The 25 Best Songs of Summer 2012

There may be a few hot days left on the calendar, but summer is effectively over. These are the songs that ran the season.

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Complex Original

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The conceit of The Summer Song has changed drastically in the past decade. It used to be fairly easy to determine which record was the season's most significant: whichever song got the most airplay. Now, with music being consumed in so many different ways, impressions are scattered, and our playlists are better off because of it.

This summer, there were good tunes everywhere you turned. After steadily raising his profile, 2 Chainz became a full-blown mainstream star. Kanye West got back to making solo songs, and still managed to kill a few guest verses in the process. Drake and Rick Ross maintained their status as hip-hop elite, and guys like Future and Juicy J experienced previously unexpected breakthroughs.

Rap certainly dominated the past few months, but there was great music from other genres, too. Three sisters from L.A. teamed up to form the most exciting indie band of the year, and no matter who you are, no one could escape that Carly Rae Jepsen song.

It's only mid-August, but for all intents and purposes, summer is over. You're already making Labor Day plans and there's a slim chance that any songs will come out in the next few weeks that trump the significance of the pack we've selected as this summer's greatest. The days are about to get shorter, and yes, it's depressing, but there isn't a better way to remember the past three months than with music. These are The 25 Best Songs of Summer 2012.

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25. Wiz Khalifa "Work Hard, Play Hard"

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24. Carly Rae Jepsen "Call Me Maybe"

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23. The-Dream f/ Pusha T "Dope Bitch"

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22. Dom Kennedy "My Type of Party"

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21. 2 Chainz f/ Kanye West "Birthday Song"

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20. Cash Out "Cashin' Out"

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19. DJ Khaled f/ Kanye West & Rick Ross "I Wish You Would"

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18. Frank Ocean "Pyramids"

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17. Nas "Daughters"

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16. Future f/ Diddy & Ludacris "Same Damn Time (Remix)"

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15. Kendrick Lamar "Swimming Pools (Drank)"

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14. Chief Keef f/ Kanye West, Pusha T, Jadakiss & Big Sean "I Don't Like (Remix)"

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13. Meek Mill f/ Drake & Jeremih "Amen"

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12. Haim "Forever"

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11. Pusha T & Kanye West "New God Flow"

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10. Nicki Minaj f/ 2 Chainz "Beez In The Trap"

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9. Juicy J "Bands A Make Her Dance"

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8. Future "Turn On The Lights"

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7. Rick Ross "Hold Me Back"

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6. A$AP Rocky "Goldie"

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5. Kanye West "Cold"

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4. French Montana f/ Rick Ross, Lil Wayne & Drake "Pop That"

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3. 2 Chainz f/ Drake "No Lie"

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2. Meek Mill f/ Big Sean "Burn"

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1. G.O.O.D. Music "Mercy"

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