On June 25, Jay-Z and Beyonce will kick-off their On The Run tour in Miami after which the world is likely to collapse from the combined energy and sexiness created by these two forces of light. So before that, please enjoy this highly subjective but incredibly accurate ranking of all nine album collaborations of the Queen B and Hova.
9. That's How You Like It - Dangerously in Love
8. Lift-Off - Watch the Throne
7. Hollywood - Kingdom Come (and B'Day Deluxe Edition as Welcome to Hollywood)
6. Déjà vu - B'Day
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WHY: A truly great song on an often extremely underrated album (dare I say...my favorite?). After "Crazy in Love" helped to launch Dangerously in Love into the stratosphere, you can't question the logic of using another Bey/Jay collab to launch her second solo effort. But without doubt, "Get Me Bodied," "Irreplaceable," "Suga Mama," "Freakum Dress" or "Ring the Alarm" would all have been better choices as the first single, and potentially could have helped with the "the second album sucks" snark that interwebs haters spewed.
KEY LYRIC:
Cause in my mind I want you here
Get on the next plane, I don't care
Is it because I'm missing you
That I'm having Deja Vu
5. Part II (On The Run) - Magna Carta Holy Grail
4. Upgrade U - B'Day
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WHY: A great song from the aforementioned completely underrated album. But really, this song is this high on the list in large part because of the music video, in which Beyonce gives a SPOT ON impersonation of her husband. It's a work of art.
KEY LYRIC:
I can do for you what Martin did for the people
Ran by the men but the women keep the tempo
It's very seldom that you're blessed to find your equal
Still play my part and let you take the lead role
Believe me
3. Drunk in Love - Beyonce
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WHY: I mean. Is that really a question? Subtract the fact that the 12/13/13 surprise visual album completely revolutionized the way albums are released. Subtract the fact that it's the sexiest damn video ever that was followed shortly by the sexiest damn Grammy performance ever. Subtract the fact that B might actually have a future career as a rapper. Subtract all that...and this little ditty changed the way we say...
KEY LYRIC:
...Surfboardt.
2. Crazy in Love - Dangerously in Love
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WHY: A lot of people would put this at #1. And a lot of people might be right. But not me. That said, there is no doubt that Beyonce might not be Beyonce without "Crazy in Love" (editors note - I JUST noticed the parallel that in ten years time she went from CRAZY in love to DRUNK in love. Preach, girl). Any questions about whether B could do it alone without her back-up crew of Kelly and Michelle (and LaToya and LaTavia and Farrah) were quickly put to rest. The horns; the "uh-ohs"; the red heels, hot pants and white tank; the appearance of "Young Hov" who knows when the flow is loco. It's a masterpiece. When Beyonce asked "You ready," anyone who said yes was lying.
KEY LYRIC:
Uh-oh
Uh-oh
Uh-oh
Oh no-no
1. 03 Bonnie & Clyde
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WHY: "You ready B? Let's go get 'em." Enough said.
KEY LYRIC
And so I put this on my life
Nobody or nothing will ever come between us
BONUS: Young Forever at Coachella
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WHY: At his Coachella headlining performance in 2010, Jay begins the intro for this song with "I'm not even gonna say her name, I'm gonna let her speak for herself" And speak for herself she does. Do I really want to live forever? Only in a world with Beyonce and Jay-Z.
KEY LYRIC:
So we livin' life like a video
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