7. “Giving Me Life”
Featuring: Slick Rick
Select Bar: “Your gold fronts looked better than mines did”
Scarano's Take: When the Caution world tour came to New York, Mariah brought out Rick the Ruler and showered him with love. From the golden era of hip-hop to now, she cares.
8. “Boy”
Featuring: Cam’ron
?Select Bar: “Eight keys, two hammers, lobster and shrimp/Look at my limp mami, we could be a couple still”
Scarano's Take: Softening his ”Oh Boy” flow only slightly, Cam’ron brings a gentleman’s sense of gully to this Charmbracelet cut.
9. “The Roof (Mobb Deep Extended Mix)”
Featuring: Mobb Deep
?Select Bar: “But overall you the one that’s like my pistol” -- Prodigy
Scarano's Take: Taking the sample of their ”Shook Ones (Pt. II)” to its logical conclusion, Prodigy and Havoc hop on this remix to bring extra grit and grime to the aching ballad.
10. “Say Somethin'”
Featuring: Snoop Dogg
?Select Bar: “Digging this track by The Neptunes/Baby girl follow me to the restroom”
Scarano's Take: Snoop always sounds breezy over Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo’s production. His second collab with MC is their strongest -- a tender reunion.
11. “Always Be My Baby (Mr. Dupri Mix)”
Featuring: Da Brat and Xscape
Select Bar: “So what I do is keep it true and real/ For my peeps in that street cause to them/ I'mma always be their baby” -- Da Brat
Scarano's Take: Jermaine Dupri unearthed The S.O.S. Band's “Tell Me If You Still Care” to give an edge to one of Carey's most beloved tracks. Da Brat's verse isn't always on topic, but she nails the kicker.
12. “#Beautiful (Remix)”
Featuring: Jeezy and Miguel
Select Bar: “'Bout to make a new song called nothin' but her jeans/Beautiful, hang her on the wall like Mona Lisa” -- Jeezy
Scarano's Take: The snowman's heart melted for MC in a rare verse that celebrated love and maturity, instead of, you know, serving base.
13. “Obsessed (Remix)”
Featuring: Gucci Mane
Select Bar: “I guess shorty mad he don't got you no more/ So just like Pinocchio, his nose gon' grow”
Scarano's Take: Gucci could not stand idly by while Carey waged war against Eminem; instead, Guwop jumped in the pit and compared Marshall to a classic fairy tale character. Shots fired.
14. “H.A.T.E. U (So So Def Remix)“
Features: Gucci Mane, OJ Da Juiceman and Big Boi
Select Bar: ”Ooo, shawty hate me/ No longer wants to date me“ -- OJ Da Juiceman
Scarano's Take: OJ Da Juiceman, who gave us one of the most memorable XXL Freshman Class freestyles ever, keeps it real and direct while Jermaine Dupri repurposes Ghosttown DJs' ”My Boo.” Classic material in all directions.