Best Songs of the Week

A couple of weeks ago, Waka went in over J. Cole's "Fire Squad," and on Christmas Eve he continued his hot streak by jacking a bunch of classic beats for "5:56." Waka hasn't quite earned a reputation for being a rapper with serious bars, but if he keeps this up, he's going to surprise a lot of people in 2015. Look out.—Confusion

Sad Boys affiliate and Yung Lean producer Yung Gud stepped out from the shadows with his debut solo EP earlier this year, and now he's finishing off strong with a huge VIP remix of Jacques Greene’s song "No Excuse," which he already remixed once earlier this year. It's a pummelling, pounding experience, with the rough, slightly distorted edge of Evian Christ mixed with Gud's own expertly crafted mournful melodic edge.—Constant Gardner

If I'm keeping it 100, I've always been on some Hudson Mohawke > Lunice shit when deciding who was better in TNGHT. Not that Lunice hasn't blown my mind with his material—"I See U" is still one of my favorite cuts of the last five years. The thing is, while his instrumentals are compelling, his sound is suited much more for rappers. And while I'm not mad at Rockie Fresh, I'm not sure Lunice has had an emcee like CJ Flemings to really make his instrumentals make sense. I say all of that to say that "Weather Man" is my kind of turn up, and it's what I want to hear more of from Lunice (especially since his "it should be released fall 2014" album still isn't out). Lunice has such an affinity for rap, I just want him to find rappers who can breathe life into his beats.—khal

When December begins, many of us can’t wait to hear all of our favorite holiday tunes. But after hearing a hundred various versions of basically the same ten songs over and over again, it can get old pretty quickly. Personally I enjoy the more soulful holiday tracks over the usual department store selection of classics. It’s those rare gems that cannot be duplicated that really bring some excitement back into the mix. “#1HappyHoliday” is both original and soulful and further proves why D.R.A.M. is one of our favorite new artists of 2014.

D.R.A.M. created a holiday song that is completely different from the classics and that’s exactly what makes it stand out. It’s short, sweet and to the point. Many of the best holiday songs are the ones that would still sound great during any other time of year. This is the prime example of that. Sure, the entire subject matter revolves around Christmas but besides that, the production by Bub Ruth and Peter Cottontale in addition to the sweet vocals provided by D.R.A.M. make for a great R&B-friendly track. It may seem to early to call it, but I know this song will definitely find its way into my annual holiday mix from now on.—Adrienne Black

Last month, Michael Christmas traded in Boston slush for L.A. beaches, and this is one of the first songs that came about as a result. He's finding his rhythm as a rapper, steadily churning out songs that immediately get your head bopping.

"F*ck Wit Me" has a little West Coast flair to it, but Christmas' buttery flow and wry lyrics remain on point. A perfect relaxant for the post-Christmas sugar crash.—Graham

Bine's production is impressive enough on its own, but when paired with newcomer Night Lovell it really flourishes. Atop Bine's trademark chimes on "The Renegade Never Dies," Lovell delivers verses just as confident as the colorful production. They make for a potent pairing, and Concept Vague does a fantastic job at showcasing this. Bouncing along with a memorable hook and a charismatic guest spot from his own dad, "The Renegade Never Dies" is further proof of why Lovell deserves more attention than he's received thus far.—Joe Price

Two of VA's finest, over a menacing beat. These guys are about to have a big 2015, and "SuperLit" is only the beginning. They'll be performing live together tomorrow night (Dec. 27) in Norfolk, Virginia for a show called Something Special. Be there if you can.