2009: Final Year of the Decade

Now we come to 2009. Amazing how quickly time flies. I finally earned my key to "life" as my brother informed me. Well, that's something scary right there. I've crossed over the threshold between childhood and adulthood just as the turn of the decade approaches. This is the beginning of the rest of my life and I know it's going to be a fantastic ride. I look forward!

10. Rye Rye feat. MIA - Bang
9. Lady Gaga - Poker Face
8. 50 Cent - Baby By Me
7. Adam Lambert - Mad World
6. K'Naan - T.I.A.
5. The Gossip - Heavy Cross
4. Santigold - L.E.S. Artistes
3. Blame It feat. T-Pain - Jamie Foxx
2. Many Moons - Janelle Monae
1. SANTIGOLD - STARSTRUCK

Why still no video Santigold? This song is dope to the nth power! Oh well.

2008: Pulled in Two Directions

So I enrolled at a local college after trying to think things through for a while. Constant access to a large library database is a dangerous thing to someone such as moi. Wits was a blast but I don't think I want to go back!

10. Linkin Park - Leave Out All the Rest
9. Amy Winehouse - Rehab
8. Kanye West - Love Lockdown
7. Pink - So What
6. Chris Brown - With You
5. Violet Hill - Coldplay
4. Lupe Fiasco - Dumb It Down
3. Lil' Wayne - Lollipop
2. Estelle - American Boy
1. MIA - Paper Planes

2007: What Does Life Mean?

Finishing high school left me in a state of doldrums. Questioning what it is that I want to make out of my life. Plenty of introspection was required. Although I managed to develop some morsel of good self-perception, I'm still slightly unsure. I have paths pointing in all sorts of directions. It's confusing. Guess if I rely on instinct, I'll be able to make it through and choose a path that brings me joy, serenity and some contentment. Not too much of it however.

10. MIMS - This is Why I'm Hot
9. Timbaland feat. Keri Hilson - The Way I Are
8. 50 Cent feat. Justin - Ayo Technology
7. John Legend - PDA
6. Swizz Beatz - Money in the Bank
5. Nickelback - If Everyone Cared
4. Rihanna - Umbrella
3. Lupe Fiasco - Kick Push
2. Kanye West - Stronger
1. Boyz - MIA

2006: Final Year of High School

During breaks between studying when I relieved my behind from the numbness of sitting down. Nerdy me would bump up the volume and get jamming. Here were some of the songs that got me up again, calmed me down and made me reminisce like I'm doing now.

10. MJB - Be Without You
9. P. Diddy feat. Nicole - Come 2 Me
8. Cassie - Long Way to Go
7. Rafael Saadiq - I Want You Back
6. Sean Paul - Temperature
5. Kelis - Bossy
4. Floetry - My Apology
3. Brand New Heavies - Don't Know Why
2. T.I. - Why You Wanna?
1. Busta Rhymes feat. MJB, Rah Diggah, Missy, Papoose, DMX etc - Touch It (Remix)...CLASSIC!

2005: The One Thing That Danced Me Into a Trance

I started taking a firm interest in Souther Rap so T.I. was on heavy rotation on my playlists. Don't care much for him these days. Commercialized. It happens to the best of them.

10. Girl - Destiny's Child
9. NERD - Maybe
8. Snoop feat. Pharrell - Drop It LIke It's Hot
7. Black Eyed Peas - Don't Phunk With My Heart
6. Missy Elliot - Lose Control
5. Chingy - One Call Away
4. Zap Mama - Bandy Bandy
3. Beenie Man - King of Dancehall
2. T.I. - ASAP
1. Amerie - One Thing

2004: Year of Dancehall

In came beloved family from Leeds with a pile of dancehall CD's for my mind. I learnt how all the best moves from Beenie Man and Sean da Paul videos. I was hooked on the Kingston energy. What can I say? It was a great year for dance tracks.

10. Akon - Belly Dancer
9. Chingy - Right Thurr
8. JKwon - Tipsy
7. Black Eyed Peas - Hey Mama
6. Kanye West - Jesus Walks
5. Brandy Afrodisiac
4. Beenie Man - Dude
3. Yeah! - Usher
2. Ciara - Goodies
1. Kelis - Milkshake

2003: Go, Go, Go, Shorty It's Your Birthday

Back to South Africa this year. First year at Crawford and at the mention of that all I seem to hear is 50 Cent rapping the hook to In Da Club. This song was a smash. Anyone in the world would tell you that. But there was someone else who had my young adolescent lustful gaze - Pharrell. Boy oh boy did I love me some of him. The things we think as teenagers!

10. Coldplay - Clocks
9. Hey Ya! - Outkast
8. Nas -Made You Look
7. Eminem - Lose Yourself
6. 50 Cent - In Da Club
5. Sean Paul - Get Busy
4. Jay Z - Excuse Me Miss - La La La (Remix)
3. Joe Budden - Pump it Up
2. Busta Rhymes feat. Pharrell - Light Your Ass On Fire
1. Pharrell feat. Jay Z - Frontin'

2002: Leeds

Spent the year in Leeds, England so almost every song released during that year takes me back to that. I never mind a good chill.

10. Christina Milian - AM 2 PM
9. Misteek - B With Me (Remix)
8. Pink - Get the Party Started
7. Ms Dynamite - DY-NA-MI-TEE
6. Shakira - Whenever, Wherever
5. Usher - U Don't Have 2 Call
4. Nickelback - How You Remind Me
3. More Fire Crew - Oi
2. Clipse - Grindin'
1. Sean Paul - Gimme the Light

2001: I Became I Teenager

I turned 13, what a milestone. Some of the songs that peak up in my memory for the year I finished primary school and became an adolescent. Angst ahead of me!

10. Blue Cantrell - Hit Em Up Style
9. Mandoza - Nkalakhata
8. Kelis - Young, Fresh 'N New (hey, hey, hey...get rich to dis!)
7. Mystikal - Shake Your Ass (yoou know)
6. Nelly - E.I. (underlay, underlay mami...)
5. Destiny's Child - Bootylicious
4. Busta Rhymes feat. Kelis - What It Is Right Now
3. Tank - Maybe I Deserve (aaaaaw!!)
2. Missy Elliot - Get Ur Freak On
1. Aaliyah - Resolution

2000: Kelis Screamed Her Way Into My World

Since the decade will be coming to a close very soon. In less than two weeks - can you believe how time flies? I've decided to take a trip down memory lane and recall the good times.

I was in 6th grade in 2000. Whenever I could, I would watch a free-broadcast of Channel O on SABC 1. Good 'ole days. I was really into R'n'B back then, The lyrics meant nothing to me of course. What does an eleven year old know about love and relationships but the beats got me vibing. And dance I did.

10. Mya - Case of the Ex
9. Nas feat. Ginuwine - You Owe Me
8. DMX - Ruff Ryders Anthem
7. Jay Z feat. Pharrell - I Just Wanna Luv Ya
6. Destiny's Child - Say My Name
5. Jill Scott - Gettin' in the Way
4. Redman and Methodman - Da Rockweilder
3. Missy Eliot - She's a B****
2. Kelis - Caught Out There
1. 702 - Where My Girls At?