Every year since 2012 has brought to me a different sort of musical satisfaction—I encountered sounds I loved, new artistes I’m watching. But the standout years were 2015 and 2017. To those I may now add 2018. I separated these 121 songs into groups of Constant Favourites, the ones that really swayed me, and Rotating Favourites.
Last year, there were 74 songs I liked the most, and my Number 1 was Shekhinah’s “Suited,” and the artiste I listened most to was Alan Walker. This year, my Number 1s are: Wale’s “Columbia Heights,” which shifted something in me; Geko’s “Will Smith,” which soundtracks my love life at the moment; Chike’s “Beautiful People,”which inspired me visually even though I haven’t seen its video, if it has a video; August Chuks’ “Let Me,” which felt like a finger was poking my insides; and Desiigner’s “Timmy Turner,” my ultimate intrigue. The artistes I most listened to are 6LACK, Janelle Monae, XXXTentacion, and Davido, for whom I found a new appreciation. In some way, all of these songs, these sounds, set me alight.
The Constant Favourites
“Columbia Heights,” Wale feat. J. Balvin
“Falling Down,” Lil Peep feat. XXXTentacion
“Will Smith,” Geko feat. Not3s
“Nwa Baby,” Davido
“Timmy Turner,” Desiigner
“Leave a Light On,” Tom Walker
“Let Me,” August Chuks
“Red Alert,” DJ Bobbi feat. Nyanda
“Moonlight,” XXXTentacion
“Beautiful People,” Chike
“Life Is Beautiful,” Lil Peep
“Malwedhe,” King Monada
“The Big Unknown,” Sade
“Stan,” 6LACK
“Decibels,” Jidenna
“Collide,” Lady Zamar
“Pretty Little Fears,” 6LACK feat. J. Cole
“Motigbana,” Olamide
“Sweet but Psycho,” Ava Max
“In My Mind,” Dynoro feat. Gigi d’Agostino
“Sunflower,” Post Malone feat. Swae Lee
“Promises,” Calvin Harris feat. Sam Smith
“Killin’ Me Softly,” The Fugees
“This Is Me,” Keala Settle, The Greatest Showman Soundtrack
“Made for Now,” Janet Jackson
“Never,” Loren Allred, The Greatest Showman Soundtrack
“Fever,” WizKid
“From Now On,” Hugh Jackman, The Greatest Showman Soundtrack
“Let Her Go,” 6LACK
“Easy,” Anna Wise & Xavier Omar
“The Greatest Show,” The Greatest Showman Soundtrack
“Let You Love Me,” Rita Ora
“Way,” Falz feat. Wande Coal
“I Like That,” Janelle Monae
“Wait,” DJ Neptune feat. Kizz Daniel
“Make Me Feel,” Janelle Monae
“Django Jane,” Janelle Monae
“Africa,” Toto
“Stand by Me,” Ben E. King
“Fun won Finish,” Beambo Taylor
The Rotating Favourites
“My My My,” Troye Sivan
“Iwa,” Phyno feat. Tekno
“Nkechi,” Attitude
“Supermodel,” SZA
“Feel Good,” P-Lo feat. G-Eazy
“APESH*t,” The Carters
“X Bitch,” 21 Savage feat. Future
“Timmy’s Prayer,” Sampha
“Saint Pablo,” Kanye West feat. Sampha
“Borders,” St. Beauty
“Just Saying/I Tried,” The Internet
“Wo (Spiritual),” Olamide
“Tuwo Shinkafa,” Runtown
“Psycho,” KCEE feat. WizKid
“Kupe,” A-Star
“Fake Love,” Duncan Mighty feat. WizKid
“Kaabata,” Arrel
“High End,” Chris Brown feat. Future & Young Thug
“Chun Li,” Nicki Minaj
“Sicko Mode,” Travis Scott feat. Drake
“Spirit Break Out,” Kim Walker
“Nothing Breaks Like a Heart,” Mark Ronson feat. Miley Cyrus
“Hold Yuh,” Gyptian
“Nani Gi,” Mairo Ese
“Ina the Benz,” Yung6ix
“Hey Baby,” Dmitri Vegas & Like Mike vs. Diplo feat. Deb’s Daughter
“Without Me,” Halsey
“Upon Me,” Kiss Daniel feat. SugarBoy
“Different,” Shekhinah feat. Mariechan
“Come Closer,” WizKid feat. Drake
“Champion (Remix),” General Pype feat. Dagrin, Naeto C & Sasha P
“Move,” Litle Mix
“Déjà vu,” Burna Boy
“High Hopes,” Panic! At the Disco
“No Stylist,” French Montana
“Call the Police,” Orezi
“Fast Car,” Jonas Blue feat. Dakota
“Dip,” Tyga feat. Nicki Minaj
“If,” Davido
“Be Together,” Major Lazer feat. Wild Belle
“Drew Barrymore,” Bryan Vince feat. Wale
“Better Now,” Post Malone
“Beautiful,” Bazzi feat. Camilla Cabello
“Woman Like Me,” Little Mix feat. Nicki Minaj
“Be Mine!,” Robyn
“Bad and Boujee,” Migos feat. Lil Uzi Vert
“Cream,” Tujamo feat. Danny Avila
“She Works Hard for the Money,” Donna Summers
“6 Inches,” Beyonce feat. The Weeknd
“My Love,” McDonald
“O Chukwu,” Clay
“DUNK CONTEST (MAGIC BIRD),” Andy Mineo & Wordsplayed
“Fashion Killa,” A$AP Rocky
“Dance to This,” Troye Sivan feat. Ariana Grande
“Plot Twist,” Marc E. Bassey feat. Kyle
“Hey Hey Hey,” Katy Perry
“Bad (Remix),” Wale feat. Rihanna
“Tatashe,’ Percy feat. Peruzzi
“Ayepo (Remix),” Airboy feat. Burna Boy
“FEFE,” 6ix9ine feat. Nicki Minaj
“Thunder,” LSD feat. Labyrinth, Sia & Diplo
“Talk Me Down,” Troye Sivan
“Shallow,” Lady Gaga feat. Bradley Cooper
“BEBE,” 6ix9ine feat. Anuel
“God,” Scarface feat. John Legend
“Africa,” Karl Wolf feat. Kulture
“Wetin We Gain,” Victor AD
“Girls Like You,” Maroon 5 feat. Cardi B
“Kpolonge,” Waje feat. Timaya
“Ijo Wakanda,” Orezi
“Payroll,” Xzibit & Yazz, Empire Soundtrack
“You’re So Beautiful (’90s Version),” Empire Soundtrack
“Love Long Time,” Serayah, Empire Soundtrack
“Watch Out,” Ezri Walker, Empire Soundtrack
“Dino Bus,” Badanamu
“Don’t Need Nobody,” Ellie Goulding
“Miracle Rain,” Frank Edwards
“Babalao,” Angelique Kidjo
“Club Controller,” Prince Kaybee & Lasoulmates feat. Zanda Zakura & TNS
“Need to Feel Loved,” Reflekt feat. Deline Bass
PHOTO CREDITS: Davido from Wap Reloaded, Janelle Monae from Adweek, 6lack from Rolling Stone, Desiigner from Hip Hop DX.
1 thought on “121 Songs I Really, Really Listened to in 2018”
Vybz Cartel’s Watch over us accompanied me on my merry journey to hell. Burnaboy’s freedom stuck by me when I got there. Miguel ft J Cole, Come through and Chill is probably going to be on repeat till next year.