Idolator

OK, so it's not exactly a sequel to the Destiny's Child songs, but this slow-burn, drag-you-to-the-boudoir remix of Ne-Yo's "Miss Independent" certainly does celebrate women who buy their own diamonds and buy their own rings. (Although one wonders if the brand-dropping that ensues on this track is going to result in it being a casualty of our new economic era, or at least less of an aphrodisiac than initially intended.) Bonus: See if you can pick out all the cameos, which include Eve and Estelle! [YouTube]

In lieu of a traditional Top 40, Vibe has just published its list of the 44 best singles of 2007, and it's headed up by a... Fabolous collaboration with Ne-Yo that we never paid much attention to until now. Yes, Fabolous over Kanye, 50, Rihanna, "Crank That," anything featuring T-Pain, anything featuring a former American Idol contestant, and the way beyond omnipresent Lil Wayne. Never let it be said the folks at Vibe aren't listening to their hearts. The full 44 is after the jump, but first our thoughts on everything that fell below the standard set by Fabolous.

THE GOOD: M.I.A. sneaks in by dint of a Bun B/Rich Boy remix, Keyshia Cole scrapes the Top 10 with her Biggie-twisting Missy collaboration, and most of our favorite ringtones urban radio hits of the year make an appearance.
THE BAD: 50 Cent over Kanye upset! Momentarily peeved about this, but upon further reflection, "I Get Money" still bangs months later while the luster has faded a little on the Jackson-sampling sheen of "Good Life." Still, from an ideological standpoint, this feels suspect.
THE WHAAA? UGK's "International Players Anthem" not even in the Top 10? We'd call foul even if Pimp C hadn't just recently left us. (Okay, to be fair, Vibe's list was likely compiled long before his passing.)

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Welcome to On The Shelf, where we look at a few of the releases hitting store shelves—both physical and virtual—on Tuesday. This week, we have new releases from Fabolous, Queens Of the Stone Age, Paramore, and Dizzee Rascal. More »

Rapper Fabolous had a worse Monday night than you did: After being shot in the thigh while standing in a Manhattan parking garage, he was then arrested when police discovered two unlicensed and loaded guns in his crew's get-away car. He's in stable condition, though the biggest injury may be to his pride: Because he had just left Justin's Bar And Restaurant, the rap-savvy New York Post identified him only as an anonymous "'Diddy' Patron." Oof. More »