As 2015 wraps up, it’s time to reflect on another incredible year in music. To do so, we’re counting down the top 100 songs of the year. In developing this list we weighed each track against the following criteria: overall song quality, impact and popularity, and support (blogs, charts, DJs, etc.). We will be counting down 20 tracks per day and today we bring you 80-61. If you dig our selections be sure to share. If you disagree with some of the picks let us know why in the comments below. Without further adieu we present our picks for the top 100 tracks of 2015.
80. The Hi-Yahs x Our Time – Call me
The Dallas x OKC connection that is The Hi-Yahs and Our Time was nothing short of perfection on ‘Call Me’. The seductive and infectious deep house cut is the perfect concoction of feel good vocals and deep bass. With everyone from Oliver Heldens to Skrillex and Tiesto showing support this was a big tune.
79. Zeier x P.Keys – Shuffle On
P.Keys is no stranger to riding a wide variety of electronic based beats. After making a name for himself for his incredible flips he connected with Zeier for a massive original. ‘Shuffle On’ is a seamless blend of catchy bars and futuristic bass house. It’s a certified party starter that landed in the setlists of Tchami, Dr. Fresch, Chuckie, Ghastly and more.
78. Instant Party x Party Thieves – Savages
Party Thieves and Instant Party! pumped out a plethora of trap heaters but it was their collaborative effort ‘Savages’ that really stood out. It packs everything you want from a trap banger: massive builds, menacing drops and a ton of bass. But it also packed a cinematic feel. It was as unsettling and enthralling as a horror film while still remaining incredibly turnt.
77. Louis Futon – Oakland Tho
Despite the fact that he isn’t from ‘Oakland Tho,’ Louis Futon still managed to craft one of the biggest city inspired anthems of 2015. Flipping Vell’s ‘Oakland’ the producer perfectly balances gangster raps, a touch of Mustard’s west coast bounce and a tsunami of bass. The drops are complete madness but somehow fit perfectly. The track also proved that 100 bpm is still alive and open for innovation.
76. Flosstradamus – TTU (TroyBoi Remix)
What was long a secret weapon for TroyBoi finally got a public release alongside his contest winning ‘Mosh Pit’ Remix. TroyBoi’s rework of ‘TTU’ was nothing short insanity. The vocal bends are beyond next level, the drops are deeper than the ocean floor and just as cold. Waka Flaka has never sounded this good.
75. Logic – Young Jesus feat. Big Lenbo
Logic returned to the scene with ‘Young Jesus’ serving as his first single for the eventual (and phenomenal) sophomore album. Featuring Big Lenbo on a couple verses and longtime producer and friend 6ix on the beat, Logic captured the 90’s Golden Era feel spitting bars in the perfect form. Big Lenbo’s Fat Joe and Big Pun nods (“Ay, Yo fuck all that” and “Smack you with the pump”) also add to the overall appeal of the track but no doubt both artists bring excellent lyricism and delivery to this knocker about Mary’s baby.
74. Gramatik – Native Son feat. Raekwon and Orlando Napier (Medasin Remix)
Medasin spent a good part of the year blending future bass, hip-hop and trap to create his own sound. The best example of this came when Medasin decided to flip Gramatik’s ‘Native Son’. A near 180 from the original, Medasin dragged the track deep into the darkness making Raekwon sound his hardest in years. If Wu-Tang came out in 2015 this is what they would sound like.
73. Prince Fox – Wait Until Tomorrow (NIGHTOWLS Remix)
NIGHTOWLS burst onto the scene in early 2015 with some killer reworks and never slowed down. There’s a few tracks that could’ve found their way onto this list but it’s their official remix for Prince Fox that nabs a slot. The beautiful and infectious vocals of the original are the perfect embodiment of the LA scene, “I can’t keep waiting till tomorrow for fame” and the way they are twisted and bent deepens the seriousness of the sentiment. What makes this really stand out is the poppy melodies contrasted against the disgusting deep bass. It makes the breaks seem that much prettier and the drops that much more dirty. This was one of the hottest bass house tunes of 2015 hands down.
72. AObeats, Robokid, Manilla Killa – Helix 2.0 feat. Blaise Railey
We’ve been supporting Moving Castle since the early days and seeing their progression has been amazing. Redefining the power of an artist collective, the team continues to push envelope. Their first official iTunes release ‘Helix 2.0,’ is infectious as ebola. The vocals from Blaise Railey will be stuck in your head for days and have you hitting replay. The production is forward thinking and poppy yet inventive. It’s pure joy; guaranteed to make you smile and isn’t that what music is about?
71. Future – Move That Dope (Woolymammoth x QUIX Remix)
The last thing we needed in 2015 was another ‘Move That Dope’ remix. The song got killed with remixes in 2014 but two of the trap genres most inventive producers decided to resurrect it. The remix took the track to a level of darkness never before explored. With absurdly wonky bass lines, pitched down vocals and some mind-numbing sound design, they made the original somehow seem soft. It doesn’t get harder than this. I guess we did need this remix after all.
