Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 Review – Week of January 6, 2018

Richard D'Orazi, Staff Writer • January 9, 2018

“Perfect” by Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé- since the last time I talked about this song we now have Beyoncé here for the duet version, and personally I prefer the original solo version. While Beyoncé’s performance is fine and is definitely a step up from Mi Gente, everything about this screams corporate to me. It feels like Beyoncé was put here purely for name and to get this song more commercial success. I don’t like the removal of the orchestra strings, electric guitar and drums for a more stripped down acoustic guitar on the duet version, since those elements gave the original more energy and helped make it more lively for a wedding ballad. While I wouldn’t mind hearing the duet version, I’ll stick with the original.
“Rockstar” by Post Malone ft. 21 Savage- still a boring song with the only rock thing about it is referencing Bon Scott and Jim Morrison to remind people that despite the trap beat this song is “Rockstar.” And its official music video is hilariously bad as they yet again forget what the song is called.
“Havana” by Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug- still a good song with the catchy piano melody and performances from Camilla and Young Thug. Still hoping for it to go to number one!
“No Limit” by G-Eazy ft. A$AP Rocky and Cardi B- while the beat is good, my problem comes with the two guys on the song. G-Eazy and A$AP Rocky sound so alike here that I honestly didn’t know it was A$AP Rocky doing the chorus until I looked it up. A$AP Rocky’s flow on the chorus is solid (even if that line about marrying his girl after having sex with her three times irks me). G-Eazy sounds like he’s constantly running out of breath. Cardi B comes in in the second verse and gives the song a much needed energy boost. If “Bodak Yellow” was her breakout hit, then “No Limit” is where Cardi B shows that she does have career longevity going forward.
“Thunder” by Imagine Dragons- nothing else to add, still an annoyingly boring song made for commercials
“Gucci Gang” by Lil Pump- the only good thing I can say about this song is that it’s just over two minutes long cause I don’t see what is good about the song itself. Most of the chorus is repeating the title over and over and we only have one verse where Lil Pump brags about taking meds with his grandma and curses out WestJet Airlines for being kicked off one of their flights for being an obnoxious asshole. The production is what you expect with the trap percussion–bass and synths–nothing that special. I can easily do without this. As we enter 2018, let’s leave this subgenre of SoundCloud rap behind.
“Motorsport” by Migos, Nicki Minaj and Cardi B- Migos are hoping to start off 2018 building on their successful 2017 with the upcoming release of “Culture 2” with “Motorsport” as the lead-off single with vocals from the two biggest female rappers out now. With Migos, this is pretty much what you’d expect from them with Quavo’s autotune crooning on his hook and verse along with the ad libs and stupid references such as “Quavo” referencing Deflategate three years after it happened to “Offset” referencing Britney Spears and Criss Angel. For Migos, “Offset” and “Takeoff” have the best flows and performances. Just like “No Limit,” “Motorsport” showcases that Cardi B does have some career longevity as she rides the beat and her flow really well, especially when you compare with Nicki Minaj who just embarrasses herself here. Between this and “Rake it Up,” which she has to reference in her verse, it seems like she’s not trying anymore–especially when she ends her verse telling her guy to sit on the potty. Overall, while there were some good performances I’m not really going to care much for it in the long run.
“Too Good at Goodbyes” by Sam Smith- Still a good song with good vocals and instrumentation. Not much else to say.
“Bad at Love” by Halsey- Over a year after being featured on The Chainsmokers 2016 smash hit “Closer,” Halsey now has a Top Ten hit of her own and this is just dull all around. Halsey lists off both male and females ex-lovers and how their relationships ended but doesn’t really go into much detail about it, and doesn’t sell the bad girl image she’s trying to portray. Plus, the production doesn’t work with the twinkling synths with the standard trap percussion.
“Bodak Yellow” by Cardi B- with “Bodak Yellow”’s return to the Top Ten, along with “No Limit” and “Motorsport,” Cardi B now joins The Beatles and Ashanti in having their first three song entries go into the Top Ten. Since my last review, I’ve warmed up a bit to the song. Part of my distaste for it at the time was how floored I was of its success and popularity. Now listening to it, though, I can get behind Cardi B’s flow as she gives more energy in her performance than most trap rappers do. But I still have issues with the song; the trap production sounds like what you would hear in every other trap song and the title is a pun on one of the worst rappers and human beings alive now.

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