TOP 100 SONGS OF 2018
THE RULES
THESE ARE MY TOP 100 SONGS FROM 2018. EVERY SONG HAS A MESSAGE/GIF/PICTURE TO ACCOMPANY IT. YOU CAN LISTEN WHILE YOU READ WITH THE SPOTIFY PLAYLIST BELOW.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, THANK YOU FOR READING. SENDING LOVE. - J
100. I GO - KWAYE
AN ELEGANT, SMOOTH POP EXPERIENCE THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO GROOVE WITH.
99. RECIPE - BROTHERS FROM ANOTHER & SOL
“SHE WANT RING LIKE CARDI, I WANT RING LIKE KOBE.”
CLASSIC SOUND.
98. DAUNT - JELANI ARYEH
A TRANSPARENT REFLECTION ON THE HOPES AND MEMORIES OF A RELATIONSHIP LOST.
97. LANGUAGE - COL3TRANE & EBENEZER
GETTING TO KNOW SOMEONE EARLY ON. ALL OF THE EXCITEMENT.
THE HONEYMOON PHASE IF YOU WILL.
96. MONEY BAG - CARDI B
MY FAVORITE CARDI B SONG, AND I GENUINELY LOVE CARDI B.
CARDI AT HER BRAGGADOCIOUS BEST.
95. WOMP WOMP - VALEE & JEREMIH
BASICALLY THE SOLE REASON FOR JEREMIH’S RELEVANCE TO ME
AT THIS POINT, AND THAT IS A GREAT THING.
94. NEED SOMEBODY TO LOVE - ADY SULEIMAN
CUE THE ISLAND MONTAGE OF A COUPLE REALIZING
THEY LOVE EACH OTHER WHILE WALKING ALONG THE BEACH.
93. SUGAR - KARMA KNOWS
SUGARY SWEET AFFECTION.
92. ULTIMAYBE - 1010 BENJA SL
1010 FLOWS FREELY OVER A CASCADING BEAT, DRAGGING OUT EVERY “E” PERFECTLY.
I STILL DON’T UNDERSTAND THE MESSAGE, BUT THE EMOTIONS ARE UNDENIABLE.
91. LIBERATED - DEJ LOAF & LEON BRIDGES
THE DEJ LOAF/LEON BRIDGES COMBO IS TRULY LIBERATING.
THE CONTRASTING STYLES COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER WONDERFULLY.
90. ACCUSATIONS - 070 SHAKE
NO ONE BUILDS AND CHANGES VOCALS WITH PASSION AND PAIN LIKE 070 SHAKE.
89. MY CHILD - RAZ SIMONE
POETIC HIP HOP THAT STANDS OUT IN THE GENRE IN 2018.
IF YOU LIKE CLASSIC HIP HOP THIS ONE’S FOR YOU.
88. SHOOTA - PLAYBOI CARTI & LIL UZI VERT
SHOOTA ALONE GIVES ME HOPE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF RAP.
87. ANTI-SOCIAL SMOKERS CLUB - RAE SREMMURD & ZOË KRAVITZ
ONE OF THE BETTER RAE SREMMURD TRACKS
TAKEN TO ANOTHER STRATOSPHERE BY ZOË KRAVITZ.
86. 1997 DIANA - BROCKHAMPTON
I NEVER THOUGHT THE PHRASE “CU-CU-CUCUMBER LEMONADE”
COULD GET ME SO HYPE, BUT I WAS SO WRONG. THIS ONE GOES.
85. YOU - MK.GEE
IF SUNDAY AFTERNOON WAS A SONG. EASY LISTENING.
84. XMAS TREES - BIBI BOURELLY
I DON’T EVEN SMOKE WEED, AND THIS IS MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONG.
83. WON’T LET GO - REXX LIFE RAJ & WILL FRAKER
THE SOUNDTRACK TO A CALMING NIGHT DRIVE WITH AN EFFORTLESS VERSE FROM REXX.
82. SUPERNOVA - ANSEL ELGORT
ONE OF MY FAVORITE ACTORS AND HE’S MAKING HITS LIKE THIS? SHEESH.
81. WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO US - QUINN XCII & KAILEE MORGUE
POP PERFECTION WITH STELLAR REFERENCES.
