Steve 'Flash' JuonBy making a sequel to one of the most successful albums ever (until Adele this year it held the record for all time fastest selling album at retail) Eminem found his creative drive again. He went back even further than that though thanks to Rick Rubin – all the way to 1981 to sample Billy Squier’s hard rock anthem “The Stroke.”
It’s hardly new for rappers to jam to Squier given that “The Big Beat” is one of the most sampled songs ever, but in doing so Eminem re-established the rap tradition of making rock into hip-hop. I won’t lie – for years I didn’t realize BDP’s “Dope Beat” was originally AC/DC’s “Back In Black.” For me and for many others hip-hop did what KRS-One so boldly proclaimed on a song from the same album (“Criminal Minded“) while imitating John Lennon – they took rock and pop and made it better. Eminem and the aging Santa Claus of rap (just get a good look at him in the video) do here too.
11.) J. Cole f/ TLC – “Crooked Smile”
12.) Lil Wayne f/ Drake, Future – “Love Me”
13.) Kendrick Lamar – “Don’t Kill My Vibe”
14.) Sage the Gemini f/ IamSu! – “Gas Pedal”
15.) Pitbull f/ Ke$ha – “Timber”
16.) Trinidad James – “All Gold Everything”
17.) B.o.B f/ 2 Chainz – “HeadBand”
18.) Ace Hood f/ Future, Rick Ross – “Bugatti”
19.) YG f/ Jeezy, Rich Homie Quan – “My Nigga”
20.) Macklemore – “Can’t Hold Us”