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50 Best Songs of 2013 - Music stars made big statements in 2013. They didn’t just give us songs to twerk to, we heard music that sparked social and political discussion. We saw numerous blockbuster album releases make sales history and two mega pop stars reassert their dominance on the charts. The hottest rapper of the year called out his peers, while another rising star challenged a superstar to a sales battle. The story lines varied yet the music carried us through another year, which brings us here to a countdown of the 50 best songs of 2013.

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50. "Own It," Mack Wilds - Best known for his riveting role as teenage drug dealer Michael Lee on HBO’s The Wire, actor Tristan Wilds made a smooth transition from Hollywood to music in 2013. With Grammy Award-winning producer Salaam Remi serving as his mentor, Wilds turned heads on this '90s hip hop infused R&B cut. The lead single from his underrated debut, New York: A Love Story, was a rare moment when a native New Yorker shined while sticking to the city’s fading musical aesthetic.(Photo: Sony Music)

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49. "Collard Greens," ScHoolBoyQ feat. Kendrick Lamar - This was Kendrick Lamar’s year, but other members of the Black Hippy collective were not without their own moments in the spotlight. ScHoolboy set the table for his imminent run in 2014 as TDE’s next big star with a house party anthem that hit all the right spots. (Photo: Interscope Records)

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48. "Bow Down/I Been On," Beyoncé - There's no questioning Queen Bey runs the world (girls), but in case folks needed to be reminded, she dropped this track on us. Leaked on her website in March, by the diva herself, the singer charges through lines like, "I took some time to live my life, but don't think I'm just his little wife" over a schizophrenic beat by Hit-Boy and Timbaland. (Photo: Splash News)

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47. "Show Out," Juicy J feat. Big Sean & Jeezy - Juicy J's been rich since the '90s. This year, he followed up last year's "Bandz a Make Her Dance" with another twerke-out Mike Will Made It single off his Taylor Gang debut, Stay Trippy.(Photo: Columbia Records)

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46. "We Still in This B----," B.o.B feat. T.I. & Juicy J - After establishing his stardom in 2010 on the success of two ubiquitous pop hits (“Nothing on You,” “Airplanes”) B.o.B. has long heard the whispers about his disconnect with “the streets.” His response to the persistent chatter came in the form of this towering gold-certified club banger. Mike Will Made It supplied the beat while Juicy J and T.I., brought their expertise in ratchetness and trapping, respectively.(Photo: Warner Music Group)

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45. "23," Mike Will Made It feat. Miley Cyrus, Wiz Khalifa & Juicy J  - Hate to state the obvious, but if it was hot in 2013 chances are Mike Will Made It. The aptly named Atlanta-bred beat maestro was nothing short of dominant with his many contributions to hip hop and pop radio. When he wasn’t crafting hits for Rihanna or Lil Wayne he was helping Miley Cyrus wreak havoc throughout main stream America by producing many her made for twerking tracks. Oh, in his downtime he release an album, EST, In 1989 Pt. 3 (The Album), that spawned this raucous smash that reached No. 11 on the Billboard 100.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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44. "Tapout," Rich Gang - The Gang — Weezy, Birdman, Nicki Minaj and Mack Maine — lyrically one-up each other as Future pilots the hook. (Photo: Cash Money Records)

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43. "All of Me," John Legend - Legend wrote this piano-driven power ballad, from his album Love in the Future, for his fiancè Chrissy Teigen, who reportedly cried when he first played it for her. As for the rest of the women around the world? Swoon. (Photo: Columbia Records)

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42. "Dirty Laundry," Kelly Rowland - Kelly Rowland showed a vulnerable side of herself this year, even breaking down in tears during live performances of this song, where she gets personal about an abusive ex and momentary jealousy of her longtime friend Beyoncé.  (Photo: Columbia Records) 

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40. "Numbers on the Board," Pusha T  - Pusha T put up his best game for "Numbers on the Board," the track that helped introduce the G.O.O.D. Music teamster's My Name is My Name debut. Kanye West manned a thumping instrumental to compliment by King Push's acute flow.   (Photo: GOOD Music)

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39. "R.I.P.," Jeezy Feat. 2 Chainz - Da Snowman did a lot to reshape his brand in 2013. New name. New crew. Fresh sound. Jeez adopted the Bay Area bounce of DJ Mustard’s signature “Ratchet Music” sound to come up with an omnipresent up tempo club banger that signifies a moment of wise adaption for the Southern rap heavyweight. (Photo: Def Jam Music Group)  

