30 “MUSIC FOR LOVE”
Mario
PRODUCED BY RALPH B. STACY
FROMGo (J, 2007)
Mario’s meta-wonder, written by R. City, is clever as all get-out. But it’s the maturing crooner, with a falsetto as delicate as a butterfly’s wings, who carries the song.
Jordin Sparks feat. Chris Brown
PRODUCED BY Erik “Bluetooth” Griggs and The Underdogs
From Jordin Sparks (Jive, 2007)
American Idol’s Jordin soars without unnecessary vocal runs. And CB goes toe-to-toe with a sensitive riff on inseparable love.
28 “DAY N NITE”
Kid Cudi
PRODUCED BY Dot Da Genius
From A Kid Named Cudi (mixtape)
The beat is as bare as a Playboy spread, and equally tantalizing. The Kid’s lazy lyrical meandering makes being a lonely
weedhead actually sound…cool?
27 “LIVE YOUR LIFE”
T.I. feat. Rihanna
PRODUCED BY Just Blaze
From Paper Trail (Grand Hustle/Atlantic)
It sounds like it could be a disaster—a two-fisted southern spitter, a sexy pop chameleon, and a cheesy hook from O-Zone’s 2004 Euro-dance novelty hit “Dragostea Din Tei.” But hell if it ain’t catchy.
Usher feat. Lil Wayne and Beyoncé
PRODUCED BY Polow Da Don
FromHere I Stand (LaFace/Zomba)
Two R&B remixes seems a little ridiculous, but surely some exceptions can be made when the guests are B and Weezy, who put the cherry on top of this sundae.
Erykah Badu
PRODUCED BY Badu and Sa-Ra Creative Partners
From New Amerykah, Part One: 4th World War (Universal Motown)
Listening to Ms. Badu’s personal manifesto—“Had two babies, different dudes and for them both, my love was true”—over this soulful groove makes you wish popular music could always be this honest.
Lil Wayne
PRODUCED BY Swizz Beatz
FromTha Carter III (Cash Money/Universal)
In an emergency room full of pseudo-rhymers, Weezy F. stitches hip hop back to life. Swizz’s jazz jam session and Wayne’s witty wordplay make Dr. Carter the envy of all lyrical M.D.s.
23 “JUST FINE”
Mary J. Blige
PRODUCED BY Tricky Stewart, Jazze Pha, and The-Dream
From Growing Pains (Geffen, 2007)
After years of tearjerkers about abuse and self-loathing,it was refreshing to finally hear the queen of R&B soul declare things “just fine.”
22 “QUEENS GET THE MONEY”
Nas
PRODUCED BY Jay Electronica
From untitled (Def Jam)
If only film-score-obsessed Electronica had produced this entire album. The incendiary but ultimately punchless untitled only really riles on this 130-second verbal intercourse featuring Nas at his best: cryptic, cunning, and cold on the mic.
John Legend feat. Andre 3000
PRODUCED BY Malay and KP
FromEvolver (G.O.O.D./Columbia)
It’s easy to forget what Legend’s cooing about. But it’s impossible to miss 3000’s conversational verse, which is a lovely, vivid portrait of girl-chasing.
Big Boi feat. Andre 3000 & Raekwon
PRODUCED BY Rick Wallkk and Jeron Ward
FromSir Luscious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty (Jive/LaFace)
Big Boi’s underrated flow is relentless. Raekwon sounds like he has razor blades
stuck in his heart. And Dre brings it all home with his most soaring verse of the year, juxtaposing M.L.K.’s death with the possibilities of new life.
The Roots feat. Wale and Chrisette Michele
PRODUCED BY ?uestlove and James Poyser
From Rising Down (Def Jam)
The Roots complement an MC from D.C. with a locally inspired track, but it’s Michele’s sexy, swinging hook that makes this a dance-floor favorite.
Shawty Lo feat. Ludacris, Young Jeezy, Hunt, Akon, Red Cafe, Plies, and Lil Wayne
PRODUCED BY Balis Beats
From mixtapes
A posse cut so deep, it seems to flow on forever, hemorrhaging MCs. Shawty Lo doesn’t carry the track, he just sent out the right invites.
Robin Thicke
PRODUCED BY Robin Thicke
From Something Else (Star Trak/Interscope)
Brassy, flashy, and classy, Thicke’s hit has a sort of old-soul quality. Maybe it’s just those horns, but the man seems to have a knack for inescapably lush jams.
Lupe Fiasco feat. Matthew Santos
PRODUCED BY Soundtrakk
From Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool (1st & 15th/Atlantic, 2007)
Lupe oughta thank his lucky stars for this transcendent track from his in-house homie. It soars when it needs height and dips when it needs its feet on the ground.
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