrande Records
Jim JonesOn My Way to ChurchDiplomat Records, Koch Records
Ma$eWelcome BackBad Boy Entertainment
MC BreedThe New PrescriptionPsychopathic Records
Young BuckStraight Outta Ca$hvilleG-Unit Records, Interscope Records
August 31Insane Clown PosseThe Wraith: Hell's PitPsychopathic Records
LL Cool JThe DEFinitionDef Jam Recordings
September 7Rob SonicTelicatessenDefinitive Jux
September 14Dizzee RascalShowtime
NellySweatDerrty Entertainment, Universal Records
Suit
September 21Jean GraeThis WeekBabygrande Records
k-osJoyful Rebellion
Lil' RomeoRomeolandThe New No Limit Records, Koch Records
NecroThe Pre-Fix for DeathPsycho+Logical-Records
Saul WilliamsSaul WilliamsFader Label
September 28HeiruspecsA Tiger Dancing
ShawnnaWorth tha WeightDisturbing tha Peace, Def Jam Recordings
Guerilla BlackGuerilla CityVirgin Records
Talib KweliThe Beautiful StruggleRawkus Records
October 5De La SoulThe Grind DateAOI Records
I-20Self ExplanatoryDisturbing tha Peace, Capitol Records
October 12Gold Chains And Curly CieWhen The World Was Our Friend
Mos DefThe New DangerRawkus Records, Geffen Records
October 19BeansShock City Maverick
Bizzy BoneAlpha and Omega
Blaze Ya Dead HomiePsychopathic Records
Lil WytePhinally PhamousHypnotize Minds
Q-UniqueVengeance is MineUncle Howie Records
October 26Afrika BambaataaDark Matter Moving at the Speed of LightTommy Boy Records
GoretexThe Art of DyingPsycho+Logical-Records
Lateef & the ChiefMaroons: AmbushQuannum Projects
Trick DaddyAtlantic Records
November 1Noah23Jupiter Sajitarius2nd Rec[4]
November 9Ed O.G.My Own Worst Enemy
FabolousReal TalkDesert Storm Records, Elektra Records
Handsome Boy Modeling SchoolWhite PeopleElektra Records
Ja RuleR.U.L.E.Murder Inc. Records, Def Jam Recordings
November 12EminemEncoreShady Records, Aftermath Entertainment, Interscope Records, Web Entertainment
November 16ChingyPowerballin'Full Dekk Music Group, Capitol Records
Lil Jon & The East Side BoyzCrunk JuiceBME Recordings, TVT Records
MF DoomMm..FoodRhymesayers Entertainment
Monoxide ChildChainsmoker LPPsychopathic Records
R.A. the Rugged ManDie, Rugged Man, DieNature Sounds
Snoop DoggDoggystyle Records, Star Trak Entertainment, Geffen Records
November 23ApathyWhere's Your Album?!
Axe Murder BoyzThe Unforgiven ForestCanonize Productions
The DiplomatsDiplomatic Immunity 2Diplomat Records, Koch Records
November 30NasStreet's DiscipleIll Will Records, Columbia Records
T.I.Urban LegendGrand Hustle Records, Atlantic Records
December 7Cam'ronPurple HazeRoc-A-Fella Records, Diplomat Records, Def Jam Recordings
LudacrisThe Red Light DistrictDisturbing tha Peace, Def Jam Recordings
December 14XzibitWeapons of Mass DestructionOpen Bar Entertainment, Columbia Records, Sony Music
2PacLoyal to the GameAmaru Entertainment, Interscope Records

