100 Best Songs of 2011

Click on to see BET.com's run-down of the year's best.

100 Best Songs of 2011 - Weezy. Drizzy. Nicki. Jay. Ye. Bey. Breezy. Kelly. You know the names, the songs, the faces. And of course you know the songs—you downloaded them, streamed them, bought them, rapped along to them, blasted them, danced to them, and requested them on 106 & Park. They're all good, great even. But which was the best? Click on to see BET.com's run-down of the 100 top songs of 2011.

1 / 16

100 Best Songs of 2011 - Weezy. Drizzy. Nicki. Jay. Ye. Bey. Breezy. Kelly. You know the names, the songs, the faces. And of course you know the songs—you downloaded them, streamed them, bought them, rapped along to them, blasted them, danced to them, and requested them on 106 & Park. They're all good, great even. But which was the best? Click on to see BET.com's run-down of the 100 top songs of 2011.

Lonely Star - The Weeknd initially refused to do any shows or interviews and didn't make any pictures or videos public. But word about House of Balloons spread nonetheless, aided by Drake, who tweeted about the album. (Photo: XO Records)

2 / 16

86. “Wicked Games,” The Weeknd - One of the standout smokers from The Weeknd's debut release, House of Balloons, this song is a perfect introduction to the Drake-affilated crooner's lush, louche Portishead-covers-R. Kelly dreamscape. (Photo: Courtesy XO Records)

/content/dam/betcom/images/2011/10/Celebs-10.16-10.31/101811-music-the-roots-2.jpg

3 / 16

82. “The OtherSide,” The Roots feat. Bilal - It's impossible to distill the Roots' conceptual magnum opus Undun to one song, but this standout, with its razor-sharp rhymes, cascading piano melody and thunderous drums, is the album's emotional center.(Photo: Courtesy Island Def Jam)

Photo By Courtesy Island Def Jam

The Throne - Though they weren’t there to accept the award, The Throne (Jay-Z and Kanye West) took home the Best Rap Performance Grammy for their ubiquitous hit “Otis.”(Photo: Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup)

4 / 16

45. “Murder to Excellence,” Kanye West and Jay-Z - Jay and Ye take a break from the royal life to address black-on-black violence and shout out Danroy Henry on this touching highlight from Watch the Throne.  (Photo: Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup)

Mary J. Co-Signs - Before they collaborated on the "Fancy (Remix)," Mary J. Blige handpicked Drake to work on "The One" from her album. Before that, she talked about Drake's "Best I Ever Had" single as being a positive song for females.(Photo: Vince Bucci/PictureGroup)

5 / 16

43. “Mr. Wrong,” Mary J. Blige feat. Drake - Mary proves she's still the reigning queen of hip hop soul, linking with Drake to add yet another dope rapper collabo to her seemingly miles-long list. Breaking down her penchant for falling for "Mr. Wrong," she gives a revealing glimpse at why she suffered so much heartbreak in her early career and life—a key to understanding her best songs that any true fan will appreciate. (Photo: Vince Bucci/PictureGroup)

ADVERTISEMENT
4th Dimension \r - Singer Lady Gaga — always pushing the fashion envelope and, of course, taking live performance to the next level — appears onstage at the MTV Europe Music Awards in a futuristic red dress with twirling skirt at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland. (Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

6 / 16

40. "Born This Way," Lady Gaga - She came, she saw, she conquered, all with the help of her little "monsters," aka you. And "Born This Way" led the way. Yes, it does sound like Madonna's "Express Yourself," but let's face it: Gaga's a better singer. And the theme of empowerment and self-acceptance is universal—just one reason this song became the fastest-selling single in iTunes history. (Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

33. “Make Me Proud,” Drake - Nicki and Drake keep the "are they or aren't they?" rumors going strong with this bubbling down-tempo duet, trading verses and Auto-tuned harmonies.(Photo: Brad Barket/PictureGroup)

7 / 16

33. “Make Me Proud,” Drake - Nicki and Drake keep the "are they or aren't they?" rumors going strong with this bubbling down-tempo duet, trading verses and Auto-tuned harmonies.(Photo: Brad Barket/PictureGroup)

Best Club Banger: Drake – Started From The Bottom (Produced by Mike Zombie & Noah “40” Shebib) - Funny thing is, with the drink of your choosing and aspirations of greatness floating in your head, Drake's rags to riches anthem was the most inspirational club-ready single of the year. (Photo: John Gunion/Redferns)

8 / 16

31. “The Motto,” Drake feat. Lil Wayne - Drizzy and Weezy big up the Bay Area on this club-ready hyphy throwback, poignantly leaked on the seventh anniversary of the death of Mac Dre, the genre's godfather.(Photo: John Gunion/Redferns)

