25. Young Jeezy

Corporate Thugz/Def Jam

In a year that saw so many Southern rappers explode like never before, Young Jeezy stood out for his utterly businesslike approach to rhyming and world domination. His debut is like a well-maintained eighteen-wheeler, making up in power and presence what it lacks in frills. While Mannie Fresh and other Dirty South beatmasters cook up open-armed, synth-heavy bounce, Jeezy's sharp recollections make pimping in the hot-as-fuck Southern streets sound like big fun on a Saturday night. The result: common ground between raw power and down-home charm.

Next: Queens of the Stone Age, Lullabies to Paralyze