Because I’m old and out of touch, most of these are pre-2012 songs that were new to me this year.
Nas — “The World Is Yours”
In 1994 I was not paying attention to hip-hop at all. My loss.
Blackalicious — “Swan Lake”
More vintage 1994 hip-hop. Samples three different cover versions of the Stylistics’ “People Make The World Go Round.” Hip.
KRS-One — “A Friend”
This I discovered because it samples a lounge version of “Round Midnight.”
Reggie Watts — “A Future In The Future”
There is no finer comedian, improvising musician or strange combination of the two.
Frank Ocean — “Crack Rock”
I could list a whole bunch of Frank Ocean songs but I’ll exercise some restraint.
Frank Ocean ft Earl Sweatshirt — “Super Rich Kids”
Okay, maybe just one more. Love the Mary J Blige quote.
Brian Eno & David Byrne — “Regiment”
The most fun I’ve had at NYU so far has been studying audio production with Paul Geluso. This track was on the class listening list, and I ended up writing a whole paper about it.
Tim Eriksen — “The Mice”
This guy. The older he gets, the better and weirder he gets.
Jason Moran — “Planet Rock”
If jazz has any future at all, I hope it looks like this.
Diana Ross — “I’m Coming Out”
I heard Nile Rodgers give a lecture in the spring, and he concluded by playing this tune. Diana sings it better than him, but this guitar part and horn chart, holy mackerel.