Wired 25: The 25 Best Songs Of The 2012 Summer

As the month of August comes to a close, it’s time to look back on the best songs of the past three months. Once the weather breaks, every in demand rapper wants to stake a claim to the summer. There is something about parties, vacations, barbecues, warm weather and women that make your favorite artist put their best foot forward to make sure it is a memorable one.

Def Jam Records absolutely had the best summer out of all the record labels as artists like Nas, Frank Ocean, Kanye West, Rick Ross, 2 Chainz and more all showed out with stellar albums and singles. New cats like Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Rocky and Meek Mill staked their claim to the winner’s circle. Hip-Hop Wired takes a look at the 25 best songs of the 2012 summer in this week’s edition of Wired 25
MORE ON HIP-HOP WIRED!

• Cash Money CEO Ronald “Slim” Williams Buys Largest House In South Florida [PHOTOS]

• Bangin Candy: Evelyn Lozada [PHOTOS]

• Rick Ross Takes A Trip To Lagos, Nigeria [PHOTOS]

• Where Are They Now?: The Shining Stars of Rawkus Records [PHOTOS]

• Check My Footwork: 10 Shoes & The Rappers Who Helped Make Them Famous [PHOTOS]

• Terry Richardson Shoots Rick Ross For Rolling Stone [PHOTOS/VIDEO]

• Swagger Back: 10 Rappers That Were Left For Dead, But Bounced Back Like Cooked Cr@ck

• I Do: 10 Songs Rappers Dedicated To The Women In Their Lives

25. The-Dream ft. Pusha T. – “Dope B***h”

Usually when you compare a woman to drugs, it isn’t in the most complimentary sense. The-Dream, being the songwriting extraordinaire he is, makes it a term of endearment with one of Hip-Hop’s favorite dope boys for “Dope B***h.”

24. A$AP Rocky – “Goldie”

A$AP Rocky burst no the scene last summer with the critically acclaimed LoveLiveA$AP mixtape. Everyone wondered what he would do for an encore and he responded in kind with the Hit-Boy produced “Goldie.”

23. Usher ft. Rick Ross – “Lemme See”

Some fans of Usher were led astray with his new album because of too many euro pop influences in his music. On “Lemme See,” Ursh sticks to the script with a sultry jam led by the big bawse, Ricky Rozay.

22. Trey Songz ft. T.I. – “2 Reasons”

Trey Songz snatched up T.I. for this club banger that recently gained a ton of steam with the release of his fifth studio album, Chapter V. Trey and Tip make no bones about why they are in the club on “Two Reasons.”

21. Big K.R.I.T. – “I Got This”

Who says Big K.R.I.T. can’t turn a club up? On “I Got This,” his high-octane party starter was a favorite in strip clubs all across America.

20. Flo Rida – “Whistle”

Go ahead and act like you don’t know the words to this song. Flo-Rida may have turned pop faster than your head can spin, but nobody is seeing Flo’s ability to rule parties ranging from South Beach to your local Bar Mitzvah.

19. Elle Varner – “Refill”

Elle Varner’s charming songs and girl-next-door appeal made her a household name this summer and “Refill” was proof that she’ll be having another round.

18. Meek Mill, Wale & French Montana – “Actin Up”

You couldn’t turn around this summer without bumping into some new music from MMG. Meek Mill, French Montana and Wale’s ode to unruly women and the men who love them was a standout record on the Self Made Vol. 2.

17. Kendrick Lamar ft. Dr. Dre – “The Recipe”

Kendrick Lamar went from underground favorite to an artist on the cusp of superstardom. “The Recipe” was a vintage west coast anthem that even brought the reclusive Dr. Dre from out the shadows and back on the microphone.

16. Future – “Turn On The Lights”

One of 2012’s most unlikely stars, Future not only brought back autotune but he made it his own. Even if Future can’t carry a tune to save his life, “Turn On The Lights” was and is a song that can’t be denied.

15. Nas – “Daughters”

Nas’ best album in nearly a decade shined best when he made his songs personal. It doesn’t get more personal than “Daughters” as Nas dedicates this one to all the coldest players in the world that turned out to have precious little girls.

14. Rick Ross – “Hold Me Back”

The Rozay machine didn’t stop this summer as the Lex Luger produced “Hold Me Back” took the fly and flashy boss back to the trap. This song was so motivational that the song’s hook was the United States Men’s Basketball Team’s rallying cry on their way to a 2012 Olympic gold medal.

