Betty Bibbs - The Story Of My Life [19??]

With the release year of The Story Of My Life a complete mystery, soul sister Betty Bibbs' b-side promises to be our most obscure track yet. Based on earlier releases in '65 and '68, however, we can presume that the song was likely recorded in the late '60s or early '70s. Don't be misled by the Motown label on the record though -  Bibbs hails from the deep south and, as a result, is able to inject a gospel quality into her music quite organically. Backed by a charming instrumental and a powerful choir, here she compellingly delivers a desperate but ultimately hopeful lament over her tumultuous romantic life.

[Best Of] Top 30 Songs of 2015

Here's a quick recap of my favorite tracks of the year. Even though I limited it to one per artist it still turned out to be pretty hip hop-centric, but hopefully there are a few joints y'all haven't heard before. Some of the bigger tracks aren't available on Youtube or Soundcloud due to copyright so those ones you'll have to hunt down yourselves.


30. Tennyson - Fault Line - Electropop


29. Action Bronson - Baby Blue (feat. Chance the Rapper) - East Coast Hip Hop

28. Freddie Gibbs - Careless - Trap Rap

27. Denzel Curry - Ultimate [Demo] - Memphis Rap, Trap Rap

26. Animal Collective - FloriDada - Psychedelic Pop, Electropop

25. Deafheaven - Brought to the Water - Black Metal, Shoegaze

24. Chance the Rapper - Angels - Hip Hop

23. Pusha T - Untouchable - Hip Hop

22. Dr. Dre - Animals (feat. Anderson .Paak) - West Coast Hip Hop

21. Jay Rock - Vice City (feat. Black Hippy) - West Coast Hip Hop

20. Young Thug - Raw (Might Just) - Trap Rap, Cloud Rap

19. Penthouse Penthouse - 69 Camaro (feat. Bobby Saint) - Synthpop, R&B

18. Future - Slave Master - Trap Rap

17. Lil Ugly Mane - Leonard's Lake - Instrumental Hip Hop, Abstract Hip Hop

16. Vince Staples - Summertime - West Coast Hip Hop, R&B

15. Post-Malone - White Iverson - R&B, Trap Rap

14. Drake & Future - Diamonds Dancing - Trap Rap, R&B

13. Mourn - Your Brain Is Made of Candy - Indie Rock

12. Youth Lagoon - Highway Patrol Stun Gun - Indie Pop, Dream Pop

11. James Blake - The Sound of Silence (feat. Justin Vernon) [Cover] - Gospel

10. Drake - Hotline Bling - R&B, Pop Rap

9. Travi$ Scott - 90210 - Trap Rap

8. Grimes - Realiti [Demo] - Synthpop, Electropop

7. Beach House - Space Song - Dream Pop

6. Kanye West - Only One - R&B

5. Lupe Fiasco - Mural - Hip Hop

4. Wet - Deadwater - Indie Pop, Dream Pop

3. Childish Gambino - So Into You [Cover] - R&B

During a recent appearance on Australian radio station triple j, Childish Gambino completely revamped Tamia's 1998 classic So Into You into a song of his own for their Like A Version segment. In delivering a spectacular vocal performance over jazzy live instrumentation as opposed to the original pop beat, Gambino manages to (quite successfully) stretch his wings a bit musically. The minimalist approach and live radio setting make for a very intimate atmosphere and render the cover all the more powerful and infectious.

2. Kendrick Lamar - u - West Coast Hip Hop

Releasing one of the greatest modern hip hop albums to date in March, it would be criminal to exclude Kendrick from this list. After having months to absorb his radio-friendly lead single i, Kendrick's unparalleled emotive delivery on the juxtaposing track u was that much more devastating on first listen. One can hear the deep conviction in every word he manages between the sobs, bottle clinks, and calls for room service. The song represents a low-point in the story arch of To Pimp A Butterfly as Kendrick struggles with his most excruciating fears and doubts, but artistically it is a high-point for him as he succeeds in fully pulling the listener in to this hotel room where he is pouring his heart out, first in outrage and then, during the latter half, in agony.

