PropsOverHere Presents: Best of 2007- Top 25 Songs

I thought making this the top 25 would make it easier to chose songs for the list but I found that there were more like 40 very good songs this year. I'm not entirely sure what to make of that, but I'd say it makes 2007 a relative success since 2006 churned out about 4.5 good tracks. Without futher ado, here is the definitive top 25 list of the years best rap songs.

25. Soul Fever- Camp Lo

Camp Lo made a solid return this year with their 3rd album Black Hollywood and an appearence on that 9th Wonder album. The album wasn't so great, but this is an example of the funky songs that they were born to make.

24. C'mon Baby- Saigon

While this could've used more creativity from both Saigon and Just, the single to this 2008 (?) album was pretty gutta.

23. The Hardest- Styles P & AZ

I was kind of lukewarm about this when I posted it a while back but its grown on me since. This never actually came out on an official release but is on the tracklsiting for AZ's Undeniable set to drop in '08. Check the video:

22. The People- Common

While Common's Finding Forever was a letdown, some of that had to do with this being the first single. Unfortunately, Kanye was unable to summon any more of that J Dilla brilliance anywhere else on the album.

21. Rushing Elephants- Wu-Tang Clan

I have to say that I didn't hate 8 Diagrams like all of the other nerds on the internet did. It doesn't exactly stack up with the Wu of the mid-90's but its comparable to The W or Iron Flag, maybe even better. Anyway, this track is an early standout for me. The beat is crazy.

20. Superstar- Lupe Fiasco

I probably didn't like this the first 5 times I heard it, probably because the white guy on the hook. The more I listened however, I found the track to be "stadium status".

19. No Holding Back- Statik Selektah, AZ, & Cormega

No tandem is fuckin with AZ and Mega and the beat by Statik is definitely cool. Seriously those two should make an album together just back to back rhyming and shit that'd be classic.

18. Good Life- Kanye West

It was tough to chose which song off Graduation to put on here, but this prevailed as it was easily the most entertaining 3 and a half minutes of the album. I have to say that releasing this instead of "Stronger" over the summer seems a bit obvious now, not that Kanye's broke because of it, or that anyone else cares for that matter.

17. Desire- Pharoahe Monch

While this album was a depressing waste of time, the title track was pure heat. I heard the Alchemist jacked this beat but who gives a fuck.

16. Success- Jay-Z & Nas

This is another song that has grown on me alot. Jay and Nas' verses definitely stood out, but the beat took some getting used to. I think the fact that it was a new sample/new idea made me appreciate it more.

15. Yolanda's House- Ghostface Killah, Method Man, & Raekwon

This has a classic trio and storyline but the annoying singing over the beat kind of holds this back from greatness. Still good stuff though.

14. Intro (Jesus Price)- Sean Price

This intro set the stage for a pretty mediocre album but its still one of the best tracks (definitely the best intro) of '07. Sean P kills it over a dope flute beat by PF Cuttin, who should have made alot more beats than he has.

13. All I Know- DJ Jazzy Jeff & C.L. Smooth

This, without exaggerating, is like the 2007 version of something off The Main Ingredient. Pete Rock doesn't even make tracks with this much soul anymore.

12. 125, Pt.4 (Finale)- Joell Ortiz

I wasn't really into The Brick street album/mixtape whatever and I guess I can see why Dre dropped him but this is one of the truest songs of '07. The beat is real slick and Joell really puts his heart into these 125 bars which usually doesn't matter to me but I can respect it. Here's the video for it:

11. Practice- DJ Jazzy Jeff & J-Live

This is what all underground rap songs should sound like. The Allen Iverson sample was a clever touch.

10. Country Cousins- Talib Kweli & UGK

When I saw discussions about this album I hardly saw this song mentioned but this was the shit for me. My iTunes says I've listened to it 7 times but its definitely been more. Possibly the smoothest cut of the year. Pimp C R.I.P.

9. Toney Sigel (a.k.a Barrel Brothers)- Ghostface Killah & Beanie Sigel

Ghost and Beans both bring the heat over the banger of the album and maybe the year.

8. DP3- Jay-Z

If this wasn't like a minute it'd be #1. The beat is a perfect spin off of the original and Jay-Z's first 4 bars could stack up to most 16s dropped this year.

7. Ignorant Shit- Jay-Z & Beanie Sigel

In the same vein, if this hadn't been a leftover it would be even higher. The Just Blaze beat is the most interesting he's made in a while even with the "Big Poppa" sample. How about Beanie Sigel on 2 top 10 tracks?

6. Surviving The Times- Nas

Though he wasted it on a greatest hits CD, this is the best Nas song in years.

5. Classic (DJ Premier Remix)- Kanye West, Nas, KRS-One, & Rakim

The best DJ Premier beat this year. In fact, this may be the best beat by anyone this year. It's too bad Nas and KRS mailed it in.

4. Wonderful- Cunninlynguists & Devin The Dude

DJ Kno shows that he is lightyears ahead of the game musically. This beat is a masterpeice, so much so that I don't give a shit what Devin or Deacon or whoever is in the Cunninlynguists these days have to say. They don't take anything away from it at least.

3. I Get Money- 50 Cent

Hate all you want about 50 Cent, but you can not deny this song. Theres a reason your favorite rapper made a little freestyle over this. Shit is pure adrenaline.

2. Fallin'- Jay-Z

Jay did it again this year with American Gangster and this was the perfect conclusion to the story. JD and No I.D. kill this beat and "Success," maybe they should have handled the album instead of Puff and the Hitmen.

1. Nostalgia- Marco Polo & Masta Ace

No song this year came together quite like this one. Masta Ace was the perfect MC for the concept and Marco's beat was perfect for Ace's style. In any case this is an instant undergroud classic. Watch the video and then feel free to complain about my choice.