Best Songs of the Week (Dec 16th, 2016)

With so much good music, it's easy to miss out on some great tracks. So we've rounded up the best songs from the past week. Here are the songs you can't afford to skip, in no particular order.

Little Simz's Stillness in Wonderland is out today, and this feels like the moment she'll really break into the mainstream. The English artist has more than proved her worth as a rapper, but it's her production that's on another level this time around. "Picture Perfect" combines horns, acoustic guitar, string quartets, and rumbling drums courtesy of Rascal and SHE. It's an inventive and altogether fresh combination of sound, lyrics, and flow. "Wonderland is amazing, ain't it?" Simz crows on the chorus, and she's not wrong.—Graham Corrigan

Kid Cudi's new album is here—Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin' is a massive 19-song undertaking, but track four is an early and obvious favorite. "By Design" is one of two collaborations with Andre Benjamin, and the artist formerly known as 3 Stacks delivers an unforgettable hook on this one.

The song is full of energy, pushed along by a rolling electric piano sample and a hiccuping bass. "The universe never steered me wrong, the universe never lied," Cudi sings on the second verse. This man is definitely back on the moon, and it works beautifully here.—Graham Corrigan

Part of the "Champions" team is back, as Yo Gotti connects with Kanye West, Quavo, 2 Chainz, and Big Sean on "Castro" from the Cocaine Muzik 9 project. Where Gotti faded into the background with an unspectacular verse on "Champions," he shines here alongside two of the year's best rappers... plus Kanye West and Big Sean. It's part of a great week for Gotti, who also just announced a deal with Jay Z and Roc Nation.

Sean only drops a couple of bars, but Quavo and 2 Chainz come through with verses that keep their combined 2016 winning streak well on track. Happy Friday, it's time for her to snort her whole damn face off.—Alex Gardner

Months after sharing his addicting first single "Sucka For Love," Brooklyn-based newcomer TCVVX returned this week with his full self-titled EP. One of the standout tracks, "Tonight" finds the young crooner touching on topics of heartache and longing for someone's affection. The slow-building record gradually works its way up until the production reaches its peak and comes crashing down, clearing the floor for the chorus. 

In a time where R&B has veered towards becoming a genre full of boastful lyrics, it's refreshing to hear a young artist put his vulnerabilities at the forefront. With "Tonight," and the rest of his debut EP, TCVVX proves he's one to keep an eye on.—Adrienne Black

Swae Lee and 2 Chainz are always highly entertaining, and they don't need flashy production to be great. Murda Beatz gives them some space with the sparse but sinister "Yacht Master" beat, and it works perfectly. If you're feeling this one, check out the rest of Murda Beatz' Keep God First mixtape.—Jacob Moore

While the ASAP Ferg-featuring "Crystal City" is an immediate highlight from Yung Lean's surprise new mixtape Frost God, there's a lot more to enjoy here. The lullaby-like nature of "Hennessy & Sailor Moon" and the chaotic "Head 2 Toe" exemplify why it's wrong to write Leandoer off, but the mixtape's opener, "Back at It," sees the Swedish phenomenon at his best. At under two minutes, all the fat has been trimmed off "Back at It," leaving an incredibly lean banger that only he can provide, pun intended and all.—Joe Price

Dae Dae is one of the best new artists of 2016.

The Atlanta rapper announced himself with "Wat You Mean (Aye, Aye, Aye)," and proved he had more hits on deck with The Defanation mixtape. His most recent move is a big name remix to "Spend It" featuring Young Thug and Young M.A, and it goes off. From working construction when he wrote "Wat You Mean" to collaborating with two of the hottest rappers in the game, it's been a good year for Dae Dae.—Alex Gardner