Side 7 of 11
2006
SexyBack, ringtone rap, and the Neptunes second wind
The top 10
- 01
SexyBack
Justin Timberlake · feat. Timbaland
electro-popclubtimbalandFind similar tracks →On the charts
#1 on the Hot 100 for seven weeks.
Why it mattered
Timbaland's electro-funk reinvention of JT — distorted vocals, aggressive synth bass, zero falsetto. The lead single from FutureSex/LoveSounds rewrote what a pop record could sound like.
- 02
Promiscuous
Nelly Furtado · feat. Timbaland
electro-popclubtimbalandFind similar tracks →On the charts
#1 on the Hot 100 for six weeks.
Why it mattered
Timbaland's other 2006 reinvention. Nelly Furtado went from folk-pop to dance-pop superstar in one song. The video's call-and-response set the template for every flirty pop record after.
- 03
Money Maker
Ludacris · feat. Pharrell Williams
neptunesclubatlFind similar tracks →On the charts
#1 on the Hot 100 for one week.
Why it mattered
Pharrell built a beat out of nothing but a guitar lick and a finger-snap, and Luda turned it into one of the year's most-played club records.
- 04
Snap Yo Fingers
Lil Jon · feat. E-40, Sean Paul of YoungBloodZ
crunksnapFind similar tracks →On the charts
Peaked at #7 on the Hot 100.
Why it mattered
Crunk's last great commercial moment, blending into the new snap rap wave. Lil Jon ended his run on top of the same charts he started it on.
- 05
Hips Don't Lie
Shakira · feat. Wyclef Jean
latinpopFind similar tracks →On the charts
#1 on the Hot 100 for two weeks.
Why it mattered
A Latin-pop crossover monster that was inescapable on radio for the entire summer. Hugely played at every wedding, every block party, every club for half a decade.
- 06
Smack That
Akon · feat. Eminem
clubpop-rapFind similar tracks →On the charts
Peaked at #2 on the Hot 100.
Why it mattered
Akon's first true crossover smash, with Eminem riding shotgun. The song that signaled Akon was about to dominate the next two years of pop radio.
- 07
London Bridge
Fergie
popclubFind similar tracks →On the charts
#1 on the Hot 100 for three weeks. Fergie's debut solo single.
Why it mattered
Polow da Don's stomping beat and Fergie's no-nonsense delivery turned The Dutchess into a multi-platinum smash. She would dominate the next year.
- 08
Buttons
The Pussycat Dolls · feat. Snoop Dogg
popclubFind similar tracks →On the charts
Peaked at #3 on the Hot 100.
Why it mattered
Polow da Don built another minor-key strut. Pussycat Dolls had the dance choreography and Snoop had the cool-uncle verse.
- 09
Chain Hang Low
Jibbs
ringtone-rapsnapFind similar tracks →On the charts
Peaked at #7 on the Hot 100.
Why it mattered
A nursery-rhyme flip of 'Turkey in the Straw' that became one of the most ringtone-rap-ish ringtone hits of the year. The line between novelty and inevitability was very thin.
- 10
It's Goin' Down
Yung Joc
snapatlFind similar tracks →On the charts
Peaked at #3 on the Hot 100.
Why it mattered
Nitti's airy synth riff and Yung Joc's lazy drawl made one of the year's most enduring snap-rap singles. The 'motorcycle' dance was a frat-party fixture.
