Please provide a handful of URLs that list top (critics' choice and/or
popularity) tracks for R & B and/or rap and/or hip-hop for 2002.

Please provide at LEAST one list that is a Top 100 or Top 50.  In
other words, Top 10s and Top 20s aren't exhaustive enough.

Hi donphiltrodt-ga,

I have managed to get the following 2002 charts from Billboard:

Top 25 Hip-Hop R&B Albums
http://billboard.com/billboard/yearend/2002/rnb_albums_2.jsp

Top 25 Hip-Hop R&B Singles
http://billboard.com/billboard/yearend/2002/rnb_singles_2.jsp

Top 10 Rap Singles
http://billboard.com/billboard/yearend/2002/rap_2.jsp

The JAM! site provides a Top 200 List for R&B albums, and Top 100 for
Rap albums each year, but you will have to wait a few days for the
these complete comprehensive lists to be released. Some samples from
last year are available:

http://www.canoe.ca/JamMusicCharts/2001_r&b.html

http://www.canoe.ca/JamMusicCharts/2001_rap.html

I have received confirmation that this information is coming for 2002
and the *expected* URLs are as follows (though they are currently dead
links):

http://www.canoe.ca/JamMusicCharts/2002_r&b.html

http://www.canoe.ca/JamMusicCharts/2002_rap.html

I know you mentioned that you wanted lists for tracks, though it seems
there are no authoritative sources that provide Top 50/100 lists for a
single genre...a collective Top 100 tracks are available from
billboard, however:

http://billboard.com/billboard/yearend/2002/hot100_2.jsp

It's worth noting that a large majority of the singles listed here
would be categorized as hip-hop/r&b/rap!

You may also be interested in knowing that Billboard sells its
complete yearly charts in print - this can be obtained for $16 from:

http://www.orderbillboard.com/cgi-bin/F52FB535/mac/additmdtl.mac/showItemDetail?loadItem=BLBDS03

If the above charts and information do not satisfy yor requirements, I
would be able to compile a Top 50 list from various smaller lists.

Hope this helps :)

answerguru-ga