Photo By Def Jam Music Group

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38. "Loveeeee Song," Rihanna feat. Future - Rih Rih got a tender but upbeat slow jam out of her Unapologetic set with this critically acclaimed duet with Future.(Photos from left: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BET, Simone Joyner/Getty Images)

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37. "Love and War," Tamar Braxton - This title cut off Tamar Braxton's second LP was a big track for the singer's five octave range, and she filled every note, stepping out from the shadow of sister Toni Braxton, earning a platinum plaque, and getting a stamp from Lady Gaga.  (Photo: EPIC Records)

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36. "Treasure," Bruno Mars - Over the past five years, Mars has been churning out hits like a one-man Motown, but the upbeat singer came closer than ever to channeling Michael Jackson with this infectious single. Even the disco-inspired music video is reminiscent of late-era Jackson 5. (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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35. "Feds Watching," 2 Chainz feat. Pharrell - 2 Chainz dropped this song live on stage at the 20th anniversary of Summer Jam, and the crowd went wild. Fans turnt up even more when the video dropped featuring Pharrell and a bevvy of beautiful, dark-skinned models.(Photo: Def Jam Recordings)

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34. "Versace (Remix)," Migos feat. Drake - Migos made a name for himself with the "Versace (Remix)" featuring Drake. He and Drizzy share a similar flow until the OVO general deviates with ear-benders like that plan to "give Halle Berry a baby." Talk about ambition. (Photo: Migos ATL)

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33. "Rap God," Eminem - Eminem's return of Marshall Mathers became official when he unleashed Slim Shady via "Rap God," a 6-minute, tongue-twisting, lyrical display that brought out the fans, stans and gay-rights advocates. (Photos from left: Joseph Okpako/Redferns via Getty Images,Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

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32. "Q.U.E.E.N.," Janelle Monáe feat. Erykah Badu - Janelle Monáe is cutting up, don't cut her down. Ms. Badu joins her on this truth serum of a record.  (Photo:  Atlantic Records)

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31. "Gas Pedal," Sage the Gemini - "Gas Pedal" is an instructional banger inspired by the twerk. The lyrical breakdown: "Slow down, grab the wall/Wiggle like you tryna make yo' a-- fall off" and piercing beat, earned Bay Area natives Sage the Gemini and Iamsu! their first Top 40 single peaking at No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100. (Photo: Republic Records)

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30. "No New Friends," DJ Khaled feat. Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne - If there is one thing DJ Khaled is, it’s loyal. The boisterous hip hop personality stayed true to his winning formula by enlisting his usual cast of collaborators, Drake, Rick Ross and Lil Wayne for yet another arena ready hip hop anthem. So if there was any doubt as the bond, Khaled and Co. assured listeners that the Cash Money/MMG/We The Best power circle remains trunk tight. #nonewfriends (Photo: Maybach Music Group)  

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29. "Levels," Meek Mill - Meek Mill taught us the "levels to this s---" by way of the first offering from MMG's Self Made Vol 3. The Philly spitter speeds through "Levels," tailgating the fast lane until he eviscerates the Cardo-produced beat. (Photo: Maybach Music Group)  

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28. "Stay," Rihanna feat. Mikky Ekko - Just when we think we have Rih Rih pegged as a stripper-loving, party-chasing miscreant, she hits us with this heartbreaking song about a tumultuous relationship. The singer really lets her guard down on this emotional track off of her album Unapologetic.(Photo: Def Jam Music Group)

Photo By Def Jam Music Group

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27. "Crooked Smile," J. Cole - J. Cole made another big hit (and a powerful statement) with his second Born Sinner single, "Crooked Smile." The track features introspective lyrics, a Jennifer Hudson sample, and vocals from none other than TLC, who spent 2013 celebrating 20 years in the game. The video was a call to action to reconsider the war on drugs. (Photo: Courtesy of Roc Nation)

Photo By Photo: Roc Nation

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26. "B--- Don't Kill My Vibe (Remix)," Kendrick Lamar feat. Jay Z - 2013 had its share of stop the presses moments in music, this was one of them. Back in March when music fans got wind of an impending collaboration between Jay Z and Kendrick Lamar, Internet hysteria ensued. Fortunately, this much-hyped remix did not disappoint upon its arrival. Hov and K. Dot created a transcendent hip hop moment, the living legend meets the golden child, which proved to be another momentous footnote in Lamar’s storied year.(Photos from left: Chelsea Lauren/Getty Images for BET, R Chiang / Splash News)

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25. "R.A.F.," Lil Wayne feat. 2 Chainz - Everybody in Lil Wayne's clique is "Rich As F---." Weezy F. Baby and 2 Chainz brag on their bank accounts in this T-Minus-produced heat from I Am Not a Human Being II. (Photo: Cash Money Records)

