#20-11

20. KANYE WEST- HEARTLESS

This is more easier to swallow than "Love Lockdown" was on the first listen. But honestly...Ye...the Auto-tune has to stop.

19. BEYONCE- SINGLE LADIES (PUT A RING TO IT)

This was a manwhore's kryptonite. Catchy though.

18. T.I.- NO MATTER WHAT

All of the personal strife that occured in the life of one Tip Harris, he puts to rest on this Danja-produced epic. Shawty Lo might wanna fall back from his personal attacks.

17. THE ROOTS F/WALE & CHRISETTE MICHELE- RISING UP

Vintage Roots. Not only did it display the talents of rising stars Wale and Chrisette Michele, but this was a more of the lighter side in closing the mostly dark and brooding and socially aware Rising Down, by No. 2 album of the year.

16. THE GAME F/TRAVIS BARKER- DOPE BOYZ

I don't know whether this was Game continuing his love/hate admiration/despising of Jay, but despite all of that, this track had heavy rotation on my iPod, proving once again, Game could make a hot track without 50 or Dre.

15. COMMON- UNIVERSAL MIND CONTROL

Sadly, this was the introduction that led to an album of which I don't ever wanna hear Common attempt to recreate ever again. But its Planet Rock-esque, Neptunes-helmed production and futuristic vibe, allowed it to get heavy burn...and even product placement.

14. GNARLS BARKLEY- WHO'S GONNA SAVE MY SOUL?

As much as I rather hear Cee-Lo rap more than sing, when he does sing, man, does he pull the trigger in emotion. This maybe the song I want to play at my funeral.



13. USHER- MOVING MOUNTAINS

Picking up where Omarion's "Icebox" left off? Well, Here I Stand may have been more generic and lacked the energy and purpose that Confessions had, this standout track, told the story that I had been enduring over the last couple of months in my relationships.

12. RICK ROSS F/T-PAIN- THE BOSS

Man, who wasn't bumpin' this in the beginning of the year? Officer Ross one-upped himself on a track that solidifed his place as one of the South's elite and one of the heavy hitters in the rap game, as well as the fact that it pushed Trilla to #1, beating out Snoop and Fat Joe. Man....then he just had to keep that secret...

11. T.I. F/RIHANNA- LIVE YOUR LIFE

Yea, I got sick of Rihanna this year...who didn't...but man, she finally sound like she wanted to sing on this track. The first moment I heard this, one word popped up in my mind...."HIT". Not only does Tip put everything in perspective (in other words his best verses I've heard, since King), but this track is hard-hitting as it is motivational. Yea, Wayne may have sold the most this year, but the KING is back on his throne!!!