My Top 19 Songs of 2009 (not yours, or anyone else’s)

When it comes to top “songs,” I pick mostly hip-hop, because “songs” are really all it can do nowadays. I don’t listen to Tegan and Sara for the length of a “song,” I’ll listen to the full album (and will do that frequently, as long as the full-length doesn’t make me want to cut my ears off. Word to Splinter). And I linked each song to YouTube, where I either found the official video or some weirdo shit that the kids do now where they upload the song against the cover art or still pictures of the artist performing live. That way you can hear what I like. And then judge me. There’s your prelude, and here’s your list.

1. Maybach Music 2 - Rick Ross feat. T-Pain, Lil’ Wayne and Kanye West - Rawse may have lost his credibility in 2009, but he also released what was HANDS DOWN the best rap song of the year. Starting off like a Christopher Cross album cut, the best emerging producers in rap, Justice League (Justice League…Justice League), supply what is not only one of the best tracks of 2009, but one of the best beats of the decade. Yes, it’s mostly just typical hip-hop bragging for the vocals, but it’s REALLY GOOD typical hip-hop bragging, and it uses T-Pain’s hook abilities to it’s fullest extent (avoiding the “I have a T-Pain hook with the silly voice” syndrome most rappers, and iPhones, fell into during 2009). Weezy destroys while making less sense than “Mullholland Drive” and references “Tough Actin’ Tinactin” - so it has that going for it. If you download only one song about having so much money you’re “never going broke,” make it this one. Best song of the year…to me.

2. Move On (Remix) - Slaughterhouse - If I could be cast on the TV show “Obsessed,”I’m pretty sure they would treat me for my obsession of honesty-laced, depressive, long form verse rap music.” And they would hide this song from me, really high up in some halfway house closet, hoping I never find it. This supergroup of 4 of the best lyricists living, who also each have their own hard luck stories in the music business (Joe Budden, Crooked I, Royce Da 5’9 and Joel Ortiz), each take turns rapping with sheer honesty, frustration and revelation. In this song, they complain about the repetitive questions they dodge in every interview, their inability to break mainstream, family issues and Royce even opens up and admits immaturity, and asks for forgiveness, in his bromance break-up with former BFF Eminem (P.S. it might have worked. Rumors of Slaughterhouse signing to Shady Records are everywhere as we close out 2009). Also it’s 8 fucking minutes long, with no real obvious hook. This song is to hip-hop what Barry Lyndon was to the Kubrick filmography. This song was never released commercially and solely served as a buzz-creating leak for the upcoming album they did end up dropping (which wasn’t as good as this). Sort of hoping we see more of this in 2010, and we all slowly move on from Rosa Acosta’s boyfriend.

3. 2 Weeks - Grizzly Bear - Yes, the Knowles love them and Brooklyn hasn’t united this strong since they complained about Real World filming, but it’s my jam still. Somehow a cross between Mars Volta and Regina Spektor, “2 Weeks” has an infectious piano harmony that sounds like Josh Baskin stopped by the studio. Not sure how this song avoided being used in a Volvo commercial or during a montage on “The Hills,” but it was able to stay away from mainstream overplay (i.e. Jigga/Keys “Empire State Of Mind”) and still be a welcome random play on my iPod. Not sure what 2010 will bring for the indie rockers, but I do think this “Brooklyn” place will be the next hot spot for hipsters.

4. On To The Next One - Jay-Z - The brightest highlight on what I consider one of The Greatest Of All-Time’s best albums, this Swizz Beats track samples Justice’s “DANCE” and never looks back. Sounding like a track off the eventual urban remake of “Blade Runner” (get on that, Wayans!), this will be the 3rd single off “Blueprint 3,” with a video that debuted on New Year’s Eve during some special we didn’t watch, forcing it to only be viewable on the same TV station every music video is now aired: nowhere. Not sure if you’ve seen Jay-Z do this song live yet, but the beat does allow Jigga Man to do that amazing arms-out, Gyromite/R.O.B. The Robot dance he does when he’s breaking down his verses like an Emerson Language professor, so even if the song sucked, I’d celebrate it. MJ at Summer Jam, Obama on the text, I am definitely afraid of what the man will do next.

5. Walking On A Dream - Empire of the Sun - I thank Patrick Stump for introducing me to this Australian band I now pretend I’ve known about since before they were “cool.” Bowie meets MGMT meets The New Radicals meets Cyndi Lauper meets other artists I like. And their wardrobe, music video and stage show looks like Tarsem Singh stroyboarded it. This is the title track off an album I will highly suggest listening to in its entirety, but if I were hired by the dude who music supervises Entourage - this is the track I would submit, then I’d tell him I hate Entourage now.

