| What do you get when you mix rap's most eclectic group of emcees? a mellowed out, introspective look on money, fame, and girls. Lupe Fiasco, Pharrell Williams, and Kanye West supply their views on the world on a hypnotic beat accompanied with a sample of Thom Yorke's classic, Eraser. |
25. "Us Placers"
C.R.S. |
| Britney Spears shimmied back into the music scene with her hit first single, Gimme More. But it's her media-bashing second single, Piece Of Me, that actually catches the ear. It provides a proper look into Mama Spears' personal life, umbrella slinging and all. |
24. "Piece Of Me"
Britney Spears |
| Beyoncé provides a more tender and melodic look into her world with this bonus track from the re-release of her smash album, B'Day. Beyoncé admits to all her flaws. Though her flaws are few, it's still an endearing sentiment and one of the best R&B songs of the year. |
23. "Flaws 'N All"
Beyoncé |
| Swizz Beatz may not be the most profound rapper, or the most eclectic. But he nailed it with this tongue-in-cheek club song about a money-hungry female. |
22. "Money In The Bank"
Swizz Beatz |
| In true American music tradition, there's a song that's so infectious and silly that it becomes a smash hit. Equipped with an easy-to-learn dance, Souljah's Hip-Pop crossover hit had everyone dancing from Beyoncé to your third period Science teacher that you recorded and put on YouTube. |
21. "Crank That (Souljah Boy)"
Souljah Boy |
| Underground Hip-Hop is a lonely, lonely world. A world where street credibility is everything and money means nothing, but cred doesn't pay the bills. Not for long anyway. Hot Thing is the first single from Talib's impressive album, Eardrum, and is Talib's first sip of the mainstream. |
20. "Hot Thing (feat. will.i.am)"
Talib Kweli |
| What's a year without an emo-rock album? Fall Out Boy flooded MTV and radio when they came out with this catchy, head-knocking ditty. The group brought more of a Prince edge and R&B flare that still had emotional suburban kids going crazy, but you can call it Hip-Hop's guilty pleasure. Kanye West even supplied a remix. |
19. "This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race"
Fall Out Boy |
| Keyshia has a fierce formula of heart-break and Hip-Hop beats, and she stuck to it with this funky song about soured love. Missy Elliot supplies a fresh beat and Lil' Kim adds her signature sass. This song is one you wouldn't just let go. |
18. "Let It Go (feat. Missy Elliott & Lil' Kim)"
Keyshia Cole |
| This is '07's little secret. A fun, 80s R&B ode to loving that's, well, bonafide. It's nostalgic, youthful, humorous, and so cheery that it could make dance partners out of Rosie O’Donnell and Donald Trump. |
17. "Bonafied Lovin'"
Chromeo |
| Three mix tapes in one year is an extraordinary feat for any rapper, but the fact that they were all stellar is what separates Lil' Wayne from the rest. I Feel Like Dying appears on Weezy's The Drought Is Over 2 and is by far one of the most arresting songs between all three installments. An ode to Mr. Tambourine Man and his goodies, I Feel Like Dying is Snoop Dogg meets Pink Floyd. |
16. "I Feel Like Dying"
Lil' Wayne |
| The T's breakthrough hit is one of the most sensitive songs of the year. Never climaxing or being over-indulgent like their emo-rock counterparts, Plain White T's kept it simple and scored a hit. |
15. "Hey There Delilah"
Plain White T's |
| Ms. Blige is back on the dance floor with her positive upbeat tune about self empowerment and dancing. Reminiscent of Family Affair, this song is perfect to remind listeners that Mary isn't just the princess of Blues, but also rhythm. |
14. "Just Fine"
Mary J. Blige |
| The idea of Wu, Erykah Badu, and a Beatles' interpolation is enough to make any music fan squeal, and it did just that. This psychedelic song about crime and death is just as gritty and creative as ever. |
13. "The Heart Gently Weeps (feat. Erykah Badu, Dhani Harrison & John Frusciante)"
Wu-Tang Clan |
| For the younger generation it's hard to recall (especially if you weren't born) a time when Prince was just a rock star, not the king of music. Guitar is a good reminder. Reminiscent of his Purple Rain days, Prince proves that he still has the funk and edge that he broke on the scene with some decades back. |
12. "Guitar"
Prince |
| Every starving artist's anthem was Rock Star this year. Nickelback's front man, Chad Kroeger, supplies raspy vocals with a Bon Jovi-esque chorus that bites just as well as it barks. |
11. "Rock Star"
Nickelback |
Insights 
![Beyoncé - B'Day [Deluxe Edition]](http://www.thahiphop.com/en/images/stories/review/beyonce.jpg)
