Pitchfork

Whatever DJ Khaled does, exactly, he was supposed to do on Lil Wayne's Da Drought 3 mixtape. The absence of Khaled's distracting barks from the version that ultimately leaked was probably one of the year's most serendipitous pop moments. As annoying as the guy may be, though, there's no arguing with his ability to gather an impressive assemblage of hot-shit rappers, as his still-great "We Takin' Over" attests. But not even a T-Pain chorus could bring the ho-hum verses of We the Best's original "I'm So Hood" to that track's otherwordly level. The remix-- yes, in case Khaled doesn't explain it clearly enough, this is the remix-- calls in some marquee (not Biz Markie) reinforcements, and turns out slightly better. Still, the gap between the video and the splashy "We Takin' Over" clip suggests everybody involved realizes this sequel isn't exactly The Godfather: Part II.

Set in some geographically non-specific hood, the "I'm So Hood (Remix)" video's little thrills come from seeing so many estimable hip-hop talents in one video. Boasts about being street are what Young Jeezy does, but he's no "Go Getta" here. Ludacris goes next, possibly a mistake because his verse is the best; he even jokes he "shoulda been on the original version" (a twist that Khaled, ever self-promotional, must've loved). Busta Rhymes is draped in gold chains, rapping at hyperspeed, while Big Boi's sing-song verse, despite a canny Batman/Jack Nicholson nod, is a reminder that he was little more than frosting on UGK's "International Player's Anthem" wedding cake. Lil Wayne beats his chest, talking about eating and Kelsey Grammer, but gets embarrassingly upstaged by Fat Joe's McDonald's quip. Birdman's New Orleans demeanor and Rick Ross's beard are also in here somewhere. Like a bizarro Mims, Khaled can spend a million saying way too much on a track.

[original track from We the Best; out now on Koch]