6. Successful - Drake feat. Trey Songz and Lil’ Wayne - 2009’s Rookie of the Year is best known for “Best I Ever Had,” but this slow paced, honest (do I actually need A&E to step in?), almost Angelo Badalamenti-inspired track is a smooth transition for what will obviously be a successful career for Lil’ Jimmy from Degrassi. Working as the Young Money member’s “I’m Changing The Game” manifesto, this song originally appeared on the once free “So Far Gone” mixtape, which was released via retail once Jewish dudes realized there was money was to be made (I can say that, I’m part of the tribe). Trey Songz is still the most popular R&B musician in which I’ve never heard a song he’s done alone, but he sounds great on this, as do the background Choir-esque vocals creeping behind us. And just like every other hip-hop song we love, Weezy does stop by for a quick hello, after a “fake out-fade out” (TM) with a little less than 1 minute left in the song. Ain’t that a female dog?

7. Daniel - Bat For Lashes - Natasha Kahn and I were born within about a week of each other in 1979, which isn’t shocking, because if I were also a British alt rock singer, playing the piano, harpsichord, guitar and harp, I also would’ve wrote a hit inspirational love song inspired by Daniel Caruso from the Karate Kid. Weirdly, just listening to it now, I noticed some similarities between this track and number 6, “Successful” from Drake, but that would be way too Mash-up/DJ Hero of me to go any further with this revelation. Anyway, I LOVE this song and also consider the artwork for the single to be one of the greatest of its kind, ever. It does sound like an updated, and doper, version of “The Neverending Story” theme, so you know I’ll dig it forever.

8. Arab Money - Busta Rhymes feat. Ron Browz - Also, arguably the most offensive rap song of 2009 (mostly because Cam’ron’s “Bottom Of The Pu**y Hole” came out late 2008), Busta Rhymes takes this incredible Middle Eastern inspired Ron Browz track, talks about how he’s so rich he might as well move to Saudi Arabia, pronounces the nationality “A-RAAB” like one’s racist grandfather would, then makes the Auto-tune martyr Browz sing what may or may not be actual Arabic words as the hook (I’m no United Nations rep but I’m betting it is not real). Possibly the worst thing to happen to Middle Eastern nationalities since the Kardashians. Well, that is unless you saw the video where Busta introduces the “Arab Money” dance at LA’s Big Boy’s Neighborhood. Then it’s magical. Just for the liberal in you, Busta and Browz did change the way they said “Arab” on subsequent remixes due to complaints, BUT Spliff Star and Red Cafe are on one of the remixes talking about how they have “Arab Money,” so the definition of the term obviously changed by that point. 

9. Nicki Minaj/Joe Budden BET Cypher Freestyle - OK, technically not a song, agreed, but this small segment from 2009’s BET Awards may just be the warning you needed to be on top of your hip-hop game for 2010. These video vignettes (I believe 3 in total) aired after a few commercial breaks during the broadcast, and featured 4 rappers each, rhyming over a minimal DJ Premiere beat. I didn’t have much confidence in the idea, even though some of the other segments included Mos Def, Black Thought, Wale and Eminem (spitting what is EASILY his best verse of the year channeling his Rawkus years, instead of the Triumph The Insult Comic Dog voice he relies on now). But this Cypher incarnation is really the only one I remember. The first rapper, Young Money female signee Nicki Minaj, DESTROYS. Reiterated…DESTROYS. She’s going to be one to watch for 2010, and possibly finally break the glass ceiling, as female rappers before her mostly suck or end up looking weird 10 years later. She’s not the first rapper to sound like a robot (I miss you, Saafir), but she is the first to be on tracks with Mariah Carey, Usher and Thicke in the first 6 months of her major label career. If you start talking about her now, people will consider your ear to the street, trust me. Then there’s Budden. I’ve proven myself to be a Slaughterhouse Stan (don’t worry I’m not done), but here he shines with his solo style, comfortably laying in the beat, almost ying’ing to Nicki’s shining C3PO yang. HUGE punchlines from Joey Jump-off with the Serena Will/balls and Tila Tequilla’s neck bruise lines, which both elicit the “ooooooh” reaction sorely missed in today’s rap game. Budden almost teaches a class in complex rhymes, punchlines and subliminal meanings during the segment, so please take notes. 

