Innovators explode out of the South: Houston's DJ Screw slows hip-hop down, Memphis's Three 6 Mafia goes dark, and Atlanta's Lil Jon brings the 'crunk'.
Auteurs like the Neptunes' Pharrell and Chad expand the sonic palette. Timbaland and Missy Elliott lean forward. Kanye West and J Dilla re-imagine rap.
Mixtapes spread the hottest sounds, infringe copyright and break artists. Among them, 50 cent polarizes, T.I. takes off with trap, and Lil Wayne clicks.