"Addiction (Remix)" by Ryan Leslie featuring Rick Ross, Keri Hilson, Trey Songz & Fabolous
This is kind of an overstuffed mess, since you've got one guest rapper that was already on the original single, another rapper with a new verse, one R&B singer doing a verse, and another R&B singer redoing the hook. And really, Cassie's hook on the original just sounded ridiculously hot, Keri is of course better but having her sing those 2 lines is kind of a waste of her talent. Trey Songz does a nice little flip on the melody, though, and the song is pretty damn good to begin with so even Officer Ross can't ruin it.
Best Verse: Trey Songz
Overall Grade: B

"Bust Your Windows (Remix)" by Jazmine Sullivan f/ The-Dream
OK, I may not be the best person to judge something involved The-Dream (because hate that fuckin' guy), or this song (which I didn't much like in the first place), but this is a pitiful display even by his standards, with him making that retching sound from "I Luv Your Girl" all over the intro and starting out his verse with a showy bit of melisma that he comes nowhere close to pulling off, taking the predictable male role in the song and whining about his car being in the shop.
Best Verse: n/a
Overall Grade: D

"Can't Believe It (Remix)" by T-Pain featuring Justin Timberlake
For months, I kept thinking that pretty much any version of this song without that horrible, strung out Lil Wayne verse would be an improvement, but I neglected to consider the possibility of yet another superstar using the song as a vehicle to jump on the AutoTune trend. Justin just sounds stupid on this, lord I hope he doesn't do more of this shit on his next album. The Kardinal Offishal version is kinda nice. The silver lining comes at the very end, though, when T-Pain announces "start signin' them papers, people...AutoTune is on its way out." He better not be kidding.
Best Verse: n/a
Overall Grade: C

"Gettin' Up (Swizz Beatz Remix)" by Q-Tip featuring Eve
Swizzy's old school beatjacks have been perhaps my favorite trend in remixes in 2008, but putting Q-Tip on the "Benjamins" beat is not nearly as inspired as Mary J. on a Chubb Rock track or Leeshakeez on a Slick Rick track, and he doesn't really flip it very well here. I'm still excited to hear what Swizz does for the "Green Light" remix with T.I. though.
Best Verse: Eve
Overall Grade: B-

"Ride (Remix)" by Ace Hood featuring T-Pain, Rick Ross and Juelz Santana
The first time I heard this song I called it "Bust It Baby Pt. 3" because it sounded like such a shameless knockoff of the Plies hit, so if anything Ne-Yo should've been the guy to re-record the hook on the remix, but T-Pain sounds better than Trey Songz, who was pretty irritating on the original. I kinda feel bad for Juelz, as awful as he is, because he had some real momentum going a couple years ago until his career apparently got stopped in its tracks by some label bullshit and he pretty much disappeared for a while. His 'comeback' songs haven't really been shit to sneeze at, though.
Best Verse: Ace Hood's second verse
Overall Grade: C+

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 11:17 PM. You can skip to the end and leave a response.