There’s a reason sing-songy choruses have gone from frowned upon to practically mandatory. At press time, 16 out of 21 rap singles on the Billboard Hot 100 featured singing hooks. Black Eyed Peas' "Boom Boom Pow" and "Imma Be" are the only No.1 rap singles out of 15 chart toppers that didn't feature singing in the past three years. Needless to say, the singing hook formula has proven to be a successful.

Though he’s considerably slowed down in the past two years, T-Pain, who has made a career out of guesting on rap singles, is presently featured on two songs on the Hot 100: Pitbull’s “Baby,” which peaked at No.7 a few weeks back and DJ Khaled’s “Welcome to My Hood,” which now ranks at No. 79. Meanwhile, Skylar Grey appears to be picking up steam. The singer/songwriter, who penned Rihanna’s chorus on Eminem’s No.1 single, “Love the Way You Lie,” is presently featured on Dr. Dre’s “I Need a Doctor,” which peaked at No.4 and Diddy-Dirty Money’s “Coming Home,” which peaked at No.11. The late great Nate Dogg, Akon and Pharrell Williams,  just to name a few, have all taken turns as hip-hop’s hookman du jour. Even rappers-turned-part-time-singers like 50 Cent, Lil Wayne and Drake have become sought after hookmen, but who exactly provides more bang for your buck? Which hook man is the most efficient?

XXL takes a look at 25 in-demand hook specialists and finds out who has the best batting average.— XXL Staff

[Editor's Note: A song has to chart in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 to be considered a hit. The slugging percentage is the ratio of Top 10 singles.]

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25.Lloyd
Guest Hooks on Rap Singles: 16
Guest Hooks on No.1 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 0
Guest Hooks on Top 40 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 1
Peak Position: No.2 (Young Money’s “Bedrock”)
Batting AVG: 063
Slugging Percentage: 0
Hooked Up: Lloyd Banks (“Any Girl”), Huey (“When I Hustle”) and Nipsey Hussle (“Feelin’ Myself”)
Grammys from Hook Ups: 0


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24.Chrisette Michele
Guest Hooks on Rap Singles: 6
Guest Hooks on No.1 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 0
Guest Hooks on Top 40 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 1
Peak Position: No.30 (Rick Ross’ “Aston Martin Music”)
Batting AVG: 167
Slugging Percentage: 0
Hooked Up: Jay-Z (“Lost Ones”), Nas (“Can’t Forget About You”), The Game (“Let Us Live”)
Grammys from Hook Ups: 0


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23.Trey Songz
Guest Hooks on Rap Singles: 12
Guest Hooks on No.1 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 0
Guet Hooks on Top 40 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 2
Peak Position: No.14 (Twista's “Girl Tonite”)
Batting AVG: 167
Slugging Percentage: 0
Hooked Up: Jim Jones (“Summer In Miami”), Drake (“Successful”), Ludacris (“Sex Room”)
Grammys from Hook Ups: 0


Twista & Trey Songz - Girl Tonite by lachula

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22.Keri Hilson
Guest Hooks on Rap Singles: 11
Guest Hooks on No.1 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 0
Guest Hooks on Top 40 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 2
Peak Position: No.3 (Timbaland's “The Way I Are”)
Batting AVG: 182
Slugging Percentage: 0
Hooked Up: Nas (“Hero”), T.I. (“Got Your Back”), Fabolous ("Everything, Everyday, Everywhere")
Grammys from Hook Ups: 0


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21.Keyshia Cole
Guest Hooks on Rap Singles: 5
Guest Hooks on No.1 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 0
Guest Hooks on Top 40 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 1
Peak Position: No.10 (Diddy’s “Last Night”)
Batting AVG: 200
Slugging Percentage: 200
Hooked Up: The Game (“Game’s Pain”), Young Jeezy (“Dreamin’”), Trina (“I Got a Thang for You”)
Grammys from Hook Ups: 0


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20.Faith Evans
Guest Hooks on Rap Singles: 14
Guest Hooks on No.1 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 1
Guest Hooks on Top 40 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 3
Peak Position: No.1 (Puff Daddy’s “I’ll Be Missing You”)
Batting AVG: 214
Slugging Percentage: 143
Hooked Up: The Notorious B.I.G. (“One More Chance”), Eve (“Love Is Blind”), Scarface ("Someday")
Grammys from Hook Ups: 1


