"New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of, there's nothing you can’t do, now you're in New York! These streets will make you feel brand new, the lights will inspire you, let's hear it for New York, New York, New York."

Artist: Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys

Song: Empire State of Mind
Album: The Blueprint 3
Produced by: Al Shux, Angela Hunte and Janet "Jnay" Sewell-Ulepic

Jigga namechecks Sinatra, the Yankees, Dominicans and… McDonalds.

OR

"It may not mean nothing to y'all, but understand nothing was done for me, so I don't plan on stopping at all, I want this shit forever man, ever man, ever man."

Artist: Drake featuring Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Eminem
Song: Forever
Album: Music Inspired by More Than A Game
Produced by: Boi-1da

Drizzy says he works hard (but hasn't released his debut yet), Kanye is sick of fame, Lil Wayne promises he won't stop and Eminem says he's back to save rap.

"Los puerquitos le ayudaron, se alimentan de la granja, diario quieren más maíz, y se pierden las ganancias, y el granjero que trabaja, ya no les tiene confianza."

Artist: Los Tigres Del Norte

Song: La Granja
Album: La Granja

The Tigers of the North borrow from George Orwell's Animal Farm for a song about greedy little pigs.

OR

"Sufre, en lo mas hondo de tu alma sufre, siente la daga de mi espalda y sufre, tan solo piérdete en la nada, que hoy tu fuego es poca llamarada."

Artist: Los Dareyes de La Sierra
Song: Sufre
Album: Una Copa Más

Don't you dare touch Darey Castro's heart while it's on the ground in a thousand little pieces.

"Y es que mi cama huele a ti, a tu perfume de miel, a ti, cierro los ojos y pienso en ti, ti, a tu perfume de miel, a ti."

Artist: Tito "El Bambino" featuring Zion y Lennox

Song: Mi Cama Huele A Ti
Album: El Patrón

Tito says his bed stinks. But it a good way. Zion y Lennox agree.

OR

"Gracias a ti, hoy soy feliz, cuando llegaste, aprendí a vivir, y es que gracias a ti, hoy puedo ser feliz, cuando llegaste
aprendí a vivir."

Artist: Wisin y Yandel
Song: Gracias A Ti
Album: La Revolución

El Duo Dinámico slow things down to thank the ladies in their lives. Especially for ironing their shirts before they go to church.

"I'm your biggest fan, I'll follow you until you love me, papa, paparazzi, baby, there's no other superstar, you know that, I'll be your papa, paparazzi."

Artist: Lady GaGa

Song: Paparazzi
Album: The Fame
Produced by: Rob Fusari

Leave it to Lady GaGa to write a song about media whores.

OR

"So baby don’t worry, you are my only, you won’t be lonely, even if the sky is falling down, you’ll be my only, no need to worry, baby are you down, down, down, down, down."

Artist: Jay Sean featuring Lil Wayne
Song: Down
Album: All or Nothing
Produced by: J-Remy and Bobby Bass

U.K. import Jay Sean weaves his silky-smooth vocals over a ticking hi-hat and lush strings while Lil Wayne mentions he's "down like the economy."

"I wanna be on you, I wanna be on you, and if you don’t like that, then send it right back, but I just gotta say, I just gotta say."

Artist: Flo Rida featuring Ne-Yo

Song: Be On You
Album: R.O.O.T.S.
Produced by: Stargate and Ne-Yo

Flo Rida and Ne-Yo don't mind if you're picky. As long as you let them "be" on you.

OR

"Uh-uh uh-uh uh-uh, just throw it in the bag, uh-uh uh-uh uh-uh, just throw it in the bag."

Artist: Fabolous featuring The-Dream
Song: Throw It In the Bag
Album: Loso's Way
Produced by: Cristopher "Tricky" Stewart, The-Dream

Fabolous sums things up: "F*** the price tag, just throw it in the bag."

"Y yo, no tengo armas para enfrentarte, pongo mis manos, manos al aire, sólo me importa amarte, en cuerpo y alma, como era ayer."

Artist: Nelly Furtado

Song: Manos Al Aire
Album: Mi Plan
Produced by: Nelly Furtado and James Bryan

Nelly contemplates breaking it off with a controlling and verbally abusive lover who can't change his ways.

OR

"Sabes que aunque te creías perfecto, por la ley de causa y efecto, hoy pagas por cada error."

Artist: Paulina Rubio
Song: Causa y Efecto
Album: Gran City Pop
Produced by: Cachorro López

Paulina gets the last laugh after she breaks things off with an egotistical lover who will pay for his cold-hearted ways.

"Life's a game but it's not fair, I break the rules so I don't care, so I keep doin' my own thing, walkin' tall against the rain."

Artist: Jay-Z featuring Rihanna and Kanye West
Song: Run This Town
Album: The Blueprint 3
Produced by: No I.D.

After "DOA" made Jay-Z relevant again, Jay-Hova has returned to stake his claim as the king of hip hop over distorted guitars and martial drum rolls.

OR

"She wanna have whatever she like, she can if she bring her friends, and we can have one hell of a night… through the day."

Artist: Kid Cudi featuring Common and Kanye West
Song: Make Her Say
Album: Man on the Moon: The End of Day
Produced by: Kanye West

Kid Cudi flips Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" and references T.I's "Whatever You Like" while Common mentions Jamie Foxx's "Blame It." Wait, who's song is this again?

"¿Que voy a hacer? cuando tenga ganas de darte un beso ¿que voy a hacer?"

Artist: Espinoza Paz

Song: ¿Lo Intentamos?
Album: Yo No Canto, Pero Lo Intentamos

Espinoza's got only himself to blame after he gets his heart broken. All that's left to say is: "We tried."

OR

"Pero ya es muy tarde, el mal ya esta hecho y he sido en tu vida solo tu deshecho."

Artist: La Arrolladora Banda El Limón
Song: Ya Es Muy Tarde
Album: Más Adelante

La Arrolladora says it's "too late" for a relationship with a scheming ex-girlfriend.

"I can feel your halo, halo, halo, I can see your halo, halo, halo, I can feel your halo, halo, halo, I can see your halo, halo, halo."

Artist: Beyonce

Song: Halo
Album: I Am… Sasha Fierce
Produced by: Evan "Kidd" Bogart, Beyonce and Ryan Tedder

Beyonce breaks down the walls around her heart over thumps, claps and synths.

OR

"Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield?"

Artist: Jordin Sparks
Song: Battlefield
Album: Battlefield
Produced by: The Runaways and Ryan Tedder

A misunderstanding leads to a war in Jordin Sparks' bombastic single.

"Abusadora, abusadora, abusadora, bendita sea la hora, en que te encontré."

Artist: Wisin y Yandel

Song: Abusadora
Album: La Revolución
Produced by: Tainy and Victor "El Nasi"

El Duo Dinámico can't resist a girl with more miles on her than a Ferrari.

OR

"Que tengo que hacer pa' que vuelvas conmigo, vamos a dejar el pasado atras, si te vas."

Artist: Daddy Yankee
Song: Qué Tengo Que Hacer
Album: Talento Del Barrio Soundtrack
Produced by: Musicólogo and Menes

If there's anything that screams "street cred," it's begging someone to take you back.