13. Frank Ocean – “Pyramids”

Frank Ocean’s grounbreaking debut album broke many of the rules of how to release a project. All that did was make Ocean the breakthrough artist of 2012 thus far, and “Pyramids” was the one that started it all.

12. Chief Keef ft. Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T and Jadakiss – “I Don’t Like (Remix)”

Face it Keef, the original version of this song was cool but the remix shot you to the moon. Pay homage! Anyway, Kanye rounds up Jadakiss, Pusha T, and Big Sean to give Keef’s Chicago anthem a shot in the arm.

11. Dom Kennedy – “My Type Of Party”

It’s not summertime if you don’t get a mixtape from Dom Kennedy. He came through as usual with another song that puts you in the middle of California no matter where you call home. “My Type Of Party” features a Don Cornelius intro and the laid back groove is as warm as it gets.

10. Kanye West – “Cold”

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian have been a tabloid’s dream come true in 2012, and this record was what kicked it all off. This pretty much served as a musical press conference announcing Kim and Kanye’s relationship. It doesn’t hurt that this Hit-Boy beat knocks and has quotables for days.

9. Nicki Minaj ft. 2 Chainz – “Beez in Da Trap”

If Nicki Minaj’s second album didn’t really do it for you, chances are it was hard for you to find fault in “Beez In The Trap.” Nicki’s collaboration with arguably the game’s go-to feature artist made this song a mainstay in any party.

8. Future ft. Ludacris and Diddy – “Same Damn Time (Remix)”

Once every couple of years Diddy pops up on the hottest record of the moment just to remind people that when it comes to stone cold ish-talking, Combs is in a league of his own. Future’s “Same Damn Time” remix was this year’s victim. You still can’t multitask, negro.

7. Nas – “Bye Baby”

Nas’ ode to his ex-wife Kelis perfectly encapsulates the beginning, middle and end of his rocky marriage. If you couldn’t feel for Nas during the divorce, he makes sure he never has to answer another question about his ex-wife again at the end of the song. It’s all here, and it’s beautiful.

6. Meek Mill ft. Big Sean – “Burn”

The art of the back and forth record has been lost for a while. Only a few rappers can pull it off, and those that do pull it off are rappers that have been together for while like Kanye West and Jay-Z or Jadakiss and Styles P. That style was executed to perfection on Meek Mill and Big Sean’s “Burn.” Skeptics of Sean were mighty silent when the Detroit player arguably murdered Meek on his own s**t.

5. Juicy J. ft. 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne – “Bands A Make Her Dance”

We can just go ahead and assume that Juicy J will never, ever, go away. The Three 6 Mafia/Taylor Gang member re-emerged with a vengeance with this rain-making anthem, “Bands A Make Her Dance.” This is also one of Wayne’s best verses since he decided to kickflip more than kick rhymes.

4. Meek Mill ft. Drake – “Amen”

This song was featured on Meek’s mixtape, Dreamchasers 2, and it only picked up more steam as the summer chugged along during Drake’s Club Paradise tour. This Key Wane-produced banger was a fun call and response record that showed Meek’s versatility and solidified Drake’s golden touch.

3. French Montana ft. Drake, Rick Ross and Lil Wayne – “Pop That”

This Uncle Luke-sampled jam from French Montana, Rick Ross, Drake and Lil Wayne turned the most timid of females into professional dancers at the drop of a beat. The video rubbed some female fans the wrong way, but the song is called “Pop That,” what did you expect? Popcorn?

2. 2 Chainz ft. Drake – “No Lie”

It can be argued that the summer belonged to the two men pictured right here. Despite not dropping an album, the summer was all about Drake. From altercations with Chris Brown to his Club Paradise tour, to his multiple appearances on top joints of the year. And then there is, 2 Chainz. From after thought to superstar, 2 Chainz’s Based On A T.R.U. Story went #1 during it’s debut week and he was the most sought after feature artist in Hip-Hop. Tru!

1. Kanye West, 2 Chainz, Big Sean and Pusha T. – “Mercy”

Did we say 2 Chainz was the most sought after feature artist in Hip-Hop? Tity two necklaces got on this smash record with Kanye West, Big Sean and Pusha T and made it all his own. The hair weave killer’s loose affiliation with G.O.O.D. Music has made the anticipation for Cruel Summer swell, even if we have to wait for the Fall for it to drop.