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19.Chris Brown
Guest Hooks on Rap Singles: 12
Guest Hooks on No.1 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 0
Guest Hooks on Top 40 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 4
Peak Position: No.9 (Bow Wow’s “Shorty Like Mine”)
Batting AVG: 222
Slugging Percentage: 167
Hooked Up: Lil Mama (“Shawty Get Loose”), Ludacris (“What Them Girls Like”), T.I. ("Get Back Up")
Grammys from Hook Ups: 0


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18.will.i.am
Guest Hooks on Rap Singles: 7
Guest Hooks on No.1 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 0
Guest Hooks on Top 40 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 2
Peak Position: No.9 (Flo Rida’s “In the Ayer”)
Batting AVG: 286
Slugging Percentage: 0
Hooked Up: Common (“A Dream,” “I Want You”), Jay Rock (“All My Life”), Talib Kweli ("Hot Thing")
Grammy from Hook Ups: 0


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17.Akon
Guest Hooks on Rap Singles: 31
Guest Hooks on No.1 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 0
Guest Hooks on Top 40 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 9
Peak Position: No.4 (Young Jeezy’s “Soul Survivor”)
Batting AVG: 300
Slugging Percentage: 093
Hooked Up: DJ Khaled (“We Takin Over”), Plies (“Hypnotized”), Dr. Dre (“Kush”)
Grammys from Hook Ups: 0


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16.Nate Dogg
Guest Hooks on Rap Singles: 30
Guest Hooks on No.1 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 1
Guest Hooks on Top 40 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 9
Peak Position: No.1 (50 Cent’s “21 Questions”)
Batting AVG: 300
Slugging Percentage: 097
Hooked Up: Ludacris "Area Codes"), Warren G ("Regulate"), Mos Def and Pharoahe Monch ("Oh No")
Grammys from Hook Ups: 0


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15.50 Cent
Guest Hooks on Rap Singles: 8
Guest Hooks on No.1 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 0
Guest Hooks on Top 40 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 3
Peak Position: No.2 ("Lil' Kim's "Magic Stick")
Batting AVG: 375
Slugging Percentage: 0
Grammys from Hook Ups: 0
Hooked Up: The Game (“How We Do,” “Hate It Or Love It”) and Tony Yayo (“So Seductive”)


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14.Pharrell Williams
Guest Hooks on Rap Singles: 21
Guest Hooks on No.1 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 1
Guest Hooks on Top 40 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 8
Peak Position: No.1 (Ludacris’ “Money Maker”)
Batting AVG: 381
Slugging Percentage: 048
Hooked Up: Jay-Z ("Excuse Me Miss," "Change Clothes," "Blue Magic"), Snoop Dogg ("Beautiful"), Mystikal ("Shake It Fast")
Grammys from Hook Ups: 1


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13.The-Dream
Guest Hooks on Rap Singles: 5
Guest Hooks on No.1 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 0
Guest Hooks on Top 40 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 2
Peak Position: No.14 (Fabolous’ “Throw It In the Bag”)
Batting AVG: 400
Slugging Percentage: 0
Hooked Up: Rick Ross ("All I Really Want"), Snoop Dogg ("Gangsta Luv"), Shawty Lo ("Atlanta GA")
Grammys from Hook Ups: 0


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12.Mary J. Blige
Guest Hooks on Rap Singles: 10
Guest Hooks on No.1 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 0
Guest Hooks on Top 40 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 4
Peak Position: No.2 (Ludacris’ “Runaway Love”)
Batting AVG: 400
Slugging Percentage: 200
Hooked Up: Method Man (“I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need”), Talib Kweli ("I Try), Jay-Z ("Can't Knock the Hustle")
Grammys from Hook Ups: 1


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11.R. Kelly
Guest Hooks on Rap Singles: 19
Guest Hooks on No.1 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 0
Guest Hooks on Top 40 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 8
Peak Position: No.2 (Diddy’ “Satisfy You”)
Batting AVG: 421
Slugging Percentage: 158
Hooked Up: Cassidy (“Hotel”), Young Jeezy (“Go Getta”), Snoop Dogg (“That's That Shit")
Grammys from Hook Ups: 0


