The Playlist: My Favourite 77 Songs of 2018
Another year, another list of my favourite songs. This year is 77 songs because 7 remains the most powerful magical number, shout out to Binge Mode. And my goodness could we use some magic in our lives going forward after 2018. Unlike previous years where I ranked my favourite songs of the year, this year is more of a playlist than a ranking. Having my favourite songs as a cohesive playlist rather than a ranking hopefully makes for a more coherent listening experience but made things more difficult than usual, that being said trying to differentiate my 45th favourite song of the year and my 44th favourite comes with their own challenges. The only true ranking on this list are my favourite 10 songs of the year. If you’re new here these aren’t the best songs of 2018, or the most important, they are my favourite and sometimes these things overlap and sometimes they do not. Since there are 77 songs on this list I don’t think I need to do a run through of honourable mentions but the only song I find utter delight in is The Ringer’s parody of “Hallelujah”, their ode to Luka Donkic: “Halleluka.” Enjoy.
Chapter 1: Life
Prayer Song — Noname ft. Adam Ness
In “Prayer Song” Noname relates sex to the current state of America. Or as poet Safia Elhillo says in her poem, “What I learned in the Fire”: love is just something to do until the war starts.
Don’t Miss It — James Blake
Reminder that James Blake was referred to as a “sad boy” singer after the release of this song. His response to this idea is below. The lesson we should listen to James Blake more.
Making a Murderer — Black Thought ft. Styles P
Streams of Thought Vol. 1 is what I listened to instead of Ye.
Magic — Shad ft. Lido Pimienta
This is 3:43 lesson of how deep the insidious nature of imperialism, colonialism, neo-liberalism, modernization, and globalization and transnational corporations run. And it all starts with the lines:
They steal
Then they take your memory of the theft
Life — Reece
Reece doesn’t have a large catalog of music but the songs he has put out all highlight his wonderful voice.
Chapter 2: Take the Long Way Home
Cold Outside — Moxie Raia
Iceplant — Skin Town
Sorry — 6LACK
Think About U — Ryan Hemsworth ft. Joji
I Wanted Him — Lontalius
Craving — Nomia ft. Sarah Enta
Daisy — Choker
Look Back — Diplo ft. DRAM
426 — Hana Vu
Fukk Sleep — A$AP Rocky ft. FKA Twigs
Lust — SAINt JHN ft. Janelle Kroll
Whether you want to admit it or not, all songs are about love. It is not an accident all these songs are grouped together. Take what you need.
Chapter 3: “I am me in my Prime”
Delete Delete — BOOTS ft. Run The Jewels & Cristin Milioti
Quick story about seeing Run The Jewels open for Lorde. I was wondering if they would change their performance to cater to the demographic that would be at a Lorde concert. My question was answered as soon as they came out to “We Are The Champions” by Queen and punctuated after their first song and Killer Mike and EL-P proclaimed, “We are Run The Jewels and we’re here to fuck shit up.” The lesson: you don’t win by changing who you are.
Right Now — Jazz Cartier ft. KTOE
Every year there is one or two songs I shuffle into and out of my workout playlist. “Right Now” is one of those songs. The bass, the proclamation veiled as a chorus, everything is so good.
The Games We Play — Pusha T
In my opinion the best song from Pusha’s Daytona. Also, Push won.
Chapter 4: Screen Time
Big God — Florence & The Machine
Our Lives — Boslen
One of the best things about compiling a playlist instead of a ranking was finding songs that transitioned perfectly from to the next to the next. Discovering how “The Games We Play,” “Big God,” and “Our Lives” flow into one another remains my favourite discovery. I hope you find as much satisfaction from these three songs in a row as I have.
Glitch — OKAY KAYA
Silver Screen — JONES
Just A Stranger — Kali Uchis ft. Steve Lacy
Computer Luv — Ravyn Lenae ft. Steve Lacy
Here’s another grouping of songs about love and if you think there isn’t more, you are fooling yourself. Here we have OKAY KAYA turning The Matrix into a romance, JONES waxing over the love on a silver screen, Kali Uchis breaking stereotypes about gold diggers, and finally Ravyn Lenae and Steve Lacy singing about the difficulties of talking to a lover online.
