To complete the annual fit of year-end list compilation, it’s important not to neglect what rules the radio waves, dance floors and TRL playlists. Media consolidation makes finding classics among the trash as diffcult and as crucial as ever. Last year, Timbaland’s production for artists such as Missy Elliot and the now forgotten Bubba Sparxx were the unmistakable cream of last year’s Top 40 crop. In 2002, however, the tree in the Neptunes’ backyard where they grow their beats yielded a bumper crop. From Busta to Justin to Nelly, the Neptunes’ drums were the sound of pop in 2002. But the duo of Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams certainly wasn’t the whole story …
1. Kylie Minogue: “Can’t Get You Out of My Head”—She may be 1.618 times older than Britney Spears, but she’s 4.724 times as sexy. Kylie Minogue’s tale of obsession and loss is low on psychological intrigue but sky-high on sultriness, and the song’s velvety Euro pulse certainly doesn’t hurt. This is one pseudo-house anthem so hot that it’s been decisively claimed by the mainstream.
2. Clipse: “When the Last Time”—Deeedodeeeedobroooo! Scuttlebutt is that members of Clipse were Hampton Road’s drug royalty before their hip-hop careers began. Deeedodeeeedobroooo! But that really doesn’t matter, any discussion of this track begins and ends with that unmistakably furious blast of synth noise punctuating the beat. Deeedodeeeedobroooo! Any number of former drug dealers would substitute just as well as long as the Neptunes are producing. Deeedodeeeedobroooo! Your move, Tim. Deeedoodeeeedoobroooo!
3. Missy Elliot: “Work It”—Like Shakespeare and few others before her, Missy Elliot has decisively expanded the usage of the English language. “Work It” might be her richest mine of cutting-edge phraseology yet. Before this single, would we ever have considered referring to our “badumpabumbumps”? Would you have asked your significant other to “eat it like a vultcha”? Would you have remembered how fun it is to stand on a table in the middle of a party and scream “HEY LADIES!” It’s time we all got down and paid homage.
4. Eminem: “Lose Yourself”—Dr. Dre’s string of hot singles was decisively broken by “Guess Who’s Back,” the lame first single from The Eminem Show. But on the 8 Mile soundtrack Em has returned with a jam that he actually produced himself. So big ups to him. Cheekily energetic guitar hooks and a nice thudding build in energy make this 8 Mile’s “Eye of the Tiger.” You only get one shot, so make sure you use it to dye your buzz blond and dis your mom.
5. Justin Timberlake: “Like I Love You”—It’s hard to have the teenieboppers in your life call you out on having hated on JT. But this single, courtesy the Neptunes, is ridiculous. Vaguely “Spanish” guitar and thumping drums are as winning a formula as ever, and Timberlake rocks some serious falsetto. He just wants to love you, babe, and lame lyrics aside (“I’ve been thinking about this ever since I was a little boy”) this jam can rock college indie-dweebs and middle-school slumber parties alike.
Honorary Mention for Making Mesh Caps and That Star Trek Finger Thing Cool—Pharrell Williams. As if Williams didn’t deserve enough accolades for co-producing the best singles of the year, he also has impeccable taste in headwear. Mesh caps are where it’s at. Cheap and well-ventilated, get one at a seed co-op near you before they become the exclusive domain of high-end couture. Not to mention the fact that he walks around in his videos flashing the Vulcan peace sign.
