A boy’s ears should be busy during Easter.
Check out my previous lists—for 2017, for 2018, and a playlist & thoughts.
“Ratchet (Happy Birthday),” Drake
Friend played it at my birthday and it got me. First Drake solo song I love.
“Summertime Magic,” Donald Glover
From the Guava Island film, which has Rihanna, which means this song is lovely—on its own merit too.
“Savage,” DJ Worldwide feat. Lil Kesh
Took me months to get this song, multiple Shazam failures. Makes me dance even if I don’t have moves for it yet.
“Nobody Knows 2moro,” Jeffiraino feat. Duncan Mighty
I just love the feel of it, as I do many songs with Duncan Mighty on them.
“Dawn, the Front,” Talos
Final song in that How to Get Away with Murder episode where agent Telesco kisses Tegan Price.
“Trobul,” Sarz & Wurld
Has a video in my head, full of men in suit.
“Entertainer,” CDQ feat. Davido
Let’s just say I like Davido’s voice whenever he stretches it.
“Tipsy,” Odunsi the Engine feat. Raye
Sleek. First song of his that I liked.
“T-Shirt,” Migos (Y2K & AVIDD Remix)
Epically epic.
“Melanin,” Notrace
Like the beat.
“Awesome God,” Unknown Male Choir Acapella
Touching. After one tiring travel.
“I Got 5 on It,” Luniz
Knew it from childhood but Jordan Peele’s film Us, which has Lupita Nyong’o and Winston Duke, refreshed it for me.
“Chlorine,” Twenty-One Pilots
Uber-danceable.
“Spiritual Riddim,” Sarz
Nice groove to it.
“Nobody Fine Pass You,” T-Classic
“Piercing Light,” Warsongs (Mako Remix)
Epic. Found in a Messi highlights video.
“Doc Shebeleza,” Cassper Nyovest
Never related to it at first, now in love with it. Kind of empowering for me.
“4U,” Ejiz
For night walks.
“Dreams Pt. II,” Nightcore
Found in a football highlights YouTube video.
“Boss Whine,” Krizbeatz feat. Skales
That middle beat.
“Blessings on Me,” Rekaado Banks
“America,” Neil Diamond
From The Big Bang Theory, Howard and Amy singing it in the car.
“Toast,” Koffee
“Sweet Dreams,” Eurythmics
“No New Friends,” LSD
“Old Town Road,” Lil Nas
Country or hip hop? So good you might just think: who cares?
“Dancin’ Around the Truth,” The Stunners
“Bloodline,” Ariana Grande
This line: But you gon’ have to let this shit go.
“Akwa Ibom Ayaya,” Mish
That feel of home.
“Only Want You,” Rita Ora feat. 6lack
Anything Ora is on point. And 6lack’s solo material is just beautiful.
“Sally Walker,” Iggy Azalea
Good to have Iggy back.
“Grip,” Tessa Thompson
I love it, from the Creed film.
“Confirm,” Patoranking feat. Davido
“Last Hurray,” Bebe Rexha
“Is This Freedom,” Lucky Dube
Heard at a launch event and….
“New Day,” Kate Havenik
Heard on Grey’s Anatomy, touching episode 9 of season 3.
“Crazy Love,” Flavour feat. Yemi Alade
Grew on me. Big fan of it.
“Alone,” Marshmello
“Your Love,” Haerts
“Wobble Up,” Chris Brown feat. Nicki Minaj & G-Eazy
“Kriminalz,” Rolay Bondo
“Breaking Free,” Night Riots
“Holy Water,” Temmie Ovwasa
I feel the anointing in this song. Pure talent.