Highest-charting singles

Song! scope="col"
ArtistProjectPeak position
"Slow Jamz"Twista & Kanye West featuring Jamie FoxxKamikaze and The College Dropout1
"Drop It Like It's Hot"Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell WilliamsR&G: The Masterpiece
"The Way You Move"OutKast featuring Sleepy BrownSpeakerboxxx/The Love Below
"Slow Motion"Juvenile featuring Soulja SlimJuve the Great
"Over and Over"Nelly featuring Tim McGrawSuit3
"My Place"Nelly featuring Jaheim4
"Dirt off Your Shoulder"Jay-ZThe Black Album5
"Just Lose It"EminemEncore6
"My Band"D12D-12 World
"Overnight Celebrity"TwistaKamikaze
"All Falls Down"Kanye West featuring Syleena JohnsonThe College Dropout7
"Let's Go"Trick Daddy featuring Lil Jon & Twista
"On Fire"Lloyd Banks feat. 50 CentThe Hunger For More8
"Roses"OutKastSpeakerboxxx/The Love Below9
"Breathe"FabolousReal Talk10
"Jesus Walks"Kanye WestThe College Dropout11
"Why?"Jadakiss featuring Anthony HamiltonKiss of Death
"Go D.J."Lil WayneTha Carter14
"Through The Wire"Kanye WestThe College Dropout15
"Headsprung"LL Cool JThe DEFinition16
"U Make Me Wanna"Jadakiss featuring Mariah CareyKiss of Death21
"So Sexy"Twista featuring R. KellyKamikaze25
"Hush"The DEFinition26
"How Come"D12D-12 World27
"Breathe, Stretch, Shake"Mase featuring P. DiddyWelcome Back28
"99 Problems"Jay-ZThe Black Album30
"Rubber Band Man"T.I.Trap Muzik
"What's Happ'nin!"Ying Yang Twins featuring Trick DaddyMe & My Brother
"Nolia Clap"UTPThe Beginning of the End....31
"Welcome Back"MaseWelcome Back32
"Gangsta Nation"Westside Connection featuring Nate DoggTerrorist Threats33
"Let Me In"Young Buck featuring 50 CentStraight Outta Cashville34
"Let's Get Away"T.I.Trap Muzik35
"I Can't Wait"Sleepy Brown featuring OutKast40

Highest first-week sales

Number! scope="col"
AlbumArtist1st-week sales1st-week position
1EncoreEminem710,0001
2D12 WorldD12544,0001
3The College DropoutKanye West441,0002
4The Hunger for MoreLloyd Banks433,0001
5SuitNelly396,0001
6Straight Outta CashvilleYoung Buck361,0003
7To the 5 BoroughsBeastie Boys360,0001
8SweatNelly342,0002
9Loyal to the Game2Pac330,0001
10The Red Light DistrictLudacris322,0001

Highest critically reviewed albums (Metacritic)

NumberArtistAlbumAverage scoreNumber of reviewsReference
1MadvillainMadvillainy9320 reviews[5]
2Dizzee RascalBoy In Da Corner9228 reviews[6]
3The StreetsA Grand Don't Come For Free9130 reviews[7]
4Dizzee RascalShowtime8728 reviews[8]
5Kanye WestThe College Dropout8725 reviews[9]
6Cee-Lo GreenCee-Lo Green Is The Soul Machine8619 reviews[10]
7MF DoomMm..Food8122 reviews[11]
8De La SoulThe Grind Date8021 reviews[12]
9NasStreet's Disciple8016 reviews
10Masta AceA Long Hot Summer7810 reviews[13]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Noah23 & Jaffa Gate - Ancient Israelites Older Than Anorthosite. Discogs.
  2. Web site: Legendary Entertainment – Farewell Archetypes. DigitalCavalry. legendaryentertainment.com. 2013-11-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20150610213128/http://legendaryentertainment.com/tag/farewell-archetypes/. 2015-06-10. dead.
  3. Web site: Sigma Octantis by Noah23. . 27 July 2004.
  4. Web site: Jupiter Sajitarius by Noah23. . 1 November 2004.
  5. Web site: Madvillainy by Madvillain. .
  6. Web site: Boy In Da Corner by Dizzee Rascal. .
  7. Web site: A Grand Don't Come For Free by The Streets. .
  8. Web site: Showtime by Dizzee Rascal. .
  9. Web site: College Dropout by Kanye West. .
  10. Web site: Cee-Lo: Cee-Lo Green Is The Soul Machine (2004): Reviews. https://web.archive.org/web/20080611102517/http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/ceelo/ceelogreenisthesoulmachine. dead. 11 June 2008. . 11 June 2008.
  11. Web site: MM..Food by MF Doom. .
  12. Web site: The Grind Date by De La Soul. .
  13. Web site: A Long Hot Summer by Masta Ace. .