12

Jealous (ft. Kendrick Lamar) - Fredo Santana

Seeing Fredo Santana in the cut would truly be a scary sight. His plethora of facial tattoos and name association with Chief Keef make him one of the most feared teenage faces in Chicago, IL, much less modern hip-hop. However, he has grown substantially out of the shadow of ring leader Keith "Chief Keef" Cozart in the past 12 months, releasing 4 mixtapes and garnering an impressive feature from King Kendrick.

Don't let Fredo's pubescent facial hair fool you; his guest feature (all 2 seconds of it) in Drakes, "Hold On, We're Going Home" featurette proves Mr. Santana is a skilled multitalent AND hardened street presence. 

Kendrick Lamar, the year's MVP on many lists, provides a solid lyrical offering, connecting his past theme of familial alcoholism ("Drunk right now, so you know I mean it") with his family's history in Fredo's home city ("Those who say they know me know that Chitown's like my second home"). "Jealous" is probably the best release by a Chicago rapper this year (I'll exclude Kanye from that definition; Yeezus was all about the European influence).

16

Numbers on the Board - Pusha T

Before Yeezus season was even approaching, the creative mastermind of Kanye West had his fingers in several other projects. His jocular, competitive, and yet malicious influence carried through to Terrence Thornton's first solo release, and its single visual offering on May 10, 2013. 

Jay-Z had put together a freestyle-esque diss track directed at his his dissenters a week or two prior, "Open Letter." He addressed media disapproval over a recent vacation to Cuba with his spouse, Beyonce Carter (né Knowles). As readers of this post may have noticed, that song did not make it into the Top 150... But it did beget the release of "Numbers on the Board." Terrence tells the story of Ye phoning him from Paris to notify that he would drop the track, to keep up with the real hip-hop "fire" from Jay Z. In 15 minutes.

The Don Cannon-produced beat received a special Mr. West touch-up (Kanye executively produced the album; the dark, minimal Yeezus vibe is embedded in the song). Terrence gets boastful, even scary. The old-ass Jay Z sample only adds to the mystique of one of the darkest songs to chart highly on this list.

Royals - Lorde

"Royals," by almost all measures, was one of the most popular songs of 2013. Radio play on alternative, pop, and adult stations boosted the 16 year-old New Zealand songstress' soothing, pretty song to international acclaim. Because of this, there is a vast amount amount of online blog literature in praise and analysis of Lorde. One of my favorites is Pitchfork's piece on the "indification" of pop music, and vice versa. Another is Complex's brief, and far from absolute, analysis of the hip-hop imagery used in her lyrics.

Without preaching too much, I will offer a short thinkpiece more in line with Complex's work. Lorde cites "gold chains," "Cristal," "tigers on a gold leash," and "Maybachs" as iconic symbols of excessive wealth, and how her and her lover will never experience such financial esteem, but instead have their own love to exceed the benefits of modern royalty. However, the images she chooses to cite are not only American in nature, but images of American hip-hop from the past decade or so. Is Tyga, with his tiger on a chain, a true "royal" in the sense that Lorde wishes to criticize? She is offering a social critique of excessive wealth, yet Tyga's annual income and societal clout is dwarfed by others in America. He is both a target of international teenage songwriters and a goofy caricature of young black wealth. He is by no means a royal who enjoys the privileges Lorde seems to look down upon. Why does Lorde choose to name the Maybach automobile brand, most commonly associated in American music culture with Maybach Music Group CEO Rick Ross? Is Cadillac, or Mercedes-Benz, or Land Rover not a more esteemed vehicle of American excess?

Perhaps Lorde's visions of American excess are purely derived from pop culture, and as a 16 year-old New Zealand native her perspective is skewed. This is no reason to analyze her position differently than any other song which offers social commentary. Her commentary suggests an ascetic life is one suited for her and her lover; the life of "royals" is worthy of dismissal. But her characterization of royalty is inaccurate; hip-hop artists with first generation, self-made money and stupid possessions do not constitute America's influence-wielding body.

142

Southern Comfort Zone - Brad Paisley

Some opening lyrics:

"Not everybody drives a truck, not everybody drinks sweet tea
Not everybody owns a gun, wears a ball cap boots and jeans
Not everybody goes to church or watches every NASCAR race"

You can see where this is going. Some generic Southern passion to ignite some summertime patriotism, nothing major. ...Or is it?

Yes, it is. But still, Brad puts on a massively successful tour every summer, has a loyal fan base, and seems like a stand-up bro. He deserves a spot somewhere on this list.

Wild For the Night (ft. Skrillex) - A$AP Rocky

Regardless of A$AP's secret society affiliations, doubts about the integrity of his music, and occasional sailor outfit, this track is a pure banger. Skrillex has lost some cultural standing in recent months, but I guess "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites" couldn't satiate the masses forever.

Check out the visuals if you're looking for a real fiesta (or just A$AP Mob + Skrillex chilling in the Dominican Republic).

Black Skinhead - Kanye West
by Jimena P.

That's the top song if you don't know now you know. I wouldn't say it is my favorite song but it is the top song, doggie dog.

*Jimena is my girlfriend and a 2nd year at Northwestern University. We are in Paris for New Year's this year.

65

Who I Am (ft. 2 Chainz and Big Sean) - Pusha T

A friend of mine once joked that Pusha T leaked this track, saw how poorly the reception was online, and thus his album was pushed back, yet again. I have been waiting on Push's solo debut for quite some time now. To me, his personal narrative exceeds that of nearly every other rapper in the last decade. In brief, he sold cocaine and crack in his hometown of Virginia Beach, VA, made thousands, and used those funds to promote a rap career with his brother, Malice. After several quality but low-selling releases as the duo Clipse, Malice chose to abandon the dopeman/rapper route and find God. He is now a preacher.

This left Terrence in an odd position. Lyrically dextrous and flush with coke money, he found his way to Kanye West's GOOD Music label. As a featured guest on GOOD Friday releases and MBDTF, Pusha T solidified himself as a lyricist, style icon, and bona fide Yeezy associate.

If the width of his nostrils aren't enough of a visual cue to his past career, his boisterous and frightening delivery confirm his kingpin status. Despite my friend's claim, features from 2 Chainz and Big Sean almost always make for a dangerously catchy hip-hop track (see: All Me - Drake). And with executive production from Yeezus himself, Yeezy season lasted all summer long. Look for more cuts off of My Name Is My Name higher up on the list.