Well overdue, but here is a short list of some of my favourite tunes from 2018 - spanning house, hip-hop, reggaeton, electronica and pop. Enjoy! 🎵 🎧
- Chris Malinchak - What Matters
After vanishing from the EDM scene for many months, Chris reappeared out of the blue with a 3-track EP, appropriately titled ... BLUE. Released on the fantastic house label French Express, the third track What Matters, is classic Malinchak - bearing his signature Balearic vocal house sound. His music is perfect for chilling out, and somewhat surprisingly (owing to the down-tempo, hazy vibe), also useful when trying to focus at work. I can't get enough of this guy!
- Boston Bun - Missing You
"Because you...always get stuck in my mind." --- This is instantly addictive sunshine house music. Good luck getting it out of your head after listening just once! Love it love it love it. P.S. technically this song was released in 2017, but because I discovered it in 2018, I've included it on the list. Props to Silk City, aka Diplo and Mark Ronson, for this one!
- Drake - Nice for What
Self-proclaimed God of the 6 (aka Toronto, Canada) really scored a slam dunk with this track. Sampling Lauryn Hill's vocals from her song "Ex-Factor" (which plays in a loop in the background throughout), Drake created a club friendly, fun party track which is simply a joy to listen to.
"That's a real one, in your reflection, without a follow, without a mention. --- You gotta be nice, for what?" I really think Drake deserves credit for his feminist lyrics, which serve as an empowering shout-out to all the hard-working women out there. Rather fittingly, the accompanying music video features an ensemble cast of star-studded Hollywood females, including Syd from The Internet, Tracee Ellis Ross, Letitia Wright and Tiffany Haddish - just to name a few. Hands down, this is one of the best songs Drake has released in years!
- Lil Wayne & Kendrick Lamar - Mona Lisa
Honestly I think Lil Wayne has fallen off in recent years. Tha Carter III back in 2011 was a classic, but since then I sort of tuned out. Queue 2018 and the release of his long awaited fifth instalment: Tha Carter V. A quick scan of the tracklist and I noticed Kendrick Lamar features on one song: "Mona Lisa". Wow! The first part features Lil Wayne weaving a story about sending his girl undercover to take advantage of his rivals, with some very clever wordplay. Kendrick then arrives on the scene, spitting his usual poetry. Together they have crafted a really interesting narrative, with the two rappers quarrelling over a girl. Kung-fu Kenny and Weezy don't disappoint.
- Ramz - Barking
If you live in the UK, chances are you heard this song playing somewhere last year! It's a super catchy, playful tune about traversing across London to hook-up with a girl - i.e. "link my ting from Barking", sung over a sweet melody. Big up East London! This song peaked at #2 on the UK charts, just behind Eminem's single "River". Not bad for a 20-year old dude from Mitcham in South London!
- Robyn - Missing U
Intimate, melancholic and groovy? The Swedish queen of the dancefloor has returned! "There's this empty space you left behind, I keep thinking you're right beside me. All the love you gave, it still defines me." Eight years since her last full album (Body Talk), in 2018 Robyn released "Honey" - a short but very sweet collection of pop gems. The entire album is worth checking out, but IMO this is the standout track!
- Ozuna - Siguelo Bailando
My favourite reggaeton artist from recent years, it seems that Ozuna can do no wrong. Recently, he has been collaborating with all the established artists in this genre - from Wisin y Yandel, Bad Bunny and J Balvin to the OG king himself: Daddy Yankee. Siguelo Bailando, which means "Keep on Dancing", has a solid baseline and catchy chorus which draws you in, keeps you hooked and makes you want to dance!
- Childish Gambino - This is America
I have so much respect for the multi-talented Donald Glover. The dude is a hilarious comedian, talented actor, brilliant writer and amazing rapper / singer - under the alias Childish Gambino. For those who have been living under a rock for the last 5 years, check him out in Seasons 1-2 of Community (hilarious role in a funny TV show), watch Atlanta (his amazingly unique, Emmy award winning show on FX about a rapper navigating everyday life as he tries to make the big time in ATL - written/produced by and starring Donald), listen to "3005" or "Sweatpants" to hear his rap skills and listen to "Redbone" - an instant classic from his beautiful, soulful, jazzy and completely original album which earned him a Grammy award for Best Traditional R&B Performance in 2018. The question often asked is, "Is there anything he can't do?"
"This is America" is just another example of how Donald Glover continues to push the boundaries of art. Where to start? "Grandma told me - get yo money, black man, get yo money - black man!" With this song, he released one of the most controversial music videos of the year, examining America's strained relationship with blackness. Interspersed with symbolism and metaphors galore, it addresses racism, exploitation, opportunity and extreme violence in a 4 minute rap song, which is sure to make your head spin. Directed by Glover's frequent collaborator Hiro Murai (who he worked with to create his TV show Atlanta), the video features Donald dancing through a warehouse and occasionally gunning people down. The lyrics swing back and forth, with Glover singing a jolly, melodious chorus one moment - then spitting hard-hitting rap verses over a trap beat the next. Throughout the video, school children are dancing alongside Donald Glover, apparently oblivious to the chaos and violence happening behind them. There is an awful lot to analyse in both the song and video, but the overarching theme suggests that black Americans are living in a country where music and entertainment Trump equality and justice.
P.S. "This is America" cleaned up at the 2019 Grammy Awards, winning Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap/Sung Performance AND of course, Best Music Video!
- Eminem - Lucky You (fire! 🔥)
In 2018 Marshall Mathers, aka Eminem, released a surprise album called Kamikaze. The third single "Lucky You", featuring Joyner Lucas, showcases both artists spitting rapid-fire verses throwing shade on various Soundcloud mumble rappers, and generally critiquing the current state of hip-hop. Filled with clever and humorous lyrical wordplay, I consider it one of the best songs Eminem has released in years.
- Drake - In My Feelings
This song went viral for two reasons - 1) it is catchy as hell, and 2) thanks to the dance craze which accompanied it. Don't know what I'm talking about? Google "The Shiggy Challenge", which inspired thousands of copy-cat videos from normal folk to the likes of Will Smith and Kevin Hart. Also watch the video, which shows off Drake's comical side.
- Myd - The Sun
"Always on the run, towards the sun, we always wonder - why we love it ....why we love". It's probably got something to do with that Vitamin D your body needs. Feel a craving coming on? Throw on this song, and let it brighten your day with it's sun-kissed vibe :)
- The xx - On Hold (Jamie xx remix)
London-based trio The xx are awesome. "On Hold" was the lead single from their 2017 third album "I See You" - which shifted towards a more poppy, upbeat electronic sound than earlier releases. This was a conscious decision, according to singer Madley Croft who said in an interview "With this album we thought from the offset it would be great if we had some more danceable moments, and Oliver and I were inspired by what Jamie was doing with his solo project. It has been fun having a song like “On Hold” in the set where people are just dancing and singing."
For those who don't know, Jamie xx is one of three members in The xx - a DJ and producer in his own right - who is responsible for most of the band's backing beats. His remix of the band's single On Hold is incredible - repeating Oliver Sim's lyrics I THOUGHT... THAT YOU... WOULD COME BACK ... TO ME over and over, mixed in with a pulsing beat and dancing chimes - a perfect tune for the club.
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