Pitchfork's P2k: The Decade in Music

well i cant think of any rap songs that have a similar beat?

it's just the 'Numbers' beat sped up as on countless booty bass tracks but that's hardly a bad thing

One of the first ILM threads ever:
Bombs Over Baghdad

There may have been some kind of 3 song cap for artists, because I figured "Yeah" was a lock and I'm sure people voted for it..

Although I'm almost positive I 4 each from Jay-Z and Kanye..

Although I'm almost positive I saw 4 each from Jay-Z and Kanye..

There should be a thread for the best songs that didn't make it..

Jay's on there 4 times as the main artist, and 6 more times as a featured artist. I don't think any quota or cap kept "Yeah" from being higher.

There is no such thing as a 54 mph speed limit, Jay-Z...

that lyric is what's known as a "joke"

Do you dance?

I haven't for a looooong time.

Ah yes, a "joke." I see.

true story, the street my mom lives on has an "18 mph" sign. it's yellow and painted on a wooden post and i guess was put there by some neighborhood association, though.

Thats hilarious! I feel like I remember seeing 27 mph signs somewhere in Florida a few years ago.

Yeah let's make a best songs that didn't make it thread, can't wait to see people lament the dearth of their favorite iron & wine and black dice "singles"

Uhhhhh . . . not to do a complete pivot on this, but -- listening to it via the embedded LaLa player at the Pitchfork site -- I'm sort of having an epiphany about B.O.B.. Not sure why it's connecting with me so much more now than when I downloaded it from eMusic. It is on the Stankonia disc, right? I actually wondered if what I had on that disc was the same song. I'm still not sure the beat is unique (I hear some jungle-ish influence, but I'm not very good at distinguishing between dance subgenres), but it seems a lot more dynamic and compelling to me now.

Did this song chart in the U.S.?

I wonder how silly a list like this would look coming from AP magazine.

I can't believe ppl are saying that beat isn't unique. Maybe if the only rap you've ever heard is the Blade 2 soundtrack

Do you think because your perception of it is a bit higher simply because it made #1 on a list like this one? Like how people will think a certain wine is better merely because they saw a very high score associated with it.

I considered that, but no.

Because my initial reaction to seeing it No. 1 and listening to it was . . . meh. I also considered whether the responses on this thread to my comment changed my mind. I don't think they did, either. They did give me some things to think about/listen for in the song. But that wasn't it, either. To be fair, tho, I'm not sure what it was.

that beat is unusual for a hip hop track, but I wouldn't really call it "unique". it just seems *fast*. I was surprised when this song topped the 2000-2004 list, and more surprised now. Was there some kind of underground zeitgeist represented by this song I wasn't aware of? Especially considering it wasn't a big hit, and that it didnt spawn some kind of fast-rap genre or something, I don't get how it's topped these lists. It's a good Outkast song, but I like all the others on the list better.

x-post

In 2001, I thought all those things would happen

the direction i thought they would go, though I never woulda picked the song itself if you get me

pretty sure the "55 in the 54" line is to point out the ridiculousness of a trumped up DWB

well yeah -- but it's also a joke. he could've said "56 in a 55" instead.

incidentally B.O.B. is about the same tempo (pulse-wise) as 'crank dat' and a lot of current-ish rap beats, it's just really rare to hear a rap tune with a heavy double-time beat like that (instead of, you know, a slower-feeling beat with some double-time vocals).

yeah it's ironic that BOB remains on top because the most popular rap stuff this decade has been pretty much exactly half the bpm

sent this tweet in responce to someone else wondering what the big deal is about "B.O.B.":

always been a fan of the "let's take every idea we have & cram it into 5 mins" school; "B.O.B." does it with 80 things I'm predisposed to

otm

i agree w/ that but at the same time i always felt like BOB goes on a little too long -- it's so exciting for the first few minuntes and then the last minute or so i'm just like OK, let's get to the end already, all the good parts are over

i agree w/that.

the last minute is the best part! POWER! MUSIC! ELECTRIC REVIVAL! that rubber synth bass that comes in, too

otm again

song gets me more hype when I'm just sitting around remembering it or have it stuck in my head than if it's actually on.

― some dude, Tuesday, June 24, 2008 11:49 AM (1 year ago) Bookmark

this is how i feel about "b.o.b"

or when it's playing at a party and everyone simultaneously does the na nah na nah part.

er... one-nine-nine-nine. either way.

i still want a subgenre built around b.o.b.

it's not too late

electric revival powermusic

B.O.B. is maybe my fourth favorite song on Stankonia. Maybe.

this song is not really that long btw

"Humble Mumble" should have been a single.

wow, if i've heard 'speedballin' before, i don't remember it

The only bullshit line I've seen is in the "99 Problems" blurb, where once again a simple glance at a Joel Whitburn Billboard Top 40 book would have settled the matter. I mean, "Bonnie and Clyde '03" is his biggest solo hit, for chrissakes.

― post-contrarian meta-challop 2009 (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, August 21, 2009 6:39 AM (10 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

the funny thing is 'bonnie & clyde 03' also makes more sense w/r/t all that stuff about beyonce he talks about in his blurb too

not that i think its a better song (altho the summerheadz house remix is awesome)

haha the whole Tomb Raider s/t is good, totally forgot that one

uh thanks?

That's just freaky man

oh come on

crepe