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10.Ne-Yo
Guest Hooks on Rap Singles: 9
Guest Hooks on No.1 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 0
Guest Hooks on Top 40 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 4
Peak Position: No.7 (Plies’ “Bust It Baby Pt.2”)
Batting AVG: 444
Slugging Percentage: 222
Hooked Up: Fabolous (“Make Me Better”), Rick Ross (“Super High”), 50 Cent (“Baby By Me”)
Grammys from Hook Ups: 0


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9.Lil Mo
Guest Hooks on Rap Singles: 11
No.1 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 0
Top 40 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 5
Peak Position: No.4 (Fabolous' "Can't Let You Go")
Batting AVG: 455
Slugging Percentage: 272
Hooked Up: , Missy Elliot ("Hot Boy"), Ja Rule ("Put It on Me," "I Cry"), Angie Martinez ("If I Could Go")
Grammys from Hook Ups: 0


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8.T-Pain
Guest Hooks on Rap Singles: 34
Guest Hooks on No.1 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 1
Guest Hooks on Top 40 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 16
Peak Position: No.1 (Flo Rida’s “Low”)
Batting AVG: 471
Slugging Percentage: 176
Hooked Up: Kanye West (“Good Life”), Plies (“Shawty”), Lil Wayne (“Got Money”)
Grammys from Hook Ups: 1


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7.Usher
Guest Hooks on Rap Singles: 4
Guest Hooks onNo.1 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 0
Guest Hooks on Top 40 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 2
Peak Position: No.2 (Diddy’s “I Need a Girl (Part One)”)
Batting AVG: 500
Slugging Percentage: 500
Hooked Up: Lil Jon (“Lovers and Friends”), Gucci Mane (“Spotlight”), DJ Khaled (“Fed Up”)
Grammys from Hook Ups: 0


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6.Lil Wayne
Guest Hooks on Rap Singles: 10
Guest Hooks on No.1 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 0
Guest Hooks on Top 40 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 5
Peak Position: No.13 (Fat Joe's "Make It Rain")
Batting AVG: 500
Slugging Percentage: 0
Hooked Up: B.G. ("Bling Bling"), Playaz Circle (“Duffle Bag Boy,” Fat Joe (“The Crackhouse”)
Grammy from Hook Ups: 0


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5.Jamie Foxx
Guest Hooks on Rap Singles: 4
Guest Hooks on No.1 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 2
Guest Hooks on Top 40 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 4
Peak Position: No.1 (Kanye West's "Gold Digger," Twista and Kanye West's "Slow Jamz")
Batting AVG: 500
Slugging Percentage: 500
Hooked Up: Plies (“Please Excuse My Hands”)and T.I. (“Live in the Sky”)
Grammys from Hook Ups: 0


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4.Ashanti
Guest Hooks on Rap Singles: 11
Guest Hooks on No.1 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 1
Guest Hooks onTop 40 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 6
Peak Position: No.1 (Ja Rule’s “Always on Time”)
Batting AVG: 545
Slugging Percentage: 545
Hooked Up: Ja Rule (“Down 4 U,” “Mesmerize”), Fat Joe (“What’s Luv?”), Fabolous (“So Into You”)
Grammys from Hook Ups: 0


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3.Drake
Guest Hooks on Rap Singles: 5
No.1 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 0
Top 40 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 4
Peak Position: No.23 (Timbaland's "Say Something")
Batting AVG: 600
Slugging Percentage: 0
Hooked Up: Birdman (“Money to Blow”), Bun B ("Put It Down"), Rick Ross (“Aston Martin Music”)
Grammys from Hook Ups: 0


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2. Justin Timberlake
Guest Hooks on Rap Singles: 7
Guest Hooks on No.1 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 1
Guest Hooks on Top 40 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 5
Peak Position: No.1 (Timbaland’s “Give It to Me”)
Batting AVG: 714
Slugging Percentage: 571
Hooked Up: Snoop Dogg (“Signs”), T.I. (“Dead and Gone”) Black Eyed Peas (“Where Is the Love”)
Grammys from Hook Ups: 0


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1.Rihanna
Guest Hooks on Rap Singles: 4
Guest Hooks on No.1 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 2
Guest Hooks on Top 40 Singles on Billboard Hot 100: 4
Peak Position: No.1 (T.I.'s "Live Your Lie," Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie")
Batting AVG: 1000
Slugging Percentage: 500
Hooked Up: Jay-Z ("Run This Town"), Kanye West ("All of the Lights")
Grammy from Hook Ups: 2

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