By Odeisel and shelz.

The conclusion of our top 50 list is certainly no slouch. We have a wide range of songs and artists that span a large part of the entire music landscape. It’s been fun, now on to the next one. Look out for the top 15 albums of the year list on Monday.

Curren$y Feat. Big K.R.I.T. and Smoke DZA – “Skybourne” 07-currensy-skybourne_(feat_big_krit_and_smoke_dza)

A deliciously robust late 70s Stevie type bass line powers this Ski Beatz track with soulful crooning perfectly in line with the mood.” Big K.R.I.T. and Smoke DZA add that dirty mellow with their laid back flows. Curren$y’s lyrics create lift-off and together they get “Skybourne.”

Jay Electronica – “The Ghost of Christopher Wallace” Jay Electronica – The Ghost of Christopher Wallace (feat. Diddy)

Biggie made such an indelible mark in so short a time that his loss looms large. Back when it was all good between Jay Electronica and Diddy, Elec was slinging Ciroc repping that Last Train and throwing up some ice for the nicest MC. Can it be that it was all so simple then. Gotta love those Diddy ad libs.

DJ Top Cat (Eazy E & Johnny Cash) – “Folsom Prison Gangstas” Eazy_E_vs_Johnny_Cash-Folsom_Prison_Gangstaz-106bpm

The Man in Black meets the original American Gangster in the mashup of the year, courtesy of DJ Top Cat. The combination of Johnny Cash and Eazy-E is a seamless merging of outlaw aesthetic that proves Hip-Hop and Country, though miles apart in aesthetic, are close neighbors in theme and feel. R.I.P.  Eazy and Johnny.

Drake Feat. Jay-Z – “Light Up” 10 – Light Up (Ft. Jay-Z)-RGF

While most thought Drizzy could have come harder on Thank Me Later, he did his job on this number. He gets a lesson from Jay-Z, who gives him the blueprint on hater blocking and finally gives in to the idea that he’s no longer the people’s champ. “Fuck n***as, bitches too; all I got is this money, yeah this’ll do.” Chilling.

El Debarge – “Second Chance” El DeBarge – Second Chance

After battles with the law and drug addiction the 80s icon returns to the music scene with a touching ballad that puts his classic talent on display. The crisp falsetto and the smooth delivery is there over soft strings and piano. Like fine wine and Sophia Loren, El has aged well. Cheers.

Reflection Eternal – “Back Again” 03-reflection_eternal-back_again_(ft._res)

[pro-player width=’425′ height=’344′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anvTKprg_Xo[/pro-player]

Talib Kweli declares that it’s safe to like rap again because him and Hi-Tek are back again. As good as that album was you would be inclined to take his word. Kweli’s relentless assault on Tek’s dynamic production put the hammer down on bullshit rappers and lazy as beat makers.

Ski Beatz Feat. Jean Grae Jay Electronica & Joell Ortiz – “The Prowler 2” 03-ski_beatz-prowler_2_(feat._jean_grae_jay_electronica)

Ski has become a monster by mastering live instruments and infusing a rock edge with Hip-Hop with the most facility since Rubin. Jean Grae, Jay Electronica and Joell Ortiz are three deadly venoms that treated this beat like a Shaolin stepchild. Don’t you wish your collabo was hot like this?

Das Racist and Homeboy Sandman – “Im Up On That” Das Racist – I’m Up On That (feat. Homeboy Sandman)

The quirkiest duo and the odd uno make for a thrilling trio when they combine myriad topics with a dope beat and winding lyricism. We dare you to sit there and try to unravel it. Not to worry, it sounds good even if you have no idea wtf they talking about, Willis.

Big Boi Feat. B.o.B. & Joi – “Night Night” Big Boi – Night Night (Ft. B.o.B & Joi)

Mr. Left Foot delivers a high powered composition with wunderkind B.o.B. and Joi on the hook.  Big Boi goes all out with high speed rhymes and crisp schemes pounding his chest at his importance in the game. “You need me like a junky needs a razor blade and plate, I’m Dope n***as!” Apparently.

Rah Digga Feat. Redman – “This Ain’t No Little Kid Rap” (Remix)  Rah_Digga-This_Aint_No_Lil_Kid_Rap_Ft_Redman

Dirty Harriet and The Funk Doctor go Brick City mashing on a banging Nottz beat. They trade bars like the commodity exchange and wreak havoc on new jacks who don’t show skills. The duo prove they still have gas in the tank and enough force to keep your head banging.

