10. Too Fake – Big Sean ft. Chiddy Bang
Who the fuck names a band “Hockey”? Regardless, Chiddy Bang’s Xaphoon Jones was on to something when he sampled their song, “Too Fake.” While Big Sean still comes very inconsistent with it, he manages to hold it together for a solid 16. Chiddy Bang’s strength continues to be their sampling, though 2010 was not as artistically fruitful for them as one might have hoped. See also, Big Sean’s “Bullshittin”.
9. Fuck You – Cee-lo
Some old school pop/soul with a chorus that any FCC-abiding radio station could never dream of playing, “Fuck You” was an instant hit. While Dangermouse appeared to be the mastermind behind Gnarls Barkley’s success, Cee-lo’s latest releases have made me question whether this is the other way around. See also, Cee-lo’s cover of Band of Horses “No One’s Gonna Love You”.
8.) No Hands – Waka Flocka ft. Roscoe and Wale
A sleeper pick for producing the hip-hop banger of the year, Wale took a break from making Seinfeld-themed mixtapes to unleash 16 bars on Waka’s first coherent song. Roscoe insists “DJ turn it up/ Ladies this yo jam,” and I am inclined to believe him.
7. Show Goes On – Lupe Fiasco
Lupe Fiasco, king of organic originality, on a track to the melody of…a Modest Mouse song? I wouldn’t worry about it.
6. Dance Yrslf Clean – LCD Soundsystem
LCD brings the LOLZ before even dropping the beat, dropping the line “Acting like a jerk/ except you are an actual jerk.” HILARIOUS. But even better, the actual song is a jam! It may take a full eight minutes and fifty-eight seconds to finish the ordeal, but it’s well-worth it. I’m not sure if you can actually dance yourself clean, but the syncopated synths and constant percussion might help. If not, try showering. That always works.
5. Like A G6 – Far East Movement
Overplayed? Yes. Shameless? Yes. Nonsensical? Absolutely. But those aren’t the only reasons to listen to this song over and over and over again. Listen to that BASS. If you don’t like this song within the first 4 seconds, then you never will.
4. Otherside – Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
The album of the year was, in fact, an EP. “The Vs. EP” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis took lyricism and music production to a new level (Let’s forget that this EP came out in December, 2009. Please?). While artists like Chiddy Band and Hoodie Allen were content to rap over beefed up samples of other tracks, Ryan Lewis take the Red Hot Chili Pepper’s “Otherside” and flips it on its motherfucking head, then curbstomps it. The four bar sample of simply the guitar from the Chili Pepper’s track is enough to invoke Anthony Kedis’ tale of Heroin abuse, which Macklemore ties to the modern abuse of cough syrup. Take that, “California Gurls”.
3. Shutterbug – Big Boi
Overshadowed by Kanye West’s “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” in success (but not length of title) Big Boi’s “Sir Lucious Left Foot: Son of Chico Dusty” was equally ambitious. While I wish I could put more songs from the album on this list, I won’t, because that would be boring for you.
2. Dark Fantasy – Kanye West
Ah, Mr. West. Ye once said, “it’s not bragging if you can’t back it up.” Translation: Kanye West is the fucking man, and will most definitely let you know. There are probably six or seven other tracks off his album that could substitute in at this spot, so the actual track is pretty arbitrary (but happens to be my favorite off the album, so I guess it isn’t too arbitrary). Kanye’s producing skills are so beyond anything else in the realm of mainstream music that it makes my head hurt.
1. Black And Yellow – Wiz Khalifa
The track to produce the largest quantity of shitty remixes also happened to be the best. This was a breakout year for Wiz, and while he had numerous other unbelievably hot tracks (see "Stuntin'" and "This Plane") "Black and Yellow" topped them all.
Honorable mention: Gorgeous – Kanye West, I Need A Dollar – Aloe Black, Talk Like A Hustler – Lil Wayne, Not In Love – Crystal Castles
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