The most recurring word in the decade's record titles is "featuring", or "feat." for short. The custom of featuring another artist in your records was already quite routine in nineties hip-hop, but mostly it was just one rapper hosting another. In this decade, with the bonding of hip-hop and R'n'B and the moving of white artists into black music, the path was opened for more various collaborations, and a more productive dialogue. In the nineties, the attitude that dominated rap was set by the gangstas, who treated women as bitches to fuck and nothing more. At best it was tongue-in-cheek dirty talk, at worst it was raving misogyny. But once female singers began to take pride in their own sexuality, they found a better role for the horny rappers, and featured them in their records to tell the whole world who's number one in bed. This process sublimated hip-hop, and made it less chauvinistic and more cheeky.
And so, in the record that launched her solo career, Beyonce invited Jay-Z to add some spice. Not that it was needed. Not for the record, and certainly not for the girl. With the sweet face, the killer smile, the limber bombshell body, the ass that moves like jello on springs, the relentless talent and the enchanting voice, the world didn't stand a chance. Many stars shone brightly in 2003, but none of them was as hot as Beyonce.
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