10. 9x’s Outta 10 - DJ Quik & Kurupt - One half of The Dogg Pound and the most painfully slept on producer in hip-hop history, DJ Quik, joined forces in 2009 to release the album “Blaqkout,” and create this song, “9x’s Outta 10,” which is to hip-hop what that episode where Tony takes peyote in Las Vegas is to “The Sopranos.” This might be my favorite experimental hip-hop song of all time and just might be the most progressive the West Coast has been this decade. Quik obviously has been listening to a lot of Bjork and Portishead, while Kurupt obviously is not a dude you want to sit next to on a airplane, because he will not stop talking. This is not the song you want to hear in a club, unless it’s a Portuguese, LSD-infested, vacant warehouse Fight Club - but nonetheless, this song is fresh and something new in a genre that just keeps recycling old ideas. Also, if they ever make a movie about the creepy girl who lives in television sets from The Grudge being forced to attend an inner city high school (because of a city zoning error, but don’t worry she ends up learning about and accepting other races and cultures while helping the school win the Academic Decathlon by just helping the kids realize they WANT to learn), this should be the song in the trailer. 

11. The One - Slaughterhouse - The supergroup’s second entry on my list, this one from their debut self-titled album was their first actual single. “The One,” touches on their rock influence (and references), and is also just an outlet for them to show off their skills. They don’t reinvent the wheel here, but they drive really f*cking fast on the tires. KRS-1 samples don’t lose frequently, but someone should tell Royce that riding around “listening to Nickelback” is NOT something to admit, even if their name is similar to your nickname. Tons of quoteables here, especially from the Budden/Ortiz back and forth at the end, and Crooked I stands out as a star, forcing you to wonder what would’ve happened if Dre actually released a Crooked record during their times at Death Row Records. Maybe he’d know Mike Ditka? And a nice mainstream crossover had Blink-182’s Travis Barker remixing this song live and adding a verse from Texas’s favorite son, Bun B. Trill, indeed. 

12. A Star Is Born - Jay-Z feat. J-Cole - Jay’s second entry as well, this one produced by Kanyeezy and doubling as almost a timeline for the past decade in hip-hop. As a hip-hop historian myself, it’s nice to hear Jay-Z pay tribute to who’s been considered the “hottest” before him, but it is a little sad to realize how fast this genre has heralded, then forgotten its one-time brightest stars. But Jay-Z asking you to clap for them is a decent gesture, although some might need therapy over applause. Jay-Z takes the third verse to applaud himself (wouldn’t be hip-hop if he didn’t) and make way for protege J. Cole on the fourth. I’d love to talk more about J. Cole’s part, but haven’t heard it yet. One day I hope to though. 

13. Bebe Buell - Chester French - Two friends who met during their time at Harvard and now make music heavily inspired by British classics, namely The Beatles. (you know kids, these guys). I didn’t really want to like these guys, I’ll be honest, and I don’t like every song. But this one, Bebe Buell, in my opinion, has their perfect mix of Liverpool influence, Los Angeles redheaded naivety and Neptunes soul (Kenna era), as they are signed to Williams’ Star Trek imprint label. Chester French also released an entertaining mixtape in 2009 with DJ Clinton Sparks (loosely, and awesomingly, inspired by the 90’s ESPN compilation discs “Jock Jams”) which displays their hip-hop/soul influence and connections (which at times makes them the 2009 Brand New Heavies), with appearances by N.O.R.E., Diddy, Jadakiss, Dupri, Janelle Monae and Cassie. I’m interested to see where these guys go in 2010, while I continue to listen to highlights from the debut album, “Love The Future,” like “The Jimmy Choos,” “Sleep” and what was their first single, and MTV bumper, “She Loves Everybody.” But “Bebe Buell” is a pleasant album cut surprise. 

14. Combination Pizza Hut And Taco Bell - Das Racist - Nothing like losing whatever credibility I had left with 6 more songs to go. Post-mondernism at its best from this Brooklyn rap duo, who like Chester French met in college, this time at Wesleyan University (obviously right behind Bedstuy in rapper factory status). The song has a total of maybe 40 words total, but the absurdity and commercialism focus has to have the smarter fans asking bigger questions about where hip-hop has gone. You get the point early. They’re at one of those combo Pizza Hut and Taco Bells, and they’re proud of their location. But I think there’s a bigger question: Is this any difference between this polarizing dance track and any of the Black Eyed Peas’ hits, which all have been absolutely dominating the Billboard chart this year, sometimes even owning the first and second slot for consecutive weeks? Stupid is, as stupid does. I’d just rather be in on the joke, instead of the butt. Or a combination of the two at least.