80. SINCE THE DAY I WAS BORN - LOSTBOYCROW
UPLIFTING. HOPEFUL. JUST A JOYFUL LISTENING EXPERIENCE.
79. BETTER WITHOUT YOU - INNANET JAMES, PUSHA T & KALLITECHNIS
DITCHING TOXICITY. INNANET JAMES SHINES AND KING PUSH REIGNS.
78. I DON’T EVEN SMOKE WEED - EMPRESS OF
BEING TRULY UNDERSTOOD IS GLORIOUS.
77. PULL UP - POWERS PLEASANT, JOEY BADA$$ & A$AP FERG
NO AD-LIB WILL TOP A$AP FERG’S PRE-VERSE BARK.
76. OTW - KHALID, 6LACK & TY DOLLA $IGN
NOTHING LIKE SOMEONE HAVING YOUR BACK. NAME THE TIME AND THE PLACE.
75. PEACH JAM - 88RISING, JOJI & BLOCBOY JB
“PEACHY KEEN, AVRIL LAVIGNE.”
74. SOPRANO - DUCKWRTH
I’M A SUCKER FOR ANY SONG THAT DRASTICALLY CHANGES TONE.
DUCKWRTH SWITCHES IT UP FLAWLESSLY HERE.
73. POPS - THEY.
DEDICATED TO DANTE’S FATHER. HUG YOUR FATHER FIGURE TODAY.
72. WHERE IDEAS SING - SABA & DAOUD
AN ENLIGHTENING LOOK AT THE POWER OF INSPIRATION.
71. GOKU - JADEN SMITH
SUPER SAIYAN JADEN.
70. WHY DON’T YOU - CLEO SOL
PATIENT LOVE. GENTLE GROWTH.
69. RIGHT NOW - JAZZ CARTIER & KTOE
2018 KYLE & KAWHI. TORONTO TAKING OFF.
68. GIVE A LITTLE - MAGGIE ROGERS
THE GOLDEN RULE. A BEAUTIFUL CALL FOR EMPATHY AND COMPASSION.
67. JENNY - CHOZIN, ROBBIE DEAN, JACQUIE HISHMEH & ZARII
PASSING LOVE LETTERS IN THE BACK OF CHEMISTRY CLASS.
66. MONTEGO BAE - NONAME & RAVYN LENAE
WHEN TWO AMAZING ARTISTS TAKE OVER A JAZZ CLUB.
65. SWEETEST LIFE - KWAYE
DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY. AND THE NEXT NIGHT.. AND THE NEXT NIGHT...
64. NAPKINS - RIZ LA VIE
LIFE IS FAST-PACED LATELY.
63. TROUBLE ON CENTRAL - BUDDY
WALKING THROUGH THE STREETS OF LOS ANGELES.
62. WITH U - JAY PRINCE & MAHALIA
LOVE IS SIMPLE.
61. PROBLEMS (REWORK) - MOSS KENA, THEY. & RAPSODY
EVERYBODY’S GOING THROUGH SOMETHING.
60. GROWING PAINS - ALESSIA CARA
ALESSIA CARA’S MUSIC MAKES ME SO HAPPY.
GROWING PAINS IS PERFECT.
59. SPEND IT - KYLE DION
AN ODE TO CLASSIC R&B/SOUL.
58. BAD BAD NEWS - LEON BRIDGES
THE JULIUS ERVING OF MODERN MUSIC. UNMATCHED SOUL AND GRACE.
THE DOCTOR IS IN.
57. GOT FRIENDS - GOLDLINK & MIGUEL
MY FAVORITE COLLABORATION OF 2018.
56. THE PLUG - SOL
THE FEEL GOOD ANTHEM.
55. R U OK? - SKIZZY MARS & PRELOW
GROWING UP AND LEARNING FROM THE PROCESS.
54. BAG - KELECHI & PHAY
KELECHI IN HIS BAG. SIMPLE ENOUGH.
53. REEL IT IN - AMINE
ONE OF THE STAPLES OF MY “IS IT A BANGER, THOUGH?” PLAYLIST.
52. D’EVILS - SIR
DREAMY.
