Politically, economically and culturally, a lot has changed since December 31, 1999. In terms of music, the past ten years has seen a seismic shift in the way we consume music and in turn has profoundly influenced how music is made. In ‘99 we were still in the midst of the compact disc era (although I was snagging tunes off shared dorm room drives for the first time and had just installed WinAmp on my computer).

But in terms of content, has Hip-Hop music really changed much since 1999? Take a look at what the TSS Crew would have been debating as the 90′s closed.

The all-time low of Pop music — Seriously. If you think shit’s bad now, then maybe you should check out this Top 100 list from 1999. Cher’s “Believe” at number one? Sugar Ray and Ricky Martin in the top 10 and the rise of teen pop? No wonder people thought there was going to be an apocalypse.

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The last 5 Cig album of the decade — Dr. Dre’s 2001 had been out for six weeks and was the hot album of the moment. As a West Coast fan, I can’t emphasize how awesome it was to have this album come out. With the collapse of Death Row, many including myself, assumed Dre and Snoop were done. Then “Still D.R.E.” reminded everyone legends don’t die.

Dre’s new sidekick, Eminem — Specifically, the discussion would have centered on his ability to crossover like no one had before. I remember hearing “My Name Is” on WBCN (Boston’s local Hard Rock station). I’m sure his race had nothing to do with it.

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The Roots — The band who took Outkast’s crown as the “cool new Hip-Hop group,” despite the fact they were on their fifth album.

B.G. and Cash Money’s “Bling Bling” — What originated as New Orleans slang was on its way to entering the Oxford English Dictionary.

Shawn Carter took it personal with In My Lifetime Vol. 3 — Sliding into 1999 with a December 28th release date, the album wouldn’t take off until the release of “Big Pimpin’” in April which was the FOURTH single. I guess people didn’t think UGK was ready for primetime.

Redman & Method Man hooked up to make Blackout! — The underground/hardcore album of the year.

Nas — The man who released two uneven albums, I Am and Nastradamus.

The backpackers (soon to be overthrown by hipsters) — These guys would have been trumpeting Mos Def and Pharoahe Monch as the best MCs in the game. The really cool kids (soon to drop Hip-Hop once Pitchfork launched) would have been talking up Handsome Boy Modeling School and MF Doom.

So what’s changed?

Well, Dre still hasn’t finished Detox but it’s amazing how little change there’s been between the movers and shakers of 1999 and 2009.  Especially when you were compare to 1999 to 2009. Jay-Z’s finishing off another three-part series. Nas is still releasing uneven albums. Blackout! 2 is the hardcore underground album of the year. Eminem, The Roots and Mos Def are still movers and shakers. MF Doom made the New Yorker.

Where the Kanye’s,Weezy’s, Drake’s & other new bloods have filled in is on the Pop charts. The biggest change in Hip-Hop over the last decade isn’t the music or the artists, but how intertwined with popular music it’s become. That’s the void Kanye and Lil’ Wayne have filled. They aren’t just Hip-Hop stars; they’re legitimate Pop stars.

A lot of things have changed this decade. But in the case of Hip-Hop? It’s mostly stayed the same.