27 Best Songs From 2016

21. “Really Doe” by Danny Brown (ft. Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, and Earl Sweatshirt)

Danny Brown showcased his unique styles and comedy throughout his 2016 album Atrocity Exhibition. While much of the album has an underlying anxiety to its lyrics, “Really Doe” is more about Brown showcasing what makes him unique as a person.

Brown is cocky and a braggart in the song, detailing his sexual prowess and the rap game. The song caused bad blood between Brown and collaborator Ab-Soul, leading to the two rappers having a falling out.

22. “I Need You” by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds had been making music for a long time when 2016 rolled by, but few of the band’s songs have ever had the emotional resonance of “I Need You.” The production is sparse and powerful, and the lyrics and background hit hard.

Cave’s son died in the middle of recording the album. “I Need You” is the man’s attempt to work through the grief of losing his song to an accident at just 15.

23. “I Need a Forest Fire” by James Blake (ft. Bon Iver)

James Blake remains one of the biggest producers in music today, but his solo work is also a standout. “I Need a Forest Fire” saw Blake work together with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon to create the perfect mix of R&B and electronic music.

The song sees Vernon sing about the need for a spark in their life. They are not necessarily in a state of dismay, but they need something to inspire them and get them to move forward.

24. “Wyclef Jean” by Young Thug

“Wyclef Jean” took its name from the famous Haitian rapper who was part of the Fugees. In the song, Young Thug sings with his trademark unique voice and brags about his life.

The music video was a viral hit, partially because Young Thug was not in it and never showed up for shooting. The video even won a Grammy, and Thugger did not know about it until later when someone told him.

25. “Because I’m Me” by The Avalanches

Few bands make music as unique as The Avalanches. Dubbed “plunderphonics” by music critics, the band composes almost all of its music from samples of other songs. The Avalanches released its second in 2016, led by the single “Because I’m Me.”

“Because I’m Me” is an upbeat rap song perfect for a summer drive or party. The production is unlike anything else you will ever likely hear.

26. “Untitled 02/ 06.23.2014” by Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar surprised fans with a compilation of unreleased demos in 2016. Lamar recorded all the songs while working on his masterpiece album, To Pimp a Butterfly. While the compilation album does not have the same connectivity as other Lamar projects, it is full of interesting songs.

“Untitled 02/ 06.23.2014” features a heavily jazz-inspired production and sees Lamar take on the mantle as one of music’s biggest stars. Lamar believes he is at the peak of his power and that nothing will bring him down.

27. “One Dance” by Drake (ft. Wizkid and Kyla)

Drake took his music in a new direction with his 2016 album Views, and “One Dance” perfectly encapsulates this change. The Canadian rapper moved away from traditional rap to dance hall music with an afrobeat bend. The result was a smash hit for Drake, though some fans longed for a return to his early style of music.

“One Dance” was one of the biggest songs of the year from a commercial standpoint and was a staple on Top 40 radio for most of the year. The song and its accompanying album helped solidify Drake as one of rap’s biggest players.

Top Songs From 2016, Final Thoughts

There was so much good music in the year it is hard to narrow down the best songs of 2016. So many established artists continued to impress while new kids on the block were making names for themselves.

What’s your favorite song of 2016? Did we miss any of the best? Let us know what you think the best songs of 2016 are.