Fetty Wap
“679” (featuring Remy Boyz), #34
“My Way” (featuring Monty or Drake), #98
Not only not a one-shot, but it turns out Fetty Wap has a real gift for hooks, or at least knows how to reapply the ones he’s already cashed in on. The lyrics of “679″ run along the usual “I’m a rich drug dealer, fuck me” line, but the sound is fresh enough that it doesn’t matter. On “My Way”, returning to the loverman persona of “Trap Queen”, he puts down his competition for not being able to get their tracks released, much less into the top ten. It’s not the most brutal diss, but boy does he enjoy saying it.
Demi Lovato
“Cool For The Summer”
#36
The Katy Petty comparisons are obvious, and there’s a lot of Taylor Swift in “Cool For the Summer”, as well, but those metal guitar bursts (recorded so they could easily be mistaken for dubstep flourishes) are all Lovato, and she’s in complete control. The lesbian double entendres, coy and heavy-handed as they are, still carry an erotic charge, largely because Lovato is learning how to rein in her voice. There are still hints of overkill, but would it be a Demi Lovato record without them? Her best since “Don’t Forget”.
Meek Mill
“R.I.C.O.” (featuring Drake), #57
“Bad For You” (featuring Nicki Minaj), #96
I’m not sure what to make of Meek Mill the pop rapper (which is what he automatically becomes by putting Drake and Nicki Minaj on his tracks). I don’t think he is, either. Maybe the worry that he’ll start being perceived as too soft is the reason for his recent Twitter beef with Drake—that and Drake’s constant lusting in public for Minaj, however much of it may be an act (and I think it’s always been an act). These are both good, solid tracks—”Bad For You” may be more than that—and Mill doesn’t sound out of place, just out of focus. I still prefer him on his own, though.
Big Sean Featuring Chris Brown & Ty Dolla $ign
“Play No Games”
#84
Chris Brown is so good at finding hooks he can afford to throw some away once in a while, but “Play No Games” is better than usual and giving it to Big Sean to mangle seems like a waste. Almost as big a waste as when Brown saves his hooks for himself.
Pia Mia Featuring Chris Brown & Tyga
“Do It Again”
#86
Tyga’s introductory verse, in which he compares Pia Mia to Tom Brady (!), Marcia Brady, and Chelsea Handler, is as dumb as rap gets, and comes close to crippling the track (needless to say, aside from being blonde Pia Mia doesn’t resemble any of them). The hook almost saves it, but otherwise this is too ordinary to deserve much notice.
NEEDTOBREATHE Featuring Gavin DeGraw
“Brother”
#100
I had to watch the video to figure out who sang what, because the lead singer of NEEDTOBREATHE (do I care what his name is? No, I do not), is impossible to distinguish vocally from guest Gavin DeGraw. So why did they bother to bring in DeGraw? Let me talk to some promo people and get back to you on that one.