70. Fetty Wap – My Way Remix feat. Drake
Drake’s midas touch continued to work its magic this year when he dropped a cool verse on Fetty Wap’s ‘My Way’. Though Fetty earned his way in with his hit ‘Trap Queen’, it wasn’t until Drizzy jumped on this remix that he garnered some serious attention from people within the industry and listeners. With a knack for writing catchy ass hooks, Fetty delivered one of the most simple but effective hooks of the year. Fetty’s ability to create melody that is actually singable is one of the biggest reasons behind his success because let’s face it, people want to have fun.
69. Mr. Carmack – Les Djinns
Carmack’s remix of Drakes ‘Trophies’ floated around online for quite a while before being released on Carmack’s RED EP. 2015 was a very productive year for Aaron Carmack, releasing multiple EP’s while at the same time touring internationally. Carmack’s work ethic and raw talent combined give him a signature sound that seems to resonate well with both the rap and EDM world, which is no easy task. It’s no surprise that Carmack appears multiple times on this years list, and this remix is just one reason why.
68. Rick Ross – Moving Bass (GTA Remix)
Few duos manage to pack the energy into a production like GTA. Case in point, their Rick Ross and Jay Z assisted rework of ‘Moving Bass’. Keeping the verses and hook intact they inject some serious bass. It comes in at 8/10, moves up to 9 and manages to land at 11 by the time the drop hits. It’s skull splitting for a brief period then it slows down and does it all again. It’s a perfect mesh of sound and tempos that truly lives up to their Death To Genres mentality.
67. Dr. Fresch – Another Level
Dr. Fresch came into the year on fire and let off some of the hardest bass records of 2015. I struggled to decide which record deserved a spot on the list (there’s so many), but in the end the innovation on ‘Another Level’ was too strong to deny. Instead of crafting just another bass house banger, Fresch decided to really push the boundaries and fuse genres like a mad scientist. ‘Another Level’ sees elements of house and dubstep, moombahton breaks and even evolves into some hybrid trap. Pulling this off seamlessly is proof that Fresch really is on ‘Another Level’.
66. Jack Ü – Mind
The entire Jack Ü album killed 2015 but one of the tracks that really stood out was ‘Mind’. From Skrillex and Kai exchanging vocals to the wonky futuristic fun that makes up the drop, it was a summer anthem that sounded like nothing else.
65. Meek Mill – Classic
Meek Mill had a tough year – I mean let’s be real, he pretty much committed career suicide going after the biggest rapper in the game. Unfortunately the beef with Drake overshadowed how nice his sophomore album actually was. One of the best tracks of 2015 is the Swizz Beatz and Jeremih assisted ‘Classic’. Over a cool ass beat, Meek switches his flow and takes a more relaxed approach jumping over extra kicks and snares and meshing bars together effortlessly.
64. Brenmar – Hula Hoop
Coming off Brenmar’s Award EP, ‘Hula Hoop’ sees the club master connecting with Jersey’s own UNiiQU3. The track is a certified dance anthem complete with choreographed dance moves, big brass and a healthy helping of sexy. With major support from heavyweights like A-Trak and Diplo this was a party anthem that held down the early part of 2015 and still kills in a set.
63. Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment – Wanna Be Cool feat. Big Sean & Jeremih
Chance the Rapper has been on a steady rise since the explosion of Acid Rap. Aligning with contemporary jazz musicians under a group name seems an unlikely progression for a young rapper, but hasn’t stopped Chance from challenging Kanye West’s position as Chicago’s hip hop ambassador to the world. Using his new found popularity, he has mastered the art of using a positive message in his music without being preachy and overbearing. He has organized a free music festival for Chicago teens, headlined the festival himself, and also recently became a father. Chance is fully aware he is a role model for kids, and ‘Wanna Be Cool’ is the perfect evidence.
62. Zeds Dead x Oliver Heldens – You Know
Toronto-native bass legends Zeds Dead and Dutch-born house producer Oliver Heldens teamed up in early 2015 for ‘You Know’, a bass line driven house track that bounces along nicely. While this style is fairly in line with Heldens’ signature sound, the ever-eclectic Zeds Dead bring a bit of experimental energy to the mix. Incorporating slightly grittier sound design into Heldens relatively smoothe bass line-led house style makes for a great track and gave both ZD and Heldens something a bit outside of their usual sound to work with during live performances.
61. Vic Mensa feat. Kanye West – U Mad
Vic Mensa had a hell of a 2015. He appeared on a few tracks with Kanye West, signed a deal with Roc Nation and dropped some of the hottest tracks of the year. ‘U Mad’ spawned remixes for days on end and became a fan favourite since its drop. The track features banging drums and horns of epic proportions while Mensa and West kill the beat with energetic bars and delivery.
