YWB: Best Songs of 2009

What You Need to Listen to Before Jan. 1st

Ready For Whatever-T.I.

The best argument for Second Amendment rights this decade. What does it mean to be a international sensation, and to have your best friend get killed in front of you without anyone being arrested.

"I'm dealing with depression from my partner dying next to me ... [I] think since no one's arrested, they coming for me eventually/ This is what I was going through mentally ... Now is it that hard to understand, if you listen? Either die or go to jail--that's a hell of a decision"

Listzomania- Phoenix

Number one reason to wake up in this stressful year. The Anti-Recession.

"Houstatlantavegas"/"Goin In"/"Forever"- Drake

The women, the fame, and the Lil Wayne in Drake's life. Am I missing anything?

Run This Town- Jay-z with Rihanna and Kanye West

Kanye's verse outshines Hov's on his own song, this is a first. Rihanna is at once lyrical "walking, crawl against terrain" and also capable of carrying a hook by repeating "eh."

Calle Ocho- Pitbul

Como? Because it's the best thing to dance to, besides Baltimore Club.

Go Hard (remix)- Jay-z, T-Pain, and Kanye West (er, and DJ Khaled!)

Jay-z outshines Kanye on his own song, bringing the world back to order. "Philly goin say 'they cant't touch the bul.'

Put it Down- The Dream

Chorus of the Year: "I'm all up on you like a monster truck/ I'm all up on you, like 'shorty, what's up'?"

Angels- Dirty Money

A dark, fresh R&B song. We don't get those too often, but I haven't been listening to that genre much since Keri Hilson disappointed me, so what do I know?

Best Lyrics/Informative

How I Got Over- The Roots

Casa Bey- Mos Def

Hard- Rihanna with Young Jeezy

"Stupid in Love" is not a good song. There, I said it. The beat already sounds dated.

Move- Q-Tip

Spaceman- The Killers

Good Enough-Joe Budden

Songs I loved to hate, then love again

I Love College- Asher Roth

The party song of the year had an anti-rape message, and that's good enough for me.

I'm on a Boat- The Lonely Island

Can't Believe It-T-Pain

As to why I love this song, the title says it all.

Every Girl in The World-Young Money

Drake drops the line of the year. Oh, "And we are Macc Mizzle, baby" I would buy ten copies of Mac Mane and the Mac Mizzles, if that album were to appear. I really would.

"Weird" Songs

What Would I Want? Sky- Animal Collective

Shove It- Santigold with Spank Rock

So maybe this song might've came out in 2008, ugh, shove it.

Whatchadoin?- Spank Rock and MIA (on NASA's album)

When I Grow Up- Fever Ray

Beautiful Songs

Beautiful- Eminem

On an album Em called "just rap records" (which isn't bad thing, considering his technical flow) this song had heart. Relapse 2, can't wait.

I Was Once a Loyal Lover- Death Cab for Cutie

"All my friends are forward thinking, getting hitched and quitting drink/ and I can feel them pulling away while I'm resigned to stay the same" The man has problems, but he also has Zooey Deschanel.

This Tornado Loves You- Neko Case

Genre Bending

Good Ole' Fashion Nightmare- Matt and Kim

Brooklyn indie meets Rough Riders instrumental.

National Anthem-Lupe Fiasco

Radiohead, *the* serious band meets Lupe Fiasco, *the* serious rapper. Heads fly.

I Sing Myself

Kinda Like A Big Deal- The Clipse

"It's more than a feeling, ain't it? I be feeling, damn it. I'millie amillie amillie; eh, eh, eh"

C'Mon (On my Own)- Chester French

"[Kanye] said that they'd be drunk and hot girls, but I'm not tryna mess with no sluts." Indeed.

Songs About Girls