Tuesday, 4 March 2025

Generic list post: G.O.A.T late career singles IMHO

My lil' tribute to Angie Stone has got me thinkin' about the greatest late-career singles in music history. Creative sparks can disappear in a cocaine heartbeat and so it's a miracle when an artist 15 years deep into their career records a great single. So, here are the 30 best examples of this phenomenon according to me. I'm not sayin' all these songs were the last great single the particular artist dropped, I'm just sayin' the song is a Martorialist classic the artist dropped long after they first debuted.

Mac Dre - Feelin' Myself (2004)
Too $hort - Blow The Whistle (2006)
Howlin' Wolf - Evil (electric) (1969)
Dr. Dre ft. Snoop, Kurupt & Nate Dogg - The Next Episode (1999)
James Brown - Papa Don't Take No Mess (1974)
Angie Stone - Wish I Didn't Miss You (2001)
DOOM - Gazzillion Ear (2010)
Kurious - Cow's Eye (2024)
UGK - The Game Belongs To Me (2006)
E-40 ft. B-Legit & Stresmatic - Rear View Mirror (2011)
Marvin Gaye - Got To Give It Up (1977)
Diana Ross - Upside Down (1980)
Mystikal - Hit Me (2012)
DJ Quik ft. Suga Free & Ty Dolla $ign - Nobody (2011)
Young Bleed - Holla At Uh Dog (2011)
5th Ward Weebie - Let Me Find Out (2014)
LL Cool J - Luv U Better (2002)
Danzig - Black Candy (2010)
Ramones - I Don't Wanna Grow Up (1995)
Jamie Jupitor - Future Computer (2016)
Geto Boys - G Code (2005)
De La Soul ft. MF DOOM - Rock Co.Kane Flow (2004)
Busta Rhymes - Don't Touch Me (Throw Da Water On 'Em) (2009)
Ka - I Love (Moms, Mimi, Kev) (2020)
Chaka Khan - Like Sugar (2018)
Body Count - Talk Shit, Get Shot (2014)
Juvenile ft. Mannie Fresh - Party (2024)
The Isley Brothers - Between The Sheets (1983)
Common & Pete Rock - Wise Up (2024)
Mr. Fingers - Qwazars (2016)

I was gonna do this list in order of preference but gave up on that notion after the first song. Ranking and rating songs is for tubby music critics in t-shirts with stretched neckholes.

17 comments:

D said...

Yeh baby. I'd say fiend, scarface three six and Snoop qualify for the mart hall of game too

Wish I could seperate the fact Charlie Wilson's comeback was v much Kellz writing, it's too obvious to me

Anonymous said...

Luv U Better gotta be a top 10 Neptunes for the simple fact that it sounds so different than their usual

Anonymous said...

I’ve heard “Nobody” for years and STILL can’t hear Ty Dolla on it

Anonymous said...

😄 I always think maybe it's him doing the singing which sounds nothing like him. I'm guessing he probably just wrote the chorus tho.

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

I was gonna have Sensual Seduction for Snoop.

Spartan said...

That version of Evil is so much better.

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

One of his very best songs full stop innit.

D said...

Sensual seduction belongs on a superior radio version list. I was scandalised when I heard the dirty version.

Ego Trippins the best one of snoops gimmick albums, the fake prince joint Cools almost as good as the above

D said...

Also Ive always been convinced it's quik singing nobody W possibly Free backing him up. Quiks got this v endearing humbleness about his singing, refusing to credit any of it or acknowledge it's him in interviews

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

Expunge the dirty version from history.

Anonymous said...

Quality releases from legacy acts? I guess there's "Everything is gutter" by Ras Kass & Havoc or "Everybody eats" by Kool keith, Inspectah Deck and, 7L & Esoteric. Apparently Redman's "Muddy waters 2" is great as well but I haven't heard that.

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

I was thinking of Gilla House Check as a Redman pick.

Step One said...

I would add
AZ - The Come Up
Masta Ace - Don't Understand
Dogg Pound - Cali Iz Active
Kano - Garage Skank
Jim Jones & Maino - 3 Cuts
MOP - 187

[I think its important to highlight that nothing by Nas really qualifies here, although I did like The Don when it first dropped]

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

I was gonna go even later for AZ with We Movin'.

AK said...

Yeah I'm like 99% sure it's Quik. It's got a little rasp to it. He can sing pretty damn good, just like Pimp C he doesn't point it out.

I think Ty is just in the video, which is funny. He's not in the actual credits afaik.

AK said...

These are all heat. Love "Game Belongs To Me," that was a constant spin at the bar jukebox in college.

It sucks that Mystikal is an abusive rapist piece of shit because "Hit Me" is one of the most exquisite comebacks in the history of music

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

I'm still pissed he didn't use them Mannie beats from the video where they were in the car together.