Stay The Night — The Internet
If you ever wondered what it’d be like for Syd to sing as a plea for you to stay the night, this is the song for you. I cannot wait for the solo projects from everyone from The Internet to drop in 2019.
Chapter 5: Blood & Wine
Butterflies & Red Wine — Una Mey
If there was a name for the transition between Spring and Summer, “Butterflies & Red Wine” would fit the bill, with Una Mey singing it of course.
One More — Yaeji
I don’t listen to K-Pop or really any songs that aren’t in English. However, Yaeji is fucking undeniable.
This Vibe — Skott
I find it impossible to listen to Skott and not feel better after.
lovely — Billie Eilish with Khalid
Don’t lie, the first time you heard this song you knew it was a going to be problem. It is such a good problem.
Blood Type — Cautious Clay
Cautious Clay wins my award of new favourite artist of the year.
Prosecco — Jacob Banks
The first Jacob Banks song I was ever shown was “Chainsmoking” and after hearing his voice my reaction was, “What the fuck is even a voice because it’s not mine, it’s whatever this is.”
Summer’s Gone — NoMbe & Thutmose vs. Sonny Alven
The original “Summer’s Gone” came out in 2017. Fortunate for whomever is reading this and I they made a remix this year.
Chapter 6: Pay Up
deep end — Lykke Li
The structure of the song you’re thinking of when listening to “deep end” is “Bye, Bye, Bye” by N’SYNC. “deep end” is better, fuck your nostalgia.
Body Count Remix — Jesse Reyez ft. Normani & Kehlani
This song is perfect. You will not convince me otherwise. I almost named this chapter, “I dodge dick for some pussy.”
Teach You — Tiffany Young
Ladies don’t date boys you have be in a relationship with and have to raise at the same time. Listen to Tiffany and thank her later.
Thanks 4 Nothing — Nilüfer Yanya
There are some songs on this list that I will fail to write about and just say, “Listen to it.” Nilüfer’s performance on A COLORS SHOW is all you need to fall in love with this song.
Might Be — HAWA
I’ll trade all your Soundcloud mumble trap clot rappers for HAWA.
Bad Guy — Niykee Heaton
“Bad Guy” was originally the title track of her EP. However, she decided that it would be better if it was Starting Over. The lesson: don’t let anyone take up emotional real estate if they aren’t paying rent.
New Boo — Kwamie Liv
If Kwamie Liv was the only person I was allowed to listen to driving home after a late night I would be okay with it.
Deep — Summer Walker
I remember I sent this song to a close friend the night I first listened to it and her immediate response was, “Who is this?” When you know, you know.
Chapter 7: The Day and the Nights After
2009 — Mac Miller
Lonely Nights — Njomza
Admission: I never really fucked with Mac before Ladders. If you’re looking for me to wax about what Mac meant to me as an artist, I’m not that person, however, I will point you to this piece by Rembert Browne that hopefully will give you the comfort you’re looking for here.
I will disclose my favourite Mac Miller story: After Kendrick Lamar fired a rocket into the rap game with his “Control” verse in 2013, Mac responded with a tweet, “If I can’t do no more nouns, or verbs ima start comin’ with the wildest adjective bars that anyone has ever heard.”
Chapter 8: Time v. Distance
Story — ODIE
I was hooked after the first line: I was/Born living under the hope and a rock. If that doesn’t describe what living in 2018 is like, I don’t know what does.
Time in a Tree — Raleigh Ritchie
Is putting space between yourself and your thoughts, a way to see yourself from a distance, a superpower? It should be. I felt it to the core of my being, when Raleigh was talking to The Line of Best Fit about “Time a Tree”:
“‘Time In A Tree’ is about needing some peace. Some respite, some time away from your own mind. The ways that you can get in your own way on the way to those things. It’s about the fear of not being deserving of happiness, or that you’re not doing enough to get the kind of happiness you want. It’s about needing validation and confirmation that you’re loved and supported when you’re struggling. It’s about needing time in a tree, like a kid — off the ground and halfway in the sky.”
