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2. Pusha T ft. The-Dream "M.F.T.R."
When it comes to dropping singles to build hype for an album, Pusha T is a master. Fear of God II: Let Us Pray was preceded by "Trouble On My Mind" and "Amen," My Name Is My Name by "Numbers on The Boards" and "Nosetalgia," and now Darkest Before Dawn by "Untouchable" and "M.F.T.R.."
With The-Dream in tow, the President of G.O.O.D. Music raps as only he can, delivering lines like "I’m Kim Jong of the crack song" with controlled ferocity. If Darkest Before Dawn is just a prelude to King Push, we're about to hit the jackpot.—Constant Gardner
3. Archy Marshall - "Thames Water"
Archy Marshall has a lot of aliases he's used over the years, first garnering attention as Zoo Kid, making beats as DJ JD Sports, and finding near-universal acclaim as King Krule. On his latest release, A New Place 2 Down, Marshall sticks with his government name and reveals some of his most personal work to date.
The closing song "Thames Water" starts off with bouncy synths providing the beat underneath Archy's dark lyrics: "When it rains it fucking pours." This track shows a new direction for Marshall's music. He's always dabbled with beats, but this track veers closer to dance than ever before, even dropping into a house beat at the song's close. It wouldn't sound out of place released on a Nicolas Jaar track list. Another impressive addition to Marshall's catalog.—Colton Faull
Related: 10 Things You Didn't Know About King Krule
4. Wiki - "Crib Tax"
Wiki's Lil Me album is packed with impressive guests, but the best collab might be with a producer: he's backed by Kaytranada on "Crib Tax," and the Montreal beatmaker worked up a sly, intricate beat for the NYC rapper.
Wiki's lispy house rules fit perfectly over the bendy synths, and the dialogue between verses as a mirror to his raps is a nice touch. If you're coming over to Wiki's spot, there's going to be a crib tax. It might be a hit of the blunt or pull from the bottle, but one way or another, he's running a sharing economy.—Graham Corrigan
5. Sam Gellaitry - "Long Distance"
Sam Gellaitry is killing it: Only 18 years old, he already has a release on the mighty XL Recordings to his name, not to mention a debut on Soulection, and a unique sound that is already oft-imitated but rarely matched. Gellaitry brings so many different elements into his beats that you might expect the result to be an almighty mess, but it never is.
Instead, his electronic music has a sense of vibrancy and a human touch that so much on SoundCloud lacks, and "Long Distance" is yet another winner. The horns, synths, and drums provide the backdrop, while a memorable vocal sample takes center stage—this kid is something special.—Constant Gardner
6. 50 Cent ft. Post Malone - "Tryna F*ck Me Over"
Post Malone provided a bit of foreshadowing when he went in over 50 Cent's "Window Shopper" beat for "#mood." On "Tryna F*ck Me Over," the two artists link up for real over Scoop Deville production, and it's the natural meeting point for a seasoned vet and a young up-and-comer. So what do 50 Cent and Post Malone have in common? They both know what it's like to be hated on.—Confusion
7. Anderson .Paak ft. The Game & Sonyae Elise - “Room In Here”
It’s common knowledge by now that Anderson .Paak has a very eclectic sound. Similar to the majority of the cover art for his singles and albums, his music comes together like a collage—layers of various elements and influences creating one beautiful piece. So far, Anderson has shared three tracks from his upcoming album Malibu; “The Season / Carry Me,” “Am I Wrong?” and the latest, “Room In Here.” Each has been drastically different than the last, but equally strong and infectious.
Anderson gets a guest verse from The Game while Sonyae Elise adds some sweet harmonies to the background of “Room In Here.” This smooth track only takes seconds to love, but feels worthy of being on repeat for hours.
Anderson .Paak continues to deliver strong tracks, one after another. Just the thought of waiting until January 15 for the full album is unbearable.—Adrienne Black
