As 2016 draws to a close you know we had to end the year by highlighting the best songs of 2016. As you’ve come to expect, this year’s list contains a broad array of musical styles and genres. We’ve got everything from ignorant turn-up bangers to thought-provoking, socially conscious hip hop and everything in between. The countdown ends today with the final 10. Check out our selects below and be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments.
10. Lido – Murder
Lido’s ‘Murder’ isn’t a song, it’s an emotional journey. It’s a piece of Lido’s heart and soul experienced through sound. From the stuttered vocals creating a sense of confusion, to the immense waves of emotional pain conveyed in the drop, it delivers in a way that is both cinematic and forward thinking. Closing the song out, comes a sense of pensive calm, scored by an 80-piece orchestra. Yes, Lido commissioned an 80 piece orchestra for the outro. ‘Murder’ is further proof that Lido is a master composer and is truly a work of art.
09. QUIX & Boombox Cartel – Supernatural
‘Supernatural’ was the track that murdered every set in 2016. Prior to its release, it was the ID everyone was clamouring over. When it dropped, it only became more massive. The combination of moving vocals, rough trap and future feels was not pioneered with QUIX & Boombox Cartel’s collab, but it was perfected. Keeping it 100, above everything else, the first drop was the drop of the year. If a DJ wanted to slaughter a club or festival, they queued this one up and the rest was history. This was the club banger of the year without question.
08. Kanye West – Ultralight Beam (Ft. Chance the Rapper)
‘Ultralight Beam’ is undoubtedly a classic Kanye song but he contributes in the periphery while letting legend in the making, Chance the Rapper, take the spotlight with his most triumphant verse to date. Note the bars: “this is my part nobody else speak” he croons as the Kirk Franklin-lead choir chimes in. Chance made himself a staple in the game and as much as this is Kanye’s joint, everyone knows that this was the “passing of the torch” from one Chi-town legend to the next.
07. Flume – Smoke and Retribution (Ft. Vince Staples and Kučka)
One of the things that made 2016 so special was the incredible range of collaborations seen. Defying genres and seeing acts from completely different walks of life connect to create something exceptional. Nothing embodied this feeling more than ‘Smoke And Retribution’. Kučka’s delicate and touching vocals provide the ultimate contrast to Vince Staples’ aggressive and raw style. All the while, Flume showcases his mastery, developing soundscapes that back both dimensions while moving between them so smoothly. If we’re strictly talking quality, ‘Smoke and Retribution’ is tough to top. Add in the immense fan fair and DJ support it received and there’s no questioning its placement.
06. DJ Snake – Propaganda
If ‘Supernatural’ was the club banger of the year, then this was the festival killer. By the end of 2015 DJ Snake was becoming well known for his poppier leanings (‘Lean On’). With ‘Propaganda’ he reminded the world that he’s still capable of producing some of hardest material out. From the epic build ups, to the chest pounding drops, this was the sure-fire standout in every DJs set and every festival. ‘Propaganda’ once again proved that Snake owns the game, regardless of what sound or direction he chooses to explore.
05. Desiigner – Panda
What is there to say about this track? It was literally everywhere. Most loved it, some hated it. Future fans called him a copycat, New Yorkers called him a sellout. Regardless, Desiigner became a star and with Kanye’s co-sign on The Life of Pablo there was no stopping him. The XXL Freshman became a viral hit overnight. ‘Panda’ is the trap banger on 10, the drums hit as hard as the bells and horns. Rounding out the Top 5 is the new kid on the block.
04. DJ Khaled – Holy Key (Ft. Big Sean and Kendrick Lamar)
The third release off of Khaled’s ninth studio album Major Key, ‘Holy Key’ features Betty Wright, Big Sean and Kendrick Lamar. Wright’s vocals provide an ardent chorus, and each rapper rhymes in their intricate and identifiable styles. The theme of this track is how surreal reality is these days; hipster trends blended with nasty news reports about the most soul-destroying racism. Big Sean expresses the confusion between desiring things in a world inundated with injustices and mistrust. Lamar grounds you in his emotional performance, becoming shrill while he reminds us of how fleeting and unfair life is. The passion in both rappers verses can give you goose bumps. References to spiritualism struggling against the overcomplexity of the times coupled with modern frustrations makes this a powerful anthem for 2016.
03. Chance the Rapper – No Problem (Ft. 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne)
Chance The Rapper is the rapper of the year. His list of accomplishments is so long we dedicated an entire post to it (add in 7 Grammy nominations). In Coloring Book, Chance dropped what is arguably the best mixtape (strikeout) album of the year. The biggest single off the record, ‘No Problem’ is the perfect embodiment of what Chance stands for. It’s an anthemic cut that centres around his frustration and distaste for major labels and the industry in general. With the refrain repeating “If one more label try to stop me, it’s gon’ be some dreadhead niggas in ya lobby, huh huh” ‘No Problem’ doesn’t sugar coat shit. Chance is fed up with labels trying block him recording with friends and he’s telling the world. A bold move that deserves massive level of commendation. Chance is putting his neck on the line in hopes to invoke change and benefit the artists who will come after him.
