As we all know, the HOOK of a song is probably one of the most important elements to a track’s success. From it’s simplicity factor all the way down to personal connection to the intended ear, the hook needs to be MONEY. And in 2011, we heard various amounts of hooks that snatched us in from the very first listen. Team YHTN (along with some other valued ears) have selected THESE six hooks for nominees to this years Hook Of The Year accolade. And the nominees are?

Rihanna – We Found Love (Prod. By Calvin Harris): If one of the pivotal figures in Black Twitter sings this your hook as much as I enjoy Egg Nog? You have a winner. RiRi’s Talk That Talk was fueled with slutty commentary, but it was the lead off single “We Found Love” that dragged everyone into Ms. Fenty love land. Clubs WORLDWIDE could not and would not stop singing an infectious hook that an even my 6 year old niece enjoyed. But, was it TOO simple?

Lil Wayne ft. Drake – She Will (Prod. By T-Minus): One thing about Sherbert? The guy knows how convey specific feelings. And on the hook on Wayne’s dark “She Will” offering, he did just that. How often does one wonder about how REAL an ass is once a PYT is backing it up towards you? Not only that, but even girls were Twitpicing and Instagramming girls grabbing their tushi’s with the caption “Baby, it’s real.” *Clutches chest for a second* And to close it off, we all consider ourselves the “realest” niggas in the game right now, chances are she’ll get down with the get down lol.

Meek Mill ft. Rick Ross – I’m A Boss (Prod. By Jahlil Beats): Talk about a MONSTER! Self made or not, we all consider ourselves bosses in some way shape or form. And when the DJ’s got a hold of this puppy? Even the sweepers in the club were chanting this hook verbatim. Countless nights in 2011 were spent on couches and tables reciting this hook like there was no tomorrow. Bitch, I’M A BOSS!

DJ Khaled ft. Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne – I’m On One (Prod. By T-Minus, Nikhil S. and Noah “40″ Shebib): Sherbert’s at it again. It’s simple, you can relate and it’s an exact emotion when under the influence. Everyone is on one when them lights go dim and the music gets loud- all we needed was the right rhetoric to get our point across. And no matter where you’re from, what age you are and how you mix any drink, you’re sure to be on one once the needle touches this record.

The Throne – Niggas In Paris (Prod. By Hit Boy): I don’t know about you guys, but I’m all “cray” out. But that still doesn’t take away from how dope and simple this hook was. I mean Khole Kardashian tweets it, I use it as a response to when my mother asks me what I’m doing for the weekend and the cougars that attended the Victoria Secret Fashion show now have a new anthem to strip to when they go lingerie shopping for their UBER rich husbands this Valentine’s Day.

Big Sean ft. Kanye West & Roscoe Dash – Marvin Gaye & Chardonnay (Prod. By Andrew “Pop” Wansel, Shepard & Mike Dean): There was no way we could leave out the human instrument in this years Hook Of The Year nominees. Roscoe Dash, who actually said this was intended for Watch The Throne scored BIG time with this bad boy. It also helped the hook STARTED the song off which makes it THAT MUCH more infectious. And who can forget the adlibs heard around the world, “Hol up, Hol Up, Hol Up, Hol Up” connecting the hook to the verse. This was DEFINITELY inspired by a lil Marvin Gaye & Chardonnay word to Kevin Liles (anyone who attended Big Sean’s album listening session in NYC will understand that reference).

Ok ladies and gents, those are this years nominees. I know I know, there are some I left off the list, but these 6 echoed throughout Twitter and email threads when I inquired about this topic. No fear, I got some honorable mentions below. Winner will be announced New Year’s Day!

Honorable Mentions: Kendrick Lamar’ “ADHD”, Drake’s “The Motto”, J.Cole’s “Can’t Get Enough”, Wale’s “That Way”, Waka Flocka’s “Round Of Applause”, Big Sean’s “Ass”, Young Jeezy’s “Way Too Gone”, Nicki Minaj’s “Super Bass”, Future’s “Tony Montana”, Pitbull’s “Give Me Everything”, Big K.R.I.T’s “Country Shit”, Wale’s “Tats On My Arm”, Meek Mill “Tupac Back”, Gunplay’s “Rollin”, Drake’ “Marvin Room”