Wired 25: The 25 Best Singles Of 2012 [LISTEN]

Everyday this week, Hip-Hop Wired is counting down the Wired 25’s of the year. Today, we are taking look at the sure shot best hit singles of 2012. 

This is by far the most difficult of things to narrow down to 25. With so many records dropping by the hour, who has time to keep up with all these songs? We do, obviously. All of these songs were official label-released songs that you can listen to through your Spotify-application and cop on iTunes within the link.

Between the likes of Rick Ross, 2 Chainz, Nas, Kendrick Lamar, French Montana, Drake, G.O.O.D. Music and everyone in between; narrowing it down to 25 was no small feat. But it has been completed.

The songs were picked on quality, mass appeal, and chart performance. Without further delay, hit the slides to check out the Wired 25: Top 25 Best Singles of 2012. 

This might be Chief Keef’s best attempt at a song “for the ladies.” We are so serious.

Dom Kennedy’s vibed out single off of The Yellow Album, put you right in the middle of a good time.

This Bone Thugz-N-Harmony sampled song was that good mood music. You can almost smell the Summer weather once this song came on.

If this song came out earlier in 2012, it might have been a lot higher. However, the biggest song in Hip-Hop of the moment came out of nowhere and seems to be making itself comfortable resting in your ears.

Lil Wayne’s take on “Hakuna Matata” is a frantic, fun-filled record that brought back the happy Weezy  that we haven’t seen in a while.

Forty Water continues to defy age confines as “Function” blew up among the youths before the old heads got it.

Rakim’s Hit-Boy produced jam was a flossy anthem about living that high life and looking good while you do it. Extraordinary swag.

How do you make sure your one-hit wonder status last long? Make sure your name is the name of your song. Brilliant.

The young Houston spitter’s ode to the purple stuff crew legs and 2012 and became a big hit despite the fact that he sounds exactly like Drake.

A hit single with substance? A rarity to you, but commonplace for Nas. No ID laced one of the G.O.A.T.’s with an ode to all of the brothers with daughters.

The big bawse gets sensual with help from a poetry-reading Wale and singing Drake on “Diced Pineapples.” We’d call you crazy if you didn’t simp to this record.

Nas’ Life Is Good gave us this stellar look back on what we all wanted to hear about; his failed marriage to Kelis. In about less than four minutes, Nas tells you everything you ever wanted to know. Brutal honesty.

The Moses of Autotune’s record “Same Damn Time” was already a smash, but when he invited Diddy to make us all feel financially inferior the song was shot to the moon, or Pluto. Wherever you prefer.

There’s a method to all of Kendrick’s madness. When originally heard “Swimming Pools” seemed like a dope call and response record that seemed fitting as a single. Once heard on the album, the song took on an entirely different meaning. The kid is m.A.A.d. good.

The original ran the streets. The remix ran the world. Chief Keef’s menacing hit record was a “play at your own risk” type of record. The type of record that would’ve gotten you stomped out if it came on at the right place at the wrong time. It was that type of joint. Adding Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T and Jadakiss gave it life nobody saw coming and made Chief Keef a rap household name, whether the 17-year-old wants to admit it or not. Bang bang.

Thank the good Pastor Chainz for giving us a song to replace the old and played “Happy Birthday” song that has been used forever. Because at the end of the day, we all know what we wish for when we blow out that candle.

This record is what barbershop debates were made for. Who got the best of who on “Burn?” Was it Meek Mill with lines “I’ll Blake Griffin your h*e, ni**a?” Or was it Big Sean that toe tagged the beat and ended it by calling us all “little b**ches.” The debate rages on.

Meek Mill finally proved that he can make a hit record without breaking the decibel meter. Along with Drizzy Drake providing yet another masterful verse, the two had us all praying in the club.

Future’s breakout year was capped off by releasing this album favorite as a single. This record went on to become the #1 record on Billboard for a while and had us wookin’ pa nub in all the wrong places. I’m looking for her too.

This record originally featured the entire G.O.O.D. Music clique, but when Jay-Z specifically asked that Big Sean stay on the record, you know he made it to  the big time. This was the song that you grabbed all the friends you came to the party with and dare anybody to say they are messing with you. Oh, and Yeezy talked about how his chick was famous for slurping Ray J. Swag.

We caught up to 2 Chainz’s campaign in 2012 when he released his first single “No Lie,” featuring Drake. Keeping Drizzy’s hot streak of guest appearances up, the Canadian and the ATLien delivered Tity Boi’s first #1 record.

This single had so many gems. Rick Ross gave us a masterful verse. Drake got at Common and Vanessa Bryant while giving us the classic line “You wasn’t with me shootin’ in the gym.” French Montana discovered “fanute.” What wasn’t there to love about this record? Almost one year later, it still can set a party off.

Juicy J is like the ants of rap music. When the world is destroyed and everyone is gone, only the ants will be left. Ants and Juicy J. His resurgence with the ratchet anthem “Bandz A Make Her Dance” killed strip clubs across the country and let us know just how hard it is to say know to ratchet pu**y. We feel you, Juice. We feel you.

The G.O.O.D. Music crew’s had your chick so thirsty this summer. Swervin’ all year, Big Sean continued his banner year while Pusha T. and 2 Chainz continued to body everything in his path.

An instant party starter every time you hear it, French Montana hit a homerun with “Pop That.” Sure it helped he called up his friends Drake, Wayne and Ross to help him out, but a hit record is a hit record. The song of the summer is the song of the year.