51. ANOTHER LIFETIME - NAO
AN END WITHOUT THE CLOSURE. UNCERTAINTY COMMUNICATED BEAUTIFULLY.
50. SEX MONEY FEELINGS DIE - LYKKE LI
THE CIRCLE OF LIFE.
49. LIFE - SABA
PROOF THAT STUNNING ART CAN BE BORN OF ANGER AND RESENTMENT.
48. LIL BEBE - DANILEIGH
RAW CONFIDENCE.
47. SELF CARE - MAC MILLER
RIP.
46. FEBRUARY 3RD - JORJA SMITH
“I’M CONSTANTLY FINDING MYSELF”
45. AGAIN - KEHLANI
KEHLANI NAILS THE ACOUSTIC SOUND AND
CAPTURES THE STRUGGLE OF MOVING ON MAGICALLY.
44. BLESSINGS - REXX LIFE RAJ, LECRAE & MOZZY
“RAIN DOWN ON ME. RAIN DOWN ON ME.”
43. NICE FOR WHAT - DRAKE
THE SCORPION STANDOUT.
42. MIRRORS - 070 SHAKE
GLITTERY, SHINING GREATNESS.
41. SWITCH - 6LACK
ADJUSTING TO CHANGE. ADJUSTING TO FAME.
40. DEATH IS IN THE AIR - SAKIMA
AUDITORY POP ROCKS.
39. BODY COUNT - JESSIE REYEZ
CHALLENGING DOUBLE STANDARDS AND LOVING FREELY.
38. TYRANT (REMIX) - KALI UCHIS & DANIEL CAESAR
“GEEZ LOUISE, DANNY CAES.”
37. FRENCH RIVIERA - CAUTIOUS CLAY
A BOOMING JOURNEY OF SELF DISCOVERY.
36. BOCA RATON - BAS & A$AP FERG
WINTER VACATION IN BOCA RATON.
35. SELF DESTRUCTION - BOOGIE
A CERTIFIED BANGER.
34. BLISS CITY - ODIE
LIVING IN THE MOMENT, PRESENTLY.
33. WOLVERINE - DIANA GORDON
A HEROIC TUNE. INCREDIBLE VOCALS.
32. LOST IN PARIS - TOM MISCH & GOLDLINK
MY SECOND FAVORITE COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR.
31. ONE NIGHT ONLY - SONDER
PRETTY SELF EXPLANATORY, BUT SONDER’S VOICE IS CRAZZZY.
30. LA DI DA - THE INTERNET
GROOVY. SOMETIMES WE JUST NEED TO DANCE.
29. CAUTIONARY TALES - JON BELLION
A LEGENDARY TALE OF KINGS.
28. PRETTY LIFE - TERRELL MORRIS & FREE N LOSH
A BRILLIANT CRESCENDO CAPPED BY BOISTEROUS HORNS AND
A SUBTLE, YET IMPACTFUL LYRICAL SHIFT.
27. ONE NIGHT ONLY - MAHALIA & KOJEY RADICAL
A COMPELLING DIALOGUE OF EXPECTATIONS, MET AND UNMET.
26. 4EVER - CLAIRO
YOUNG LOVE. RELATIONSHIPS AND LIFE CHANGES SIMPLIFIED TREMENDOUSLY.
25. SO COLD - AARON CAMPER
THE COLDEST SONG ON THE LIST.
24. CHARCOAL BABY - BLOOD ORANGE
TANTALIZING GUITAR CROSSED WITH DEV HYNES’ SULTRY VOCALS.
23. TRUST ME BABY - EMPRESS OF
THE POWER OF VULNERABILITY.
22. IMPORTED - JESSIE REYEZ & JRM
HOW DO WE MOVE ON?
21. TWEAKIN’ - VINCE STAPLES
LIFE AND DEATH IN RAMONA PARK.
20. WHO R U? - ANDERSON .PAAK
CINEMATIC.
19. COLD WAR - CAUTIOUS CLAY
DRIFTING APART.
18. LOVE ME RIGHT - AMBER MARK
THE UPS AND DOWNS OF A RELATIONSHIP.
17. JT - JON BELLION
WHEN DREAMS BECOME REALITY.
