For the last nine years of my life, I’ve compiled lists similar to these across three different WordPresses, two Tumblrs, and this site, and I read through every single one I could find (most of them at this point only living as first draft Word documents buried on my hard drive backups). The early ones in particular logged sub-twenty reads, which honestly was probably for the best given that they’re mostly messes in truth - sophomore year of high school is not a place I ever want to be again, but frankly, even the ones from last year are jagged around the edges. Mostly I think I sort of wasted my own time.
But counterpoint: there’s some music there that once throttled my entire brain, patiently seized my 2014 consciousness until I was telling people that Hoodrich Pablo Juan was going to be Future before Future was Future or that no really, 24hrs really is better than PARTYNEXTDOOR. Most of this music’s now been nearly completely erased from every crevice of my brain despite at one particular week-long junction being the only thing I could think of. I think this is what makes this my diary covered in a thin layer of pretension, which I think is what Webster’s calls Criticism.
And after all that, again?
Best Songs, 2010s
50. Action Bronson & Party Supplies - “9-24-11” (Party Supplies)
49. Lil Tecca - “Ransom” (Nick Mira & Taz Taylor)
48. Bobby Shmurda - “Hot N****” (Jahlil Beats)
47. Bankroll Fresh - “Hot Boy” (Cassius Jay)
46. Blu & Exile - “A Letter” (Exile)
45. GoldLink - “Crew” feat. Brent Faiyaz & Shy Glizzy (Teddy Walton)
44. Ty Dolla $ign - “Paranoid” feat. Joe Moses (DJ Mustard)
43. Sada Baby & Drego - “Bloxk Party” (Von Jose)
42. Lil Ugly Mane - “Throw Dem Gunz” (Lil Ugly Mane)
41. Mozzy - “Bladadah” (MMMonthabeat)
40. A.A.L (Against All Logic) - “I Never Dream” (self)
39. Beach House - “Lemon Glow” (self)
38. Solange - “Cranes in the Sky” (Raphael Saadiq & Solange)
37. Tame Impala - “Eventually” (self)
36. (Sandy) Alex G - “Memory” (self)
35. Lana Del Rey - “Venice Bitch” (Jack Antonoff & Lana Del Rey)
34. Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx - “I’ll Take Care of You” (Jamie xx)
33. Kevin Gates - “2 Phones” (Mad Max)
32. Kodak Black - “SKRT” (SkipOnDaBeat)
31. SOB X RBE - “Anti” (Maczmusik)
30. Kanye West - “New Slaves” (Daft Punk, Hudson Mohawke & Travis Scott)
29. Blood Orange - “Orlando” (self)
28. Mach-Hommy - “1080p” (August Fanon)
27. Earl Sweatshirt - “Grief” (randomblackdude)
26. Chris Brown - “Deuces (Remix)” feat. Drake, T.I., Kanye West, Fabolous, Rick Ross & André 3000 (Kevin McCall)
25. Chief Keef - “Hate Bein Sober” feat. 50 Cent & Wiz Khalifa (Young Chop)
24. Pusha T - “Numbers on the Board” (Don Cannon & Kanye West)
23. Lil Uzi Vert - “XO Tour Llif3” (TM88)
22. 03 Greedo - “Rude” (BeatBoy, JoogFTR & Ron-RonTheProducer)
21. Rich Gang - “Flava” (Dun Deal, Goose, Isaac Flame & London on da Track)
20. Fetty Wap - “Trap Queen” (Tony Fadd)
19. Shy Glizzy - “Funeral (Remix)” feat. Young Jeezy (K.E. on the Track)
18. Vampire Weekend - “Hannah Hunt” (self)
17. G Herbo - “L’s” (C-Sick)
16. Skooly - “Dope Fiend” (Ducko McFli)
15. Sufjan Stevens - “Too Much” (self)
