1. Clipse feat. Sean Paul, Bless and Kardinal Offishall – “Grindin’ (Selector Remix)” (2002)
“Grindin” is by far one of the most complex records in the Neptunes catalog. The arrangement of all the percussion elements is far from standard. The addition of the shuttering sound effect and the melodic echoes were a challenge at first for Pusha T. Once he rapped on the beat–at the request of Pharrell who according to rumor, threatened to give the beat to Jay-Z–Pusha set the standard for those who would add on with remixes. The “Selector Remix” was distributed on vinyl with another set of remixes including one with Baby, Lil Wayne and N.O.R.E. The massive-sounding “Grindin'” proved to be the perfect soundbed for the stylings of dancehall star Sean Paul and yardie rappers Kardinal Offishall and Bless, each of whom shreds the beat in their own way.
(For more on the Clipse x dancehall, see “Heds & Dreds: Pusha T, G.O.O.D. Music’s Top Shotta”-Ed)