Aughts pt. 2

2001 My Pod's most played...

1. Rock The Boat-Aaliyah
Before it became a consolation piece this was my fave from babygirl's final album.

2.U Should Know-Babyface
Though the Neptunes gave him his last hit, Face put it down on "What If" and this one from his last certified album. This one he killed with the signature S.O.L.A.R. falsetto he and his "cousins" in Midnight Star used.

3.Sometimes-Bilal
Poyser, Quest & an alien being of a vocalist made us twist heads, furl eyebrows, and laugh out loud at this once in a lifetime groove.

4. What It Is-Busta Rhymes
Neps still killing it on the hot lead track for Violator Mgmt's compilation cd. Busta's "ah-hah ah-hah" you couldn't resist mocking while bobbin your head, Crip walkin, droppin it, etc. A banger fa sho.

5. Cold Blooded-Common
This had no bidness being on Com's album, but I'm so glad it wasn't on some Voodoo cutting room floor. Word is, it's the swap for "Chicken Grease." Sad thing is most who could actually appreciate how stank this was probably never heard it.

6. You Gets No Love-Faith Evans
Michael Angelo Saulsberry, formerly of Portrait, laced the nastiest thing Faith ever made right here. Her arrangements don't lose out to the beat though. She even tapped into her former hubby's vault and spiced it up spittin a little.

7.-Can't Believe-Carl Thomas & Faith Evans
With Dre's "Phone Tap" beat and some distant memory of Carl's "Emotional," Bad Boy's singing king & queen did just what we knew they could, upgrade Donny & Roberta.

8. Simple-India.Arie
The one time she just shut up & sang on her debut. No soapboxing. No dark sinned chics are deeper shit. Just sang. The octave she does low & high for the backgrounds in is hauntingly hot.

9. Takeover-Jay-Z
Enter Kanye friggin West. The entire album could be listed here as it was my most played music in '01, but this is the most important song on The Blueprint. To even attempt going after two of Queens' most beloved and survive was a feat. But to challenge one to the point of resurrecting his career, while killing the other is the stuff of legends.

10. After Party-Koffee Brown
KayGee of Naught by Nature seemed to have his finger on the dance jams for a minute with Zhane, Next & even a noname, one-hit-wonder duo forced together to complete his Divine Mill roster. Here today, gone today. But the jam still knocks.

11. Can't Get You Out Of My Head-Kylie Minogue
Not the Loco-Motion chick from the 80s?! Kylie came back sexy and with one of the greatest dance hits in history. Video and all-sexy, sexy, sexy.

12. Butterflies-Michael Jackson
If Floetry's Marsha Ambrosious ever needs to tell her grandkids one thing she did that made history, it was saving Michael Jackson's thought-to-be-over career. Not even officially released as a single, this classic took us back to the tender tone MJ serenaded us with in his Off the Wall/Thriller heyday. Dre & Vidal's production was hip, yet flashed us back simultaneously. Written & arranged by Marsha, it reminded even Mike of how versatile a vocalist he was.

13. Whatever Happens-Michael Jackson
The most slept on song post Bad for MJ. The cinematic production screamed for video with Santana's western acoustic leading in, and searing signature solos took it home.

14. So Fresh So Clean Remix f/Snoop Dogg & Sleepy Brown--Outkast
Meant to be added on Outkast's greatest hits, this incredible remix never saw light of day, but remains one of the duo's finest recordings. "Caddillac grill in tact. Got my blue gators & belt to match! Ow!"

15. Blue Girl-Q-Tip
The Abstract was too Abstract for prime time and rappers experimenting to the level Kamal the Abstract did, was not allowed in '02. Ironically, his biggest fan, Andre Benjamin went even more "left" and won with it only a year later.

16. U Don't Have To Call-Usher
More Neptunes...But here we have a moment where Pharrell's songwriting steps in and the killer bridges take their tracks from simple loops to full-on songs.

17. How Do I Say-Usher
Though My Way & Confessions both outsold 8701, they aren't better albums. Here with an album cut Jimmy & Terry delivered, Usher takes us around the world atop a salsa/merengue rhythm that gives class to 8701 it's predecessor & follower do not.

18. Missing You/Player-112
I finally found the jewels of 112 with Part III. Q & Slim's crying finally took a back seat to Darron & Mike's grown up leads. Mike's deacon-like tamber & Darron's choir boy runs made these tunes unrecognizable to the average 112 fan. And while they enjoyed their biggest pop success ever with "Peaches & Cream," the album was rounded out by these two.

19. The Mind's Eye-Remy Shand. Dude was too talented to be just "one of" the neo-soul folk. The instrumentation on this one kept me engaged all six minutes.

20. Destiny-Zero 7. Among my first steps into electronica, SiSe's voice is as calming as Calgon.

21. Gone-N'Sync. Signalling the departure and bright (blacker) future for Justin. Couldn't believe my ears, rather eyes when I saw who was singing this.

22. Round & Round-Hi-Tek featuring Jonell. How's this for a one-hit wonder? Track bangs and she was too cute on the vocals even while she was kickin a bruh to the curb.

23. Stole-Kelly Rowland. What a waste of a great song. Kelly did her thing on this, but in B's shadow (or Papa Knowles involvement) she'd never even get arrested no matter how good her music was.