14. Lil Peep - “Hellboy” (Smokeasac & Yung Cortex)
13. Future - “News or Somthn” (Nard & B)
12. The Weeknd - “The Morning” (Doc McKinney & Illangelo)
11. Playboi Carti - “Flatbed Freestyle” (Pi’erre Bourne)
10. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - “Deeper” (Madlib)
9. YNW Melly - “Virtual (Blue Balenciagas)” (EY3ZLOWBEATZ)
8. Kendrick Lamar - “ELEMENT.” (Bēkon, James Blake, Ricci Riera, Sounwave & Tae Beast)
7. Charli XCX - “Track 10” (A.G. Cook, Life Sim & Lil Data)
6. Frank Ocean - “Nikes” (Frank Ocean, Malay & Om’Mas Keith)
5. Young Thug & Travis Scott - “Pick Up the Phone” feat. Quavo (Allen Ritter, Frank Dukes, Maneesh, Mick Schultz, Mike Dean & Vinylz)
4. YoungBoy Never Broke Again - “No Smoke” (DJ Chose)
3. Migos - “T-Shirt” (Nard & B & XL)
2. Future - “Throw Away” (Nard & B)
1. Burial - “Come Down to Us” (Burial)
Best Albums, 2010s
50. King Krule - The OOZ
49. Tierra Whack - Whack World
48. Lil Ugly Mane - Mista Thug Isolation
47. Vince Staples - Summertime ‘06
46. Tame Impala - Currents
45. Car Seat Headrest - Twin Fantasy (Face to Face)
44. Fetty Wap - Fetty Wap
43. Jamie xx - In Colour
42. Ty Dolla $ign - Beach House 3
41. Nickelus F - STUCK
40. Action Bronson & Party Supplies - Blue Chips
39. Thundercat - Drunk
38. Lucki - Freewave 3
37. Erykah Badu - But You Caint Use My Phone
36. Chief Keef - Finally Rich
35. Danny Brown - XXX
34. The Weeknd - House of Balloons
33. Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma
32. Beach House - 7
31. G Herbo - Welcome to Fazoland
30. A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie - Artist
29. Open Mike Eagle - Dark Comedy
28. Future - DS2
27. Solange - When I Get Home
26. Rick Ross - Teflon Don
25. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
24. milo - a toothpaste suburb
23. D’Angelo & The Vanguard - Black Messiah
22. Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz
21. Mach-Hommy - HBO (Haitian Body Odor)
20. Young Thug - Beautiful Thugger Girls
19. Burial - Rival Dealer EP
18. Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City
17. Kanye West - Yeezus
16. Kodak Black - Institution
15. Isaiah Rashad - The Sun’s Tirade
14. Roc Marciano - Reloaded
13. Lil Peep- Hellboy
12. Frank Ocean - Blonde
11. Earl Sweatshirt - I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside
10. Rich Gang - Tha Tour, Part 1
9. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Piñata
8. Charli XCX - Pop 2
7. Playboi Carti - Die Lit
6. Future - Monster
5. Young Thug - Barter 6
4. Blood Orange - Negro Swan
3. Frank Ocean - Endless
2. Jai Paul - Leak 04-13 (Bait Ones) / s/t (Leak)
1. Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly
Best Songs, 2019
50. YungManny - “I’m YungManny” (RomanSuko & YungManny)
49. Cam’ron - “Big Deal” (The Heatmakerz)
48. Gunna - “3 Headed Snake” feat. Young Thug (Wheezy)
47. J Hus - “Must Be” (JAE5)
46. Danny Brown - “Combat” (Q-Tip)
45. Westside Gunn - “Lakers vs. Rockets” feat. Sauce Walka (DJ Muggs)
44. Fivio Foreign - “Big Drip” (AXL Beats)
43. navy blue - “deathmask . . .” (self)
42. Playboi Carti - “Molly / Stylist” (Pi’erre Bourne)
41. MAVI - “selflove” (Nephew Hesh)
40. (Sandy) Alex G - “Southern Sky” (self)