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24. "Fine China," Chris Brown - This year, Chris Brown wanted to put the public's eyes (and ears) back onto his talent as opposed to his unflattering headlines. The result was this ethereal jam about a precious love sported a melody heavily influenced by Breezy's idol, Michael Jackson.  (Photo: RCA Records)

Photo By Photo: RCA

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23. "Poetic Justice," Kendrick Lamar feat. Drake - Janet Jackson's sensual verse from "Anytime, Anyplace" became perhaps the best-used sample of the year on this haunting track from Kendrick's groundbreaking debut. Between his evocative musings ("If I told you a flower bloomed in a dark room would you trust it?") and Drake's sultry rhymes, these two know just, know just, know just what we want. (Photo: Interscope Records)

Photo By Photo: Interscope

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22. "Bugatti," Ace Hood feat. Rick Ross & Future - Mike Will Made It laid the music for Ace Hood's platinum-selling single. With Rick Ross and Future in tow, "Buggati" was engineered to be a quality ride. (Photos from left: John Ricard / BET, Theo Wargo/Getty Images for BET's Rip The Runway, Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BET)

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21. "Shabba," A$AP Ferg Feat. A$AP Rocky - New York rap may be experiencing some doldrums, but that hasn’t affected the A$AP Mob one bit. The Harlem collective has been doing their part to keep the city relevant with their brand of 808s heavy disorderly party music. A$AP Ferg added to the crew’s ever growing catalog with this rap-reggae mash-up that salutes a dance-hall icon. (Photo: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images)

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20. "F---WithMeYouKnowIGotIt," Jay Z feat. Rick Ross - The rolling thunder of this beat (produced by Boi-1da, Timbaland, and Vinylz) made this one of the stand-out tracks on Hov's Magna Carta Holy Grail — it even got picked up by Lil Wayne for his Dedication 5 mixtape for a remix featuring T.I. On the original, Jay and Ross were on the boss behavior.(Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

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19. "My N---a," YG feat. Jeezy & Rich Homie Quan - DJ Mustard "on the beat" helped Y.G. score one for the homies, featuring ATL connects Young Jeezy and Rich Homies Quan.(Photo:  Def Jam Recordings)

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18. "Body Party," Ciara - Ciara's beau Future helped her craft this mature, dance-floor-friendly hit, and starred with her in the video depicting the first time the now-engaged couple met. For Ci Ci, it also meant her first top 40 single since 2009, and it led the promotion of her self-titled fifth studio album. (Photo: Epic Records)

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17. "Suit & Tie," Justin Timberlake feat. Jay Z - J.T.'s summer anthem made us want to retire our Rocawear in favor of more gentlemanly threads. And it proved that the pop phenom and Hov go together like scotch and soda.(Photo: RCA/Sony Records)

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16. "Holy Grail," Jay Z feat. Justin Timberlake - Jay Z wrote new rules for himself and others this year when he shifted hip hop culture with a record-breaking deal to charter the Magna Carta Holy Grail. The album's first visual, "Holy Grail," lived up to the hype, garnering "politics as usual" reactions like mixed reviews from critics and a thumbs up from fans. (It was the first video ever to debut on Facebook from an artist of Jay's caliber.) The song itself features a Timbaland beat, Justin Timberlake vocals and a sample from Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit."(Photo: Roc Nation)

Photo By Courtesy of Roc-A-Fella Records

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15. "I Luv This," August Alsina - One of the most inescapable songs of 2013, New Orleans newcomer August Alsina more than likely caught your attention on the first encounter with this explicit tale about a love jones. Alsina’s candy sweet crooning over a booty popping beat, the wildly infectious chorus made this a guilty pleasure despite the irksome melding of Trinidad James. (Photo: Def Jam Recordings)

Photo By Photo: Def Jam Recordings

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14. "Ain't Worried About Nothin'," French Montana - In a year filled with its share of anthems, French Montana had one of the most recited catchphrases of 2013. Produced by Rico Love and Earl & E the Bad Boy Records single was one of several standouts from FM’s debut album, Excuse My French.  (Photo: Maybach Music Group) 

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13. "Bad," Wale feat. Tiara Thomas - Wale introduced his third album, The Gifted, with a seductive, bed-squeaky lead single, which also introduced the world at large to talented singer-songwriter Tiara Thomas.(Photo: Maybach Music Group)

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12. "Pour It Up," Rihanna - Bad Gal RiRi wants to play. This anthem of rachetry — a smoky, slurry ode to strip clubs and dolla bills — was plenty divisive, with some critics feeling it represented Rihanna hitting a creative low. But we think the Bajan goddess is at her ph***yocritic best here.(Photo: Def Jam Music Group) 

