THE iTUNES TOP 100 & THE END OF THE WORLD: Ludacris - How Low

Thank you Ludacris for Pop Music: The Squeakquel. This chorus might be the most evil thing this side of the Black Eyed Peas. Check out the video if you like low budget science fiction aesthetics and/or sluts.

THE iTUNES TOP 100 & THE END OF THE WORLD: Justin Bieber - Baby (ft. Ludacris)

Wow. What a pairing. Ludacris, who's already played co-conspirator to a Eurodance-esque jam earlier this year, now joins 16-year-old heartthrob Justin Bieber for one of the most obnoxiously catchy singles of the new year (86 million views on Youtube!). Let's just say Ludacris phones in his verse (although they are definitely in the same room for the filming of the video), and the song loses luster on every listen. How long do you think this Bieber thing is gonna last? (for an example of the obsession, see: here).

THE iTUNES TOP 100 & THE END OF THE WORLD: Taio Cruz - Break Your Heart (ft. Ludacris)

Well, Europe, I hope you're happy.

We've let you have your gaudy techno. You've let us have our vapid hip hop. It's been a pleasant arrangement.

But now look what you've done with our radio pop: Taio Cruz's "Break Your Heart" is the sound of an R&B crooner singing to a packed discotheque in Amsterdam (I can practically hear the Dutch girls screaming 'Dao Crooz we luhv yoo!' over the "Sandstorm"-lite chorus). Ludracris shows up all deer-in-headlights, confused to be spitting over such thumping arrangements for such bad-dancing fans, but ably finding some stability in his quality second verse.

I thought this might happen when I heard David Guetta's "Sexy Chick (ft. Akon)" (She's nothing like a girl you've ever seen before/Nothing you can compare to your neighborhood whore"), but that was more like a one-off collaboration. This feels more like a trend (auto-tune, anyone?)

I'm just nervous for where this might lead. Will I ever hear a rap song on the radio again? Ludacris?

Break Your Heart - Taio Cruz