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2. D'Angelo - "Prayer"
As the rumors and the following confirmations of a new D'Angelo album surfaced, I have to admit that I was one of the doubters. Like, yes, it's amazing that D'Angelo is back, but we haven't heard from this man in a while. Without any new music, it was hard to get excited. I immediately thought about Lauryn Hill. Sure, she "came back," but let's not kid ourselves.
Sometimes, an artist captures a moment in time, and recreating that moment is impossible. And other times, having a little doubt makes a pleasant surprise even more rewarding. The new D'Angelo album is great—so great that choosing one song is difficult, but after a short time with the album, this is the one I'm loving right now. Welcome back, D'Angelo.—Confusion
3. Nicki Minaj - "Want Some More"
To call Nicki Minaj a superstar feels underwhelming at this point. She's transcended the title, now residing somewhere in a league reserved for international icons and Oprah. But this isn't what makes her an important artist.
What makes her an important artist is that she's reached this level of fame but can still manage to tap into a hunger and passion she exhibited on her first mixtapes. She reminds us of this on "Want Some More," off her new album The Pinkprint. Here, Nicki rattles off her laundry list of accomplishments with ferocity over production courtesy of Zaytoven, Yung Berg, and Metro Boomin. "Who had Eminem on the first album? / Who had Kanye saying, "She a problem?" / Who the fuck came in the game made her own cologne? / Who made Lil Wayne give 'em five million?" she asks, half bragging, half astounded she still, at this point, has to keep convincing her critics. But she does, and honestly thank God for that. Because Nicki is at her absolute best when she's got something to prove.—Katie K.
4. A.G. Cook - "Beautiful (Rustie Remix)"
Rustie’s sophomore album, Green Language had some great moments, and was certainly a cohesive experience, but it certainly had fewer, "Oh my god how does Rustie make these sounds, I'm being engulfed in a crystal rainbow," moments than his debut Glass Swords and following two-track release Triadzz/Slasherr." On this remix of PC Music boss A.G. Cook’s "Beautiful," Rustie comes with his usual colorful synths and a truly epic drop just after the one minute mark. This is a massive tune, and thanks to LuckyMe's advent calendar, everyone can have it, free of charge.—Constant Gardner
Related: PC Music and The Future of Pop
5. Corbin - "Worn"
We don't usually get a transformative song from an artist only a year or so into their career, but it makes a lot of sense here. Boldly renaming himself alongside a song produced by Shlohmo, D33J, Bobby Raps, and Psymun, the artist formerly known as Spooky Black has something to prove with his first song under his real name, Corbin. "Worn" feels like a big step up, showcasing his rapid maturation and willingness to push himself forward. Ditching a name with such an established fanbase can't be easy, but it's a necessary move propelled by a dedication to his always evolving talents. This is the artist that was hinted at behind that smug smirk found in the brilliant "Without U" video, and he's far more capable than we initially thought.—Joe Price
6. Kevin Abstract - “bubblegum / iwb”
It’s not uncommon for artists to have a catalog of songs that includes something that will appeal to different listeners, but Kevin Abstract managed to pull all of that off with just one song. In a generation of embarrassingly short attention spans, a song this length that keeps you intrigued is very impressive. Even at ten minutes long, there was never a second of boredom.
It’s been a while since I’ve heard a song that made me say “this shit is crazy!” multiple times before it even comes to an end, but there’s no other way to describe it. “bubblegum / iwb” effortlessly jumps from trap to PC Music and nearly everything in between and blends them all seamlessly. All while Kevin Abstract’s flow adapts to every change in the beat without a hiccup. “bubblegum / iwb” really sounds like a musical metamorphosis.—Adrienne Black
Related: The Best New Artists of 2014
7. Lucki Eck$ ft. Chance The Rapper - "Stevie Wonder"
We've been telling you to look out for Lucki Eck$ for a while now, but a lot more people will be checking for him off the back of this collaboration with fellow Chicago upstart Chance, The Rapper, which also boasts production from Young Chop and Plu2o Nash. The two rapper's unique styles, Chance's mix of precise bars and wild yells and Lucki's xaned out murmurs, collide over a spacious beat. This is a collaboration we were hoping would happen, and it's safe to say that it lived up to our high expectations.—Constant Gardner
8. Emay - "Solitude"
We've been hearing a lot of turn-up rap that that makes us want to jump up and down and throw elbows. Emay's "Solitude" is the opposite. It's a gentle, almost spiritual sound, and it's not a tone that many rappers could adjust to. Emay harnesses a controlled intensity, and the result is powerful. Listen to his Sinner, Song-Writer EP here.
