"New Day" 50 Cent ft. Dr. Dre and Alicia Keys

Earlier this summer, Alicia Keys teased fans with a rollicking piano jam that many took as a hint of what was to come on her long-awaited fifth studio album. Now there arrives a little bit of clarity: Apparently, she was just getting us all hyped for the return of 50 Cent. In an unexpected twist, Keys' track serves as the basis for "New Day," the Dr. Dre-produced lead single for Fiddy's upcoming Street King Immortal. Even more surprising? It's perhaps better than the original. The joyous urgency of Keys' chorus is elevated in these small doses—a refreshing hook cutting through mushmouth verses. Neither rapper turns in noteworthy work, but there's plenty of satisfaction in just letting your ear ride over that drumming beat. B+