Sound of Young America contributor Andrew Noz just dropped off his top 50 rap singles of 2011. I have to admit that I look forward to this list every year.

Above is one of my favorites of the year, Pete Rock's "Roses," with Smif & Wessun and Freeway. Noz's top pick this year is a natural, N*ggas in Paris.

Ice Cube presents a defense of Los Angeles architectural aesthetics and an appreciation of Charles & Ray Eames.

Yes, Ice Cube.

Also of note: he declares traffic on the 110 freeway to be "gangsta traffic." Good to know.

Nile Rodgers, recent Sound of Young America guest.

Or click here for Clams Casino (brilliant young hip-hop producer) in conversation with Sound of Young America contributor Andrew Noz.

N****s thinking M.O.P. stands for "mop" and shit.

"I'm Dr. Dre, gorgeous hunk of a man / Doing tricks in the mix that no others can."

I once wrote a Prank the Dean sketch where the premise was that a guy out on a date had hired DJ Clue to do drops in his date. There was a World Class Wreckin Cru joke in there, and Jordan and Jim looked at me like I was insane when I pitched it.

Some chill-out weekend night music.

I love this song even more than you'd think I'd love a song called Awesome Awesome by a rapper named Buddy. When I heard this the other day, I basically had the same reaction as Noz - I wished it was Roscoe P. Coldchain, but it's still pretty fantastic.

PS: champion of this video is dude in the A's hat making muscles.

Yeah, that's rapping.

I want Mannie Fresh to do the theme for The Sound of Young America. Mannie! Email me!