When you look up and notice a turkey on the table, Black Friday ads, football games and the slow integration of Christmas songs on your favorite radio station you can tell that the end of the calendar year is near. What that also sets up for is the anticipation of a new year of music. Before we hop into the future, let’s live the tradition of today’s holiday and take a look at the Top 10 Songs We’re Thankful For in 2012.
1. My Type of Party – Dom Kennedy
Dropping as a part of this summer’s Yellow Album mixtape, My Type of Party was definitely that smooth summer anthem everyone needed. The song has certain a vibe to it, a real chill and laid-back essence that Dom completes with bar after bar of “kickin’ it” lyrics. My Type of Party was easily a song on everyone’s soundtrack for the summer, and the rest of the year.
2. I Don’t Like – Chief Keef feat. Lil Reese
Who saw the explosion of Chief Keef coming in 2012? Heading the steadily growing Chicago Drill rap scene, we have to be thankful for Keef and, I Don’t Like, his single that seemed to start it all. This song spawned the, still popular, remix featuring Kanye West, Jadakiss and members of G.O.O.D. Music, as well as other versions .The video for I Don’t Like has totaled nearly 19 million views on Youtube and has led to a record deal for Keef, which has fostered more songs that we have grown attached to, such as Love Sosa.
3. Mercy – Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T, 2 Chainz
At some point, you were in your car listening to Mercy and wanted to swerve across lanes of traffic in unison with Big Sean’s voice, but of course you couldn’t because you would hit every other car on the street. We have watched the G.O.O.D. Music imprint come together over time, and with the announcement of Cruel Summer, Mercy was that track to raise our anticipation even higher. Not to mention the huge Lamborghini that found it’s way onto the opening of this year’s BET Awards.
4. Thinkin About You – Frank Ocean
Due to his — vocal work on his mixtape, Nostalgia, Ultra, Frank Ocean quickly became a standout member of OFWGKTA, which can also be credited to his collaborations on Watch The Throne. He then brought us Thinkin About You, a track that renovated the current state of R&B.
5. Sixteen – Rick Ross feat. Andre 3000
We should be thankful that sixteen bars just isn’t enough; the Andre 3000 assisted Sixteen by Rick Ross was a mid-summer standout. We should always be thankful for the rare Andre 3000 verse, especially one of this nature that is elongated and coupled with a little piece of vocal work, but Rozay also contributed a classic flow to the silky beat.
6. Pop That – French Montana feat. Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Drake
22 weeks near the top of the R&B/Hip-Hop charts Pop That is that for being the reincarnation of 2 Live Crew in the form of a four piece of today’s hottest MCs as well as a bringing some fun back into rap for the summer.
7. Bands A Make Her Dance – Juicy J feat. Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz
All the strip club goers must be thankful for Juicy J’s Bands A Make Her Dance. But the thanks shouldn’t stop there, this song was a hit in every club or house party and allowed us to accept the “ratchet” things in life.
8. Swimming Pools (Drank) – Kendrick Lamar
Not only did Swimming Pools land Kendrick Lamar a spot on the Billboard top 100 charts, but we should be thankful that it pushed Kendrick into the national spotlight that he deserved. The song not only served as a spotlight for Kendrick, but it provided us with a single that could satisfy the mainstream as well as remain true to Kendrick.
9. Adorn – Miguel
Possibly one of the best R&B songs of the year, we should be thankful for Miguel’s Adorn. Originally a part of Art Dealer Chic, Vol. 1, the first in a series of mixtape releases it would switch over to become the lead single of Kaleidoscope Dream a highly praised album.
10. Climax – Usher
With Climax, we should be thankful for the reemergence of Usher. We’re always looking to see what Usher will bring us, and with Climax moving to the top of the R&B/Hip-Hop charts, it created a platform for his album as the lead single.
At halftime of the game, on your second plate, give thanks for your three F’s: food, family and your favorite artist’s key songs.