Sun — Francis Arevalo
One of my best friend’s put out an EP. This is my favourite song from Home, Grown Pt. 1, it’s about his mother, what’s not to love.
Chapter 9: Bedroom Dreams
Keyboard — Black Belt Eagle Scout
The keys in this song haunt me and I love them for it.
One Night Only — Mahalia ft. Kojey Radical
Some songs you just know. This is one of them. You better believe it when Mahalia calls herself a Queen.
Suncity — Khalid ft. Empress Of
Khalid’s voice and Empress Of’s voice…man…you already know.
Heaven — Clairo
No other song I’ve heard this year encapsulates the feeling of loneliness as well or as heartbreaking as Clairo’s “Heaven.”
Just Fine — Desiree Dawson
I had the pleasure of seeing Desiree live in an ice cream shop the night Home, Grown Pt. 1 came out. Halfway through her first song my friend texted me asking who Desiree was because she’s “amazing.” After hearing “Just Fine” or any of her songs you’ll feel the same way.
I Wonder — Jerome Hadey ft. Qendrasa
The production on this song matched with Qendrasa’s vocals is the relationship goals meme of this entire playlist. I’ll have everything and I’ll have it twice, please and thank you.
The Man Who Has Everything — Chance The Rapper
A soul sample and Chance’s voice go together like peanut butter and jelly. Shout out to the Chance 4 poster in Miles Morales’ room in Spider-Man: Enter the Spider-Verse.
Chapter 10: “Respect me from afar”
Wow Freestyle — Jay Rock ft. Kendrick Lamar
TINTS — Anderson .Paak ft. Kendrick Lamar
Paramedic! — SOB x RBE
Y’all already know about Pullitzer Kenny. “Wow Freestyle” made Obama’s favourite songs of the year list. “TINTS” is my favourite track from Anderson .Paak’s colourful album Oxnard, and everything involved with Black Panther is 100.
Also, 2018 has been so fucking long that people forget Black Panther came out in February, the Winter Olympics happened and nobody talks about these things.
Chapter 11: Feels Like Summer
4 Wings — Tierra Whack
Whack World is the most unique collection of music I have listened to this entire year. After the 15 minutes you will understand that Tierra can do anything she wants with music.
Potato Salad — Tyler, The Creator & A$AP Rocky
The freshest and chillest song of the year.
Tweakin’ — Vince Staples ft. Buddy, Kehlani, & Vonnie
My favourite song off of the best rap album of the year. Yes, I said it.
Heart Shaped Culdesac — Daye Jack
Have you seen the music for this? How could you not love him?
Nice For What — Drake
“Nice For What” is a top ten Drake song of all time. After seeing Drake live this year, my takeaway is that he’s a performer. I know people clown him for being earnest or the fake earnest he portrays but seeing him live that smile reveals everything. He’s like Magic Johnson in how it lights up the entire space because it’s unbridled joy.
Trouble — Dan Caplen ft. Ms. Banks
The first song I heard from Dan Caplen was his cover of the Chance remix of James Blake’s “Life Round Here” and he did both of their parts. So naturally, I listened to more of his stuff because when someone does both Chance and James Blake in one song you take notice. I was not disappointed with what I found.
Drew Barrymore Remix — Bryce Vine ft. Wale
I was saddened to hear that “Drew Barrymore” came out in 2017. Fortunate for me the catchiest song I’ve heard this year released a remix in 2018.
Better Without You — Innanet James ft. KALLITECHNIS & Pusha T
Need a break up song for the summer? “Better Without You” has you covered.
I Don’t Even Smoke Weed — Empress Of
This is a fun song and sometimes you can’t explain your favourites and I love Empress of.
