Heavy Rotation 2: My Top 5 Songs of 2017

1. DNA. — Kendrick Lamar

I’m surprised this one even made this list since I don’t actively listen to Kendrick. I played DAMN. for about a week after it came out and once I felt like I “got” it, never listened to it in full again (I’m not much of an album person). Guess I must’ve had this track on repeat more than I realized. The premise is that within his bloodline lies the potential to be either a great man or a terrible one, a choice which he has to grapple with.

Again, I’m surprised at myself for liking this, with all the religiousness sprinkled throughout, but I guess it’s cool as long as you don’t take it literally. As trodden down as we are in this world, I’m here for black people elevating and uplifting themselves to the status of gods or the supernatural, whether that’s Kendrick, Kanye, or #BlackGirlMagic. The majority of people already devalue us, so if we don’t value ourselves, who will? And if we overcompensate a little for the lack of love we’re shown in this world… so what? From “motel” to “cartwheels on my estate” is quite the come-up, and certainly brag-worthy.

Kendrick is actually a pretty serious Christian (a fact I don’t think many of his stans realize), so it’s no mistake that he phrases things in religious terms. But you at least have to give him some credit for being real, because he’ll as soon reference a bottle of Henny as a Bible verse. That intersection of faith and pop culture is one of the things I think make his music so intriguing to listen to. Christians tend to come off annoying because they act perfect, but Kendrick approaches it from the perspective of a believer struggling with his own faith, and that honesty is refreshing whether you’re religious or not.

Lastly, can we talk about how he took that bullshit sound bite of a newscaster saying “hip-hop has done more damage to African-Americans than racism”, turned it around and rapped right over it on a track that’s probably, ironically, given so many inspiration? He’s literally empowering us with this song, which highlights the ignorance of the quote in the best possible way—as an irrelevant opinion from an outsider who clearly knows nothing about hip-hop. Thank you, Kendrick. We’ve been blessed.

2. CRZY — Kehlani

Let me start this off by saying I have a huge girl-crush on Kehlani. I mean, beautiful, edgy bisexual woman with the voice of an angel—what’s not to love?

Seriously though, with lines like “if I gotta be a bitch, imma be a bad one” and “ain’t nothin’ bout me basic,” CRZY is just straight-up fun.

 

3. R.I.P. 2 My Youth — The Neighbourhood

Boy does this song have some beautiful imagery. Instead of adopting the stereotypical negative attitude towards death, Jesse treats it as a celebration, suggesting extravagance (“wrap me up in Chanel inside my coffin”) and music (“you can play this at my funeral”). He even goes so far as to comfort us (“don’t cry and don’t be sad / I’m in paradise with Dad”) and suggests he’ll be more at peace when dead (“put me in the dirt / let me dream with the stars”).

The brilliant thing about this song is you can either read it as a metaphor for passage into adulthood (which, based on the title, he obviously wants you to do) or you can take it at face value, in which case it reads as worryingly suicidal. And I think that’s what makes it so damn good: it feels real, like it was written by someone who suffers from, and therefore understands, depression. The Neighbourhood has many songs like this that I think speak to mental illness, and that’s one reason it ranks as one of my favorite bands. (The others? Jesse’s lyricism. That silken voice.)

4. Loft Music — The Weeknd

How can I even begin to describe this? I love how it doesn’t waste any time getting started; no filler or intro nonsense, you’re just suddenly there. There’s something mesmerizing about the way each line rolls off his tongue and smoothly into the next. Getting carried away on wave after wave of his voice, with that beat winding in and out of the obstinate lyrics, is an addictive experience.

5. Gangsta — Kehlani

That makes two Kehlani songs now! And off the same album, no less. Every lady needs a partner who’s just as bad as she is, someone who’ll match her love pound for pound—a sentiment I think we can all relate to.

 

 

 

 

If you’re curious, here’s my Top 5 from last year.