Song of the Summer: Car-Stereo Hip-Hop

After previewing the Song of the Summer contenders in the Hipster Cookout and Steamroll Pop divisions, we make our way to hip-hop. What songs will you hear blasting out of car stereos at eardrum-shattering volumes all summer long? Three of the top contenders are listed below but, again, nothing is set in stone: Could Lloyd Banks’s appropriately themed “Beamer, Bens, or Bentley” enjoy a second life thanks to its new star-studded remix? Could Big Boi’s “Shutterbug” fulfill its God-given mission to rattle every speaker on earth? Could Dr. Dre actually release his Jay-Z single?

Eminem, “Not Afraid”
Unsurprisingly, Eminem’s new single — a sappy motivational number with a big pop hook handled by Em himself — is already the No. 1 song in the country. Still, the subject matter means longevity is a question for the sunny season: Yeah, SOTS Hall of Famer “Umbrella” hit many of the same inspirational notes, but Rihanna never had a highly publicized drug habit.

Drake, “Over”
One thing’s for sure: Rappers like it. It was the rare mixtape emcee who could resist borrowing producer Boi-1da’s triumphant “Over” beat. So, could Drizzy do it again?

Young Jeezy, ‘Lose My Mind”
Slower, but that just makes it perfect cruising music. Also, in one line, Jeezy reminds us why we love him: “It ain’t nothin’ to a boss, my goons got goons / house stupid dumb big, my rooms got rooms.”

Paper Route Gangstaz, "Anutha Night"
Huntsville, Alabama's PRGs have already rapped over George Michael and Underworld, so it almost makes sense that their new track samples a fake song from the Adult Swim show Squidbillies (see here). It also almost makes sense that it is awesome.