2003 in hip-hop

This article summarizes the events, album releases, and album release dates in hip-hop for the year 2003.

Events

January

• On January 24, Brazilian rapper Sabotage was murdered in São Paulo

May

• On May 19, Camoflauge was murdered in Savannah, Georgia

October

• On October 24, Half a Mill committed suicide in Brooklyn, New York City

November

• On November 26, Soulja Slim was murdered in Gentilly, New Orleans

Released albums

Release Date	Artist	Album	Label
January 7	40 Glocc	The Jakal	Zoo Life Entertainment
January 13	Sole	Selling Live Water	Anticon
January 28	Choppa	Choppa Style	Take Fo' Records
	DMG	Black Roulette	Rap-a-Lot Records
	Zug Izland	Cracked Tiles	Psychopathic Records
February 6	50 Cent	Get Rich or Die Tryin'	Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment, Interscope Records
February 11	DJ Envy	The Desert Storm Mixtape: Blok Party, Vol. 1	Desert Storm Records
February 18	Monsta Island Czars	Escape from Monsta Island!	Metal Face Records
	Various Artists	Cradle 2 the Grave (soundtrack)	Bloodline Records, Def Jam Recordings
	Zion I	Deep Water Slang V2.0	Raptivism Records
February 25	Freeway	Philadelphia Freeway	Roc-A-Fella Records, Def Jam Recordings
	J Dilla	Ruff Draft	Mummy Records
	The Majesticons	Beauty Party	Big Dada
	MURS	...The End of the Beginning	Definitive Jux
February 28	Mr. Dibbs	The 30th Song	Rhymesayers Entertainment
March 1	Messy Marv & Marvaless	Bonnie and Clyde	Frisco Street Show
March 4	Choppa	Straight from the N.O.	The New No Limit Records Universal Records
	Fabolous	Street Dreams	Desert Storm Records, Elektra Records
	Lil' Kim	La Bella Mafia	Queen Bee Entertainment, Atlantic Records
	Lil Wyte	Doubt Me Now	Hypnotize Minds
March 11	Beans	Tomorrow Right Now	Warp
	Killer Mike	Monster	Columbia Records
	DJ Muggs	Dust	ANTI-
March 18	Magic	White Eyes	The New No Limit Records Universal Records
	Mr. Cheeks	Back Again!	Universal Records
March 25	The Diplomats	Diplomatic Immunity	Diplomat Records, Roc-A-Fella Records, Def Jam Recordings
	Tame One	When Rappers Attack	Eastern Conference Records
April 1	CunninLynguists	SouthernUnderground	Freshchest
April 8	Anybody Killa	Hatchet Warrior	Psychopathic Records
	Jay-Z	The Blueprint 2.1[1]
	Scarface	Balls and My Word	Rap-a-Lot Records
April 27	Z-Ro	Z-Ro Tolerance	Kmj
April 29	Bone Crusher	AttenCHUN!	So So Def Recordings, Arista Records
	Keith Murray	He's Keith Murray	Def Jam Recordings
May 5	Vakill	The Darkest Cloud	Molemen Records
May 6	54th Platoon	All or Nothin'	FUBU Records
	Prince Paul	Politics of the Business	Razor & Tie
May 13	Fiend	Can I Burn? 2	Fiend Entertainment
May 20	Akrobatik	Balance	Coup D'État
	David Banner	Mississippi: The Album	SRC Records
	DJ Kay Slay	The Streetsweeper, Vol. 1[2]
	Various Artists	2 Fast 2 Furious (soundtrack)[3]
May 23	Diam's	Brut de femme	Hostile Records
May 27	Brother Ali	Shadows on the Sun	Rhymesayers Entertainment
June 3	Aceyalone	Love & Hate	Project Blowed, Decon
	Gold Chains	Young Miss America
	Northern State	Dying In Stereo
	Orko the Sykotik Alien	Atoms of Eden	Plague Language[4]
	S.A. Smash	Smashy Trashy	Definitive Jux
June 10	Joe Budden	Joe Budden	Def Jam Records
	Inspectah Deck	The Movement	Koch Records
	Mo Thugs	The Movement	Riviera
June 16	Ugly Duckling	Taste the Secret	Emperor Norton Records, Rykodisc
	Why?	Oaklandazulasylum	Anticon
June 17	Michael Franti & Spearhead	Everyone Deserves Music	Boo Boo Wax, iMusic
	King Geedorah	Take Me to Your Leader	Big Dada
	Nephlim Modulation Systems	Woe to Thee O Land Whose King Is a Child	Ninja Tune
	PMD	The Awakening	Solid Records
June 24	Black Eyed Peas	Elephunk	A&M Records, will.i.am Music Group
	Gang Starr	The Ownerz	Virgin Records, EMI
	King Gordy	The Entity	Web Entertainment
	KRS-One	Kristyles	Koch Records
July 1	Lifesavas	Spirit in Stone	Quannum Projects
	Twiztid	The Green Book	Psychopathic Records
July 8	Slim Thug & Lil' Keke	The Big Unit	Rap-A-Lot Records
	Fannypack	So Stylistic	Tommy Boy Entertainment
	Killah Priest	Black August	Recon Records
July 15	RZA	The World According to RZA[5]
	Chingy	Jackpot	Disturbing Tha Peace
	Various Artists	Bad Boys II (soundtrack)[6]
July 21	Dizzee Rascal	Boy in da Corner	XL Recordings
July 22	Canibus	Rip the Jacker	Mic Club Music, Babygrande Records
	Violent J	Wizard of the Hood	Psychopathic Records
July 23	Pegz	Capricorn Cat	Obese Records
August 12	State Property	The Chain Gang Vol. 2	Roc-A-Fella Records, Def Jam Recordings
