Except for the songs that made my Top 20 Songs of 2009, these are the rest of the best mainstream hip hop tracks of 2009 (Volume 1 of 2). To be eligible, a song needed to be included on an album released in the United States between December 1, 2008 and November 30, 2009.

1. Jay-Z “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)” The Blueprint 3 (Roc Nation)

2. Jay-Z “Reminder” The Blueprint 3 (Roc Nation)

3. Rakim “Working For You” The Seventh Seal (SMC)

4. Rakim “Still In Love” The Seventh Seal (SMC)

5. Scarface featuring Wacko “We Need You” (Rap-A-Lot/Asylum)

6. 50 Cent “Death To My Enemies” Before I Self Destruct (Aftermath)

7. 50 Cent “Stretch” Before I Self Destruct (Aftermath)

8. Busta Rhymes “Wheel of Fortune” Back on My B.S. (Universal Motown)

9. Busta Rhymes “I’m a Go and Get My…” Back on My B.S. (Universal Motown)

10. Capone-N-Noreaga “Grand Royal” Channel 10 (SMC)

11. Raekwon featuring Lyfe Jennings “Catalina” Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…Pt. II (Ice H20/EMI)

12. Raekwon featuring Busta Rhymes “About Me” Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…Pt. II (Ice H20/EMI)

13. 50 Cent “Crime Wave” Before I Self Destruct (Aftermath)

14. Rakim “Holy Are You” The Seventh Seal (SMC)

15. Trick Daddy “Everyday Struggle” Finally Famous: Born A Thug, Still A Thug (Dunk Ryder)

16. Jay-Z featuring Kanye West “Hate” The Blueprint 3 (Roc Nation)

17. UGK featuring Big Gipp “Purse Come First” UGK 4 Life (Jive)

18. Method Man/Redman featuring Bun B “City Lights” Blackout! 2 (Def Jam)

19. Method Man/Redman featuring Raekwon & Ghostface Killah “Four Minutes to Lock Down” Blackout! 2 (Def Jam)

20. Raekwon featuring Method Man and Ghostface Killah “The New Wu” Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…Pt. II (Ice H20/EMI)

21. Raekwon featuring Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah and Method Man “House of Flying Daggers” Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…Pt. II (Ice H20/EMI)