Foals – “2 Trees” 10 – 2 Trees

Foals completely circumvented the sophomore slump with their wonderfully wistful 2^nd release Total Life Forever and the beautifully pensive pinnacle was “2 Trees.” It’s a glum theme of the dark before the dawn, yes.  But it’s this type of self-medication that makes waiting on the sunrise not so bad.

Freddie Gibbs feat. Sean Price and Tek – “The Ghetto Remix” Freddie_Gibbs-Ghetto_(rmx)_(Feat_Tek_Sean_Price)-2dope

Milkbone’s “Keep It Real” plays foundation to lyrical realities deeper than any icy wrist or brick sales.  Freddie lets Mic Tyson and Tek tip toe all over the jazzy piano with no fear as he holds his own, playing clean up royally with two of the best vets the industry has to offer.

Dwele feat Raheem Devaughn – “Dim The Lights” Dwele – Dim The Lights (Feat. Raheem Devaughn)

The throbbing bass and slow peek-a-boo stabs of synth make this song an obvious bed room banger. The strings add the drama as Dwele and Raheem discuss what s going to happen if you chose to stay. The background distortion evokes heavy breathing and the duo takes the lyrics slow and easy even when Dwele fades in and out of spoken word.  Whoa, is it hot in here?

Broken Bells – “The High Road” 01 The High Road

Yes, you know this song from the Bing commercial. The first 20 seconds sounds like the last breath of a dying 8 bit, but it bleeds into a simple lounge-inspired, sort of new wave country track.  The weird Galaga noises continue, but you’re too busy listening to some startling lyrics about wandering aimlessly through life.  Even with that theme, this song is very easy on the ears.

Teddy Bears feat Ceelo Green and the B-52’s – “Cho Cha” Rectest-01

You may know this from Ceelo’s Stray Bullets mixtape, but this song is actually the mashup work of a Swedish electronic outfit called The Teddybears.  The driving guitar line is restless and the anxiety is co-signed by the distorted electric scales and what sounds like a digital xylophone.  Ceelo’s breathy admission of love for his favorite pussy…cat is sneaky and fun. Crazy on paper, wildly engaging on wax.

Mystikal – “I ‘Ont Like You” 530_1_MystikalfeatFiend-IOntLikeYouEXPLICITFULLMIXVirDiKO

Mystikal and KLC dusted off C-Murder’s “Down for My Ni**as” and made a couple of changes to the classic track (the most amusing would be the choir of instigating chicks on the hook who let you know in no uncertain terms that he’s not playing with your bitch ass.) This is fight music at its best and Mystikal’s first outreach after being sprung from the pen.

Blakroc feat. Raekwon – “Stay Off the Fucking Flowers”  06 Stay Off The F_%$#n_ Flowers (feat. Raekwon)

This Black Keys track is absolutely amazing.  The slow downward spiral of the base is redeemed by the guitar that settles in the middle.  But it’s a half-hearted attempt to give the darkness a reprieve.  Rae manages his quick dexterity without losing a breath and weaves a narrative as tight as anything he’s ever done.

Aloe Blacc – “I Need A Dollar” aloe-dollar

Its soulful times ten with its bouncy piano and blossoming horns on the chorus.  Aloe sounds like a time machine refugee from the early 70’s complete with bell bottoms and afro.  Life is hard, help is always appreciated and taking it day by day is rough.  However, this song is a shot of pristine soul. The unexpected break halfway through takes this song into the stratosphere.

Chiddy Bang – “The Opposite of Adults” 16_The_Opposite_Of_Adults_(KIDS)

Selected by my kid, this song stayed on constant rotation in the car and house this year.  The kid danced to it, free styled to it and reveled in his childhood to it.  It’s lovely in its innocence and can tap into any adults Peter Pan syndrome.

Gorillaz – “On Melancholy Hill” 10_On_Melancholy_Hill

Plastic Beach maintains its position as all synthetic everything with its digital manipulation, but there is something wonderfully organic about this song. It ebbs and flows not unlike the polluted water the album addresses and even though the bleeps and bloops add some new millennium lightness, this song is committed to its gloom.