Top 64 of 2014 Part Three: Storytellers, Mash-Ups, and Movements
Group H: Songs After Dark
36. S.O.T.N — Tunji Ige
This is a song that begs to be listened to after sunset. With Frank Ocean waiting until 2015 to release his next album, tide yourself over with Tunji Ige’s EP: The Love Project. Be careful though, because you’ll have the Side B to Channel Orange.
35. Fam and Foolies ft. Chance the Rapper — Sulaimain
What’s Gucci? It’s Chance and the Sulai/Oh no, hope the fans don’t sue me
Sulai and Chance swapping verses? 35 might be too low.
34. Warm ft Raury — The Neighbourhood
With #000000 & #FFFFFF The Neighbourhood showcases a different side of their music. They dive darker and deeper than they have ever before. They get more aggressive and find a darker tone to their sound. “Warm” is my favourite track of their new EP and will be on my rotation for months to come.
Group G: Mash-Up Monday
33. King Sh!t ft. T.I. & Ludacris & Kito & Reija Lee — Big Boi
Where can I petition to have more of these mash-ups from Big Boi? I know more people like Andre better than Big but damn, Big Boi lights it up on every track in this collection.
Group F: Propensity to Ill
32. Alright — BOOTS
If you didn't know BOOTS from his credit on Beyonce. He shows that he just isn't merely a producer. “Alright” bends genres and never lets you become comfortable with it’s sound, with his voice guiding you through the track.
31. Gold Flume Re-Work — Chet Faker
Flume kills it on this re-work of Chet Faker’s “Gold”. Everything crystallizes at the 3:53 mark and I’m not sure I have heard a better loop this year.
30. Vibration — Alex Wiley
One of the better rap party songs I've heard this year. The hook is perfect to sing-a-long or shout to.
Now I only put out good vibrations/I don’t even see the lows/Tunnel vision to the paper/I don’t really need you hoes/But if I like her energy/Then motherfucker body count/Authenticity I need/So please don’t change on my account
29. Make Me Fade — K. Flay
One of the better produced indie pop songs of the year. K.Flay makes her sound unique without sounding foreign or intimidating. It pulses when it needs to pulse and dips when it needs to dip. “Make Me Fade” makes you feel exactly that as the song dives deeper into itself.
28. I Want U Ganz Flip — Alison Wonderland
This is a song that makes you want the drop constantly. Ganz smooths out and streamlines Alison’s vocals giving the original a more consistent force. Instead jabs, it hits you with hooks and straights.
27. So High (SteLouse Flip) — Doja Cat
In my opinion, one of the best songs of not only the summer but the year. The way Doja Cat manipulates her voice in her rhymes gives her lyrics a playful quality without sounding too fake or pop. SteLouse exploits this and lets her voice carry throughout the song as a base.
Group E: Storytellers
26. Runaway — Pell
“Runaway” could easily be the soundtrack to one of my favourite books of the year, Lena Dunham’s Not That Kind of Girl. Specifically the last chapter of her book of essays when she writes about running away from home at different stages of your life.
I downloaded Pell’s Floating While Dreaming EP, when it first came out and “Runaway” is the only song still left on my iPod.
25. Save My Soul — Daye Jack
If you don’t know who Daye Jack is you better acquaint yourself with this 18 year old rapper from Atlanta, who is currently enrolled at NYU. Daye doesn’t fit a genre or style, instead he dabbles in all of them. He can be jazzy and laid back or go all out and attack you on a track. Get familiar with his debut EP Hello World.
24. Numb — Skizzy Mars
My favourite track from Skizzy’s PACE EP. The hook is downright hypnotic and you won’t be able to get it out of your head after a few listens but never feels old.
23. Knock — Shad
This is the definition of theme music. If you’re not motivated after listening to this track you don’t have a pulse. Shad marries his smart lyrics, an urgency in his voice, and slick production to give us a fantastic song.
Group D: Join the Movement
22. The Night — HONNE
“The Night” sounds like a ride home after a night out. There is no other way to describe it or pretend it is something else. It accomplishes what it sets out to do. Just hit play and let it ride.
21. Taking The City — Kyan
“Taking The City” is Side A to “The Night”’s Side B. While it is easy to make the connection to Frank Ocean with Kyan, he holds nothing back on this track and goes all in to make his sound his own. You can even hear the change at the 1:50 mark when the mood shifts and you feel the urgency build.
20. Down on my Luck — Vic Mensa
Stellar song from top to bottom, showcasing Vic’s expanding versatility and sound.
19. Attak ft. Danny Brown — Rustie
Speaking of rappers pushing the boundaries of rap, Danny Brown has never been shy about collaborating with artists outside the rap circle. By hooking up with Rustie they manage to produce on of the best songs of the year. “Attak” is an explosion of raw synths and x-rated flow.
18. Amor — Raury
Raury’s debut EP Indigo Child is free to download as long as you can get enough points in the flash game on the site. How long did I play before finally unlocking the EP? A few hours but who’s keeping track? The way Raury produces music is unpredictable and all his own so it makes sense you’d have to skate through the universe to unlock it. “Amor” is my favourite track off the album and can’t wait to see what he does next. Consider my a part of the movement.
Click here for Part One and Two.
Part Four coming tomorrow.
