"Shawty Get Loose," Lil Mama (2008)

A crucial bridge between female rap eras

Peak: #10 on the Hot 100
Streams: 7.5 million

I have a soft spot for Lil Mama. She had roughly 10 seconds in the spotlight, and she might be more remembered for interrupting a Jay-Z & Alicia Keys performance than anything she actually created, but for me, her two hits are excellent party tracks that sparkle with humor and personality.

Her first single — “…