“Hood Gone Love It” – Jay Rock Feat. Kendrick Lamar
Jay Rock makes a record for his Watts blocks—just so happens that it resonates in any ’hood. Kendrick Lamar drops yet another memorable verse.
“House Party” – Meek Mill Feat. Young Chris
Kid ‘n Play got nothing on this Philly crib bash. Enlisting a Young Chris 16, Meek Mill assembled a party anthem just in time for freshman week.
“Hustle Hard” – Ace Hood
Ace Hood brings some thug motivation over a simple Lex Luger instrumental, making his biggest career mark on the Billboard Hot 100, at no. 60.
“HuZzaH!” – Mr. Muthafuckin’ ExQuire
“Drunk driving on a Wednesdayyyy!” Brooklyn native Mr. Mothafuckin’ ExQuire brings a late-90s vibe with his cultish single, which features Das Racist, Danny Brown, El-P and Despot on the remix.
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“I Do” – Young Jeezy Feat. Andre 3000 and Jay-Z
A future hood wedding staple that will likely rival UGK’s “International Player’s Anthem,” “I Do” finds Jeezy, Andre 3000 and Jay-Z dropping matrimonial bars over M16’s soulful backdrop.
“I Need A Doctor” – Dr. Dre Feat. Eminem and Skylar Grey
Remember when you actually thought Detox was going to drop? Yeah, us neither. Yet the optimistic ones pointed to this Alex Da Kid-produced record—and it’s budget-breaking music video—as proof of an imminent Dre release.
“I’m Flexin'” – T.I. Feat. Big K.R.I.T.
The Kang is back! Fresh out of the halfway house T.I. flexed his lyrical might over this high-energy single that “featured” a Big K.R.I.T. production.
“I’m On One” – DJ Khaled Feat. Drake, Rick Ross and LIl Wayne
Impossible to escape, Drake’s dedication to purplish pink drank was the most mellow—yet fiery—summer anthem in recent memory.
“Ima Boss” – Meek Mill Feat. Rick Ross
2011’s “Get At Me Dog,” owned the early portion of this summer, as a supercharged Meek Mill proclaimed his arrival while Rick Ross menaced his way through a tough guest verse.
“It’s Good” – Lil Wayne Feat. Drake and Jadakiss
Despite a lazy beat and mostly passable rhymes, this Carter IV album cut is noted for Weezy’s threatening to kidnap Beyoncé—a retort to Jay-Z’s shots at Birdman on “H.A.M.” A response from Jay (or Bey) still pending.