August 19	T.I.	Trap Muzik	Grand Hustle Records, Atlantic Records
	Juelz Santana	From Me to U	Diplomat Records, Roc-A-Fella Records, Def Jam Recordings
	Mars Ill	Backbreakanomics	Gotee Records
	The Neptunes	The Neptunes Present... Clones	Star Trak Entertainment, Arista Records
	Lil Zane	The Big Zane Theory	Priority Records, Capitol Music Group
August 25	Hermitude	Alleys to Valleys	Elefant Traks, Inertia Distribution
August 26	Frayser Boy	Gone on That Bay	Hypnotize Minds
	Jedi Mind Tricks	Visions of Gandhi	Babygrande Records
	Magic	On My Own	Koch Records
	Nappy Roots	Wooden Leather	Atlantic Records
	YoungBloodZ	Drankin' Patnaz	So So Def Recordings, Arista Records
September 2	Soul-Junk	1958	Sounds Are Active, Sounds Familyre
September 8	Mark Ronson	Here Comes the Fuzz	Elektra Records
September 9	Danger Mouse & Jemini	Ghetto Pop Life	Lex Records
	E-40	Breakin' News	Sick Wid It Records, Jive Records
	Sir Mix-a-Lot	Daddy's Home	Rhyme Cartel
September 11	Pięć Dwa Dębiec	P-ń VI	UMC Records
September 16	Bubba Sparxxx	Deliverance	Beat Club, Interscope Records
	Daara J	Boomerang	Wrasse Records
	DMX	Grand Champ	Ruff Ryders Entertainment, Def Jam Recordings
	Semi.Official	The Anti-Album	Rhymesayers Entertainment
	Sheek Louch	Walk witt Me	D-Block Records, Universal Records
	Viktor Vaughn	Vaudeville Villain	Sound-Ink Records, Traffic Entertainment Group
	Ying Yang Twins	Me & My Brother	TVT Records
September 22	Hilltop Hoods	The Calling	Obese Records
September 23	Aesop Rock	Bazooka Tooth	Definitive Jux
	Atmosphere	Seven's Travels	Rhymesayers Entertainment, Epitaph Records
	Obie Trice	Cheers	Shady Records, Interscope Records
	Outkast	Speakerboxxx/The Love Below	LaFace Records, Arista Records
	Murphy Lee	Murphy's Law	Derrty Entertainment, Universal
	Jeru the Damaja	Divine Design	Ashenafi Records
September 29	So Solid Crew	2nd Verse	Independiente Limited
	Non-Prophets	Hope	Lex Records
October 7	Hieroglyphics	Full Circle	Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings
	The High & Mighty	The Highlite Zone	Eastern Conference Records
	Jaylib	Champion Sound	Stones Throw Records
	Ludacris	Chicken-n-Beer	Disturbing tha Peace, Def Jam Recordings
	Lyrics Born	Later That Day	Quannum Projects
	Paris	Sonic Jihad	Guerrilla Funk Recordings
	Randy Savage	Be a Man	Big3 Records
	Roc Raida	Champion Sounds	DMC Records
	RZA	Birth of a Prince	Sanctuary Urban, BMG Records
	Shabazz the Disciple	The Book of Shabazz (Hidden Scrollz)	Battle Axe
	Soul Position	8 Million Stories	Rhymesayers Entertainment
October 14	Noah23	Tau Ceti	Plague Language[7]
October 21	Loon	Loon	Bad Boy
	Tragedy Khadafi	Still Reportin'...	Solid Records, 25 To Life Records
November 4	Fabolous	More Street Dreams, Pt. 2: The Mixtape	Desert Storm Records, Elektra Records
	Ja Rule	Blood in My Eye	Murder Inc. Records, Def Jam Recordings
	Wyclef Jean	The Preacher's Son	J Records
	Diverse	One A.M.	Chocolate Industries
	Buck 65	Talkin' Honky Blues	WEA
November 7	Eminem	Straight from the Lab	Universal Music Group
November 11	2Pac	Tupac: Resurrection soundtrack	Amaru Entertainment, Interscope Records
November 14	G-Unit	Beg for Mercy	G-Unit Records, Interscope Records
	JAY-Z	The Black Album	Roc-A-Fella Records, Def Jam Recordings
	Stu Dent	Nephilim: Act of God 1	Illect Recordings
November 18	Biz Markie	Weekend Warrior	Tommy Boy Entertainment
	Cex	Maryland Mansions	Jade Tree Records
	Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf	Big Shots	Stones Throw Records
	Esham	Repentance	Psychopathic Records
	Immortal Technique	Revolutionary Vol. 2	Viper Records
	Psychopathic Records	Psychopathics from Outer Space 2	Psychopathic Records
	Swollen Members	Heavy	Battle Axe Records
November 25	Missy Elliott	This Is Not a Test!	The Goldmind Inc., Elektra Records
	Lil' Keke	Changin' Lanes	Commission Music
December 5	O.S.T.R.	Jazz W Wolnych Chwilach	Asfalt Records[8]
December 7	B.U.G. Mafia	Băieții Buni	Casa Productions, Cat Music, Media Services, Sony Music
December 9	Big Tymers	Big Money Heavyweight	Cash Money Records, Universal Records
	Westside Connection	Terrorist Threats	Hoo-Bangin' Records
December 10	Pep Love	Ascension Side C	Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings
December 16	Memphis Bleek	M.A.D.E.	Get Low Records, Roc-A-Fella Records, Def Jam Recordings
December 23	Bravehearts	Bravehearted	Ill Will Records, Columbia Records

