36. “Lollipop RMX”
Lil’ Wayne
YMCMB/Universal
In the height of Lil’ Wayne’s reign as “the greatest rapper alive,” during which Jay-Z was pairing him with Nas as the only rap features on American Gangster, Eminem was writing the worst album of his career, and after nearly going platinum in a mere seven days, it appeared that Kanye West was similarly headed off the deep end, the rap game didn’t exactly make it difficult for Lil’ Wayne to feel comfortable at his perch. As a reminder, on the remix to his biggest hit to date, Lil’ Wayne called upon Mr. West to add a verse on the late-great Static Major instrumental, and Ye’s message was clear. “You ain’t fitna murder me like everybody else/I’ma rap like I got some kinda respect for myself/I don’t do this for my health man I do this for the belt.” Lil’ Wayne’s read receipt was on, because Wayne released Tha Carter III shortly after, and hasn’t released anything that could remotely compare since.