15. My Life Would Suck Without You - Kelly Clarkson - Just because I love Slaughterhouse doesn’t mean I can’t crave pop every once in a while. And I’ve always been a fan of Kelly Clarkson songs, starting from “Miss Independent,” and the “Since U Been Gone” / “Behind These Hazel Eyes” double-header (which for industry nerds was the second and third singles, not the first), leading to her biting the hand that fed her by disobeying Clive and The Firm and trying out music she wanted to make - then returning to the producers and co-writers that her A&R had in his cell phone. This number one hit from her latest album, “All I Ever Wanted,” admits to the mistake of letting the wrong guy go, which snarky fans might pretend is directed to Clive Davis. If the charts were dominated by guilt-free number one hits like this, we’d all be better off. She can sing, she can write and she doesn’t look like every other girl pop star. Let’s hope she raises the pole for the other pop princesses for 2010.

16. I Wanna Rock - Snoop Dogg - This song is so west coast it should feature the actual Randy’s Dount on the hook. This banger, produced by Kid Frost’s son, up-and-comer Scoop DeVille, is proof that we just can’t write off Snoop D-O-Double G as out of touch yet (we’ll leave that to Xzibit). Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock have never had this much swagger (which is a word that R.I.P.’d starting January 1, 2010), and I still have a theory that Snoop hasn’t actually planned any of his verses before spitting them since “Deep Cover,” but damn if it’s not near perfect in an attempt to resurrect the West from absolute obscurity and make you forget about his reality show (but you also have to ignore this song’s Jaime Foxx video cameo). Also, I don’t hate his first single of 2009 either, “Gangsta Luv,” with The Dream singing the middles, so take that. Snoop obviously gets more attention than the Kurupt/Quik partnership earlier in my list, but include Snoop as a West Coast entry for 2009 and things are definitely looking up. Now we just need people to care.  

17. Just Begun - Reflection Eternal feat. Jay Electronica, J. Cole and Mos Def - Just sneaking into 2009 comes this hip-hop purist wet dream. It’s produced by one half of Reflection Eternal, Hi-Tek, and it’s kicked off by the other half, Talib Kweli. Honestly, solo Talib has been hit or miss with me since his Lyricist Lounge debut, “The Manifesto,” but it’s true that Blackstar will always be one of my favorite duos (and every other white kid in glasses’) and he does crush this one. Secondly we get the “Next In Line” backpack star (3 years and counting) Jay Electronica spitting one the best verses of his career. Still the media and message board darling, Jay Electronica had another strong underground year, releasing “Exhibit B” and “Exhibit C” - both produced by Just Blaze and giving kids who’ve bookmarked Nah Right a super-boner. His reference block of “Coming To America” and “Hakeem Olajuwon” rests as one of the best of the year. Someone force the dude to release an album. And haven’t got to the J.Cole verse yet. One day I hope to though (Is he the 2009 hip-hop “Zelig” or what?) And then Mos, Talib’s partner in crime from Blackstar, bats clean-up and leaves no one standing. Great song, released right before Christmas, was a late present for 2009.

18. Quiet Dog Bite Hard - Mos Def - I had downloaded Mos Def’s 2009 album, “The Ecstatic,” the day it was released, but didn’t get to listening to it until I watched him perform this song on Letterman a few weeks later (which I’ve linked, although I think the quality doesn’t do it justice). I had grown weary of Mos after his ill-advised rock project, “Black Jack Johnson” and what has to be one of the wierdest rapper/label disputes, when Geffen released his 2006 album “True Magic” sans any album art, in just a clear jewel case. It later was reported that Mos Def asked for it to be released without album art and without ANY promotion by the label or Mos himself. You know, like how the cavemen did it. So it’s been a bumpy ride. But both “The Ecstatic” and this song in particular have started a welcome upswing for the Brooklyn rapper/actor (only the dude who invented the Sunggie had a better 2009 than Brooklyn it appears) that includes a rumored 2010 album with his new duo, consisting of himself and Jay Electronica, and a role in William H. Macy’s directorial debut. I hope the movie will have poster art.

19. Russian Roulette - Rihanna - Goes without saying that it’s been a roller coaster year for Rihanna. Her personal troubles with the guy who used Twitter for retail conspiracy theories, the leaked nude photos, and the proof that she collects wicker or bamboo furniture from Pier One Imports, haven’t made 2009 easy for Ri-Ri. And full disclosure, my snap judgement had me hating this song. I even sent out a snarky Twitter about how this song won’t match her past triumphs. Hey, at the time the song felt whiny and I wouldn’t have been surprised if it were a Beyonce leftover. But I can admit to my mistakes, because after a few more listens, I’ve grown to love the track (but still hate the art school-like video).