1. Jamie xx - Good Times (feat. Young Thug) [Demo] - Trap Rap, UK Bass

Before the phenomenal In Colour dropped earlier this year, a demo of Jamie xx's track with Young Thug, Good Times, leaked. The album version would later add Popcaan to the mix and reverse the order of the verses but only to the song's detriment. The demo version is much more succinct in showcasing Young Thug's ridiculous versatility and hilarious quote-ables over one of Jamie's greatest instrumentals. Thugga's singularly unique delivery can certainly take a while to acclimate to before being able to properly appreciate its intricacies. That being said, this is probably the best place to start as Jamie's production - including the wonderfully sampled hook - has much more pop appeal than the trap instrumentals Young Thug typically appears over. However, every other copy of the demo has been removed from the internet, so I uploaded my own copy to Vimeo for y'all to hear it.

Tennyson - Fault Line [2015]

Released just a few weeks ago, the Like What EP is only the latest in Tennyson's engrossing stream of output over the last few years. The Edmonton duo has managed to channel influences from pop, EDM and ambient music into songs as addictive as Fault Line that sound ready-made to blow up. This upbeat track is unusual though in that 18 year old Luke Tennyson's vocals sometimes verge on raps here due to how well he flows over the lush, entrancing electronic instrumental. 

DJ Zirk - Ana 4 Ya Hoez [2001]

DJ Zirk is one of the many under-appreciated artists in the Memphis rap scene. Getting his start in '94 with the 2 Thick EP, he showcased his ability early on for crafting dark, grimy, lo-fi bangers in line with his city's new sound. Track 6 off the EP, Ana 4 Ya Hoez, stands out in particular with its catchy hook, hard-hitting bassline, and interweaving samples that instantly mesmerize the listener. The samples are pulled from The Isley Brothers' 1973 track Summer Breeze, which has been flipped rather extensively in hip hop but never quite as brilliantly as here. Clearly Zirk thought the song was special too as he used a remastered version to open his 2001 album of mixes Underworld. This is the version that appears above as the clarity and slowed down samples of the mix just pack that much more of a punch than the original.

Pablo Gad - Sad Mistake [1980]

Releasing only six albums since his '77 debut International Dread, British-based Pablo Gad has remained an elusive figure despite a number of early classic singles. He was discovered by The Equators' frontman Winston Fergus, whose band also provided the backing for his first recordings. His sophomore effort Hard Times has become an underground staple of roots reggae, revered for its reverb and dub-soaked production. Sad Mistake is exemplary of Gad's conscious, Rastafarian lyricism and knack for riding a smooth, pulsating rhythm.

The Heartbeats - A Thousand Miles Away [1956]

The Heartbeats, a quintet formed in Queens, NY in 1955, had a brief but reasonably successful run of infectious doo-wop singles until their sudden disbandment in '59. Their most popular song, A Thousand Miles Away, peaked at #52 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was eventually reintroduced to more modern audiences when included in the American Graffiti soundtrack 17 years later. Rendering James Sheppard's incredibly intimate lead vocal performance all the more convincing is the fact that he had written it - along with the help of William Miller - for his ex-girlfriend right after she had moved away to Texas. As a result, it feels as though Sheppard is not addressing us with his laments but rather her directly.

Merz - Butterfly [2005]

Although British dream pop artist Merz has yet to penetrate the mainstream in his 16-year career, his discography is revered by the fans and critics he has managed to reach. His 2005 sophomore effort Loveheart is an overlooked gem of the indie scene, reminiscent in its intricate yet simple arrangements of contemporaries like Sufjan Stevens. Butterfly is a beautiful and expert combination of soothing male vocals backed by warm, acoustic melodies and ethereal female harmonies.