39. JPEGMAFIA - “Jesus Forgive Me, I Am a Thot” (self)
38. Charli XCX & Christine & The Queens - “Gone” (A.G. Cook, Lotus IV & Nömak)
37. Lil Dude & Xanman - “Let Me Hold You (G-Mix)” (?)
36. Solange - “Almeda” feat. Playboi Carti (John Carroll Kirby, Pharrell & Solange)
35. Drego & Beno - “Swear to God” feat. GT & Shoreline Mafia (Cypress Moreno, Epps & Von Jose)
34. Floating Points - “Requiem for CS70 and Strings” (self)
33. Westside Gunn - “Lucha Bros” feat. Curren$y & Benny the Butcher (The Alchemist)
32. Lil Uzi Vert - “Closing It (Dip Remix)” (TisaKorean)
31. Cartier’GOD & Bladee - “#LetMeGo” (Futuristic’Ideaz)
30. Pop Smoke - “Welcome to the Party” (808Melo)
29. 03 Greedo & Kenny Beats - “Disco Shit” (Kenny Beats)
28. Earl Sweatshirt - “MTOMB” (The Alchemist)
27. Skooly - “Lil Boy Shit” (Quay Global)
26. YNW Melly - “Rolling Loud” (SaiDon)
25. Melvoni - “No Man’s Land” (?)
24. Mustard - “Ballin’” feat. Roddy Ricch (self)
23. Young Thug - “Just How It Is” (Nick Mira & Wheezy)
22. Caroline Polachek - “Door” (Caroline Polachek, Danny L. Harle & Jim-E Stack)
21. Baby Keem - “INVENTED IT” (Ambezza, Baby Keem & Keanu Beats)
20. Lil Keed - “It’s Up Freestyle” (JetsonMade)
19. Polo G - “Deep Wounds” (1040 Beats, Callari & D. Major)
18. Baby Smoove - “Need You” (Undefined)
17. trip dixon - “*NEW*FLIP*” feat. shaboozer, BLACK KRAY & Treezy Lowkey (self)