Highest-charting singles

Hip hop singles which charted in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100

Title	Artist	Peak position
"In da Club"	50 Cent	1
"21 Questions"	50 Cent feat. Nate Dogg
"Stand Up"	Ludacris feat. Shawnna
"Mesmerize "	Ja Rule feat. Ashanti	2
"Magic Stick"	Lil' Kim feat. 50 Cent
"Right Thurr"	Chingy
"One Call Away"	Chingy feat. J-Weav
"P.I.M.P."	50 Cent feat. Snoop Dogg & G-Unit	3
"Holidae In"	Chingy feat. Ludacris & Snoop Dogg
"Air Force Ones"	Nelly featuring Kyujan, Ali & Murphy Lee
"I Know What You Want"	Busta Rhymes & Mariah Carey featuring Flipmode Squad
"Can't Let You Go"	Fabolous featuring Lil' Mo & Mike Shorey	4
"Into You"	Fabolous featuring Tamia or Ashanti
"Damn!"	YoungBloodz featuring Lil Jon
"Frontin'"	Pharrell Williams feat. Jay-Z	5
"Splash Waterfalls"	Ludacris feat. Sandy Coffee	6
"Beautiful"	Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell Williams & Charlie Wilson
"Where Is the Love?"	The Black Eyed Peas feat. Justin Timberlake	8
"Excuse Me Miss"	Jay-Z
"Change Clothes"	Jay-Z feat. Pharrell Williams	10
"I Can"	Nas	12
"Wanksta"	50 Cent	13
"Stunt 101"	G-Unit
"Sing For The Moment"	Eminem	14
"Let's Get Down"	Bow Wow featuring Birdman
"Superman"	Eminem	15
"Wanna Get to Know You"	G-Unit feat. Joe
"The Jump Off"	Lil' Kim feat. Mr. Cheeks	16
"Wat Da Hook Gon Be"	Murphy Lee featuring Jermaine Dupri	17
"Runnin' (Dying to Live)"	2Pac feat. The Notorious B.I.G.	19
"Let's Get It Started"	The Black Eyed Peas	21
"Hey Mama"	The Black Eyed Peas feat. Tippa Irie	23
"Never Scared"	Bone Crusher feat. T.I. and Killer Mike	26
"Pass That Dutch"	Missy Elliott	27
"Made You Look"	Nas	32
"Do That..."	Birdman featuring P. Diddy	33
"Paradise"	LL Cool J featuring Amerie	36
"Pump It Up"	Joe Budden	38

