"Ain't Worried About Nothin' (Remix)" by French Montana featuring Miley Cyrus or Rick Ross, Diddy and Snoop Dogg
I already covered one posse cut remix of this song in a previous installment but I guess that wasn't official, but there have since been two big name remixes of French's first real solo hit. I will give Miley credit for nailing the obvious French Montana/Hannah Montana couplet, and for changing the N-word in the chorus to "bitch," and French ended up beating Kanye to the punch to have the first rap remix with Miley, so good for them I guess. On the other remix, Diddy talking his shit upstages everyone else as usual, and Snoop always seems like he should do better on these kinds of tracks than he should, it's just not the right kind of beat for him.
Best Verse: Diddy
Overall Grade: D / C

"Gorilla (G-Mix)" by Bruno Mars featuring Pharrell and R. Kelly
I've said elsewhere that pretty much the only thing I don't like about Unorthodox Jukebox is the chorus "you and me baby makin' love like gorillas," but at the same time I realized that that was more about Bruno Mars not being able to pull off a lyric like that, whereas R. Kelly can get away with "like two gorillas in the jungle makin' love." So it's appropriate to have Kells on the remix, even if the result is kind of on-the-nose and exactly how you'd expect it to sound. And Pharrell doesn't really do much of anything, which is a shame -- surprisingly there's never really been an R. Kelly/Neptunes collaboration, outside of one song called "Baby Girl" that there's an unreleased demo of floating out there.
Best Verse: n/a
Overall Grade: C+

"Heaven Or Hell (Remix)" by Gunplay featuring Meek Mill and Jadakiss
I love these kinda embattled introspective Gunplay songs like "Bible On The Dash," although I'm already less impressed with this song just because the new Yo Gotti album has a much better flip on the "I Got 5 On It" beat. Still, I couldn't ask for better guests than Meek and Jada, and they both kill it.
Best Verse: Jadakiss
Overall Grade: B+

"If We Had Your Eyes (Remix)" by Michelle Williams featuring Fantasia
I liked Michelle's voice fine in the context of Destiny's Child records, but taken by itself in a single from one of her gospel records it's a bit much. So it's actually nice just to get Fantasia in the mix, although the song itself is just really bland to begin with, so even though she sounds great on the second verse it's not revelatory or anything.
Best Verse: n/a
Overall Grade: C

"I Luv This Shit (Remix)" by August Alsina featuring Chris Brown and Trey Songz
Remixing this song was essential, both because it's the biggest 'street' R&B song of the year, and because the hit version featured a Trinidad James verse and you need to swap that shit out. But I dunno about having the two most established singers in August Alsina's lane on the remix, I guess it's nice to have their co-sign but it's not like with rappers where that really matters. And of course this has already replaced the original on most radio playlists, just like the Chris Brown remix of the Sevyn Streeter single did, kinda sucks that the few R&B songs by other people on the radio keep ending up with him on it.
Best Verse: Trey Songz
Overall Grade: B-

"My Kind Of Love (Remix)" by Emili Sande f/ Ab-Soul
I really like the original of this song, and the remix does a pretty good job of putting Sande's vocal over a rap beat that still suits it and doesn't feel like it's trying too hard. But Ab-Soul has developed a reputation for shitting up every big guest verse spot he's gotten in 2013 (sometimes literally -- "let me put my mouth where you potty boo" on the Chance The Rapper tape and all). He's not bad on this, kind of bland but he spits something that fits the emotional tenor of the song, which is kind of rare on these rap remixes of pop and R&B songs.
Best Verse: n/a
Overall Grade: B-

"My Story (Remix)" by R. Kelly featuring Katie Got Bandz and Rockie Fresh
I've never been much of a fan of "My Story," and I was actually thinking the other day that it was kind of dumb for him to do a "yeah I'm from that Chi town dirt" song and then put someone from Atlanta like 2 Chainz on it, really could've been a good chance to connect with the new generation of Chicago rappers. So hearing that this dropped was like, oh, of course, glad he had the same idea. I kinda wish they'd gone all out and redid the beat as a straight up drill song -- it's so awkward and ill-fitting as an R. Kelly song to begin with, might as well go all the way. Never been a big fan of Katie, but she doesn't sound as incompetent as a rapper here as she has on some of her big solo songs, and Rockie Fresh never stuck out to me on those MMG records but his verse is really good.
Best Verse: Rockie Fresh
Overall Grade: B-

"Paranoid (Remix)" by Ty Dolla $ign featuring B.o.B
They already threw Jeezy on this dude's first semi-big song, and they're still struggling to get him a real hit and throwing whoever on songs. This remix had some amusing semi-controversy because the original had Ty's homie Joe Moses talking shit about T.I. and Tiny and then the official single replaced him with T.I.'s boy B.o.B. But whatever, B.o.B is embarrassing on this just like all his recent stuff, and I stand by what I said a few months ago about Ty Dolla $ign, fuck this douchebag.
Best Verse: n/a
Overall Grade: F

"Strong (Remix)" by Young Dro featuring 2 Chainz
Another DJ Mustard track, this track was underwhelming to begin with as a follow-up single to "F.D.B." and a chance to hear Dro kill the sound of the moment. And 2 Chainz on the remix should be cool since Dro is secretly a father to some of his styles, but his verse just comes and goes forgettable as hell, whole thing feels like a missed opportunity.
Best Verse: n/a
Overall Grade: C-

"Swangin' (Remix)" by Stalley featuring Lil Keke, Trae The Truth, Bun B and ESG
Stalley doing an H-town homage for his single was cool I guess, but having Scarface on it was almost offensive like damn can anybody get a Scarface verse and they're just not bothering? Still, cool to get more Texans involved in a remix, even if it's sad that the person waving that flag in the mainstream right now is some super bland dude from Ohio. Everywhere this track has been posted has listed Chamillionaire as one of the guests, but he's nowhere to be heard on it, which I guess is just proof that nobody listens to what they're posting anymore.
Best Verse: Trae The Truth
Overall Grade: C+

"10 2 10 (Remix)" by Big Sean featuring Rick Ross and Travis $cott
Oh good, Sean is trying to save his album by pushing the ill-fitting street banger with the "working like I'm Mexican" hook. This fucking guy. As soon as Ross shows up in turns into a perfectly decent Ross song, though. I don't know who asked for Travis $cott on anything but we don't need him.
Best Verse: Rick Ross
Overall Grade: C-

"Type of Way (Remix)" by Rich Homie Quan featuring Jeezy and Meek Mill
Obviously one of the bangers of the year, and after the talk of Drake considering doing the remix, I'm pretty happy with the final lineup that he's nowhere near. Quan actually shows out and proves it's still his song, though.
Best Verse: Meek Mill
Overall Grade: A-

This entry was posted on Saturday, November 23, 2013 at 3:39 PM. You can skip to the end and leave a response.