Complex AU's Top 10 Tracks of 2016 (So Far)

How do these lists match up to yours?

None

Has 2016 been a better year for albums, or individual tracks? The much-spoken about death of the album in the age of streaming has so far been a myth, with Beyonce, Rihanna and Chance in particular delivering excellent, cohesive albums.

That’s not to say there hasn’t been some fire tracks floating around via Soundcloud, Spotify and so on. From established stars teasing releases to indie artists building their brand one track at a time, we filtered through the mass of tracks released over the last six months to narrow it down to ten tracks. How do our lists measure up against yours?

Dan Pardalis

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

1. Kanye West f/ Chance The Rapper – “Ultralight Beam”

When 'Ye said he was going to take us to church and make a gospel album, the simultaneous eye-rolling in response could be heard around the world. While that’s not quite what we got with The Life Of Pablo, what we were blessed with was a brilliant intro track that perfectly circles us back to where it all started with “Jesus Walks”.

With a list of collaborators including underrated R&B don The-Dream, and a recently rejuvenated Kelly Price, everyone on this track plunged into it with all the soul they could muster. The real star-making performance comes from Lil’ Chano from 79th, who used the opportunity to bust out one of the best verses of his career and ensure that easy slide into the critical success of Coloring Book.

Somehow, the song exudes such an epic feel with only the most minimal use of drums and percussion, turning the tables on an era of music where excess is often seen as a base. There’s also the fact that if you listen to this joint enough times, you might just absolve all your sins. Well, maybe not all of them, but perhaps just enough to get St. Peter to flip a coin on you at the Pearly Gates.

2. Drake – “One Dance”

3. Rihanna – “Kiss It Better”

4. Liss – “Sorry”

5. Beyonce – “Formation”

6. DVSN – “Too Deep”

7. Domo Genesis f/ Anderson .Paak – “Dapper”

8. Alicia Keys – “In Common”

9. AlunaGeorge f/ Popcaan – “I’m In Control”

10. JMSN – “Cruel Intentions”

 

Jade Zoe

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

1. Martin Solveig – Do It Right ft. Tkay Maidza

There is no stopping Tkay Maidza! Our Aussie Angel has been killing it for sometime now and her latest release is no exception. As the song title suggests, Tkay is literally doing it right by teaming up with Martin Solveig to create this catchy summer track. “Do It Right” has just been nominated for a BET Award too! Going to have this on repeat 'til the sun comes back. 

2. Rihanna – "Kiss it better"

3. Skepta – "Man (Gang)"

4. Travis Scott – "Uber Everywhere"

5. Craig David – "One More Time" 

6. Milwaukee Banks – "Only One"

7. Penthouse & Maribelle – "About You (Deer Remix)"

8. Alunogeorge / Popcaan – "I'm in Control"

9. Dugong Jr – "Baby Avo"

10. Kano / Giggs – "3 Wheels Up"

Steve Duck

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

1. Beyonce – "Formation"

I’ve really made things hard for myself by choosing "Formation" at number one, ‘cos finding something to say about this one that hasn’t already been covered might be damn near impossible. 

Let’s give this a spin though. 

In my social media feed, I notice some people turn their noses up at Beyonce for some reason, dismissing her as some sort of manufactured product. I’ma tell you something though – I don’t care if 500 people conceptualised, co-wrote and produced this song, then another 600 directed and styled the video. At the end of the day, Beyonce has made the decision to use her enormous platform to drop a protest song. Any further criticism can be handled by the heel of her albino alligators.

No artist in 60 years of pop music with a reach comparable to that of Beyonce has given us something this powerful. Did Madonna ever do some shit like this? Michael Jackson gave us “They Don’t Care About Us,” but he was a freakish white dude by that stage. This is Beyonce, at the peak of her powers, drowning a fucking cop car. Striding out to take over the Super Bowl halftime show, flanked by Black Panther-styled dancers to tell the next generation they just might be a black Bill Gates in the making.

Coupled with the video, "Formation" is the most powerful pop song we’re likely to see for a long time. But beyond the verbals and visuals, this song slaps. Mike WiLL Made It killed this shit. The hook (via Swae Lee) is a piece of swagged-out genius.

The next challenge is finding something new to write about it when we do our year-end lists, cos I know damn well nothing over the next six months is going to match "Formation."

2. SG Lewis / Dornik – “All Night”

3. Terrace Martin – “Valdez off Crenshaw”

4. Anderson .Paak – “The Waters”

5. DJ Quik / Problem – “A New Nite/Rosecrans Grove”

6. Funkadelic / Ice Cube / Kendrick Lamar – “Ain’t That Funkin’ Kinda Hard on You”

7. Nao – “Fool To Love”

8. Kanye West / Ty Dolla $ign – “Real Friends”

9. YG – “Still Brazy”

10. Rihanna – “Kiss it Better”

Andrew Nguyen

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

1. Rich Chigga – Dat Stick (Roycdc Remix)

After showing the world how to microwave a slice of toast, Brian Imanuel effortlessly dropped the hottest track of the year. Not only is the hypnotic trap-inspired beat intentionally cheap and nasty, Rich Chigga runs through every single rap trope and still manages to unleash just over two minutes of musical massacre. The best part of this is that there is a remix floating about by Roycdc that layers Imanuel’s rapid fire flow over a surprisingly catchy horn & chord heavy beat. 

2. Boss Selection feat Rashida Jones – "Flip n Rewind"

3. Tyler, The Creator & A$AP Rocky – "What The Fuck Right Now (Freestyle #4)"

4. DJ Quik feat Problem – "A New Nite/Rosecrans Grove"

5. PARTYNEXTDOOR feat Drake & Erykah Badu – "Come See Me"

6. Fortunes – "Justin Bieber"

7. Rumours.. – "Do It All"

8. ASAP Mob feat. Juicy J – "Yamborghini High"

9. Skepta feat. D Double E & ASAP Nast – "Ladies Hit Squad"

10. Ali Belmont – "Emeralds ‘96"

Zac Hayse

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

1. Bankroll Mafia – Hyenas

So far this year, this is the one track I've heard with zero negative reviews. Vibe wise it sits somewhere in between T.I's 2010 firestorm "Poppin Bottles" & Jeezy's 2006 melodic inferno "I Luv It". Duke Dinero slays it on the production side while T.I, Thugga, MPA Duke & Yatchy show up. All the way up. Even better is that the album is consistent with the lead track. Too many wins in one place. I cant imagine any DJ who's inclined to this sound not itching to play this every set, let alone core fans. So far for this year it's "THE ONE" in every way possible.​ 

2. Simian Mobile Disco – "Staring At This Handle"

3. ASAP Mob – "Yamborghini High"

4. Waze & Odyssey – "Strobe Lights (Flash Lights)"

5. Chris Brown – "Grass Ain't Greener"

6. Kendrick Lamar – "track 07"

7. Honisha Anniversary – "General"

8. Sampha – "Timmy's Prayer"

9. Fat Joe – "All The Way Up"

10. Kaytranada – "Vivid Dreams"

Latest in Music