Highest first-week sales

List of top ten albums released in 2003, according to first-week home market sales

Number	Album	Artist	1st-week sales	1st-week position
1	Get Rich or Die Tryin'	50 Cent	872,000	1
2	Speakerboxxx/The Love Below	OutKast	510,000	1
3	The Black Album	Jay-Z	463,000	1
4	Tupac: Resurrection	2Pac	430,000	2
5	Chicken-n-Beer	Ludacris	429,000	1
6	Beg for Mercy	G-Unit	377,000	3
7	Bad Boys II	Various Artists	324,000	1
8	Grand Champ	DMX	312,000	1
9	The Neptunes Present... Clones	The Neptunes	249,000	1
10	Cheers	Obie Trice	226,000	5

All critically reviewed albums ranked (Metacritic)

Number	Artist	Album	Average score	Number of reviews	Reference
1	Dizzee Rascal	Boy in da Corner	92	28 reviews	[9]
2	Outkast	Speakerboxxx/The Love Below	91	26 reviews	[10]
3	Jay-Z	The Black Album	84	19 reviews	[11]
4	Bubba Sparxxx	Deliverance	82	17 reviews	[12]
5	Soul Position	8 Million Stories	82	8 reviews	[13]
6	Missy Elliott	This Is Not a Test!	79	21 reviews	[14]
7	Nappy Roots	Wooden Leather	79	9 reviews	[15]
8	FannyPack	So Stylistic	78	16 reviews	[16]
9	Northern State	Dying in Stereo	77	17 reviews	[17]
10	Sole	Selling Live Water	77	9 reviews	[18]
11	Ludacris	Chicken & Beer	75	10 reviews	[19]
12	The Majesticons	Beauty Party	75	9 reviews	[20]
13	Aesop Rock	Bazooka Tooth	74	16 reviews	[21]
14	Freeway	Philadelphia Freeway	74	7 reviews	[22]
15	50 Cent	Get Rich or Die Tryin'	73	19 reviews	[23]
16	Beans	Tomorrow Right Now	73	14 reviews	[24]
17	Obie Trice	Cheers	73	12 reviews	[25]
18	Atmosphere	Seven's Travels	72	14 reviews	[26]
19	Gold Chains	Young Miss America	72	12 reviews	[27]
20	Ugly Duckling	Taste The Secret	72	8 reviews	[28]
21	Michael Franti & Spearhead	Everyone Deserves Music	71	4 reviews	[29]
22	Gang Starr	The Ownerz	70	17 reviews	[30]
23	Why?	Oaklandazulasylum	70	8 reviews	[31]
24	Mr. Cheeks	Back Again!	67	4 reviews	[32]
25	Black Eyed Peas	Elephunk	66	15 reviews	[33]
26	Aceyalone	Love & Hate	66	9 reviews	[34]
27	Prince Paul	Politics of the Business	65	15 reviews	[35]
28	Lil Kim	La Bella Mafia	65	11 reviews	[36]
29	G-Unit	Beg for Mercy	62	11 reviews	[37]
30	RZA	Birth of a Prince	62	11 reviews	[38]
31	Wyclef Jean	The Preacher's Son	61	6 reviews	[39]
32	DMX	Grand Champ	58	12 reviews	[40]
33	Fabolous	Street Dreams	51	13 reviews	[41]
34	Ja Rule	Blood in My Eye	45	8 reviews	[42]

See also

• Previous article: 2002 in hip-hop
• Next article: 2004 in hip-hop