Future - One Helluva Night [2015]

Future's rapid ascension to stardom over the past couple years has been ignited by both his trailblazing trap crooner style as well as his seeming invincibility since parting ways with Ciara. In relentlessly dropping new mixtapes, albums, and singles for his fans Future has not sacrificed any quality, in fact, he seems to only be improving over time; though how long he can maintain this codeine-fueled run of trap classics is concerning and often draws comparisons to Lil Wayne's career. One track that may have slipped past your radar is the recently leaked One Helluva Night, presumably a cut from his 2014 album Honest. The song plays like a sort of prequel to Codeine Crazy with its portrayal of a hedonistic, drug-addled superstar's nocturnal debauchery and romantic turbulence. The instrumental centers around a 3 Stacks-esque guitar sample and is really more at home in R&B than trap. But perhaps it was best left as a demo since the fuzziness of the mix only solidifies the atmosphere that Future is already going for with his muddy, auto-tuned triplet flows.

Eternity's Children - Mrs. Bluebird [1968]

Starting out as a Mississippi folk duo, Eternity's Children continuously added more instruments and voices into their music until they had developed one of the most rich and complex sounds among pop artists of the time. Not without irony is it that they split up after giving us only two albums; but their latter, self-titled release has come to be regarded as a holy grail of 60s sunshine pop. A genre that most bands oversimplify and fail to make interesting, Eternity's Children incorporated lush production, flawless male/female vocal harmonies and some surprisingly impressive lead guitar to craft tragically underrated singles such as Mrs. Bluebird. 

Lutomysl - Le reniement de Saint-Pierre [2010]

Distinguishing himself from more prominent Ukrainian black metal bands like Drudkh, Lutomysl avoids the typical wall-of-sound atmosphere in order to make way for some phenomenal melodies. Having released eight albums over the past thirteen years without ever growing bland or redundant, it's a shame that he has failed to accrue fans outside of black metal's small, dedicated niche. Le reniement de Saint-Pierre, the towering, penultimate track off his self-titled release, features tortured, Russian shrieks over relentless blastbeats and some stunning tremolo riffs that essentially carry the song. 

Lowdown Da Sinista - Going Thru A Thing [1996]

Straight outta Memphis with a voice that's unique
Have to lay down with this Glock just to get some sleep

By '96 the norm of Memphis rap delivery was already settling around Three 6 Mafia's hushed, smoked out mumbles. So when Lowdown Da Sinista released his first (and unfortunately last) album Coming For Your Soul, it was rejuvenating to hear a more aggressive, visceral tone reminiscent of groups like N.W.A and Geto Boys over the same familiar Memphis production. The project itself can be a little hit or miss but underground classics like Going Thru A Thing place Lowdown's hard-hitting horrorcore raps right at the forefront despite the thumping instrumental's best efforts.

Stan Hubbs - Juggernaut [1982]

Our knowledge about Stan Hubbs is almost as hazy as his music. The story is that as a middle-aged man he suddenly decided to hire a band, retire to a cabin in the California wilderness, and bang out an acid-soaked cult classic in no more than two days. The album quickly went out of print and he faded back into obscurity, until recently when a Companion Records employee managed to re-issue it from vinyl. Although Crystal dropped in '82 it is entirely at home in the conscious, psychedelic sounds that defined the two decades previous. The 7-minute epic Juggernaut features spaced out, lo-fi production and beautiful male/female vocal layers. But the real star of course is Hubbs himself with his guitar work. What ostensibly may sound repetitious eventually comes to be appreciated as him entering an emotive, trance-like state as he dexterously solos over a pulsating rhythm section. 