16. Shordie Shordie - “Bitchuary” (YG Beats)
15. NoCap - “Ghetto Angels” (?)
14. Tyler, the Creator - “EARFQUAKE” feat. Playboi Carti (self)
13. Sheff G - “Breesh (Intro)” (?)
12. Lana Del Rey - “Venice Bitch” (Jack Antonoff & Lana Del Rey)
11. Pi’erre Bourne - “Poof” (self)
10. Juice WRLD - “Maze” (Boi-1da, Don Mills & Jahaan Sweet)
9. FLEE - “SWISH / USE 2” feat. Brent Faiyaz (StoopidXool)
8. Vegyn - “Cowboy ALLSTAR” (self)
7. Lucki - “4 the Betta” (DJ Eway)
6. DaBaby - “Suge” (JetsonMade & Pooh Beatz)
5. Lil Uzi Vert - “Sanguine Paradise” (BRANDON FINESSIN & OOGIE MANE)
4. Quando Rondo - “In My Section” (JD on Tha Track)
3. YoungBoy Never Broke Again - “Make No Sense” (Buddah Bless)
2. Lil Tecca - “Ransom” (Nick Mira & Taz Taylor)
1. Blood Orange - “Benzo” (self)
Best Albums, 2019
50. FKA twigs - MAGDALENE
49. TisaKorean - A Guide to Being a Partying Freshman
48. Shy Glizzy - Covered N Blood
47. Vampire Weekend - Father of the Bride
46. Raphael Saadiq - Jimmy Lee
45. Kevin Abstract - ARIZONA BABY
44. Quando Rondo - From the Neighborhood to the Stage
43. 100 ges - 1000 gecs
42. deem spencer - Pretty face
41. Griselda - WWCD
40. Young Nudy - Faded in the Booth
39. Curren$y & Statik Selektah - Gran Turismo
38. Future - The WIZRD
37. Lil Gotit - The Real Goat
36. Tree - WE Grown NOW.
35. Helado Negro - This is How You Smile
34. Stunna 4 Vegas - BIG 4x
33. Ecco2k - E
32. JPEGMAFIA - All My Heroes are Cornballs
31. Blood Orange - Angel’s Pulse
30. Benny the Butcher - The Plugs I Met
29. Westside Gunn - Hitler Wears Hermes 7
28. Earl Sweatshirt - FEET OF CLAY
27. Baby Keem - DIE FOR MY BITCH
26. Charli XCX - Charli
25. Roc Marciano - Marcielago
24. Key! - SO EMOTIONAL
23. Danny Brown - uknowhatimsayin¿
22. Caroline Polachek - Pang
21. Polo G - Die a Legend
20. Tree & Vic Spencer - Nothing is Something
19. Pi’erre Bourne - The Life of Pi’erre 4
18. YNW Melly - We All Shine
17. (Sandy) Alex G - House of Sugar
16. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Bandana
15. oso oso - Basking in the Glow
14. Shefff G - THE UNLUCCY LUCCY KID
13. MAVI - let the sun talk
12. woods + segal - Hiding Places
11. Flying Lotus - Flamagra
10. Young Thug - So Much Fun
9. Lil Keed - Long Live Mexico
8. Solange - When I Get Home
7. Floating Points - Crush
6. Lana Del Rey - Norman Fucking Rockwell!
5. Tyler, the Creator - IGOR
4. Lucki - Days B4 III
3. Mach-Hommy - Wap Konn Jój!
2. Baby Smoove - Purple Heart
1. Lucki - Freewave 3
Other Things I Liked
50. Every piece of DaBaby and Jabbawockeez content ever created. Feed me more
49. Sensational
48. The idea of Dominic Fike
47. Jeremiah Jae & L’Orange - The Night Took Us in Like Family
46. The end of Lil Keed and Lil Gotit’s ‘Brotherly Love” video when they start harmonizing
45. Paradise Rock Club
44. The comments section to every Noz song list
43. The first time I ever listened to 03 Greedo (for the record, I was late - “Rude”)
42. Seeing Action Bronson perform Blue Chips 2 front to back and the crowd nearly imploding for RetcH
41. Drain Gang
40. Drain Gang jokes
39. Nicolas Jaar
38. Shoreline Mafia - “Bands” (AceTheFace)
37. Hiroshi Yoshimura
36. Arguing with twelve different people about which Lil Uzi leak was the best the night “XO Tour Llif3” dropped and being very very wrong
35. MuchDank
34. Teyana Taylor having the best album from the G.O.O.D. Music run
33. Juice WRLD telling me that every meal he had in Europe was risking his life. Rest in power
32. Lil Tjay - “Leaked (Remix)” feat. Lil Wayne (Dystinkt Beats)
31. Trippie Redd - “I Kill People!” feat. Chief Keef & Tadoe (Dez Wright & OZ)
30. G Perico hair
29. Kevin Gates and YoungBoy both getting world-beating, undefeated mega-hits
28. Roy Woods for a little bit
27. Kodak Black - “Ran Up a Check” (The Featherstones)
26. Undertale soundtrack
25. That last big Hellfyre Club year - triple double in 3 quarters
24. *whispers* “3500 (For the Coat)”
23. Fetty Wap. He deserved better from us all
22. Vince Staples on R. Kelly
21. Black Milk
20. James Blake getting the Roald Dahl guy to do his album artwork. classic
19. Maybach Music Group producer tag
18. Metro Boomin producer tags but only the Young Thug ones
17. London on da Track producer tags but only the Kodak Black one
16. OOGIE MANE producer tag
15. Oddisee
14. Sherwood Marty
13. BTS
12. Stormzy - “Shut Up” (XTC) - but specifically the video and even more specifically the part where he says “rapping, innit”
11. Yaeji
10. J. Cole - “Cole Summer” (self)
9. Cousin Stizz verse on Nok from the Future - “Up North” (self)
8. Plug beats
7. The time I heard a Zac Brown Band song or something and was trying to Shazam it because I thought it was a Gunna sample
6. Yung Lean Thaiboy Digital video
5. Odd Future - “Oldie” (Tyler, the Creator) video
4. Rich Homie Quan singles
3. BROCKHAMPTON - “CANNON”(bearface, Jabari Manwa, Kevin Abstract, Kiko Merley & Romil Hemnani)
2. The privilege of being completely inundated by far more music than I could ever listen to and enjoy let alone process and contextualize
1. Smokepurpp - “Audi.” (Ronny J)