16. DOESN’T MATTER - GALLANT
I WILL LISTEN TO ANYTHING GALLANT SINGS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
15. TRIBE - BAS & J. COLE
MY FAVORITE BEAT OF THE YEAR.
14. TOUCHSCREEN NAVIGATION - RAE SREMMURD
THE PERFECT SONG FOR ANY NIGHT DRIVE.
13. YOUR TEETH IN MY NECK - KALI UCHIS
A BEAUTIFUL CRITICISM OF THE VAMPIRIC MUSIC INDUSTRY.
12. SUMMERTIME MAGIC - CHILDISH GAMBINO
“DO LOVE ME, DO LOVE ME, DO”
A MAGICAL, FEEL GOOD, SUMMER DREAM OF A SONG.
11. MONEY - JON WALTZ
AN ODE TO THE CASH FLOW.
10. WHITE HOUSE - BIBI BOURELLY
“OH MR. FIREMAN THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE HOUSE.”
I LOVE BIBI BOURELLY.
09. I WISH I MISSED MY EX - MAHALIA
THE SONG I FEEL THE MOST PERSONALLY CONNECTED TO FROM THIS YEAR.
WANTING TO BE THE PERSON SOMEONE NEEDS, BUT KNOWING YOU CAN’T BE.
SMH. MAHALIA IS SO FREAKING DOPE.
08. 1985 - INTRO TO “THE FALL OFF” - J. COLE
SIGN ME UP FOR THE “ASK J. COLE” ADVICE COLUMN NEWSLETTER.
A CAUTIONARY TALE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF ARTISTS.
COLE AT HIS STORYTELLING BEST.
07. WHY CAN’T WE WORK - SKIZZY MARS
I MISSED SKIZZY MARS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
I’VE LISTENED TO THIS ONE ALMOST DAILY THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS.
NO REAL REASON, I JUST LOVE THIS SONG.
06. I LIKE THAT - JANELLE MONÁE
JANELLE MONÁE TAKES THE PROVERBIAL BOX AND RIPS IT TO SHREDS.
THE COOLEST SONG FROM THE COOLEST ARTIST.
TAKE IT FROM JANELLE HERSELF:
“But even back then with the tears in my eyes
I always knew I was the shit”
05. THE INTERNET - JON BELLION
FOR A SONG ABOUT THE FICTITIOUS NATURE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND HOW PEOPLE FALSELY
PRESENT THEMSELVES ONLINE, THE INTERNET IS HELLA FUN AND ENERGETIC.
FEW ARTISTS CAN INCORPORATE IMPORTANT CONTENT INTO POP MUSIC WITH
THE FLUIDITY, VISION AND ARTISTRY OF JON BELLION.
04. KOD - J. COLE
A FLEX FROM START TO FINISH.
EVERYTHING I LOVE ABOUT J. COLE COMES TOGETHER
IN ONE PLACE ON THE KOD TITLE TRACK.
THE FLOW VARIETY, LYRICAL SOPHISTICATION AND DYNAMIC BEAT
MAKE THIS ONE OF THE YEAR’S BEST.
03. KOOL AID - DIANA GORDON
AN INTROSPECTIVE LOOK AT YOUTH AND FAMILY.
AN UNFORGETTABLE TRACK FROM ONE OF MY FAVORITES.
02. THIS IS AMERICA - CHILDISH GAMBINO
A CULTURAL PHENOMENON THAT BELONGS TO 2018.
MADE ONLY MORE IMPACTFUL BY THE CINEMATIC VIDEO
JAM-PACKED WITH SYMBOLISM AND REFERENCES.
UNDENIABLY TIMELESS.
01. TRIED UP - AMA LOU
THE SOUNDTRACK TO THE DAWN OF THE VISUAL JOURNEY ENTITLED, DDD.
AMA LOU IS MY FAVORITE ARTIST I DISCOVERED THIS YEAR,
AND TRIED UP IS THE SONG THAT MEANS THE MOST TO ME.
I’M STRUCK AND INSPIRED BY THE VISION AND HONESTY.
THE CHANGE IN INTENSITY AND POWER FOR THE FINAL CHORUS SOLIDIFIED
TRIED UP AS MY SONG OF THE YEAR.
THANKS FOR READING.