Iglooghost - Gold Coat feat. Cuushe [2015]

18-year old UK producer Iglooghost has generated a lot of hype over the last year or so, largely due to his addition to FlyLo's Brainfeeder roster. Acting as his label debut is a brand new four-track EP Chinese Nü Yr. According to him, the release's concept is centered around a "gelatinous worm-shaped creature...wear[ing] a witch hat called xiāngjiāo" who suffers a perpetual existential crisis and is voiced by his own family. The lead single Gold Coat features Japanese ambient pop artist Cuushe and like most of his work defies any kind of pigeon-holing. Combining multiple different pop, hip hop, and electronic trends, Iglooghost manages to deliver a coherent, catchy instrumental out of seemingly disparate elements. The track sports a hard-hitting beat climaxing with a breakdown in the second half and woven together by an incredibly infectious female vocal sample.

Robert Pollard with Doug Gillard - Pop Zeus [1999]

Although he has contributed to more than a dozen different musical ventures over the last three decades, Robert Pollard is still predominantly known for his vocal and guitar work with indie giants Guided By Voices. In '99 he teamed up with bandmate Doug Gillard to release one of the most underappreciated albums of the genre, Speak Kindly Of Your Volunteer Fire Department, right in the midst of their Do The Collapse world tour. Charming marquee tracks like Pop Zeus exemplify Pollard's prowess for engineering melodic yet to-the-point lo-fi indie masterpieces.

J. Mars - Galaxies feat. I.R.V. [2013]

Two years ago a friend introduced me to J. Mars' sophomore project After Lights when he was just a Soundcloud rapper. Unfortunately he still is as his releases trickled off last year, but the work he did leave us with is worth checking out. Both MCs' deliveries have a very Midwestern flavor to them here - perhaps due to the lack of Delaware rappers. J. Mars reminds one of King Chip and I.R.V. of Vic Mensa. But knocking percussion and a hypnotic female vocal sample are what make Jehf Slap's production the real standout on Galaxies.

Fenton Robinson - Somebody Loan Me A Dime [1974]

Despite being a revered, Grammy-nominated blues musician, Fenton Robinson is one of those artists who was sadly robbed of their true opportunity in the spotlight. His contagious followup single Somebody Loan Me A Dime should have launched him into stardom in 1967, but a freak Chicago snow storm prevented his label from distributing the record to the rest of the country. This delayed its release another seven years, by which time other artists had already attempted to claim the song as their own. The album of the same name on which it finally appeared garnered acclaim from critics and fans alike, but Robinson's shot at fame had already passed him by as popular music tastes shifted evermore towards rock n' roll. Now that you're all caught up on its turbulent history, check out the track above and immerse yourself in his smooth, soulful voice and masterful, jazz-influenced guitar licks.

Mihai Edrisch - Oublier [2005]

Mihai Edrisch are a French screamo/post-hardcore band that only managed to drop two LPs before they split up, but even then fans are divided on which was the superior effort. The group's debut showcased their staggering level of raw energy, while their sophomore album Un Jour Sans Lendemain focused more on creating progressive instrumentals, taking significant influence from post-rock and metal artists of the time. With powerful, black metal-like vocals backed by a rhythmic ebb-and-flow instrumental, Oublier is probably the best place to start.

Natas - Doubelievengod [1995]

In the mid-90s it seemed that horrorcore was permeating every city on the American rap circuit, from the Gravediggaz in New York City to Brotha Lynch Hung in Sacramento. A young Detroit scene would spawn the trio Natas, consisting of rappers Esham, Mastamind and TNT, in '91. By the time the group reached their third album - Esham's eighth if you count his solo material - they were peaking both lyrically and musically. Check out the title track here featuring a sinister synth groove, haunting vocal hook, and their signature cinematic horrorcore raps. 

Glen Porter - 29 Palms [2008]

Glen Porter is an instrumental hip hop producer out of Huntington Beach, California. First gaining traction in '08 after music off his debut record Blessed By a Young Death was featured on the OLN travel series Departures, he's since had a low-key but consistent output of EPs and albums. 29 Palms is indicative of his experimental tendencies, fluidly combining indie and post-rock guitar leads with a mid-track reggae breakdown. Making it all the more impressive is that Porter does his own live instrumentation instead of relying solely on samples.

