Anyone who knows me probably thinks I only listen to country music all the time. While I listen to it about 75% of the time, I am an equal opportunity genre listener. My phone has country, rap, pop, Christmas, show tunes and a little Elvis. My shuffle is a damn grab bag – you never know what is up next. But I am here to highlight three pop songs that have absolutely BANGING rap features in them.

These songs all come from the same age in music, from about 2009-2013. Music today all sounds the same. Not saying that I can’t jam to some Chainsmokers or Halsey, but a little creativity wouldn’t kill anyone.

These three songs represent a great era for music – fun, creative, can get down with them, full blown bangers. The songs I’ve been teasing are Dark Horse by Katy Perry (feat. Juicy J), Down by Jay Sean (feat. Lil Wayne) and Payphone by Maroon 5 (feat. Wiz Khalifa).

Dark Horse

Full disclosure, I think the majority of Katy Perry’s music is terrible, but this song unlocks a side to her that she doesn’t show often in her music. When that first note drops, I know what song it is and I’m ready to pop off. It feels dark which is different from what she usually portrays. And Juicy’s part…my word. He absolutely goes off. He talks about how he is trying to treat this lady right, but hot damn is she vicious.

Best line: “Her love was like a drug, I was tryna hit it and quit it. But lil mama so dope I messed around and got addicted.” -What a damn line!

Payphone

Here me out, Maroon 5’s old music was elite. I’d put it up against any other era for pop music. Their new stuff is bad and tacky, but Payphone gets it done in a big way. What I love about this song is that it starts out like any other Maroon 5 tune – light and bouncy. Towards the end…BAM…Wiz Khalifa drops absolute fire. Wiz comes in with, “Man, f*ck that sh*t.” If that isn’t an attention grabber, I don’t know what is.

Best line: “Wonderin’ why it wasn’t you who came up from nothin’. Made it from the bottom now when you see me, I’m stuntin’.” -So much “up yours” in this right here.

Down

This is easily the best of the three songs. If someone tells you they don’t like this song, they hate themselves. I sing along every time it comes on. TURN IT UP AND BUST OFF THE KNOB! When I think of my freshman year of high school, it’s this song. There is no second place in sight – nostalgic. Lil Wayne’s part just goes off differently. It bops and he sounds like he was pumped to be hammering it right there.

Best line: “I got that girl from overseas. Now she’s my Miss America. Now can I be her soldier please? I’m fightin’ for this girl on a battlefield of love. Don’t it look like baby cupid sendin’ arrows from above.” -Pop off Weezy.

This is an article by Luke “Big Takes” Maiers. Chirp me if you think my opinion stinks.