29. “Countdown,” Beyoncé - At this point, five-plus years into her solo career, Beyoncé party songs have pretty much become their own genre. And this song is one of its best, ecstatically blending dancehall, Southern hip hop, big-band brass and a Boyz II Men sample into something that's undeniably her own.(Photo: Courtesy Sony Music)

9 / 16

29. “Countdown,” Beyoncé - At this point, five-plus years into her solo career, Beyoncé party songs have pretty much become their own genre. And this song is one of its best, ecstatically blending dancehall, Southern hip hop, big-band brass and a Boyz II Men sample into something that's undeniably her own.(Photo: Courtesy Sony Music)

"Thug Cry" Featuring Lil Wayne - J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League brings their typically orchestral production to serve as the backdrop for the latest Rick Ross-Lil Wayne joint, where their chemistry as a duo is as evident as ever.(Photo: Sean O'Kane/BET)

10 / 16

26. “John,” Lil Wayne feat. Rick Ross - This dramatic, bouncing video-game beat is undoubtedly a Lex Luger bite, but it bangs through and through; it's hard to imagine anyone except the Bawse and Weezy in peak energetic form truly doing it justice.(Photo: GettyImages)

ADVERTISEMENT
22. “Best Thing I Never Had,” Beyoncé - The Yonce channels her 2006 hit "Irreplacable" with another scorned-woman anthem, highlighted by a clever juxtaposition of snarky, at-times hiarious lyrics ("sucks to be you right now") and classic, syrupy pop piano.(Photo: Courtesy Sony Music)

11 / 16

22. “Best Thing I Never Had,” Beyoncé - The Yonce channels her 2006 hit "Irreplacable" with another scorned-woman anthem, highlighted by a clever juxtaposition of snarky, at-times hiarious lyrics ("sucks to be you right now") and classic, syrupy pop piano.(Photo: Courtesy Sony Music)

18. “Love on Top,” Beyoncé - Bey joyfully takes on classic '80s R&B here, never losing stride even as the song's key modulates upwards again and again. Trust us: You'll be hearing this at family reunions, weddings and Sunday barbecues for a long time.(Photo: Courtesy Sony Music)

12 / 16

18. “Love on Top,” Beyoncé - Bey joyfully takes on classic '80s R&B here, never losing stride even as the song's key modulates upwards again and again. Trust us: You'll be hearing this at family reunions, weddings and Sunday barbecues for a long time.(Photo: Courtesy Sony Music)

Lil' Wayne on why he stopped using “lean”  - “I’m not sick anymore.”(Photo: Gary Miller/FilmMagic)

13 / 16

17. “How to Love,” Lil Wayne - With his protege Drake as inspiration, Lil Wayne goes straight singer-songwriter here, revealing a new softer side via Auto-tune crooning and folksy acoustic guitars. (Photo: Gary Miller/FilmMagic)

16. “My Last,” Big Sean feat. Chris Brown - What recession? 2011 was all about ball-till-you-fall escapism—for better and for worse—and this aspirational collabo between your girl's favorite rapper and favorite singer summed up the zeitgeist perfectly. (Photo: Courtesy Island Def Jam Records)

14 / 16

16. “My Last,” Big Sean feat. Chris Brown - What recession? 2011 was all about ball-till-you-fall escapism—for better and for worse—and this aspirational collabo between your girl's favorite rapper and favorite singer summed up the zeitgeist perfectly. (Photo: Courtesy Island Def Jam Records)

15. “Party,” Beyoncé - Bey is an '80s baby, so it makes perfect sense that she sounds so great channeling that decade's R&B on "Love on Top" and here. We can't decide whether we like the version with Andre 3000 or J. Cole better; regardless, the more important cameo is Kanye's, for introducing "swagu" to our vocabulary.(Photo: Courtesy Sony Music)

15 / 16

15. “Party,” Beyoncé - Bey is an '80s baby, so it makes perfect sense that she sounds so great channeling that decade's R&B on "Love on Top" and here. We can't decide whether we like the version with Andre 3000 or J. Cole better; regardless, the more important cameo is Kanye's, for introducing "swagu" to our vocabulary.(Photo: Courtesy Sony Music)

"Run the World (Girls)," Beyoncé - Who runs the world? Obvi. Girls got this one, so says a horse-riding Beyoncé with her army of female soldiers and a couple of Tofo Tofo dancers straight from Mozambique. The track is one of the more aggressive beats Bey's jumped on (before she went all Beyoncé on us).(Photo: Courtesy of Columbia Records)

16 / 16

6. “Run the World (Girls),” Beyoncé - Beyoncé goes back to familiar territory with another post-pop dance smash, and another female empowerment anthem, to lead off her fourth studio album, 4. When Ms. Knowles says girls run the world and hits you with this song, you have no choice but to believe her.(Photo: Courtesy Sony Music)