Holiday Shores - Bradley Bear [2009]

Even though they never achieved any real recognition among critics or the mainstream, Holiday Shores managed to release a few memorable singles in their brief discography. Channeling a nostalgic blend of surfer and psychedelic rock into infectious joints such as Bradley Bear put them in the same sphere as the likes of Delta Spirit, Surfer Blood, etc. Their debut album Columbus'd the Whim may grow a little monotonous after repeated listens, but this track is guaranteed to resurrect those summer vibes whenever you're in need.

Laura - Every Light [2006]

The mid-00s were only the latest in a series of peaks for the post-rock genre with pivotal bands such as Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai, and Sigur Rós all releasing some of their most acclaimed records simultaneously. As a result of such consistency from the big names of the scene, lesser known artists often flew completely under the radar of fans. Laura, an Australian group formed in '01, were one of those showing particular promise. Listen to this climactic instrumental track off their sophomore album Radio Swan Is Down for a sense of what they're about.

Jorge Alvarez - Rap Can't Save You [2015]

Besides his hailing from St. Petersburg, Florida, not much is known about Jorge Alvarez. He was recently - and only barely - put in the spotlight when he was seen in a photoshoot for Sticks and Stones Agency with Sarah Snyder, girlfriend of Jaden Smith. Having released only a handful of songs he still has yet to really define his own sound, but as with this track he tends to mix his millennial quirkiness with 90's-inspired cloud rap instrumentals, filling a niche void in this post-OF hip hop landscape.

James Blake - The Sound of Silence [2015]

As the two-and-a-half year anniversary of James Blake's last full-length project Overgrown approaches, any sort of re-up is welcomed. The singer-songwriter-producer extraordinaire does not disappoint with his recent BBC Radio cover of Simon & Garfunkel's 1964 classic The Sound of Silence. In maintaining its solemn, gospel quality and rejuvenating it with his own synth organ production, Blake manages to make the song feel like one of his own without compromising any of the original's strengths. None other than Justin Vernon appears to back Blake up with some beautiful vocal harmonies, making for a raw, choir-like atmosphere. The haunting sirens that open and close the track mirror the melody of the original and give the listener the impression of panning into a small, dimly lit church where the duos' echoes ring among the empty pews and then back out again into the bustling London streets.  

Leave the Planet - Winter Sleep [2015]

Leave the Planet is a recently formed London duo that has only released a few singles to date, but those singles show promise in their reverb-soaked consistency. The contrast of the adrenaline-pumping instrumental and the clouded, ethereal vocals is what makes Winter Sleep a standout in their indie-shoegaze repertoire. A number of the guitar leads actually give off the vibe of a depressive black metal artist like Neige or Lifelover, which is a refreshing twist on a sound that other artists often manage to make redundant.

$uicideboy$ - Tulane [2015]

$uicideboy$ are a New Orleans rap outfit that have exploded onto the underground scene with a relentless stream of EPs, tapes, and albums over the past year (twenty-two in total). Falling in line with the hybrid Memphis-Atlanta sound that has grown popular in Florida recently with artists like Spaceghostpurrp, Denzel Curry and Pouya, $uicideboy$ deliver horrorcore raps over eerie, spaced-out trap instrumentals. Check out the fresh visuals for Tulane, the second single off their latest album My Heart Will Handle What My Liver Can't. 

Koopsta Knicca - Torture Chamber [1999]

Before Juicy J there was the Juice Manne, one-eighth of the legendary Three 6 Mafia. One of the lesser known members of the group was Koopsta Knicca. Koop really came into his own as a solo artist in '99 with his sophomore album Da Devil's Playground, which received widespread acclaim for its ominous, crawling soundscape reminiscent of early DJ Screw tapes. Here DJ Paul reworks a simple Metallica sample into a dark and gritty Memphis classic. Koopsta passed away just last night due to a sudden brain aneurysm (R.I.P.). So peep this track at your next Lord Xenu offering ceremony and light one up for da Koop Manne.