"Blockstars (Remix)" by DJ Kay Slay featuring Ray J, Busta Rhymes, Sheek Louch, Rick Ross, Papoose, Vado and Cam'ron
The original was such a sad-ass posse cut that it actually makes DJ Khaled's last couple singles sound good by comparison, with Jim Jones, Ray J, Yo Gotti and Busta Rhymes forming its busted up old Voltron. And the remix doesn't substantially step up the starpower, with Busta returning for a new verse that's not remotely as good as the one he dropped on the original. I don't know why people still put Cam'ron on songs, it's so clear that he bumped his head and can't fuckin' rap anymore, this verse might be as bad as the one on the Clipse song (completely appalled that I've seen "I Hate My Job" on more than one year-end list, you Dipset stans need rehab). Sheek and Ross kinda go in, though, and Papoose's verse would be good if he had any flow at all.
Best Verse: Sheek Louch
Overall Grade: C

"Did It Again (Remix)" by Shakira featuring Kid Cudi
This is the mediocre Neptunes-produced single other countries are getting while te U.S. gets the mediocre Timbaland-produced single, and I'll spare you a description of how much I hate Kid Cudi.
Best Verse: n/a
Overall Grade: F

"Empire State Of Mind Part 2 (Remix)" by Alicia Keys featuring Raekwon, Capone N Noreaga and Styles P.
I'm not inclined to believe the rumors circulating that Jay and 50 are burying the hatchet for an official "Empire State" remix, not so much because I don't think they could call a short-lived truce for a crappy posse cut like the "I Get Money" remix again, but simply because Jay almost never does all-star remixes of his own singles (think about it, it virtually never happens). Plus, Alicia went and took her huge-ass chorus, the best part of the song, and made a version for her own album that now has its own remix that's probably better than anything Jay and whoever he'd pick could come up with. I was rooting for Styles but Rae really murders everyone on this.
Best Verse: Raekwon
Overall Grade: B+

"I Invented Sex (Remix)" by Trey Songz featuring Usher and Keri Hilson
I feel like on these kinds of R&B remixes the singers seem to put more effort into finding new flows and melodies and ways to approach the beat than rappers typically do on remixes, which is refreshing. Usher really schools everyone else on the track, though.
Best Verse: Usher
Overall Grade: B

"Video Phone (Remix)" by Beyonce featuring Lady Gaga
Unfortunately, Lady Gaga isn't an R&B singer and she has no idea how to approach this beat, which is a shame because it's kind of an awesome track, one of Bangladesh's only non-"A Milli" knockoffs of the past year until his recent run of stuff like "Lemonade." In fact, Gaga's straight up embarrassing on here, cupping her hand at her mouth and going "hubba hubba," doing weird nasal "you wanna video me" ad libs, trying to go for some awkward movie/Oscar wordplay and falling flat on her face. Still, Beyonce using this as an opportunity to do a batshit Gaga-style over-the-top video makes it all worth it in a way.
Best Verse: n/a
Overall Grade: C

This entry was posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 10:34 AM. You can skip to the end and leave a response.