Friends — The Carters
“My friends are goals, your friends are foes (foes)” is the energy we’re bringing into 2019.
Summertime Magic — Childish Gambino
When leaving the arena after experiencing the Final Childish Gambino tour, my friend summed up the experience as, “I never have to go to another concert ever again.” She wasn’t exaggerating. Gambino’s This is America Tour was the second greatest concert I’ve ever been to, and it was the best show I have seen in my damn near decade of living in Vancouver. I’m trying to explain how it felt to be in that space but all I can do is shake my head and repeat what my friend said.
Chapter 12: Shut It Down
Siren — Kailee Morgue
Last year, after hearing “Medusa” for the first time, I hastily put it into my Top Ten before the song was even finished. However, cooler heads prevailed and it was moved out of the top ten. There is no denying Kailee Morgue this year. “Siren” is too enchanting to be denied a place in the top ten. The chorus is too mesmerizing.
Recipts — Dominique
I had the pleasure of meeting Dominique when I visited New York and she was kind enough to take me to the MET. During this time she was completing “Recipts” which is my favourite pop song of the year. I cannot wait to see what she does in 2019.
TOGETHER — Aminé
My favourite parts of ONEPOINTFIVE are the beginning and the end. The album starts with busting down both doors and announces his arrival and ends with him ducking unnoticed through a side door. Aminé is a rapper that brings mostly joy to my life, even his slower songs manage to give me a smile. I mean how could you not smile when he says, “’Cause everything I need is always in your purse (In your purse).”
History — Rich Brian
“History” is my song of the summer. Watch this song over cartoon relationships and try not to cry but please do also.
The One — Jorja Smith
I could listen to Jorja Smith sing anything and I would be moved. “The One” was the last song I put on this playlist because I couldn’t decide which song from Lost & Found. The breaks near the end of the song between the pre-chorus and the chorus when the music swells punches me in the heart every time and for that “The One” finds a home on this playlist.
Coming to my Senses — Alina Baraz
It’s amazing how often our perception of the world fails us. This is illustrated beautifully in all it’s complications by Alina.
Jealous Sea — Meg Myers
My faovurite poet is Sarah Kay but the poet I wish to write like is Hanif Abdurraqib. I told a friend that the holidays feel like the line from his poem “And What Good Will Your Vanity Be When The Rapture Comes”: “And once you know what it is to be lonely, it is hard to unsee that which serves as a reminder that you are not always.” I think this is why “Jealous Sea” ranks so high this year there isn’t a comfort in the darkness but it feels like it’s where I must be. When I saw Meg live in concert she started with “Jealous Sea” and my favourite line from it is, “When it runs, it runs like lightning through my teeth,” and to be honest with you, no lyric has cut me deeper than this in 2018.
Backstreets — Jon Waltz
Jon released his first song “Bang” in 2013 when he was 17. Since then “Bang” has been refined and remastered, it has grown as he has grown as an artist. I still think about that first version of “Bang” and it remains one of my favourite songs of all time. “Backstreets” is my favourite song he has released this year and I cannot wait for him to continue to make music. He is my favourite young rapper.
All Night — Allan Kingdom
Allan Kingdom’s “All Night” is not hyperbole. It is not false advertisement. “All Night” not only goes but it is infectious and it builds and crashes and forces you to go along for the entire ride. “All Night” sweats and you feel every drip. It is the perfect song to dance the night away to.
WEIGHT — BROCKHAMPTON
“WEIGHT” is the most important rap song of 2018 because it is a snapshot of what it means to live in 2018, whether you’re famous or not. The way the band talks about struggling with the weight of expectations that come along with fame is not something the average person contends with but their weights are just a magnified version of the weight of expectations everyone feels. From their own expectations to societal ones to familial ones. How we should act, what should we do, and how fast we must do these things. The feeling is overwhelming and can make one feel helpless or feel like they have a lack of agency of their own life. “WEIGHT” shows us that we cannot shed these things by running away from them but by acknowledging them head on.
