The R. Kelly version of "Touch My Body" and the T.I. version of "Love In This Club" are getting spins this week but I'm trying to keep this limited to just official remixes involving the artist that did the original, so just an honorable mention for those.

"Certified (Remix)" by Glasses Malone featuring Akon, Lil Wayne, Kam and Bun B
I've barely heard the original and am only dimly aware of the artist, but this song generally suggests that Akon is all out of what little amount of good hooks he had at one point. Of all the cutesy tics Lil Wayne uses on half his tracks these days, the way he says "remix, baby" is by far my least favorite. This is actually one of the best verses he's spit lately, though, he actually sounds halfway focused and sober, and just edges out the competent but comparatively dull Bun. The first couple bars of the remix, where the beat plays backwards and only barely sounds different, is pretty awesome, more remixes should use that trick.
Best Verse: Lil Wayne
Overall Grade: B

"Fast Car (Remix)" by Wyclef Jean featuring Lupe Fiasco
Wyclef's follow-up to "Sweetest Girl" with Paul Simon was such a non-starter as a single that I hadn't even heard of it until the remix dropped. And this is such a vast improvement that they should really clearly just start over and shoot another video for this version. I like the way the song starts with the Little Feat breakbeat from a billion other songs (and that Wyclef previously used on "Killing Me Softly"), the hook works ten times better over this new beat, and although I have mixed feelings about Lupe in general, he sounds good on here.
Best Verse: Lupe Fiasco
Overall Grade: A-

"Feedback (Remix)" by Janet Jackson featuring Busta Rhymes, Ciara, Fabolous and Jermaine Dupri
I don't know why they need to keep making remixes of this lousy semi-hit, considering I already wrote about the Timbaland remix in this space, but this one is a slight improvement. Ciara's verse is just an abridged version of the fantastic unsanctioned remix she did months ago, and it leaves out some of the best parts, but is still the standout verse over Fab, whose one good idea is to call Janet "Miss So So" just to rhyme it with Loso.
Best Verse: Ciara
Overall Grade: B-

"Got Me Going (Remix)" by Day26 featuring Fat Joe and Rick Ross
I always thought this song sounds like some leftovers Bad Boy had sitting around that 112 rejected from 7 years ago (Part III is a dope album and this would not have made the cut, but if it did it wouldn't stand out, is all I'm saying). So in a way it makes perfect sense that the first voice you hear on the remix is one that was all over early 00's R&B crossovers. Rick Ross comes in at the end to remind us what year it is, and much to my chagrin, rides the beat better than Joe.
Best Verse: Rick Ross
Overall Grade: C+

This entry was posted on Friday, April 18, 2008 at 2:30 PM. You can skip to the end and leave a response.