Musical Year in Review 2016

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Like clockwork, it's that time of year again. As we discuss NYE plans and goals for 2017, it's been a tradition since 2012 to take the time to review the past year in music on the annual Musical Year in Review.

For the record, a lot of this year's compilation is heavily focused on hip-hop. There's not much variety on the list this time around, because I spent a lot of time in the R&B/hip-hop realm for a couple different reasons. When things haven't been very positive in the world and/or in my life, music has always been my only savior outside of God him/herself and 2016 was definitely a year that I was able to connect to hip-hop on a spiritual level. Plus, the hip-hop scene alone was explosive this year, so full of gems to the point where I had to go past 'top 17' albums, add 3 more , AND create a whole new category, just to include the albums I loved well into December. Let's get into the compilation, shall we?

Favorite Videos {Top 4}:

  1. No Problem - Chance the Rapper

  2. Shooter - BOSCO + Speakerfoxx

  3. Formation - Beyonce

  4. Palm Trees/Late Night - GoldLink + Masego

Best Albums of 2016 (top 20): 

  1. 99.9% - KAYTRANADA

  2. Chapters - Yuna

  3. Lemonade - Beyonce

  4. The Odd Tape - Oddisee

  5. Too High to Riot - Bas

  6. SEPT 5th - dvsn

  7. The Heart Speaks in Whispers - Corinne Bailey Rae

  8. ANTI - Rihanna

  9. We Are King - KING

  10. Blank Face LP - ScHoolboy Q

  11. A Seat at the Table - Solange

  12. In My Mind - BJ the Chicago Kid

  13. Filthy America...It's Beautiful - The Lox

  14. Color Blind - October London

  15. We Got it From Here: Thank You for Your Service - ATCQ

  16. Malibu - Anderson .Paak

  17. The Divine Feminine - Mac Miller

  18. Crown - Rapsody

  19. Never How You Plan - Jerreau

  20. Starboy - The Weeknd

Honorable mention: 

[albums I liked, but didn't listen to enough to consider them 'top 20']

  • 4 your eyez only - J. Cole

  • Awaken, My Love! - Childish Gambino

  • Layers - Royce da 5'9"

  • H.E.R. - H.E.R.

  • Loose Thoughts - Masego

  • Blonde - Frank Ocean

Top 7 EP's / Mix tapes:

  1. 12 for 12 - Big K.R.I.T.

  2. Coloring Book - Chance the Rapper

  3. Pho - Ari Lenox

  4. Meditations of a G - Chargaux

  5. Day & Night - Raiza Biza

  6. Sugar Symphony - Chloe x Halle

  7. Loose Thoughts - Masego

Top 16 Heavy Rotation Songs: 

+ Listen to my  2 0 1 6  play list on Apple Music and Spotify +

  1. Champions - Kanye West ft. Desiigner, Travis Scott, Big Sean, Gucci Mane, Yo Gotti, 2 Chainz & Quavo

  2. Only Girl - Kali Uchis ft. Steve Lacey, Vine Staples {prod. by KAYTRANADA}

  3. Come and See Me - PND ft. Drake

  4. THat Part - Black Hippy remix

  5. Too Much - Masego

  6. Get You - Daniel Caesar ft. Kali Uchis

  7. $Tonez - Chrys J. ft. AE {prod. by Chrys J. + Akeem J. Wells}

  8. Kontrol - Maleek Berry

  9. new balance - Jhene Aiko

  10. Pink + White - Frank Ocean

  11. Already Knew That -Ro James

  12. Devastated - Joey Bada$$

  13. Lucid Dreaming - Tinashe

  14. It's so Easy - Phonte & Eric Roberson

  15. Ain't No Use - Matt

  16. PRBLMS - 6Lack

What was on your musical radar for 2016??

Follow me on Twitter: @TheSkyBoxSuite | @ChymereA