With so many rap tunes raining down on us like confetti, it's often challenging to wrap our hands around the hottest songs out there. Not to worry, I've compiled a list of the ten songs that are incinerating charts and ears everywhere. The weekly Top 10 is based mainly on aesthetic value, relevance, and performance on various charts.
1. Gnarls Barkley - Crazy
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Isn't it striking that a project could start off as an unpretentious experiment and eventually morph into a sensational artifact? Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse completed 6 of the songs on St. Elsewhere before they even secured a label deal. Now that's crazy.
2. Kanye West ft Twista & Keyshia Cole - Impossible (MI:3)
Following the launch of "Mission Impossible III," Kanye West recently made the single available to digital retailers. "The controversy can't worse me man, I'm eating but I'm still thirsty and.." True indeed.
3. Lupe Fiasco - Kick, Push
Listen | Watch Video (windows media).
Speaking of Kanye, Lupe Fiasco recently performed with the Chicago producer/MC and Twista on the Ellen Degeneres show, which aired on ABC May 15th. Look for Lupe's Jay-Z-produced debut, Food & Liquor, this summer.4. Fort Minor ft. Holly Brook & Jonah Matranga - Where'd You Go
Listen | Watch Video (windows media).
Fort Minor and his cohorts will perform "Where'd You Go" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno this Wednesday(May 24th).
This gripping slapper from The Rising Tied has now reached #5 on the Hot 100 Singles chart.5. T.I. - What You Know
After briefly mourning the death of his childhood crony and personal assistant, Philant Johnson, T.I. has resumed his "King Tour." T.I. seems to have a knack for questions, with singles like "What You Know" and the follow-up jam, "Why You Wanna."
6. Yung Joc - It's Goin' Down
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On It's Goin' Down, Joc spits: "time to flip the work make the block bump/boys from the hood call me black donald trump." We'll find out how authentic that claim is when New Joc City drops this June.7. Busta Rhymes - Touch It (Remix)
Back with a Big Bang, Busta Rhymes is still patiently waiting for his Aftermath debut to hit shelves on June 13th. The album includes collaborations with the late ODB, Nas, and Eminem. "Touch It" has now spent 23 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.
8. Rick Ross ft Jay-Z & Young Jeezy - Hustlin' Remix
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Just like he did just before Young Jeezy's "Go Crazy" attained cult status back in 2005, Def Jam prez, Jay-Z, jumped on Rick Ross' sure-shot single, "Hustlin'" along with Jeezy. Unlike his verse on "Go Crazy," Jigga sounds prosaic here, but the single will probably soar on the strength of his name alone.9. Rhymefest - Dynomite (Going Postal)
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In a recent interview with Vibe magazine, Rhymefest offered his own definition of an emcee. "A real MC is equally made up of lyrical dexterity, swagger, and of course, their love of hip hop," he told Vibe. I'm certain Rhymefest was referring to himself.
10. Mobb Deep - Put 'Em In Their Place
Mobb Deep's first release on 50 Cent's G-Unit label, Blood Money, slipped from #3 to #28 on Billboard 200 last week. I guess that's what happens when you diss God in one of your songs ("Pearly Gates.")