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11. "U.O.E.N.O.," Rocko Feat. Rick Ross and Future - Rocko may not always consider the rules of grammar when crafting song titles, but he understands the science of making hits. Six years after breaking out with the club banger “Umma Do Me” the Atlanta rapper scored another omnipresent smash with this year’s “U.O.E.N.O.” Released in March, the song was not without its controversy. Rick Ross drew a firestorm of criticism for his line, "Put molly all in her champagne/ She ain't even know it/ I took her home and I enjoyed that/ She ain't even know it," which many accused him of condoning date rape. Even after dropping Ross’ verse from the song, Rocko still achieved his highest chart position, No. 20, on Billboard’s Hot 100.  (Photo: Paras Griffin /Landov)

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10. "Power Trip," J. Cole feat. Miguel - J. Cole surprisingly murdered Miguel in the video for "Power Trip," the lead single off his sophomore album, Born Sinner. In real life, no R&B singers were actually harmed, but the song did rise to the top 20 of the Billboard charts.(Photo: Roc Nation Records)

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9. "Control," Big Sean feat. Kendrick Lamar & Jay Electronica - Seven minutes of rhyming rippled through the rap world like a lyrical tsunami. Big Sean's "Control" record will go down as one of the year's biggest tracks after he leaked it and unleashed Kendrick Lamar's verse — you know the one. (Photo: Joseph Okpako/WireImage)

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8. "Happy," Pharrell - Few songs had more of an international impact in 2013 than Pharrell's ultra upbeat, good mood anthem. The ubiquitous single, which featured a 24 hour video, spawned viral videos worldwide.(Photo: Back Lot Music)

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7. "B---- Don't Kill My Vibe," Kendrick Lamar - There wasn't much that could kill K. Dot's vibe in 2013. The Compton rapper was hands down the brightest star in hip hop and the skill set (multiple rhyme patterns, lyrical substance, deft storytelling) that justify the accolades were on full display here. (Photo: Interscope Records)

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6. "Get Lucky," Daft Punk feat. Pharrell - The guys behind the robot masks did it again. With a helping hand from the godfather of the summer jam, Pharrell Williams, Daft Punk gave us the most infectious hit of the year. Equal parts disco, soul and pop, "Get Lucky" — named Time magazine's song of the year — is that rare kind of track that works across all age groups, demographics and continents. (Photo: Columbia Records)

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5. "Type of Way," Rich Homie Quan - Hip hop loves an anthem. And these days with all the faceless social media malice that exists, they especially love an anthem with a message that sticks it to the…haters. Atlanta newcomer RHQ provided the masses with that bold banger en route to becoming a first-year wonder in the genre.(Photo: Think It's A Game Entertainment)

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4. "Hold On We're Going Home," Drake feat. Majid Jordan - Starting with his sharp transition from child star to Cash Money rapper, Drake is no stranger to defying expectations in his career. His music fluctuates breezily between hip hop and pop, singing and rap. Yet, when the YMCMB standout dropped this single in late summer, even those of us accustomed to Drake's musical left turns took notice. The mix of classic '80s pop with modern-day radio friendly beats is new even for this innovative artist.(Photo: Cash Money Records)

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3. "New Slaves," Kanye West - Kanye West didn't just settle for making music in 2013, he made statements. Always an advocate of pushing the boundaries of his artistry beyond conventional wisdom, Mr. West delivered his most progressive single to date. Teeming with angst from the hard-charging battle cry drums, Yeezy tackled issues (slavery, classicism, racism) that were at the core of his many rants this year. (Photo: Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank)

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2. Robin Thicke feat. Pharrell and T.I., "Blurred Lines" - Despite ugly lawsuits and being accused of promoting date rape in his lyrics, Robin Thicke put the sexy back into '70s dance music with this monster jam about a girl getting seduced. The cut's rhythm is eerily reminiscent of Marvin Gaye's 1977 "Got to Give It Up," but nonetheless, established Mr. Thicke as an R&B power broker in 2013.   (Photo: Star Trak)

Photo By Photo: Star Trak

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1. "Started From the Bottom," Drake - The year in music got off to its unofficial start on February 1, when Drizzy leaked the first cut from his chart-topping third solo album, Nothing Was the Same. The motivating anthem was stripped of much of the pop sensibilities common in most Drake songs to the bare minimum of a booming drum pattern and catchy mantra. The understated arrangement was the perfect complement to Drake’s rags-to-riches tale, one we all connected with on some level.(Photo: Young Money Records)