The Linkin Park MC-Producer shares his top nine from ‘08 (even though “Let’s Ride” was from 07’s 100 Miles & Running).

1. “Dr. Carter,” Lil Wayne
“I had to limit myself to songs from this year—otherwise, it’s just too hard to narrow down. Lil Wayne is killing it right now, but this song proved to me that he isn’t just the hot rapper of the moment. The concept is genius, and the rhymes are just ridiculous.”

2. “Rising Down,” The Roots feat. Most Def and Styles P
“For a while it felt like they were trying to do the mainstream commercial thing, but the Roots and mainstream commercial aren’t really meant for each other. This song is a monster: very conscious, very dark, very political. I don’t think, like, Soulja Boy could pull it off.”

3. “Use Somebody,” Kings of Leon
“No disrespect, but I always thought they had this cool factor that took priority over everything else. Now they’re just making good music, period. This is soulful, rootsy, bluesy and universal.”

4. “Swagga Like Us,” T.I. feat Jay-Z, Lil Wayne and Kanye West
“When I first heard M.I.A. sing the ’swagger like us’ line in ‘Paper Planes,’ I knew it wouldn’t be long before someone sampled it. But this lineup is just incredible.”

5. “Cyanide,” Metallica
“An absolute monster. Welcome back, guys—we missed you.”

6. “Waiting Room,” Fugazi
“This song came out in 1989—an all-time favorite from the first band I fell in love with. Literally everything about it is great. Just download it, trust me.”

7. “Black President,” Nas
“Of all the celebrity Obama endorsements, this one felt the most real. It’s honest, conflicted and complicated.”

8. “M79,” Vampire Weekend
“I heard about these kids on Current TV. I saw the name and thought they were some
kind of hardcore metal band. Then I heard the music. It’s good to have some records in your collection that are upbeat and fun, for when you’re hanging out in the backyard or driving
to the beach. It’s a perfect summer song.”

9. “Let’s Ride,” Wale
“I check out music blogs a lot, which is where I first heard Wale. He’s part of this D.C. scene—it’s all very loud, the opposite of that spare, minimal old-school vibe–and he’s got a great flow. And his Seinfeld mixtape is hilarious.”

10. “Body Snatchers,” Radiohead
“One of the best bands of our generation. I wasn’t crazy about Kid A—it felt like they were wandering off a little too far into space. It’s good to have Thom Yorke orbiting planet Earth again.”