Off the official video and SoundCloud upload alone ‘No Problem’ clocked nearly 100 millions plays. The popularity and message together is a clear highlight of 2016. And I didn’t even mentioned the guest verses from heavyweights 2 Chainz & Lil Wayne. The latter was especially fitting with Wayne stuck in release limbo due a disagreement with his label. Performing this on Ellen, Wayne directly took aim at Cash Money, while the entire stage set-up was a blatant commentary on the antiquated record industry.
The cherry on top of the incredible track is that it’s produced by Brooklyn based Brasstracks. The fact that the underground (and FUXWITHIT) favorites managed to land a track with such heavy hitters and work it into one of the biggest anthems of the year, is just another a piece of proof that we’re living in the best time ever for music.
02. Drake – One Dance
Though it’s number two on our list, ‘One Dance’ earned a whole lot of ones in 2016. The song from Drake’s Views album hit the net early April and quickly reached the top spot on Billboard and streaming outlets. The dancehall inspired track featured Kyla and WizKid but it was Drake’s overall approach that made the song pop (pun intended). From the song’s simple but bumpin’ beat, to the melodious verses and hooks, Drake easily forged the biggest hit of the summer and you could hear it in every car, every bar/club, house party, festival, wedding – literally anywhere and everywhere. Another dominant year for the 6 God and easily one of the best tracks of the year.
01. Oddisee – Lifting Shadows
Usually each year for our #1 song we select a track that best embodies a strong blend of all of our decision criteria (song quality, popularity & impact). The result is generally a song that is both well put together and immensely popular (‘0 to 100/The Catch-up’ & ‘Lean On’). But 2016 wasn’t a usual year; from the global refugee crisis, to the increasing racial division and racism in the U.S., to Trump’s presidential campaign and eventual election. While many of the songs on this list helped us to forget the issues, if only momentarily, Oddisee’s ‘Lifting Shadows’ brought them to the front of our minds.
In less than 5 minutes Oddisee is able to touch on a myriad of social issues, doing so in a way, as Common Sense once put it, “by not preaching to me, but speaking to me.” His method certainly isn’t leisurely, but it’s immensely gripping. The first verse provides insight into what it’s like to be a Muslim in America, “…scared I’m involved in the causing of pain, lost somebody you loved in the towers and looking at me like I boarded the plane, I’m just an artist you’re not a target, no use in arguing we all look the same.” Oddisee builds upon this while shining light on the seemingly, ever-increasing police violence toward citizens, “All in the name – I got a name that’ll scare all the brave in the land of the free, all in the name of protecting a country that’s shooting its citizens dead in the streets.”
As the hook comes in ‘Lifting Shadows’ ceases to relent, delivering a sobering and further eye-opening message that even draws upon the first amendment, “Since 9/11 it ain’t too clear just who the target is, I love my country, hate its politics, can’t just let me be, can’t just let me live, regardless my belief, I thought the fathers wrote it clear”
The second half transports listeners to the other side of the world, “I was on tour when the migrants came, saw their camps on side of the road, I met a boy who arrived in the rain, he lost his folks when they torched his home, that made me want to bring my fam, before they see that side of a drone” Anyone possessing a shred of empathy is sure to be impacted by this. With just a few bars, Oddisee is able to give us a first hand account that helps to truly understand the pain and terror experienced in war torn areas across the globe. And that’s only the first few bars. From there, Oddisee dives into the dark views that tend to surround immigration. Building on the idea of “labor’s cool, neighbours no” he proceeds to list off a number of jobs typically reserved for immigrants while pointing out when it comes to more sought after professions like that of doctor, the idea of an immigrant “taking their jobs” makes Americans uncomfortable. It’s a troubling way of thinking that is disturbingly hypocritical; immigrants are good enough to build the country, but not good enough to live in it. After some clever wordplay around Trump, the song’s close shines light on the fact that America was built by immigrants (and slaves), “And that’s what makes this country great, it’s built by those who bleed, It’s built by those who came on boats, it’s built by those who flee, and you forgot your family tree and we’re just all your leaves, so if you just try to chop us down you only hurt your knees, and we could go in pieces but we’d rather come in peace”. It’s a stark reminder that we are all here as a result of immigration.
‘Lifting Shadows’ pushes all of the year’s biggest issues to the forefront of our consciousness while reminding us of our empathy. For that, it is the most important and greatest song of the year.
