Nicki Minaj

Even the best artists have been guilty of releasing at least one weak record during their careers. So, instead of only reflecting the best moments in music history, this weeks edition of Way Back Wednesday highlights some of those bad songs that should have never seen the light of day.

From Beyonce to Nicki Minaj, it seems as though no artist can honestly boast of having a flawless discography. They have all blundered at some point with songs that represented them in the worst possible ways. Yes, some of those tunes eventually became monster hits but does that really mean they were good or just reflecting the poor taste of consumers, who were simply attracted to catchy hooks?

To get a clearer idea of my point, check out some of the worst songs by good artists below:

Alicia Keys – “Put It in a Love Song (Ft. Beyonce)”

An Alicia Keys and Beyonce duet looked amazing on paper but their “Put It in a Love Song” collaboration was underwhelming. Poorly written and arranged, the song was a complete disaster from start to finish with Beyonce easily out-singing Keys on her own album. No wonder Keys chose to shelve its accompanying video; she’d be damned if she let Beyonce steal her spotlight a second time.

Beyonce – “Diva”

Speaking of Beyonce, we can’t forget the ego masturbation known as “Diva”. Released from her I Am…Sasha Fierce album in 2008, the song sounded as though it was written by Jay-Z as a boastful claim about her non-existent chart supremacy. Ironically, Beyonce claimed to be the Queen on “Diva” but it stalled at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Christina Aguilera – “Woohoo (Ft. Nicki Minaj)”

“When in doubt, whip your crotch out” – That has undoubtedly been Christina Aguilera’s motto since the release of “Dirrty” over a decade ago. Yet, “Woohoo” was far less interesting than its club-banging predecessor and even with an added verse by then rising star Nicki Minaj, it still smelled like rotten fish.

Mariah Carey – “Don’t Stop (Funkin’ for Jamaica) (Ft. Mystikal)”

Mariah Carey’s Glitter soundtrack was panned by critics but it was actually a very impressive body of work. Well, except for the atrocity known as “Don’t Stop (Funkin’ for Jamaica)”. If you thought the diva played second fiddle to Miguel on “#Beautiful” then you will be even more upset to hear her whisper in the background as Mystikal incoherently yells every verse.

Missy Elliott – “9th Inning (Ft. Timbaland)”

It’s hard to say anything negative about Missy Elliott but nothing good came to mind when she released her wannabe comeback single, “9th Inning”, in 2012. Timbaland proclaimed that this record would be the future of music but thankfully, he was wrong.

Monica & Brandy – “It All Belongs to Me”

Monica and Brandy made history with their first duet, “The Boys is Mine”, so a reunion between the two was an exciting idea for R&B fans everywhere. Unfortunately, lightning didn’t strike twice and the trite “It All Belongs to Me” fell flatter than a Keyshia Cole high note.

Nicki Minaj – “Stupid Hoe”

“If you have to make a song called ‘Stupid Hoe’ then you must be a stupid hoe” – Lil Kim. That’s all, folks.

Shakira – “Give It Up to Me (Ft. Lil Wayne)”

Shakira conquered Pop, Latin and Rock music but when she experimented into Hip-Hop, everything went wrong. Not only did she sound very awkward on the song but her live performances were painfully embarrassing. On the bright side- scratch that. There is no silver lining in this fart cloud.

Usher – “OMG (Ft. will.i.am)”

Dear artists, stop working with will.i.am. Don’t give him your money, let him write your songs or even set foot in your studios. Yes, he might secure you a hit as he did with Usher’s “OMG” but you may find yourself singing, “boobies like wow wow wow!” Is it really worth it?

Whitney Houston – “Whatchulookinat”

Whitney Houston always had a love/hate relationship with her fans and the media, and she lashed out at them on one of the few songs she ever co-wrote, “Whatchulookinat”. All the record did, however, was show us exactly why she rarely got involved in the creative process, and the terrible lyrics backfired on the crumbling diva, who became known for tabloid antics instead of her music.

Who had the worst song? Why was it worse than the others? What song is missing from the list? Vote in the Way Back Wednesday poll and share your opinions!