5. Junior M.A.F.I.A. - "Get Money"
Biggie's crew took a striking leap into the spotlight with this anthemic jam from. "Get Money" became Junior M.A.F.I.A.'s most popular hit, reaching No.17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and shifting over a million copies in the summer of '96.
4. Bone Thugs - "Tha Crossroads"
BTNH repackaged the original "Crossroads" in honor of mentor Eazy-E, who died in March of 1995. It's perfect for summer blues.
3. Fugees - "Fu-Gee-La"
The Fugees needed a magical moment to compensate for the nasty taste of a mediocre debut album. So, Clef and co went to Salaam Remi with an idea. Remi's sole contribution to The Score would go on to become the Fugees' best-selling single, but not after it was done burning up summer radio. (Trivia: Akon appeared on the Sly & Robbie rendering of "Fu-Gee-La.")
2. Nas - "If I Ruled the World"
Talk about self-fulfilling prophecy. "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)," a song about all the things Nas would do if he ruled the world, was the first song to shoot him straight to the sky. Throw in Lauryn's sweet vocals and Hype's exorbitant video and you've got yourself the perfect summer hit.
1. OutKast - "Elevators"
One of the earliest hits from OutKast's catalog finds the duo dreamily laying down metaphors atop a futuristic beat.
